EXHIBIT 3(a)(iii) ARTICLES OF MERGER of ST ACQUISITION CORP., a Texas corporation with and into TNP ENTERPRISES, INC., a Texas corporation Pursuant to Article 5.04 of the Texas Business Corporation Act, ST Acquisition Corp., a Texas corporation ("ST Acquisition"), and TNP Enterprises, Inc., a Texas corporation ("TNP Enterprises"), adopt the following Articles of Merger: FIRST: The name of each corporation that is a party to the plan of merger (the "Merger"), and the state under whose laws each corporation is incorporated are: Name State ---- ----- ST Acquisition Corp. Texas TNP Enterprises, Inc. Texas SECOND: TNP Enterprises shall be the surviving corporation of the Merger. THIRD: An Agreement and Plan of Merger has been approved by ST Acquisition and TNP Enterprises in the manner prescribed by their constituent documents and the provisions of Article 5.03 of the Texas Business Corporation Act. FOURTH: The Articles of Incorporation of the surviving corporation will be the Articles of Incorporation of ST Acquisition as in effect immediately prior to the Merger, except that the Articles of Incorporation of ST Acquisition will be amended to change the name of the corporation as it appears therein from "ST Acquisition Corp." to "TNP Enterprises, Inc." By way of clarification, the surviving corporation will retain the name "TNP Enterprises, Inc." but will change its Articles of Incorporation to those of ST Acquisition in effect immediately prior to the Merger. FIFTH: An executed copy of the Agreement and Plan of Merger is on file at the principal place of business of TNP Enterprises, the surviving corporation. The address of the principal place of business of TNP Enterprises is 4100 International Plaza, Fort Worth, Texas 76109. SIXTH: A copy of the Agreement and Plan of Merger will be furnished by TNP Enterprises, the surviving corporation, on written request and without cost to any shareholder of ST Acquisition and TNP Enterprises, and to any creditor or obligee of ST Acquisition and TNP Enterprises at the time of the Merger if such obligation is then outstanding. F-Articles of Merger Page 1 SEVENTH: TNP Enterprises, the surviving corporation, will be responsible for, and obligated to pay, all applicable Texas franchise taxes and related fees of ST Acquisition, if the same are not timely paid. EIGHTH: For each corporation that is a party to the Merger, the number of shares outstanding and entitled to vote on the Merger, and the number of shares which voted for and against the Merger are as follows: ST Acquisition -------------- Number and Type of Shares Outstanding 100 shares common stock, no par value 100,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, no par value Number and Type of Shares Entitled to Vote 100 shares common stock, no par value 100,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, no par value Number of Shares which Voted For the Merger 100 shares common stock, no par value 100,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, no par value Number of Shares which Voted Against the Merger 0 shares common stock, no par value 0 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, no par value TNP Enterprises --------------- Number and Type of Shares Outstanding 13,415,566 shares common stock, no par value Number and Type of Shares Entitled to Vote 13,415,566 shares common stock, no par value Number of Shares which Voted For the Merger 10,893,305 shares common stock, no par value Number of Shares which Voted Against the Merger 107,777 shares common stock, no par value NINTH: The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of these Articles of Merger with the Texas Secretary of State. * * * * * Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank. Signature Page(s) Follow. F-Articles of Merger Page 2 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed these Articles of Merger, in one or more counterparts, as of the 7th day of April, 2000. ST ACQUISITION CORP., a Texas corporation By: /s/ William J. Catacosinos ------------------------------------------- William J. Catacosinos, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer TNP ENTERPRISES, INC., a Texas corporation By: /s/ Kevern R. Joyce -------------------------------------------- Kevern R. Joyce, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer F-Articles of Merger Page 3