EXHIBIT 3.1
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION (WITH ALL AMENDMENTS)
OF
GLACIER BANCORP, INC.
ARTICLE 1. NAME. The name of the corporation is Glacier Bancorp, Inc.
(hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation").
ARTICLE 2. REGISTERED OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT. The address of the
registered office of the Corporation is 49 Commons Loop, Kalispell, Montana
59901. The name of the registered agent at such address is Michael J. Blodnick.
ARTICLE 3. NATURE OF BUSINESS. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage
in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the
Montana Business Corporation Act ("MBCA").
ARTICLE 4. CAPITAL STOCK. The total number of shares of capital stock
which the Corporation has authority to issue is 79,125,000, of which 1,000,000
shall be serial preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (hereinafter the
"Preferred Stock"), and 78,125,000 shall be common stock, $0.01 par value per
share (hereinafter the "Common Stock").
The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or
resolutions to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for
series of Preferred Stock. Before any shares of any such series are issued, the
Board of Directors shall fix, and hereby is expressly empowered to fix, by
resolution or resolutions, the following provisions of the shares thereof:
(a) the designation of such series, the number of shares to
constitute such series and the stated value thereof if different from the par
value thereof;
(b) whether the shares of such series shall have voting rights, in
addition to any voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such
voting rights, which may be general or limited;
(c) the dividends, if any, payable on such series, whether any such
dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from what dates, the conditions and
dates upon which such dividends shall be payable, the preference or relation
which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any shares of stock
of any other class or any other series of this class;
(d) whether the shares of such series shall be subject to redemption
by the Corporation, and, if so, the times, prices and other conditions of such
redemption;
(e) the amount or amounts payable upon shares of such series upon,
and the rights of the holders of such series in, the voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or upon any distribution of the assets,
of the Corporation;
(f) whether the shares of such series shall be subject to the
operation of a retirement or sinking fund and, if so, the extent to and manner
in which any such retirement or sinking fund shall be applied to the purchase or
redemption of the shares of such series for retirement or other corporate
purposes and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;
(g) whether the shares of such series shall be convertible into, or
exchangeable for, shares of stock of any other class or any other series of this
class or any other securities, and, if so, the price or prices or the rate or
rates of conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjusting the same,
and any other terms and conditions of conversion or exchange;
(h) the limitations and restrictions, if any, to be effective while
any shares of such series are outstanding upon the payment of dividends or the
making of other distributions on, and upon the purchase,
redemption or other acquisition by the Corporation of, the Common Stock or
shares of stock of any other class or any other series of this class;
(i) the conditions or restrictions, if any, upon the creation of
indebtedness of the Corporation or upon the issue of any additional stock,
including additional shares of such series or of any other series of this class
or of any other class; and
(j) any other powers, preferences and relative, participating,
optional and other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations and
restrictions thereof.
The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other
special rights, of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and
all other series at any time outstanding. All shares of any one series of
Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects with all other shares of such
series, except that shares of any one series issued at different times may
differ as to the dates from which dividends thereon shall accrue and/or be
cumulative.
ARTICLE 5. INCORPORATOR. The name and mailing address of the sole
incorporator is as follows:
Name Address
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Michael J. Blodnick Glacier Bancorp, Inc.
49 Commons Loop
Kalispell, Montana 59901
ARTICLE 6. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. No holder of the capital stock of the
Corporation shall be entitled as such, as a matter of right, to subscribe for or
purchase any part of any new or additional issue of stock of any class
whatsoever of the Corporation, or of securities convertible into stock of any
class whatsoever, whether now or hereafter authorized, or whether issued for
cash or other consideration or by way of a dividend.
ARTICLE 7. DIRECTORS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors. Except as otherwise
fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article 4 hereof relating to the rights of
the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common
Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect additional directors, the
number of directors shall be determined by a vote of the majority of the Board
of Directors, provided that no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the
term of any incumbent director. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in these Articles of Incorporation, the number of directors may not be
less than seven (7) or more than seventeen (17).
A. Classification and Term. So long as the Board of Directors has at least
nine (9) members, the Board of Directors, other than those who may be elected by
the holders of any class or series of stock having preference over the Common
Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, shall be divided into three classes
as nearly equal in number as possible, with one class to be elected annually.
The term of office of the initial directors shall be as follows: the term of
directors of the first class shall expire at the first annual meeting of
shareholders after their election; the term of office of the directors of the
second class shall expire at the second annual meeting of shareholders after
their election; and the term of office of the third class shall expire at the
third annual meeting of shareholders after their election; and, as to directors
of each class, when their respective successors are elected and qualified. At
each annual meeting of shareholders, directors elected to succeed those whose
terms are expiring shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third
succeeding annual meeting of shareholders and when their respective successors
are elected and qualified. Shareholders of the Corporation shall not be
permitted to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.
B. Vacancies. Except as otherwise fixed pursuant to the provisions of
Article 4 hereof relating to the rights of the holders of any class or series of
stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon
liquidation to elect directors, any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors,
including any vacancy created by reason of an increase in the number of
directors, may 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 hold office for the remainder of the term to which the
director has been selected and until such director's successor shall
have been 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 apportioned; provided that no decrease
in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
C. Removal. Subject to the rights of any class or series of stock having
preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect
directors, any director (including persons elected by directors to fill
vacancies in the Board of Directors) may be removed from office only for cause
at a duly constituted meeting of shareholders called expressly for such purpose.
ARTICLE 8. LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The personal liability of
the directors and officers of the Corporation for monetary damages shall be
eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the MBCA as it exists on the
effective date of these Articles of Incorporation or as such law may be
thereafter in effect. No amendment, modification or repeal of this Article 8
shall adversely affect the rights provided hereby with respect to any claim,
issue or matter in any proceeding that is based in any respect on any alleged
action or failure to act prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.
ARTICLE 9. CERTAIN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS.
9.1 VOTE REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS.
A. Higher Vote for Certain Business Combinations. In addition to any
affirmative vote required by law, any other provision of these Articles of
Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation, any agreement with a national
securities exchange or otherwise, and except as otherwise expressly provided in
Article 9.2 of this Article 9:
(1) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
(as hereinafter defined) with (i) any Interested Shareholder (as hereinafter
defined) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested
Shareholder) which is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an
Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested Shareholder; or
(2) any sale, lease, license, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer
or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with
any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder of any
assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market
Value (as hereinafter defined) of $500,000 or more; 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 Shareholder or any Affiliate of
any Interested Shareholder; or
(4) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation proposed by or on behalf of an Interested
Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder; 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 Shareholder)
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 Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder; shall
require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power
of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors (the "Voting Stock"), voting
together as a single class (it being understood that for purposes of this
Article 9, each share of the Voting Stock shall have the number of votes granted
to it pursuant to Article 4 of these Articles of Incorporation). Such
affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding that no vote may be required,
or that a lesser percentage may be specified, by law, any other provision of
these Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation, any agreement
with any national securities exchange or otherwise.
B. Definition of "Business Combination." The term "Business Combination"
as used in this Article 9 shall mean any transaction which is referred to in any
one or more of clauses (1) through (5) of paragraph A of this Article 9.1.
9.2 WHEN HIGHER VOTE IS NOT REQUIRED.
The provisions of Article 9.1 shall not be applicable to any particular
Business Combination, and such Business Combination shall require only such
affirmative vote as may be required by law, any other provision of these
Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation, any agreement with a
national securities exchange or otherwise, if all of the conditions specified in
either of the following paragraphs A or B are met:
A. Approval by Disinterested Directors. The Business Combination shall
have been approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter
defined).
B. Price and Procedural Requirements. All of the following conditions
shall have been met:
(1) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value as of
the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to
be received per share by holders of Common Stock in such Business Combination
shall be at least equal to the higher of the following:
(a) (if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage
commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees) paid by the
Interested Shareholder for any shares of Common Stock acquired by it (i)
within the five-year period immediately prior to the first public
announcement of the terms of the proposed Business Combination (the
"Announcement Date") or (ii) in the transaction in which it became an
Interested Shareholder, whichever is higher; and
(b) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
Announcement Date or on the date on which the Interested Shareholder became an
Interested Shareholder (such latter date is referred to in this Article 9 as the
"Determination Date"), whichever is higher.
(2) 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 other class of
outstanding Voting Stock shall be at least equal to the highest of the following
(it being intended that the requirements of this clause (2) shall be required to
be met with respect to every class of outstanding Voting Stock, whether or not
the Interested Shareholder has previously acquired any shares of a particular
class of Voting Stock):
(a) (if applicable) the highest per share price (including any
brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees) paid by the
Interested Shareholder for any shares of such class of Voting Stock acquired by
it (i) within the five-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date or
(ii) in the transaction in which it became an Interested Shareholder, whichever
is higher;
(b) the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting
Stock on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is
higher; and
(c) (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 liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether
voluntary or involuntary.
(3) 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 Shareholder has previously paid for shares of
such class of Voting Stock. If the Interested Shareholder has paid for shares of
any class of Voting Stock with varying forms of consideration, the form of
consideration for 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 it. The price determined in accordance with clauses (1)
and (2) of this paragraph (B) shall be subject to appropriate adjustment in the
event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares or similar
event.
(4) After such Interested Shareholder has proposed such a Business
Combination and prior to the consummation of such Business Combination; (a)
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 the outstanding Preferred
Stock of the Corporation; (b) there shall have been (i) no reduction in the
quarterly 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 quarterly rate of
dividends paid on such Common Stock 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 the Common Stock, unless the failure so to increase such annual rate
is approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors; and (c) such
Interested Shareholder shall not have become the beneficial owner of any
additional shares of Voting Stock except as part of the transaction which
results in such Interested Shareholder becoming an Interested Shareholder.
(5) A proxy or information statement describing the proposed
Business Combination and complying with the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any subsequent provisions replacing such)
(hereinafter referred to as the "Act"), and the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder shall be mailed to the
shareholders 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 the Act.)
(6) The holders of all outstanding shares of Voting Stock not
beneficially owned by the Interested Shareholder prior to the consummation of
any Business Combination shall be entitled to receive in such Business
Combination cash or other consideration for their shares of such Voting Stock in
compliance with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of paragraph B of this Article 9.2
(provided, however, that the failure of any such holders who are exercising
their statutory rights to dissent from such Business Combination and receive
payment of the fair value of their shares to exchange their shares in such
Business Combination shall not be deemed to have prevented the condition set
forth in this clause (6) from being satisfied).
9.3 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Article 9 the following shall be deemed to have
the meanings specified below:
A. The term "person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other
entity.
B. The term "Interested Shareholder" shall mean any person (other than the
Corporation or any Subsidiary) who or which:
(1) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than
10% of the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock; or
(2) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within the
five-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
(3) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any shares of
Voting Stock which were at any time within the five-year period immediately
prior to the date in question beneficially owned by an Interested Shareholder,
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 (or any subsequent provisions
replacing such).
C. A person shall be deemed a "beneficial owner" of any Voting Stock:
(1) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates (as
hereinafter defined) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; or
(2) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (a)
the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only
after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
warrants or options, or otherwise, or (b) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; or
(3) which is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other person with which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has
any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting or disposing of any shares of Voting Stock.
D. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an Interested
Shareholder pursuant to paragraph B of this Article 9.3, the number of shares of
Voting Stock deemed to be outstanding shall include shares deemed owned through
application of paragraph C of this Article 9.3 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.
E. The terms "Affiliate" or "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Act, as in effect on the effective date of these Articles of Incorporation.
F. The term "Subsidiary" shall mean 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 Shareholder set forth in paragraph B of this Article 9.3, 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.
G. The term "Fair Market Value" shall mean: (1) in the case of stock, the
highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding the
date in question of a share of such stock on the Composite Tape for New York
Stock Exchange-Listed Stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite
Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or if such stock is not listed on such
Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under
the Act on which such stock is listed or, if such stock is not listed on any
such exchange, the highest closing bid quotation with respect to a share of such
stock during the 30-day period preceding the date in question on the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any
similar system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the fair
market value on the date in question of a share of such stock as determined by a
majority of the Disinterested Directors in good faith, in each case with respect
to any class of such stock, appropriately adjusted for any dividend or
distribution in shares of such stock or any subdivision 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 (2) 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 a majority of the Disinterested Directors in good
faith.
H. In the event of any Business Combination in which the Corporation is
the survivor, the phrase "consideration other than cash to be received" as used
in clauses (1) and (2) of paragraph B of Article 9.2 shall include the shares of
Common Stock and/or the shares of any other eligible outstanding Voting Stock
retained by the holders of such shares.
I. The term "Disinterested Director" shall mean any member of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation who is unaffiliated with the Interested Shareholder
and who was a member of the Board of Directors prior to the Determination Date,
and any successor of a Disinterested Director who is unaffiliated with the
Interested Shareholder and is recommended to succeed a Disinterested Director by
a majority of the total number of Disinterested Directors then on the Board of
Directors.
J. References 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 subdivision 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.
9.4 POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
A majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall have the
power and duty to decide for the purpose of this Article 9, on the basis of
information known to them after reasonable inquiry, whether a person is an
Interested Shareholder. Once the Board of Directors has made a determination
pursuant to the preceding sentence that a person is an Interested Shareholder, a
majority of the number of Directors of the Corporation who would qualify as
Disinterested Directors shall have the power and duty to interpret all of the
terms and provisions of this Article 9, and to determine on the basis of
information known to them after reasonable inquiry all facts necessary to
ascertain compliance with this Article 9, including, without limitation: (A) the
number of shares of Voting Stock beneficially owned by any person, (B) whether a
person is an Affiliate or Associate of another, (C) whether the assets which are
the subject of any Business Combination have an aggregate Fair Market Value of
$500,000 or more and (D) whether all of the applicable conditions set forth in
paragraph B of Article 9.2 have been met with respect to any Business
Combination. Any determination pursuant to this Article 9.4 made in good faith
shall be binding and conclusive on all parties.
9.5 NO EFFECT ON FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS OF INTERESTED SHAREHOLDERS.
Nothing contained in this Article 9 shall be construed to relieve any
Interested Shareholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.
9.6 AMENDMENT, REPEAL, ETC.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles of Incorporation or
the Bylaws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser
percentage may be specified by these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of
the Corporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% or more of the
outstanding Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required
to amend, repeal or adopt any provisions inconsistent with this Article 9.
ARTICLE 10. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL OF PLAN OF MERGER OR SHARE EXCHANGE. A
majority of all votes entitled to be cast by each voting group is sufficient to
approve any plan of merger or share exchange requiring approval of the
Corporation's shareholders pursuant to Section 35-1-815 of the MBCA (as such
statute exists on the effective date of these Articles of Incorporation or as it
may be thereafter in effect); provided that, notwithstanding anything contained
in these Articles of Incorporation to the contrary, any transaction with an
Interested Party shall be approved in the manner specified in Article 9.
ARTICLE 11. AMENDMENT. The Corporation 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
shareholders herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided that,
notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles of Incorporation to the
contrary, Article 9 shall be amended in the manner specified in Article 9.6.