EXHIBIT 3(i)
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
THISTLE GROUP HOLDINGS, CO.
Article 1. Name. The name of the corporation is Thistle Group Holdings,
Co. (hereinafter, the "Company").
Article 2. Registered Office. The address of the initial registered
office of the Company in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is 6060 Ridge Avenue,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128.
Article 3. Nature of Business. The Company is organized under the
Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended, of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania (the "BCL") for the purpose of engaging in any lawful act or
activity for which a corporation may be organized under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Article 4. Duration. The term of the existence of the Company shall be
perpetual.
Article 5. Capital Stock.
A. Authorized Amount. The total number of shares of capital stock that
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the Company has authority to issue is 50,000,000 of which 10,000,000 shall be
serial preferred stock, no par value (hereinafter, the "Preferred Stock") and
40,000,000 shall be common stock, par value $0.10 per share (hereinafter, the
"Common Stock"). Except to the extent required by governing law, rule, or
regulation, the shares of capital stock may be issued from time to time by the
board of directors of the Company (hereinafter, the "Board of Directors")
without further approval of stockholders. The Company shall have the authority
to purchase its capital stock out of funds lawfully available therefor.
B. Common Stock. Except as provided in this Article 5 (or in any
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resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant hereto),
the exclusive voting power shall be vested in the Common Stock, with each holder
thereof being entitled to one vote for each share of such Common Stock standing
in the holder's name on the books of the Company. Subject to any rights and
preferences of any class of stock having preference over the Common Stock,
holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to such dividends as may be declared
by the Board of Directors out of funds lawfully available therefor. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the affairs of the Company, whether
voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive
pro rata the remaining assets of the Company after the holders of any class of
stock having preference over the Common Stock have been paid in full any sums to
which they may be entitled.
C. Authority of Board to Fix Terms of Preferred Stock. A description of
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each class of shares and a statement of the voting rights, designations,
preferences, qualifications, privileges, limitations, options, conversion
rights, and other special rights granted to or imposed upon the shares of each
class and of the authority vested in the Board of Directors to establish series
of Preferred Stock or to determine that Preferred Stock will be issued as a
class without series and to fix and determine the voting rights, designations,
preferences, and other special rights of the Preferred Stock as a class or of
the series thereof are as follows:
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time as a class without
series or in one or more series. Each series shall be designated in
supplementary sections or amendments to these Articles of Incorporation 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 and
amendment to these Articles of Incorporation from time to time divide shares of
Preferred Stock into series, or determine that the Preferred Stock shall be
issued as a class without series, fix and determine the number of shares in a
series and the terms and conditions of the issuance of the class or the series,
and, subject to the provisions of this Article 5, fix and determine the rights,
preferences, qualifications, privileges, limitations, and other special rights,
if any, of the class (if none of such shares of the class have been issued) or
of any series so established, including but not limited to, voting rights (which
may be limited, multiple, fractional, or non-voting rights), the rate of
dividend, if any, and whether or to what extent, if any, such dividends shall be
cumulative (including the date from which dividends shall be cumulative, if
any), the price at and the terms and conditions on which shares may be redeemed,
if any, the preference and 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 the class or of any series are
issued with sinking fund provisions, and the terms and conditions on which the
shares of the class or of any series may be converted in the event the shares of
the class or of any series are issued with the privilege of conversion.
The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, at any time or from time
to time, issue or cause to be issued all or any part of the authorized and
unissued shares of Preferred Stock for consideration of such character and value
as the Board of Directors shall from time to time fix or determine.
D. Repurchase of Shares. The Company may, from time to time, pursuant
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to authorization by the Board of Directors and without action by the
stockholders, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any class, bonds,
debentures, notes, scrip, warrants, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, or
other securities of the Company in such manner, upon such terms, and in such
amounts as the Board of Directors shall determine; subject, however, to such
limitations or restrictions, if any, as are contained in the express terms of
any class of shares of the Company outstanding at the time of the purchase or
acquisition in question or as are imposed by law or regulation.
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Article 6. Incorporator. The name and business address of the sole
incorporator is as follows:
Name Address
John F. McGill, Jr. 6060 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128
Article 7. Directors. The business and affairs of the Company shall be
managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
A. Number. The number of directors of the Company shall be such number,
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not less than 5 nor more than 12 (exclusive of directors, if any, to be elected
by holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class), as shall be
provided from time to time in accordance with the bylaws, provided that no
decrease in the number of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term
of any incumbent director, and provided further that no action shall be taken to
decrease or increase the number of directors from time to time unless at least
eighty percent (80%) of the directors then in office shall concur in said
action.
B. Classified Board. The Board of Directors shall be divided into three
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classes of directors that shall be designated Class I, Class II, and Class III.
The members of each class shall be elected for a term of three years and until
their successors are elected and qualified. Such classes shall be as nearly
equal in number as the then total number of directors constituting the entire
Board of Directors shall permit, with the term of office of Class I to expire at
the first annual meeting of stockholders, the term of office of Class II to
expire at the annual meeting of stockholders one year thereafter, and the term
of office of Class III to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders two years
thereafter. At each annual meeting of stockholders following such initial
classification and election, directors elected to succeed those directors whose
terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third
succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election.
Should the number of directors of the Company be reduced, the
directorship(s) eliminated shall be allocated among the classes so that the
number of directors in each class is as specified in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The Board of Directors shall designate, by the name of the
incumbent(s), the position(s) to be abolished. Should the number of directors of
the Company be increased, the additional directorships shall be allocated among
such classes so that the number of directors in each class is as specified in
the immediately preceding paragraph.
Whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock of
the Company shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect one or
more directors of the Company, the Board of Directors shall consist of said
directors so elected in addition to the number of directors fixed as provided
above in this Article 7. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except as otherwise
may be required by law, whenever the holders of any one or more series of
Preferred Stock of the
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Company shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect one or more
directors of the Company, the terms of the director or directors elected by such
holders shall expire at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders.
C. No Cumulative Voting. Stockholders of the Company shall not be
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permitted to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.
D. Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of
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Preferred Stock then outstanding, any vacancy occurring on the Board of
Directors, including any vacancy created by reason of an increase in the number
of directors, shall be filled by a majority vote of the directors then in
office, whether or not a quorum is present, or by a sole remaining director, and
any director so chosen shall serve until the term of the class to which such
director was appointed shall expire and until a successor is elected and
qualified. When the number of directors is changed, the Board of Directors shall
determine the class or classes to which the increased or decreased number of
directors shall be appointed.
E. Removal. Unless otherwise required by law, a director (including
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persons elected by directors to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors) may be
removed from office only for cause by an affirmative vote of not less than a
majority of the total votes eligible to be cast by stockholders. Cause for
removal by stockholders shall exist only if the director whose removal is
proposed has been either declared of unsound mind by an order of a court of
competent jurisdiction, convicted of a felony or of an offense punishable by
imprisonment for a term of more than one year by a court of competent
jurisdiction, or deemed liable by a court of competent jurisdiction for gross
negligence or misconduct in the performance of such director's duties to the
Company. At least 30 days prior to such meeting of stockholders, written notice
shall be sent to the director whose removal will be considered at the meeting.
Directors may also be removed from office in the manner provided in Sections
1726(b) and 1726(c) of the BCL, or any successors to such sections.
F. Nominations of Directors. Nominations of candidates for election as
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directors at any annual meeting of stockholders may be made (a) by, or at the
direction of, a majority of the Board of Directors or (b) by any stockholder
entitled to vote at such annual meeting. Only persons nominated in accordance
with the procedures set forth in this Article 7.F shall be eligible for election
as directors at an annual meeting. Ballots bearing the names of all the persons
who have been nominated for election as directors at an annual meeting in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article 7.F shall be provided
for use at the annual meeting.
Nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board
of Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the
Secretary of the Company as set forth in this Article 7.F. To be timely, a
stockholder's notice shall be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the
principal executive offices of the Company not less than 60 days prior to the
anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company; provided, however, that with respect to the first scheduled annual
meeting, notice by the stockholder must be so
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delivered or received no later than the close of business on the tenth day
following the day on which notice of the date of the scheduled meeting was
mailed and must be delivered or received no later than the close of business on
the fifth day preceding the date of the meeting. Such stockholder's notice shall
set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for
election or re-election as a director and as to the stockholder giving the
notice (i) the name, age, business address, and residence address of such
person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (iii) the
class and number of shares of Company stock that are Beneficially Owned (as
determined by Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended) by such person on the date of such stockholder notice, and (iv) any
other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies with respect to nominees for election as directors,
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")
or any successor thereto; and (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice (i)
the name and address, as they appear on the Company's books, of such stockholder
and any other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such
nominees and (ii) the class and number of shares of Company stock that are
Beneficially Owned by such stockholder on the date of such stockholder notice
and, to the extent known, by any other stockholders known by such stockholder to
be supporting such nominees on the date of such stockholder notice. At the
request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by, or at the direction
of, the Board of Directors for election as a director at an annual meeting shall
furnish to the Secretary of the Company the same information required to be set
forth in a stockholder's notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee.
The Board of Directors may reject any nomination by a stockholder not
timely made in accordance with the requirements of this Article 7.F. If the
Board of Directors, or a designated committee thereof, determines that the
information provided in a stockholder's notice does not satisfy the
informational requirements of this Article 7.F in any material respect, the
Secretary of the Company shall notify such stockholder of the deficiency in the
notice. The stockholder shall have an opportunity to cure the deficiency by
providing additional information to the Secretary within such period of time,
not to exceed five days from the date such deficiency notice is given to the
stockholder, as the Board of Directors or such committee shall reasonably
determine. If the deficiency is not cured within such period, or if the Board of
Directors or such committee reasonably determines that the additional
information provided by the stockholder, together with information previously
provided, does not satisfy the requirements of this Article 7.F in any material
respect, then the Board of Directors may reject such stockholder's nomination.
The Secretary of the Company shall notify a stockholder in writing whether such
person's nomination has been made in accordance with the time and informational
requirements of this Article 7.F. Notwithstanding the procedures set forth in
this paragraph, if neither the Board of Directors nor such committee makes a
determination as to the validity of any nominations by a stockholder, the
presiding officer of the annual meeting shall determine and declare at the
annual meeting whether the nomination was made in accordance with the terms of
this Article 7.F. If the presiding officer determines that a nomination was made
in accordance with the terms of this Article 7.F, such person shall so declare
at the annual meeting and ballots shall be provided for use at the meeting with
respect to such nominee. If the presiding officer determines that a nomination
was not made
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in accordance with the terms of this Article 7.F, such person shall so declare
at the annual meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except as otherwise required by law,
whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the
right, voting separately as a class, to elect one or more directors of the
Company, the provisions of this Article 7.F shall not apply with respect to the
director or directors elected by such holders of Preferred Stock.
Article 8. Preemptive Rights. No holder of any of the shares of any
class or series of stock or of options, warrants, or other rights to purchase
shares of any class or series or of other securities of the Company shall have
any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of any
class or series, any unissued bonds, certificates of indebtedness, debentures,
or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock of any class or
series or carrying any right to purchase stock of any class or series, or any
shares of any class, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip, warrants, obligations,
evidences of indebtedness, or other securities of the Company purchased by the
Company pursuant to Article 5.D; but any such unissued, or issued but not
outstanding, stock, bonds, certificates of indebtedness, debentures, or other
securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock or carrying any right to
purchase stock may be issued pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors to
such persons, firms, corporations, or associations, whether or not holders
thereof, and upon such terms as may be deemed advisable by the Board of
Directors in the exercise of its sole discretion.
Article 9. Elimination of Directors' Liability. A director of the
Company shall not be personally liable, as such, for monetary damages for any
action taken unless: (i) the director has breached or failed to perform such
director's fiduciary duties, or other duties under Chapter 17, Subchapter B of
the BCL, of such director's office, and (ii) the breach or failure to perform
constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct, or recklessness; provided,
however, that the foregoing shall not apply to (i) the responsibility or
liability of a director pursuant to any criminal statute; or (ii) the liability
of a director for the payment of taxes pursuant to federal, state, or local law.
If the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are amended after the effective
date of these Articles of Incorporation to eliminate further or limit the
personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Company
shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the
stockholders of the Company shall not adversely affect any right or protection
of a director of the Company existing at the time of such repeal or
modification.
Article 10. Indemnification, etc. of Officers, Directors, Employees,
and Agents.
A. Persons. The Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a
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party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or
completed action, suit, or proceeding, including actions by or in the right of
the Company, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or
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investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director,
officer, employee, fiduciary, trustee, or agent of the Company, or is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee,
fiduciary, trustee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, or other enterprise.
B. Extent -- Derivative Actions. In the case of a threatened, pending,
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or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company against a person
named in paragraph A by reason of such person holding a position named in
paragraph A, the Company shall indemnify such person if such person satisfies
the standard in paragraph C, for expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually
and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or
settlement of the action or suit.
C. Standard -- Derivative Suits. In the case of a threatened, pending,
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or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company, a person named in
paragraph A shall be indemnified only if:
1. such person is successful on the merits or otherwise; or
2. such person acted in good faith in the transaction that is
the subject of the suit or action, and in a manner reasonably believed
to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company,
including, but not limited to, the taking of any and all actions in
connection with the Company's response to any tender offer or any offer
or proposal of another party to engage in a Business Combination (as
defined in Article 13 of these Articles) not approved by the Board of
Directors. However, such person shall not be indemnified in respect of
any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person has been adjudged
liable to the Company unless (and only to the extent that) the court of
common pleas or the court in which the suit was brought shall
determine, upon application, that despite the adjudication of liability
but in view of all the circumstances, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court shall
deem proper.
D. Extent -- Nonderivative Suits. In case of a threatened, pending, or
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completed suit, action, or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative,
or investigative), other than a suit by or in the right of the Company, together
hereafter referred to as a nonderivative suit, against a person named in
paragraph A by reason of such person holding a position named in paragraph A,
the Company shall indemnify such person if such person satisfies the standard in
paragraph E, for amounts actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with the defense or settlement of the nonderivative suit, including,
but not limited to (i) expenses (including attorneys' fees), (ii) amounts paid
in settlement, (iii) judgments, and (iv) fines.
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E. Standard -- Nonderivative Suits. In case of a nonderivative suit, a
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person named in paragraph A shall be indemnified only if:
1. such person is successful on the merits or otherwise; or
2. such person acted in good faith in the transaction that is
the subject of the nonderivative suit and in a manner such person
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of
the Company, including, but not limited to, the taking of any and all
actions in connection with the Company's response to any tender offer
or any offer or proposal of another party to engage in a Business
Combination (as defined in Article 13 of these Articles) not approved
by the Board of Directors and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe such
person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of a nonderivative suit
by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent shall not, in itself, create a presumption
that the person failed to satisfy the standard of this paragraph E.2.
F. Determination That Standard Has Been Met. A determination that the
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standard of paragraph C or E has been satisfied may be made by a court, or,
except as stated in paragraph C.2 (second sentence), the determination may be
made by:
1. the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum
consisting of directors of the Company who were not parties to the
action, suit, or proceeding;
2. if such a quorum is not obtainable or if obtainable and a
majority of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or
3. the stockholders of the Company.
G. Proration. Anyone making a determination under paragraph F may
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determine that a person has met the standard as to some matters but not as to
others, and may reasonably prorate amounts to be indemnified.
H. Advancement of Expenses. Reasonable expenses incurred by a director,
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officer, employee, or agent of the Company in defending a civil or criminal
action, suit, or proceeding described in Article 10.A may be paid by the Company
in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if
it shall ultimately be determined that the person is not entitled to be
indemnified by the Company.
I. Other Rights. The indemnification and advancement of expenses
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provided by or pursuant to this Article 10 shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which those seeking
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indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any insurance
or other agreement, vote of stockholders or directors, or otherwise, both as to
actions in their official capacity and as to actions in another capacity while
holding an office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors, and administrators of such person.
J. Insurance. The Company shall have the power to purchase and maintain
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insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee,
or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such
person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such
person's status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to
indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this
Article 10.
K. Security Fund; Indemnity Agreements. By action of the Board of
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Directors (notwithstanding their interest in the transaction), the Company may
create and fund a trust fund or fund of any nature, and may enter into
agreements with its officers, directors, employees, and agents for the purpose
of securing or insuring in any manner its obligation to indemnify or advance
expenses provided for in this Article 10.
L. Modification. The duties of the Company to indemnify and to advance
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expenses to any person as provided in this Article 10 shall be in the nature of
a contract between the Company and each such person, and no amendment or repeal
of any provision of this Article 10, and no amendment or termination of any
trust or other fund created pursuant to Article 10.K hereof, shall alter to the
detriment of such person the right of such person to the advancement of expenses
or indemnification related to a claim based on an act or failure to act which
took place prior to such amendment, repeal, or termination.
M. Proceedings Initiated by Indemnified Persons. Notwithstanding any
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other provision in this Article 10, the Company shall not indemnify a director,
officer, employee, or agent for any liability incurred in an action, suit, or
proceeding initiated by (which shall not be deemed to include counter-claims or
affirmative defenses) or participated in as an intervenor or amicus curiae by
the person seeking indemnification unless such initiation of or participation in
the action, suit, or proceeding is authorized, either before or after its
commencement, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in
office.
N. Savings Clause. If this Article 10 or any portion hereof shall be
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invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the
Company shall nevertheless indemnify each director, officer, employee, and agent
of the Company as to costs, charges, and expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action,
suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative,
including an action by or in the right of the Company to the fullest extent
permitted by any applicable portion
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of this Article 10 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law.
If the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are amended to permit
further indemnification of the directors, officers, employees, and agents of the
Company, then the Company shall indemnify such persons to the fullest extent
permitted by law. Any repeal or modification of this Article by the stockholders
of the Company shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director,
officer, employee, or agent existing at the time of such repeal or modification.
Article 11. Meetings of Stockholders and Stockholder Proposals.
A. Special Meetings of Stockholders. Special meetings of the
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stockholders of the Company may be called only by the Board of Directors
pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
directors then in office.
B. Action Without a Meeting. Notwithstanding any other provision of
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these Articles or the Bylaws of the Company, no action required to be taken or
which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the
Company may be taken without a meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent
in writing, without a meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically
denied.
C. Stockholder Proposals. At an annual meeting of stockholders, only
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such new business shall be conducted, and only such proposals shall be acted
upon, as shall have been brought before the annual meeting by, or at the
direction of, (1) the Board of Directors or (2) any stockholder of the Company
who complies with all the requirements set forth in this Article 11.C.
Proposals, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary
of the Company as set forth in this Article 11.C. For stockholder proposals to
be considered at the annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholder's notice
shall be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive
offices of the Company not less than 60 days prior to the anniversary date of
the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders of the Company. Such
stockholder's notice shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes
to bring before the annual meeting (a) a brief description of the proposal
desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting
such business at the annual meeting, (b) the name and address, as they appear on
the Company's books, of the stockholder proposing such business and, to the
extent known, any other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting
such proposal, (c) the class and number of shares of the Company stock that are
Beneficially Owned by the stockholder on the date of such stockholder notice
and, to the extent known, by any other stockholders known by such stockholder to
be supporting such proposal on the date of such stockholder notice, and (d) any
financial interest of the stockholder in such proposal (other than interests
which all stockholders would have).
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The Board of Directors may reject any stockholder proposal not timely
made in accordance with the terms of this Article 11.C. If the Board of
Directors, or a designated committee thereof, determines that the information
provided in a stockholder's notice does not satisfy the informational
requirements of this Article 11.C in any material respect, the Secretary of the
Company shall promptly notify such stockholder of the deficiency in the notice.
The stockholder shall have an opportunity to cure the deficiency by providing
additional information to the Secretary within such period of time, not to
exceed five days from the date such deficiency notice is given to the
stockholder, as the Board of Directors or such committee shall reasonably
determine. If the deficiency is not cured within such period, or if the Board of
Directors or such committee determines that the additional information provided
by the stockholder, together with information previously provided, does not
satisfy the requirements of this Article 11.C in any material respect, then the
Board of Directors may reject such stockholder's proposal. The Secretary of the
Company shall notify a stockholder in writing whether such stockholder's
proposal has been made in accordance with the time and informational
requirements of this Article 11.C. Notwithstanding the procedures set forth in
this paragraph, if neither the Board of Directors nor such committee makes a
determination as to the validity of any stockholder proposal, the presiding
officer of the annual meeting shall determine and declare at the annual meeting
whether the stockholder proposal was made in accordance with the terms of this
Article 11.C. If the presiding officer determines that a stockholder proposal
was made in accordance with the terms of this Article 11.C, such person shall so
declare at the annual meeting and ballots shall be provided for use at the
meeting with respect to any such proposal. If the presiding officer determines
that a stockholder proposal was not made in accordance with the terms of this
Article 11.C, such person shall so declare at the annual meeting and any such
proposal shall not be acted upon at the annual meeting.
This provision shall not prevent the consideration and approval or
disapproval at the annual meeting of report of officers, directors, and
committees of the Board of Directors, but in connection with such reports, no
new business shall be acted upon at such annual meeting unless stated, filed,
and received as herein provided.
Article 12. Certain Limitations on Voting Rights
A. Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles,
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in no event shall any record owner of any outstanding Common Stock which is
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by a person who, as of any record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote on any matter,
beneficially owns in excess of 10% of the then-outstanding shares of Common
Stock (the "Limit"), be entitled, or permitted to any vote in respect of the
shares held in excess of the Limit. The number of votes which may be cast by any
record owner by virtue of the provisions hereof in respect of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such person owning shares in excess of the Limit shall be
a number equal to the total number of votes which a single record owner of all
Common Stock owned by such person would be entitled to cast, multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of such class or series
which are both beneficially owned by such person and owned of record by such
record owner and the denominator
-12-
of which is the total number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
such Person owning shares in excess of the Limit.
Further, for a period of five years from the completion of the
conversion of FJF Financial, M.H.C. from mutual to stock form, no Person shall
directly or indirectly Offer to acquire or acquire the beneficial ownership of
more than 10% of any class of any equity security of the Company.
B. Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this Article
-----------
12.
1. "Affiliate" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule
12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on the date of filing of this
Certificate.
2. "Beneficial Ownership" (including "Beneficially Owned")
shall be determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any successor
rule or statutory provision), or, if said Rule 13d-3 shall be rescinded
and there shall be no successor rule or provision thereto, pursuant to
said Rule 13d-3 as in effect on the date of filing of this Certificate;
provided, however, that a Person shall, in any event, also be deemed
the "beneficial owner" of any Common Stock:
(a) which such Person or any of its Affiliates owns,
directly or indirectly; or
(b) which such Person or any of its Affiliates has
(i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement or understanding (but shall not be
deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of any Voting Shares (as
defined in Article 13) solely by reason of an agreement,
contract, or other arrangement with this Company to effect any
transaction which is described in Section A of Article 13) or
upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
warrants, or options or otherwise, or (ii) sole or shared
voting or investment power with respect thereto pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or
otherwise (but shall not be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner
of any Voting Shares solely by reason of a revocable proxy
granted for a particular meeting of stockholders, pursuant to
a public solicitation of proxies for such meeting, with
respect to shares of which neither such Person nor any such
Affiliate is otherwise deemed the Beneficial Owner); or
(c) which are owned directly or indirectly, by any
other Person with which such first mentioned Person or any of
its Affiliates acts as a partnership, limited partnership,
syndicate or other group pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or
-12-
understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting
or disposing of any shares of capital stock of this Company;
and provided further, however, that (1) no director or officer of this Company
(or any Affiliate of any such director or officer) shall, solely by reason of
any or all of such directors or officers acting in their capacities as such, be
deemed, for any purposes hereof, to Beneficially Own any Common Stock
Beneficially Owned by any other such director or officer (or any Affiliate
thereof), and (2) neither any employee stock ownership or similar plan of this
Company or any subsidiary of this Company, nor any trustee with respect thereto
or any Affiliate of such trustee (solely by reason of such capacity of such
trustee), shall be deemed, for any purposes hereof, to Beneficially Own any
Common Stock held under any such plan. For purposes of computing the percentage
Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock of a Person, the outstanding Common Stock
shall include shares deemed owned by such Person through application of this
subsection but shall not include any other Common Stock which may be issuable by
this Company pursuant to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights,
warrants or options, or otherwise. For all other purposes, the outstanding
Common Stock shall include only Common Stock then outstanding and shall not
include any Common Stock which may be issuable by this Company pursuant to any
agreement, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise.
3. The term "Offer" shall mean every written offer to buy or
acquire, solicitation of an offer to sell, tender offer or request or invitation
for tender of, a security or interest in a security for value; provided that the
term "Offer" shall not include (i) inquiries directed solely to the management
of the Company and not intended to be communicated to stockholders which are
designed to elicit an indication of management's receptivity to the basic
structure of a potential acquisition with respect to the amount of cash and or
securities, manner of acquisition and formula for determining price, or (ii)
non-binding expressions of understanding or letters of intent with the
management of the Company regarding the basic structure of a potential
acquisition with respect to the amount of cash and/or securities, manner of
acquisition and formula for determining price.
4. A "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
or other entity.
C. The board of directors shall have the power to construe and apply
the provisions of this Article 12 and to make all determinations necessary or
desirable to implement such provisions, including but not limited to matters
with respect to (i) the number of shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by
any Person, (ii) whether a Person is an Affiliate of another, (iii) whether a
Person has an agreement, arrangement, or understanding with another as to the
matters referred to in the definition of Beneficial Ownership, (iv) the
application of any other definition or operative provision of the section to the
given facts, or (v) any other matter relating to the applicability or effect of
this Article 12.
D. The board of directors shall have the right to demand that any
Person who is reasonably believed to Beneficially Own Common Stock in excess of
the Limit (or holders of
-13-
record of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by any Person in excess of the Limit)
supply the Company with complete information as to (i) the record owner(s) of
all shares Beneficially Owned by such Person who is reasonably believed to own
shares in excess of the Limit and (ii) any other factual matter relating to the
applicability or effect of this Article 12 as may reasonably be requested of
such Person.
E. Except as otherwise provided by law or expressly provided in this
Article 12, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of
shares of capital stock of the Company entitling the holders thereof to cast a
majority of the votes (after giving effect, if required, to the provisions of
this Article 12) entitled to be cast by the holders of shares of capital stock
of the Company entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the
stockholders, and every reference in these Articles to a majority or other
proportion of capital stock (or the holders thereof) for purposes of determining
any quorum requirement or any requirement for stockholder consent or approval
shall be deemed to refer to such majority or other proportion of the votes (or
the holders thereof) then entitled to be cast in respect of such capital stock.
F. The provisions of this Article 12 shall not be applicable to any
tax-qualified defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan of the Company
or its subsidiaries or to the acquisition of more than 10% of any class of
equity security of the Company if such acquisition has been approved by
two-thirds of the entire Board of Directors, as described in Article 13 of this
Article; provided, however, that such approval shall only be effective if such
Directors shall have the power to construe and apply the provisions of this
Article 12 and to make all determinations necessary or desirable to implement
such provisions, including but not limited to matters with respect to (a) the
number of shares Beneficially Owned by any Person, (b) whether a Person has an
agreement, arrangement, or understanding with another as to the matters referred
to in the definition of Beneficial Ownership, (c) the application of any other
material fact relating to the applicability or effect of this Article 12. Any
constructions, applications, or determinations made by the Directors pursuant to
this Article 12 in good faith and on the basis of such information and
assistance as was then reasonably available for such purpose shall be conclusive
and binding upon the Company and its stockholders.
G. In the event any provision (or portion thereof) of this Article 12
shall be found to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, the
remaining provisions (or portions thereof) of this Article 12 shall remain in
full force and effect, and shall be construed as if such invalid, prohibited or
unenforceable provision had been stricken herefrom or otherwise rendered
inapplicable, it being the intent of this Company and its stockholders that each
such remaining provision (or portion thereof) of this Article 12 remain, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, applicable and enforceable as to all
stockholders, including stockholders owning an amount of stock over the Limit,
notwithstanding any such finding.
-14-
Article 13. Stockholder Approval of Business Combinations
A. General Requirement. The definitions and other provisions set forth
-------------------
in Article 12 are also applicable to this Article 13. The affirmative vote of
the holders of not less than eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding shares of
Voting Shares (as hereinafter defined) shall be required for the approval or
authorization of any "Business Combination" as defined and set forth below:
1. Any merger, consolidation, share exchange or division of
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company with or into (i) any Interested
Shareholder (as hereinafter defined), or (ii) with, involving or resulting in
any other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested Shareholder of the
Company) which is, or after the merger, consolidation, share exchange or
division would be, an Affiliate or Associate of the Interested Shareholder;
2. A sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
other disposition (in one transaction or series of transactions) to or with the
Interested Shareholders or any Affiliate or Associate or such Interested
Shareholder of assets of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (i) Having
an aggregate Market Value (as hereinafter defined) equal to 10% or more of the
aggregate Market Value of all the assets, determined on a consolidated bases, of
such Company; (ii) having an aggregate Market Value equal to 10% or more of the
aggregate Market Value of all outstanding shares of such Company; or (iii)
representing 10% or more of the earning power or net income, determined on a
consolidated basis, of such Company.
3. The issuance or transfer by the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company (in one or a series of transactions) of any shares of such
Company or any Subsidiary of such Company which has an aggregate Market Value
equal to 5% or more of the aggregate Market Value of all the outstanding shares
of the Company to the Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of
such Interested Shareholder except pursuant to the exercise of option rights to
purchase shares, or pursuant to the conversion of securities having conversion
rights, offered, or a dividend or distribution paid or made, pro rata to all
shareholders of the Company.
4. The adoption at any time of any plan or proposal for the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company proposed by, or pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding with the Interested Shareholder or any
Affiliate or Associate of such Interested Shareholder.
5. A reclassification of securities (including, without
limitation, any split of shares, dividend of shares, or other distribution of
shares in respect of shares, or any reverse split of shares), or
recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or consolidation of the Company
with any Subsidiary of the Company, or any other transaction (whether or not
with or into or otherwise involving the Interested Shareholder), proposed by, or
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing) with, the Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of the
Interested Shareholder, which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of
increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class or
series of Voting
-15-
Shares or securities convertible into Voting Shares of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company which is, directly or indirectly, owned by the
Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of the Interested
Shareholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share
adjustments.
6. The receipt by the Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate
or Associate of the Interested Shareholder of the benefit, directly or
indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder of the Company), of any
loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or tax
credits or other tax advantages provided by or through the Company.
The affirmative vote required by this Article 13 shall be in addition
to the vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Company
otherwise required by law, by any other Article of these Articles of
Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, by any resolution
of the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of a class or series of
stock, or by any agreement between the Company and any national securities
exchange.
B. Certain Definitions.
-------------------
1. "Share Acquisition Date" means with respect to any Person
and the Company, the date that such person first became an Interested
Shareholder of the Company.
2. The "Market Value" of the common stock of the Company shall
be the highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding
the date in question of the share of the composite tape for New York Stock
Exchange-listed shares, or, if the shares are not quoted on the composite tape
or if the shares are not listed on the exchange, on the principal United States
securities exchange registered under the exchange act, on which such shares are
listed, or, if the shares are not listed on any such exchange, the highest
closing bid quotation with respect to the share during the 30-day period
preceding the date in question on the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any system then in use, or if no
quotations are available, the fair market value on the date in question of the
share as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith. In
the case of property other than cash or shares, the fair market value of the
property on the date in question as determined by the Board of Directors of the
Company in good faith.
3. The term "Interested Shareholder," means any Person
(other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company) that:
(i) Is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of shares
entitling that Person to cast at least 20% of the votes that all shareholders
would be entitled to cast in an election of directors of the Company; or
(ii) Is an Affiliate or Associate of such Company and at any
time within the five-year period immediately prior to the date in question was
the Beneficial Owner, directly or
-16-
indirectly, of shares entitling that Person to cast at least 20% of the votes
that all shareholders would be entitled to cast in an election of directors of
the Company.
Exception - For the purpose of determining whether a Person is an
Interested Shareholder:
(1) The number of votes that would be entitled to be cast in
an election of directors of the Company shall be calculated by including shares
deemed to be beneficially owned by the Person through application of the
definition of "Beneficial Owner" in section 12.B, but excluding any other
unissued shares of such Company which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion or option rights or
otherwise; and
(2) There shall be excluded from the Beneficial Ownership
of the Interested Shareholder any:
Shares which were acquired pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend,
reclassification or similar recapitalization with respect to shares described
under this paragraph that have been held continuously since their issuance by
the Company by the natural Person or entity that acquired them from the Company.
For the purpose only of determining the percentage of the outstanding
shares of Voting Shares which any corporation, partnership, person, or other
entity beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, the outstanding shares of
Voting Shares will be deemed to include any shares of Voting Shares which such
corporation, partnership, person or other entity beneficially owns pursuant to
the foregoing provisions of this subsection (whether or not such shares of
Voting Shares are in fact issued or outstanding), but shall not include any
other shares of Voting Shares which may be issuable either immediately or at
some future date pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding or
upon exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants, options, or
otherwise.
4. The term "Voting Shares" shall mean any shares of the
authorized stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors.
C. Exceptions. The provisions of this Article 13 shall not apply to a
----------
Business Combination which is approved by two-thirds of those members of the
Board of Directors who were directors prior to the time when the Interested
Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder (the "Continuing Directors"). The
provisions of this Article 13 also shall not apply to a Business Combination:
(1) Approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares
entitling such holders to cast a majority of the votes that all shareholders
would be entitled to cast in an election of directors of the Company, not
including any Voting Shares beneficially owned by the Interested Shareholder or
any Affiliate or Associate of such Interested Shareholder, at a meeting called
for such purpose no earlier than three months after the Interested Shareholder
became, and if at the
-17-
time of the meeting the Interested Shareholder is, the Beneficial Owner,
directly or indirectly, of shares entitling the Interested Shareholder to cast
at least 80% of the votes that all shareholders would be entitled to cast in an
election of directors of the Company; or
(2) Approved by the affirmative vote of all of the holders of
all of the outstanding common shares.
(3) Approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares
entitling such holders to cast a majority of the votes that all shareholders
would be entitled to cast in an election of directors of the Company, not
including any Voting Shares beneficially owned by the Interested Shareholder or
any Affiliate or Associate of the Interested Shareholder, at a meeting called
for such purpose no earlier than five years after the Interested Shareholder's
Share Acquisition Date.
(4) Approved at a shareholders' meeting called for such
purpose no earlier than five years after the Interested Shareholder's Share
Acquisition Date.
D. Additional Provisions. Nothing contained in this Article 13, shall
----------------------
be construed to relieve an Interested Shareholder from any fiduciary obligation
imposed by law. In addition, nothing contained in this Article 13 shall prevent
any shareholder of the Company from objecting to any Business Combination and
from demanding any appraisal rights which may be available to such shareholder.
E. Amendments. Notwithstanding any provisions of these Articles of
----------
Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company (and notwithstanding the fact that a
lesser percentage may be specified by laws, these Articles of Incorporation or
the Bylaws of the Company), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80
percent of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon (and, if any class or
series is entitled to vote thereon separately, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least 80 percent of the outstanding shares of each such class or
series) shall be required to amend or repeal this Article 13 or adopt any
provisions inconsistent with this Article.
Article 14. Evaluation of Offers. The Board of Directors of the
Company, when evaluating any offer to (A) make a tender or exchange offer for
any equity security of the Company, (B) merge or consolidate the Company with
another corporation or entity or (C) purchase or otherwise acquire all or
substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, may, in
connection with the exercise of its judgment in determining what is in the best
interest of the Company and its stockholders, give due consideration to all
relevant factors, including, without limitation, the social and economic effect
of acceptance of such offer: on the Company's present and future customers and
employees and those of its subsidiaries; on the communities in which the Company
and its subsidiaries operate or are located; on the ability of the Company to
fulfill its corporate objectives as a financial institution holding company and
on the ability of its subsidiary financial institution to fulfill the objectives
of a federally insured financial institution under applicable statutes and
regulations.
-18-
Article 15. Stockholder Approval of Certain Transactions
A. Stockholder Vote. Any merger, consolidation, liquidation, or
-----------------
dissolution of the Company or any action that would result in the sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
("Transaction") shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
eligible to vote at a legal meeting.
B. Board Approval. The provisions of Article 15.A shall not apply to a
--------------
particular Transaction, and such Transaction shall require only such stockholder
vote, if any, as would be required by Pennsylvania law, if such Transaction is
approved by two-thirds of the entire Board of Directors of the Company.
Article 16. Amendment of Articles and Bylaws.
A. Articles. The Company reserves the right to amend, alter, change, or
--------
repeal any provision contained in these Articles of Incorporation, in the manner
now or hereafter prescribed by law, and all rights conferred upon stockholders
herein are granted subject to this reservation. No amendment, addition,
alteration, change, or repeal of these Articles of Incorporation shall be made
unless such amendment addition, alteration, change, or repeal is first proposed
and approved by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution proposed and
adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office,
and thereafter is approved by the holders of a majority (except as provided
below) of the shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in an election of
directors, voting together as a single class, as well as such additional vote of
the Preferred Stock as may be required by the provisions of any series thereof.
Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles of Incorporation to the
contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%)
of the shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in an election of
directors, voting together as a single class, as well as such additional vote of
the Preferred Stock as may be required by the provisions of any series thereof,
shall be required to amend, adopt, alter, change, or repeal any provision
inconsistent with Articles 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.
B. Bylaws. The Board of Directors or stockholders may adopt, alter,
------
amend, or repeal the Bylaws of the Company. Such action by the Board of
Directors shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then
in office at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors. Such
action by the stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of
at least eighty percent (80%) of the shares of the Company entitled to vote
generally in an election of directors, voting together as a single class, as
well as such additional vote of the Preferred Stock as may be required by the
provisions of any series thereof.
-19-
Exhibit A
---------
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
of
JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A
of
THISTLE GROUP HOLDINGS, CO.
(Pursuant to Section 1522 of the Business Corporation Law of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania)
THISTLE GROUP HOLDINGS, CO., a corporation organized and existing under
the Business Corporation Law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (herein
referred to as the "Company"), in accordance with the provisions thereof and
ARTICLE 5 of the Company's Articles of Incorporation, does hereby CERTIFY:
I. The Articles of Incorporation of the Company fixes the total number
of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Company shall have the
authority to issue as Fifty Million (50,000,000) shares, of which Ten Million
(10,000,000) shares shall be shares of preferred stock of no par value per share
("Preferred Stock"), and Forty Million (40,000,000) shares shall be shares of
common stock of the par value of $.10 per share ("Common Stock").
II. The Articles of Incorporation of the Company expressly grants to
the Board of Directors of the Company authority to cause such shares of
preferred stock to be issued from time to time, by resolution adopted prior to
such issue, providing the voting powers, designations, preferences, rights and
qualifications, limitations or restrictions applicable to such shares.
III. Pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
Articles of Incorporation of the Company, the Board of Directors, by actions
duly taken on September 13, 1999, authorized and adopted the following
resolution providing for an issue of a series of its preferred stock to be
designated "Junior Participating Preferred Stock, Series A":
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with the provisions of its
Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a series of
Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Company and hereby states the
designation and number of shares, and fixes the relative rights, preferences and
limitations thereof as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
----------------------
designated as "Junior Participating Preferred Stock, Series A" (the "Series A
Preferred Stock"), and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be 100,000. 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 Company 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 of the Company,
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 March, June,
September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as
a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series A 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 Company 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 Company 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
-2-
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 but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. 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 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
Company. In the event the Company 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 Company
having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Company.
(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
-3-
(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 Company 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;
(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 Company may at any time
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock
in exchange for shares of any stock of the Company ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up)
to the Series A Preferred; 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 Company shall not permit any subsidiary of the Company
to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Company unless the Company could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 4,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
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Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
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purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be
retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares
shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred
Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of the Preferred Stock subject
to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the
Company's Articles of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designation
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
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liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be
made (A) 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 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 (B) 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 ratable 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 Company 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 (A) 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 Company shall enter
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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 similarly 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 Company shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect 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
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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
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not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect
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to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series
of any other class of the Company's Preferred Stock.
Section 10. Amendment. The Articles of Incorporation of the Company
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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
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting
together as a single class.
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