Exhibit 3.98
GARETH STEVENS, INC.
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO AND RESTATEMENT OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
The undersigned officers of Gareth Stevens, Inc. hereby execute these
Articles of Amendment (the "Amendment") and certify that:
1. The name of the corporation is GARETH STEVENS, INC., a Wisconsin
corporation, with its registered office in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
2. The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation are amended and
restated in their entirety as follows, which shall supersede and take the place
of the existing articles of incorporation and any amendments thereof:
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of the corporation shall be GARETH STEVENS, INC.
ARTICLE II
Period of Existence
The period of existence will be perpetual.
ARTICLE III
Purpose
The purpose shall be to engage in any lawful activity within the purposes
for which a corporation may be organized Chapter 180 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
ARTICLE IV
Shares
4.1. Number of Shares and Classes. The aggregate number of shares which
the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 12,000,000 shares divided into
the following classes:
10,000,000 of the par value $.001 per share designated
as "Common Stock" and
2,000,000 of the par value $.l0 per share designated as
"Cumulative Preferred Stock."
Any and all such shares of Common Stock and Cumulative Preferred
Stock may be issued for such consideration, not less than the par value thereof,
as shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any and all such
shares so issued, the full consideration for which has been paid or delivered,
shall be deemed fully paid stock and shall not be liable to any further call or
assessment and the holders of such shares shall not be liable for any further
payment except as otherwise provided by applicable Wisconsin statutes. The
preferences, limitations and relative rights of such classes shall be as set
forth herein.
4.2. Directors' Authority to Establish Series of Cumulative Preferred
Stock; Establishment of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock.
4.2.1. The Board of Directors is authorized to divide the Cumulative
Preferred Stock into series and fix and determine the relative rights and
preferences of each series. Each series shall be so designated by the Board of
Directors as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other
series. All shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be identical except as to
the following relative rights and preferences, as to which the Board of
Directors may establish variations between different series not inconsistent
with the provisions of these Articles:
(a)The rate of dividend;
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(b)The price and the terms and conditions on which shares may
be redeemed;
(c)The amount payable upon shares in event of voluntary or
involuntary liquidation;
(d) Sinking fund provisions for the redemption or purchase of
shares;
(e) The terms and conditions on which shares may be converted
into Common Stock, if the shares of any series are issued with the privilege of
conversion; and
(f)The voting rights.
4.2.2. The 400,000 shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding as of the date hereof are hereby designated as Series A Cumulative
Preferred Stock, which series shall have the following relative rights and
preferences:
(a)The dividend rate shall be three cents ($.03) per annum per
share.
(b) (i) The Corporation has the option to redeem such shares at any
time after five (5) years from the date of the filing of these Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Wisconsin (the
"Filing Date") and prior to six (6) years from the Filing Date at a price per
share equal to the greater of (A) a percentage of the appraised "going concern"
value of the Corporation equal to the percentage of all outstanding Common Stock
that would be represented by a share of such Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock
being redeemed by the Corporation as if it were converted to Common Stock
immediately prior to the redemption (the "appraised value") or (B) the amount
payable upon liquidation with respect to such share as described in subsection
4.2.2(c), below.
(ii) Any holder of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred
Stock has the option to require the Corporation to redeem such shares at any
time after five (5) years from the Filing Date and prior to six (6) years from
the Filing Date at a price per share equal to the appraised value.
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(iii) In the event any proposed redemption would violatee any
applicable federal or state law or any agreement to which the Company is a party
(A) such proposed redemption shall not be made unless and until such redemption
would no longer violate applicable law or such agreement and (B) the twelve (12)
month periods for redemptions provided in clauses (ii) and (ii), above, shall be
tolled until such proposed redemption can be made pursuant to part (A), above.
(iv) The appraised value shall be determined by an independent
qualified appraiser selected by the Corporation and agreed upon by the
shareholder(s) whose stock is being redeemed or, if not agreed, then the average
value of two separate appraisals, one performed by an independent qualified
appraiser selected by the Corporation, and one performed by an independent
qualified appraiser selected by such shareholder(s). The shareholder(s) shall
bear the cost of any second appraiser selected pursuant hereto. Neither the
determination of the appraised value of the Corporation nor the determination of
the redemption price for the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall take into
account that the shares are a minority interest and may lack marketability.
(v) No less than forty-five (45) days before the date fixed
for redemption (the "Redemption Date") written notice (the "Redemption Notice")
shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to each holder of record of the Series A
Cumulative Preferred Stock which is to be redeemed, at its address shown on the
records of the Corporation, if redemption is being elected by the Corporation;
and to the Corporation at its registered office, if redemption is being elected
by such shareholders. The Redemption Notice shall contain the following
information:
(A) The number of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred
Stock held by such holder which shall be redeemed by the Corporation, and the
total number of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock held by all
holders to be so redeemed; and
(B) The Redemption Date.
(vi) Within ten (10) days after delivery of the Redemption
Notice, the Corporation shall notify the
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shareholder(s) of the selected appraiser and the shareholder(s) shall respond
within five (5) days thereafter whether it approves the use of such appraiser or
will select its own appraiser. Written appraisal reports will be delivered to
all parties at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the Redemption Date.
(vii) On or before the Redemption Date, each holder of shares
of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender the
certificate or certificates representing such shares to the Corporation at the
registered office of the Corporation on the Redemption Date, and the applicable
Redemption Price for such shares shall be paid to the order of the person whose
name appears on such certificate or certificates and each surrendered
certificate shall be canceled and retired.
(viii)From and after the Redemption Date, no shares of Series
A Cumulative Preferred Stock thereupon subject to redemption shall be entitled
to any further accrual of any dividends or to the conversion privileges set
forth herein.
(c) In the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation of
the Corporation, the holders of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock
shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Corporation available for
distribution to the shareholders an amount equal to One Dollar ($1.00) per
share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon.
(d) Subject to adjustment as hereafter provided, the holders
of shares of Series A cumulative Preferred Stock may convert each share into
1.7857625 shares of Common Stock at any time.
(i) In the event the Corporation shall make or issue, or fix a
record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive
a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of stock or other securities
of the Corporation or in assets (excluding cash dividends or distributions),
then and in each such event provision shall be made so that the holders of
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall receive upon conversion thereof in
addition to the number of shares of Common Stock receivable thereupon, the
number of shares of stock or other securities or such other assets of the
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Corporation which such holders would have received had their Series A Cumulative
Preferred Stock been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event and
had such holders thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to
and including the Conversion Date (as that term is hereafter defined in
subsection 4.2.2(d)(iv)), retained such shares of stock or other securities or
such other assets receivable by such holders as aforesaid during such period,
giving application to all adjustments called for during such period under this
subsection 4.2.2(d) with respect to the rights of the holders of the Series A
Cumulative Preferred Stock.
(ii) If the Common Stock outstanding prior to the conversion
of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be subdivided into a greater
number of shares of Common Stock or combined into a smaller number of shares of
Common Stock, then and in each such event the holders of the Series A Cumulative
Preferred Stock shall have the right thereafter to convert such shares into the
number of shares of Common Stock which would be held following such subdivision
or combination by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which
such shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock might have been converted
immediately prior to such subdivision or combination, all subject to further
adjustment as provided herein.
(iii) If the Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be changed into the same or different
number of shares of any class or classes of stock of the Corporation, whether by
reclassification or otherwise (other than a subdivision or combination of
shares, stock dividend, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets
provided for elsewhere in this subsection 4.2.2(d)), then and in each such event
the holders of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have the right
thereafter to convert such shares into the kind and amount of shares of stock
and other securities and property receivable upon such reclassification or other
change by holders of the number of shares of common Stock into which such shares
of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock might have been converted immediately
prior to such reclassification or change, all subject to further adjustment as
provided herein.
(iv) If at any time or from time to time
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there shall be a capital reorganization involving the Common Stock (other than a
subdivision, combination, reclassification or exchange of shares provided for
elsewhere in this subsection 4.2.2(d)) or a merger or consolidation of the
Corporation with or into another corporation, or the sale of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's properties and assets to any other
person, provision shall be made so that the holders of the Series A Cumulative
Preferred Stock shall thereafter be entitled to receive upon conversion of the
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, the number of shares of stock or other
securities or property of the Corporation, or of the successor corporation
resulting from such merger, consolidation or sale, to which the holders of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion would have been entitled on such capital
reorganization, merger, consolidation, or sale.
(v) To exercise its conversion privilege, a holder of Series A
Cumulative Preferred Stock shall surrender the certificate or certificates
representing the shares being converted to the Corporation at its principal
office, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at such office that
such holder elects to convert such shares. Such notice shall also state the name
or names (with address or addresses) in which the certificate or certificates
for shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be issued. The
certificate or certificates for shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock
surrendered for conversion shall be accompanied by proper assignment thereof to
the Corporation or in blank, The date when such written notice is received by
the Corporation, together with the certificate or certificates representing the
shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock being converted, shall be the
"Conversion Date" As promptly as practicable after the Conversion Date, the
Corporation shall issue and shall deliver to the holder of the shares of Series
A Cumulative Preferred Stock being converted, or on its written order, such
certificate or certificates as it may request for the number of shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the conversion of such shares of Series A Cumulative
Preferred Stock in accordance with the provisions of this subsection 4.2.2(d)
and, except as hereafter provided, cash in the amount of all accrued and unpaid
dividends on such shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, whether or not
earned or declared, up to and including the Conversion Date.
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Notwithstanding the above, in the event any applicable federal or state law or
any agreement to which the Corporation is a party, prohibits the payment of
accrued and unpaid dividends at the time of conversion, payment of such
dividends shall be deferred until payment is allowed in accordance with such law
or agreement.
(vi) In the event some but not all of the shares of Series A
Cumulative Preferred Stock represented by a certificate or certificates
surrendered by a holder are converted, the Corporation shall execute and deliver
to or on the order of the holder, at the expense of the Corporation, a new
certificate representing the number of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred
Stock which were not converted.
(vii) The Corporation shall at all times reserve out of its
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of
effecting the conversion of the shares of the Series A Cumulative Preferred
Stock, such number of its shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be
sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of the Series A
Cumulative Preferred Stock, and if at any time the number of authorized but
unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion
of all then outstanding shares of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, the
Corporation shall amend these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to
increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of
shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose.
(e) The holders of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock
shall be entitled to such number of votes that are equal to the largest number
of whole shares of Common Stock into which such holder's shares could be
converted.
4.3. Dividends and Distributions.
4.3.1. The Cumulative Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to receive when and as declared at any time by the Board of Directors
annual dividends on or before the last day of June of each year. Such dividends
shall be payable out of net profits of the Corporation or out of any surplus
applicable to the payment of such dividends. The dividends on the Cumulative
Preferred Stock shall be cumulative so that if at
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any time the full amount of dividends accrued and in arrears on the Cumulative
Preferred Stock shall not be paid, the deficiency shall be payable without
interest before any dividends (other than dividends paid in Common Stock) or
other distributions shall be made or set apart on the Common Stock. Dividends on
Cumulative Preferred Stock shall accrue on each share from the date on which
such share is issued. Whenever all dividends accrued and in arrears on the
Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have been declared and shall have been paid or
set apart, the Board of Directors may declare dividends on Common Stock out of
the remaining net profits of the Corporation or out of surplus applicable to the
payment of such dividends. Any dividend paid upon the Cumulative Preferred Stock
at the tine when any accrued dividends for any prior period are delinquent shall
be expressly declared and designated as a dividend in whole or partial payment
of the accrued dividend for the earliest period for which dividends are then
delinquent, and each shareholder to whom such payment is made shall be so
advised.
4.3.2. The rate of the dividends to be paid to holders of Cumulative
Preferred Stock of all series shall be as follows: With respect to Series A
Cumulative Preferred Stock at the rate provided for in subsection 4.2.2(a),
above; or with respect to series not yet established at a rate to be stated in
the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the
issuance thereof.
4.3.3. All dividends on Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be without
priority as between series, and shall be paid or set apart before any dividends
or other distributions shall be paid or set apart for Common Stock; provided,
however, that dividends may be declared and paid in Common Stock prior to
dividends on the Cumulative Preferred Stock being paid or set apart. Any
dividends paid upon the cumulative Preferred Stock in any amount less than full
cumulative dividends accrued and in arrears upon all Cumulative Preferred Stock
outstanding shall, if more than one series be outstanding, be distributed among
the different series in proportion to the aggregate amounts which would be
distributable to the Cumulative Preferred Stock of each series if full
cumulative dividends were declared and paid thereon.
4.3.4. In the event the proposed payment of any
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dividend, whether on Cumulative Preferred Stock or Common Stock, would violate
any applicable federal or state law, such proposed dividend payment shall not be
made unless and until such payment would no longer violate applicable law.
4.4. Liquidation Rights. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of
all series of Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of the
assets of the Corporation in full the fixed voluntary liquidation or involuntary
liquidation amount thereof, whichever is applicable, plus accrued dividends
thereon, all as fixed or provided for in subsection 4.2.2(c), above, with
respect to the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock or, with respect to series
not yet established, in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance
thereof, all before any amount shall be paid to the holders of Common Stock. (If
upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation or windinq-up of the Corporation
the assets of the Corporation shall be insufficient to pay the holders of all
series of the Cumulative Preferred Stock the entire amounts to which they may be
entitled, the assets of the Corporation shall, if more than one series be
outstanding, be distributed among the different series in proportion to the
aggregate amounts which would be distributable to the Cumulative Preferred Stock
of each series if sufficient assets were available.) The holders of Cumulative
Preferred Stock shall not otherwise be entitled to participate in any
distribution of assets of the Corporation, which shall be divided or distributed
among the holders of Common Stock, and shall have no further rights of
conversion. Whenever the distribution provided for herein shall be paid in
property other than cash, the value of such distribution shall be the fair
market value of such property as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation. No consolidation or merger of the Corporation with
or into another corporation or corporations and no sale by the Corporation of
all or substan tially all of its assets shall be deemed a liquidation or winding
up of the Corporation.
4.5. Voting Rights.
4.5.1. Except as hereinafter in this Section 4.5 expressly provided
and as provided by the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, the holders of
Cumulative Preferred Stock shall,
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together with the holders of Common Stock (neither the Cumulative Preferred
Stock nor the Common Stock voting as a class) possess full voting rights for the
election of directors and for other purposes. Holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to one (1) vote for each share held. Holders of Cumulative Preferred
Stock of all series shall be entitled to such number of votes per share as are
provided for in Section 4.2.2(e), above, with respect to the Series A Cumulative
Preferred Stock or, with respect to series not yet established as shall be
stated in the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for
the issuance thereof.
4.5.2. So long as any shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock are
outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote as provided
by law of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of
Cumulative Preferred Stock, voting as a class,
(a) create or authorize any class of stock ranking either as
to the payment of dividends or distribution of assets prior to or on parity with
the Cumulative Preferred Stock or increase the number of authorized shares of
Cumulative Preferred Stock;
(b) change the preferences, limitations or relative rights
with respect to any series of the outstanding Cumulative Preferred Stock so as
to materially and adversely alter in any respect the rights of the holders
thereof.
4.6. Acquisition of Shares. The Corporation shall have the right to
purchase, take, receive or otherwise acquire its own shares in accordance with
applicable law regardless of the availability of unreserved and unrestricted
earned surplus and without earned surplus being restricted thereby. Except as
hereinafter expressly provided with respect to the Series A Cumulative Preferred
Stock, shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock so acquired, as well as the shares
of Cumulative Preferred Stock acquired upon redemption or conversion of
Cumulative Preferred Stock, shall become authorized and unissued shares of
Cumulative Preferred Stock which may be designated as shares of any series. No
share or shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock acquired by the
Corporation by reason of redemption, purchase, conversion or otherwise shall be
reissued, and all such shares
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shall be canceled, retired and eliminated from the shares which the Corporation
shall be authorized to issue. The Corporation shall from time to time amend
these Articles to reduce the authorized number of shares of the Cumulative
Preferred Stock accordingly.
4.7. No Nonvoting Securities. The Corporation shall not authorize the
issuance of any nonvoting equity securities.
ARTICLE V
Preemptive Rights
Each holder of any stock of the Corporation shall have preemptive rights
to acquire, upon the same terms and conditions as such shares are proposed to be
acquired by others, unissued shares of Common Stock or securities convertible
into such shares or carrying a right to subscribe to or acquire such shares,
including, but not limited to, the right to acquire such shares or securities
issued to directors, officers or employees, or to acquire such shares or
securities issued for other than cash consideration, or to acquire treasury
shares. Each holder of Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be entitled to such
preemptive rights to the same extent as a holder of the number of shares of
Common Stock into which such shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock might have
been converted immediately prior to the exercise of such preemptive rights.
ARTICLE VI
Registered Office and Agent
The address of the registered office of the Corporation is 1555 North
RiverCenter Drive, Suite 201, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212, and the name of the
registered agent of the Corporation at such address is Gareth M. Stevens.
3. This Amendment and Restatement was approved by the United States
Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin (the "Court") on November 30,
1992, pursuant to the Court's Order
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Confirming Plan (the "Order").
4. The Order was entered in the reorganization proceeding captioned In re
Gareth Stevens, Inc. Case No. 91-07849-CNC.
5. The Court has jurisdiction of the above-captioned proceeding pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. ss. 1334.
6. The effective date of this Amendment is the Confirmation Date (as such
term is defined in the Debtor's Plan of Reorganization confirmed pursuant to the
Court's Order) and this Amendment shall be filed as of such date.
______________________________________
Gareth M. Stevens, President
______________________________________
David C. Muller, Secretary
[Corporate Seal]
STATE OF WISCONSIN
SS
COUNTY OF MILWAUKEE
Personally appeared before me this 16th day of December, 1992, the
above-named Gareth M. Stevens and David M. Miller, to me known to be the
President and Secretary, respectively, of GARETH STEVENS, INC., who subscribed
their names to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged that they executed the
same for the purposes therein contained.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.
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__________________________________________
Notary Public, State of Wisconsin
my commission:___________________
This instrument was drafted by and should be returned to:
Kristin A. Roeper, Esq.
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
780 North Water Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
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