Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
CBES BANCORP, INC.
FIRST: The name of the Corporation is CBES Bancorp, Inc. (hereinafter
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sometimes referred to as the "Corporation").
SECOND: The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the
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State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City
of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the registered agent at that
address is The Corporation Trust Company.
THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
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activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation
Law of Delaware.
FOURTH: A. The total number of shares of all classes of stock which
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the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is four million (4,000,000)
consisting of:
1. Five hundred thousand (500,000) shares of preferred
stock, par value one cent ($.01) per share (the "Preferred Stock"); and
2. Three and one-half million (3,500,000) shares of common
stock, par value one cent ($.01) per share (the "Common Stock").
B. The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized,
subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of the
shares of Preferred Stock in series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the
applicable law of the State of Delaware (such certificate being hereinafter
referred to as a "Preferred Stock Designation"), to establish from time to time
the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the
designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series
and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The number of
authorized shares of the Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not
below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the Common Stock, without a vote of the holders of
the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders
is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation.
C. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate
of Incorporation, 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 beneficially 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 (subject to
this Article FOURTH), 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 of which is the total number of
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such person owning shares in
excess of the Limit.
2. The following definitions shall apply to this Section C
of this Article FOURTH:
(a) An "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 amended, as in effect on the
date of filing of this Certificate of Incorporation.
(b) "Beneficial ownership" shall be determined
pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (or any
successor rule or statutory provision), or, if said Rule 13d-3
shall be rescinded and there shall be no successor rule or
statutory provision thereto, pursuant to said Rule 13d-3 as in
effect on the date of filing of this Certificate of
Incorporation; provided, however, that a person shall, in any
event, also be deemed the "beneficial owner" of any Common Stock:
(1) which such person or any of its affiliates
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; or
(2) 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 solely by reason of an agreement, contract, or other
arrangement with this Corporation to effect any transaction
which is described in any one or more of the clauses 1
through 5 of Section A of Article EIGHTH) 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
(3) which is beneficially 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
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understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting
or disposing of any shares of capital stock of this
Corporation;
and provided further, however, that (1) no director or officer of
this Corporation (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 Corporation or any subsidiary of this
Corporation nor any trustee with respect thereto (or any
affiliate of such trustee) shall, solely by reason of such
capacity of such trustee, 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 Corporation 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
Corporation pursuant to any agreement, or upon the exercise of
conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
(c) The "Limit" shall mean 10% of the then-outstanding
shares of Common Stock.
(d) A "person" shall mean any individual, firm,
corporation, or other entity.
3. The Board of Directors shall have the power to construe
and apply the provisions of this section 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 this Section to the given facts, or (v) any other
matter relating to the applicability or effect of this Section.
4. 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 holds of record Common Stock beneficially owned
by any person in excess of the Limit) (a "Holder in Excess") supply the
Corporation with complete information as to (1) the record owner(s) of all
shares beneficially owned by such Holder in Excess, and (2) any other
factual matter relating to the applicability or effect
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of this section as may reasonably be requested of such Holder in Excess.
The Board of Directors shall further have the right to receive from any
Holder in Excess reimbursement for all expenses incurred by the Board in
connection with its investigation of any matters relating to the
applicability or effect of this section on such Holder in Excess, to the
extent such investigation is deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors
as a result of the Holder in Excess refusing to supply the Corporation with
the information described in the previous sentence.
5. Except as otherwise provided by law or expressly
provided in this Section C, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the
holders of record of shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitling
the holders thereof to cast one-third of the votes (after giving effect, if
required, to the provisions of this Section C) entitled to be cast by the
holders of shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, and every
reference in this Certificate of Incorporation 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.
6. Any constructions, applications, or determinations made
by the Board of Directors, pursuant to this Section 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
Corporation and its stockholders.
7. In the event any provision (or portion thereof) of this
Section C shall be found to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any
reason, the remaining provisions (or portions thereof) of this Section
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 Corporation
and its stockholders that each such remaining provision (or portion
thereof) of this Section C 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.
FIFTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the
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business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further
definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of
its directors and stockholders:
A. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the
powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by Statute or by this
Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the directors are
hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as
may be exercised or done by the Corporation.
B. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by
written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.
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C. Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of
Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the
stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or
special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by
any consent in writing by such stockholders.
D. Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of
Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be
called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a
majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if
there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors (the "Whole Board").
SIXTH: A. The number of directors shall be fixed from time to time
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exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a
majority of the Whole Board. The directors, other than those who may be elected
by the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, shall be divided into
three classes, with the term of office of the first class to expire at the
conclusion of the first annual meeting of stockholders, the term of office of
the second class to expire at the conclusion of the annual meeting of
stockholders one year thereafter and the term of office of the third class to
expire at the conclusion of the annual meeting of stockholders two years
thereafter, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall
have been duly elected and qualified. 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, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall
have been duly elected and qualified.
B. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of
Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any
increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of
Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification,
removal from office or other cause may be filled only by a majority vote of the
directors then in office, though less than a quorum, and directors so chosen
shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at
which the term of office of the class to which they have been elected expires,
and until such director's successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.
No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall
shorten the term of any incumbent director.
C. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election
of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of
the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the
Bylaws of the Corporation.
D. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of
Preferred Stock then outstanding, any directors, or the entire Board of
Directors, may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only
by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of
all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors (after giving effect to the
provisions of Article FOURTH of this Certificate of Incorporation), voting
together as a single class.
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SEVENTH: The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or
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repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the
Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the approval
of a majority of the Whole Board. The stockholders shall also have power to
adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that,
in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of this
Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all of
the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors (after giving effect to the
provisions of Article FOURTH hereof), voting together as a single class, shall
be required to adopt, amend or repeal any provisions of the Bylaws of the
Corporation.
EIGHTH: A. In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or this
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Certificate of Incorporation, and except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Article EIGHTH:
1. any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with (i) any Interested Stockholder (as
hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not itself
an Interested Stockholder) which is, or after such merger or consolidation
would be, an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested
Stockholder; or
2. any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer
or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or
with any Interested Stockholder, or any Affiliate of any Interested
Stockholder, of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an
aggregate Fair Market Value (as hereafter defined) equaling or exceeding
25% or more of the combined assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries;
or
3. the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any
Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any
securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested
Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder in exchange for
cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an
aggregate Fair Market Value equaling or exceeding 25% of the combined Fair
Market Value of the outstanding common stock of the Corporation and its
Subsidiaries except pursuant to an employee benefit plan of the Corporation
or any Subsidiary thereof; or
4. the adoption of any plan or proposal for the
liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation proposed by or on behalf of
any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder;
or
5. any reclassification of securities (including any
reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger
or consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any
other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an
Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of
increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class
of equity or convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder or any
Affiliate of any Interested
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Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder (a
"Disproportionate Transaction"); provided, however, that no such transaction
shall be deemed a Disproportionate Transaction if the increase in the
proportionate ownership of the Interested Stockholder or Affiliate as a result
of such transaction is no greater than the increase experienced by the other
stockholders generally;
shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting
power of the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote in the election of directors (the "Voting Stock") (after giving effect to
the provisions of Article FOURTH), voting together as a single class. Such
affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be
required, or that a lesser percentage may be specified, by law or by any other
provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock
Designation or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or
quotation system or otherwise.
The term "Business Combination" as used in this Article EIGHTH
shall mean any transaction which is referred to in any one or more of paragraphs
1 through 5 of Section A of this Article EIGHTH.
B. The provisions of Section A of this Article EIGHTH shall not
be applicable to any particular Business Combination, and such Business
Combination shall require only the affirmative vote of the majority of the
outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote after giving effect to the
provisions of Article FOURTH, or such vote (if any) as is required by law or by
this Certificate of Incorporation, if, in the case of any Business Combination
that does not involve any cash or other consideration being received by the
stockholders of the Corporation solely in their capacity as stockholders of the
Corporation, the condition specified in the following paragraph 1 is met or, in
the case of any other Business Combination, all of the conditions specified in
either of the following paragraphs 1 and 2 are met:
1. The Business Combination shall have been approved by a
majority of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined).
2. All of the following conditions shall have been met:
(a) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market
Value as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination
of consideration other than cash to be received per share by the
holders of Common Stock in such Business Combination shall at least be
equal to the higher of the following:
(1) (if applicable) the Highest Per Share Price (as
hereinafter defined), including any brokerage commissions,
transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees, paid by the
Interested Stockholder or any of its Affiliates for any shares of
Common Stock acquired by it (i) within the two-year period
immediately prior to the first public announcement of the
proposal of the Business Combination (the "Announcement Date"),
or (ii)
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in the transaction in which it became an Interested Stockholder,
whichever is higher.
(2) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
Announcement Date or on the date on which the Interested
Stockholder became an Interested Stockholder (such latter date is
referred to in this Article EIGHTH as the "Determination Date"),
whichever is higher.
(b) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value
as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of
consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of
shares of any class of outstanding Voting Stock other than Common
Stock shall be at least equal to the highest of the following (it
being intended that the requirements of this subparagraph (b) shall be
required to be met with respect to every such class of outstanding
Voting Stock, whether or not the Interested Stockholder has previously
acquired any shares of a particular class of Voting Stock):
(1) (if applicable) the Highest Per Share Price (as
hereinafter defined), including any brokerage commissions,
transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees, paid by the
Interested Stockholder for any shares of such class of Voting
Stock acquired by it (i) within the two-year period immediately
prior to the Announcement Date, or (ii) in the transaction in
which it became an Interested Stockholder, whichever is higher;
(2) (if applicable) the highest preferential amount per
share to which the holders of shares of such class of Voting
Stock are entitled in the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation; and
(3) the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting
Stock on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date,
whichever is higher.
(c) The consideration to be received by holders of a particular
class of outstanding Voting Stock (including Common Stock) shall be in
cash or in the same form as the Interested Stockholder has previously
paid for shares of such class of Voting Stock. If the Interested
Stockholder has paid for shares of any class of Voting Stock with
varying forms of consideration, the form of consideration to be
received per share by holders of shares of such class of Voting Stock
shall be either cash or the form used to acquire the largest number of
shares of such class of Voting Stock previously acquired by the
Interested Stockholder. The price determined in accordance with
subparagraph B.2 of this Article EIGHTH shall
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be subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock
dividend, stock split, combination of shares or similar event.
(d) After such Interested Stockholder has become an Interested
Stockholder and prior to the consummation of such Business
Combination: (1) except as approved by a majority of the Disinterested
Directors, there shall have been no failure to declare and pay at the
regular date therefor any full quarterly dividends (whether or not
cumulative) on any outstanding stock having preference over the Common
Stock as to dividends or liquidation; (2) there shall have been (i) no
reduction in the annual rate of dividends paid on the Common Stock
(except as necessary to reflect any subdivision of the Common Stock),
except as approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors, and
(ii) an increase in such annual rate of dividends as necessary to
reflect any reclassification (including any reverse stock split),
recapitalization, reorganization or any similar transaction which has
the effect of reducing the number of outstanding shares of Common
Stock, unless the failure to so increase such annual rate is approved
by a majority of the Disinterested Directors; and (3) neither such
Interested Stockholder nor any of its Affiliates shall
have become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting
Stock except as part of the transaction which results in such
Interested Stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder.
(e) After such Interested Stockholder has become an Interested
Stockholder, such Interested Stockholder shall not have received the
benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a
stockholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other
financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantages
provided, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, whether in
anticipation of or in connection with such Business Combination or
otherwise.
(f) A proxy or information statement describing the proposed
Business Combination and complying with the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provisions replacing such
Act, rules or regulations thereunder) shall be mailed to stockholders
of the Corporation at least 30 days prior to the consummation of such
Business Combination (whether or not such proxy or information
statement is required to be mailed pursuant to such Act or subsequent
provisions).
C. For the purposes of this Article EIGHTH:
1. A "Person" shall include an individual, a group acting in
concert, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint venture, a
pool, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or
similar company, a syndicate or any other group formed for the purpose of
acquiring, holding or disposing of securities or any other entity.
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2. "Interested Stockholder" shall mean any Person (other than
the Corporation or any holding company or Subsidiary thereof) who or which:
(a) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of
more than 10% of the outstanding Voting Stock; or
(b) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time
within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question
was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of
the voting power of the then-outstanding Voting Stock; or
(c) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any
shares of Voting Stock which were at any time within the two-year
period immediately prior to the date in question beneficially owned by
any Interested Stockholder, if such assignment or succession shall
have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions
not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
3. For purposes of this Article EIGHTH, "beneficial ownership"
shall be determined in the manner provided in Section C of Article FOURTH
hereof.
4. For the purpose of determining whether a Person is an
Interested Stockholder pursuant to Paragraph 2 of this Section C, the
number of shares of Voting Stock deemed to be outstanding shall include
shares deemed owned through application of Paragraph 3 of this Section C
but shall not include any other shares of Voting Stock which may be
issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon
exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
5. "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as in
effect on the date of filing of this Certificate of Incorporation.
6. "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which a majority of
any class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of
Interested Stockholder set forth in Paragraph 2 of this Section C, the term
"Subsidiary" shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each
class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Corporation.
7. "Disinterested Director" means any member of the Board of
Directors who is unaffiliated with the Interested Stockholder and was a
member of the Board of Directors prior to the time that the Interested
Stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, and any director who is
thereafter chosen to fill any vacancy on the Board of Directors or who is
elected and who, in either event, is unaffiliated with the Interested
Stockholder, and in connection with his or her initial assumption of office
is recommended for appointment or election by a majority of Disinterested
Directors then on the Board of Directors.
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8. "Fair Market Value" means:
(a) in the case of stock, the highest closing sales
price of the stock during the 30-day period immediately preceding the
date in question of a share of such stock of the National Association
of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations ("NASDAQ") System or any
system then in use, or, if such stock is admitted to trading on a
principal United States securities exchange registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Fair Market Value shall
be the highest sale price reported during the 30-day period preceding
the date in question, or, if no such quotations are available, the
Fair Market Value on the date in question of a share of such stock as
determined by the Board of Directors in good faith, in each case with
respect to any class of stock, appropriately adjusted for any dividend
or distribution in shares of such stock or any stock split or
reclassification of outstanding shares of such stock into a greater
number of shares of such stock or any combination or reclassification
of outstanding shares of such stock into a smaller number of shares of
such stock, and
(b) in the case of property other than cash or stock,
the Fair Market Value of such property on the date in question as
determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.
9. Reference to "Highest Per Share Price" shall in each
case with respect to any class of stock reflect an appropriate adjustment
for any dividend or distribution in shares of such stock or any stock split
or reclassification of outstanding shares of such stock into a greater
number of shares of such stock or any combination or reclassification of
outstanding shares of such stock into a smaller number of shares of such
stock.
10. In the event of any Business Combination in which the
Corporation survives, the phrase "consideration other than cash to be
received" as used in Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of Paragraph 2 of Section B
of this Article EIGHTH shall include the shares of Common Stock and/or the
shares of any other class of outstanding Voting Stock retained by the
holders of such shares.
D. A majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Corporation
shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article
EIGHTH, on the basis of information known to them after reasonable inquiry: (a)
whether a person is an Interested Stockholder; (b) the number of shares of
Voting Stock beneficially owned by any person; (c) whether a person is an
Affiliate or Associate of another; and (d) whether the assets which are the
subject of any Business Combination have, or the consideration to be received
for the issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation or any Subsidiary
in any Business Combination has an aggregate Fair Market Value equaling or
exceeding 25% of the combined Fair Market Value of the common stock of the
Corporation and its Subsidiaries. A majority of the Disinterested Directors
shall have the further power to interpret all of the terms and provisions of
this Article EIGHTH.
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E. Nothing contained in this Article EIGHTH shall be construed
to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by
law.
F. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of
Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote
or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any
particular class or series of the Voting Stock required by law, this Certificate
of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock Designation, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding
shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required
to alter, amend or repeal this Article EIGHTH.
NINTH: The Board of Directors of the Corporation, when evaluating any
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offer of another Person (as defined in Article EIGHTH hereof) to (A) make a
tender or exchange offer for any equity security of the Corporation, (B) merge
or consolidate the Corporation with another corporation or entity or (C)
purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the properties and
assets of the Corporation, may, in connection with the exercise of its judgment
in determining what is in the best interest of the Corporation and its
stockholders, give due consideration to all relevant factors, including, without
limitation, those factors that Directors of any subsidiary of the Corporation
may consider in evaluating any action that may result in a change or potential
change in control of the subsidiary, and the social and economic effect of
acceptance of such offer: on the Corporation's present and future customers and
employees and those of its Subsidiaries (as defined in Article EIGHTH hereof);
on the communities in which the Corporation and its Subsidiaries operate or are
located; on the ability of the Corporation to fulfill its corporate objectives
as a financial institution holding company under applicable laws and regulations
and on the ability of its subsidiary financial institution to fulfill the
objectives of a federally insured financial institution under applicable
statutes and regulations.
TENTH: A. Except as set forth in Section B of this Article TENTH, in
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addition to any affirmative vote of stockholders required by law or this
Certificate of Incorporation, any direct or indirect purchase or other
acquisition by the Corporation of any Equity Security (as hereinafter defined)
of any class from any Interested Person (as hereinafter defined) shall require
the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the Voting Stock of the
Corporation that is not beneficially owned (for purposes of this Article TENTH
beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section C.2(b) of
Article FOURTH hereof) by such Interested Person, voting together as a single
class. Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no
vote may be required, or that a lesser percentage may be specified, by law or by
any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock
Designation or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or
quotation system, or otherwise. Certain defined terms used in this Article
TENTH are as set forth in Section C below.
B. The provisions of Section A of this Article TENTH shall not
be applicable with respect to:
1. any purchase or other acquisition of securities made as
part of a tender or exchange offer by the Corporation or a Subsidiary
(which term, as used in this Article TENTH, is as defined in the first
clause of Section C.6 of Article EIGHTH hereof) of the
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Corporation to purchase securities of the same class made on the same terms
to all holders of such securities and complying with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and
regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provision replacing such Act,
rules or regulations);
2. any purchase or acquisition made pursuant to an open
market purchase program approved by a majority of the Board of Directors,
including a majority of the Disinterested Directors (which term, as used in
this Article TENTH, is as defined in Article EIGHTH hereof); or
3. any purchase or acquisition which is approved by a
majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the
Disinterested Directors, and which is made at no more than the Market Price
(as hereinafter defined), on the date that the understanding between the
Corporation and the Interested Person is reached with respect to such
purchase (whether or not such purchase is made or a written agreement
relating to such purchase is executed on such date), of shares of the class
of Equity Security to be purchased.
C. For the purposes of this Article TENTH:
1. The term Interested Person shall mean any Person (other
than the Corporation, Subsidiaries of the Corporation, pension, profit
sharing, employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plans of the
Corporation and its Subsidiaries, entities organized or established by the
Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of such plans
and trustees and fiduciaries with respect to any such plan acting in such
capacity) that is the direct or indirect beneficial owner of 5% or more of
the Voting Stock of the Corporation, and any Affiliate or Associate of any
such person.
2. The Market Price of shares of a class of Equity
Security on any day shall mean the highest sale price of shares of such
class of Equity Security on such day, or, if that day is not a trading day,
on the trading day immediately preceding such day, on the national
securities exchange or the NASDAQ System or any other system then in use on
which such class of Equity Security is traded.
3. The term Equity Security shall mean any security
described in Section 3(a)(11) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in
effect on September 20, 1993, which is traded on a national securities
exchange or the NASDAQ System or any other system then in use.
4. For purposes of this Article TENTH, all references to
the term Interested Stockholder in the definition of Disinterested Director
shall be deemed to refer to the term Interested Person.
ELEVENTH: A. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to
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be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a
"proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an
officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, including, without
limitation,
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any Subsidiary (as defined in Article EIGHTH herein), partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an
employee benefit plan (hereinafter an "indemnitee"), whether the basis of such
proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or
in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent
authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may
hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent
that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification
rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such
amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees,
judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in
settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection
therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section C hereof with
respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation
shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part
thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof)
was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
B. The right to indemnification conferred in Section A of this
Article ELEVENTH shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the
expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final
disposition (hereinafter an "advancement of expenses"); provided, however, that,
if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of expenses
incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and
not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such
indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan)
shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking
(hereinafter an "undertaking"), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all
amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial
decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a "final
adjudication"), that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such
expenses under this Section or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and to
the advancement of expenses conferred in Sections A and B of this Article
ELEVENTH shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an
indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the
benefit of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators.
C. If a claim under Section A or B of this Article ELEVENTH is
not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has
been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an
advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty
days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the
Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or
in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an
advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee
shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such
suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to
indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to
enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and
(ii) in any suit by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses
pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation shall be entitled to
recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met
any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the Delaware General
Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of
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Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a
determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the
indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation
Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee
has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that
the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of
such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit
brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an
advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an
advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of
proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such
advancement of expenses, under this Article ELEVENTH or otherwise shall be on
the Corporation.
D. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of
expenses conferred in this Article ELEVENTH shall not be exclusive of any other
right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the
Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of
stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise.
E. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to
protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation
or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would
have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss
under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
F. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to
time by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, grant rights to
indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of
the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article with
respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and
officers of the Corporation.
TWELFTH: A director of this Corporation shall not be personally liable to
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the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is hereafter amended
to further eliminate or limit the personal liability of directors, then the
liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the
fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.
Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the
stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or
protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal
or modification .
THIRTEENTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any
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provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner
prescribed
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by the laws of the State of Delaware and all rights conferred upon stockholders
are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any
provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in
addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of the stock of this
Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all of
the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors (after giving effect to the
provisions of Article FOURTH), voting together as a single class, shall be
required to amend or repeal this Article THIRTEENTH, Section C of Article
FOURTH, Sections C or D of Article FIFTH, Article SIXTH, Article SEVENTH,
Article EIGHTH, Article TENTH or Article ELEVENTH.
FOURTEENTH: The name and mailing address of the sole incorporator are as
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follows:
NAME MAILING ADDRESS
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Larry E. Hermreck 1001 N. Jesse James Road
Excelsior Springs, Missouri 64024
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I, THE UNDERSIGNED, being the incorporator, for the purpose of forming a
corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware, do make, file and record
this Certificate of Incorporation, do certify that the facts herein stated are
true, and, accordingly, have hereto set my hand this ____ day of ____, 1996.
___________________________________
Larry E. Hermreck
Incorporator
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