1 EXHIBIT 3.1 NEW BRUNSWICK NOUVEAU BRUNSWICK BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT LOI SUR LES CORPORATIONS COMMERCIALES FORM 1 FORMULA 1 ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION STATUTS CONSTITUTIVS (SECTION 4) (ARTICLE 4) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-Name of Corporation Raison sociale de la corporation PCI Chemicals Canada, Inc./Produits Chimiques PCI Canada Inc. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-The classes and any maximum number of Les categories et le nombre maximal shares that the corporation is authorized d'actions que la corporation peut emettre to issue and any maximum aggregate amount ainsi que le montant maximal global pour for which shares may be issued including lequel les actions pauvent etre amises y shares without par value and/or with par compris les actions sans valeur au pair ou value and the amount of the par value. avec valeur au pair ou les deux et le montant de la valeur au pair. One class of shares without nominal or par value, unlimited as to number. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-Restrictions if any on share transfers Restrictions, s'il y en a, au transfert d'actions The shares of the Corporation shall not be transferred without the consent of either (i) the directors evidenced by a resolution passed or signed by them and recorded in the books of the Corporation or (ii) the holders of a majority in number of the outstanding voting shares of the Corporation. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-Number (or minimum and maximum number) Nombre (ou nombre minimum et of directors maximum) d'administrateurs Minimum of one and a maximum of ten as determined from time to time by resolution of the board of directors. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5-Restrictions if any on business the Restricions, s'il y en a, a corporation may carry on l'activite que peut exacer la corporation None - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6-Other provisions if any D'autres dispositions, le cas echeant The annexed Schedule "I" is incorporated in this form. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-Incorporators Fondateurs - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date Name-Noms Address (include postal code) Signature Adresses (y compris la code postal) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sept. Darrell J. P.O. Box 7389, Stn. "A", 44 Chipman /s/ Darrell J. Stephenson 6th 1997 Stephenson Hill, Saint John, N.B., E2L 4S6 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR DEPARTMENT USE ONLY RESERVE A L'URAGE DU MINSTERE - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Corporation No.-Corporation No. Filed-Depose 505548 Filed/Depose Sep 17 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 PCI CHEMICALS CANADA INC./PRODUCTS CHIMIOUES PCI CANADA INC. (the "Corporation") Schedule "I" to the Foregoing Form 1 Under the Business Corporations Act (New Brunswick) (the "Act") Other provisions applicable to the Corporation and incorporated into the Articles of Incorporation are as set forth below. 1. The number of shareholders of the Corporation is limited to fifty (50), not including persons who are in the employment of the Corporation and persons, who, having been formerly in the employment of the Corporation, were, while in that employment, and have continued after the termination of that employment to be, shareholders of the Corporation, two or more persons holding one or more shares jointly being counted as a single shareholder. 2. Any distribution of securities of the Corporation to the public or any invitation to the public to subscribe for securities of the Corporation is prohibited. 3. The directors of the Corporation may, without authorization of the shareholders: (a) borrow money upon the credit of the Corporation; (b) issue, re-issue, sell or pledge any bonds, debentures, debenture stock or other debt obligations of the Corporation; (c) subject to the Act, give a guarantee on behalf of the Corporation to secure the performance of an obligation of any person; and (d) mortgage, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise create a security interest in all or any moveable or personal, immoveable or real, or other property of the Corporation including book debts, rights, powers, franchises, goodwill and undertaking, owned or subsequently acquired, present or future, to secure any debt or obligation, including contingent obligations, of the Corporation, in such amounts and on such terms and conditions as they deem expedient. The directors may, by resolution or by-law for the delegation of such powers by the directors to such officer or officers or director or directors of the Corporation, to such extent and in such a manner as may be set out in the resolution or by-law, as the case may be. 4. Notwithstanding subsection 87(1) of the Act (as from time to time in force) notice of the time and place of a meeting of shareholders of the Corporation shall be deemed to be properly given if sent not less than (5) days before the meeting: 3 -2- (a) to each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting; (b) to each director; and (c) to the auditor, if any. 5. Notwithstanding subsections 84(1) and (2) of the Act (as from time to time in force), meetings of shareholders of the Corporation may be held at any place outside of the Province of New Brunswick including, without limitation, the Cities of Montreal and Toronto, Canada and in any location in the United States of America. 6. Meetings of the board of directors of the Corporation may be held at any place within or outside the Province of New Brunswick. 7. Notwithstanding any provision in the Act (as from time to time in force), the Corporation or any corporation with which it is affiliated may, directly or indirectly, give financial assistance by means of a loan, guarantee or otherwise; (a) to any shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Corporation or of an affiliated corporation; or (b) to any associate of a shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Corporation or of an affiliated corporation; even if there are reasonable grounds for believing that (c) the Corporation is, or after giving the financial assistance would be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due; or (d) the realizable value of the corporation's assets, excluding the amount of any financial assistance in the form of a loan or in the form of assets pledged or encumbered to secure a guarantee, after giving the financial assistance in the form of a loan or in the form of assets pledged or encumbered to secure a guarantee, after giving the financial assistance, would be less than the aggregate of the Corporation's liabilities and stated capital of all classes. 8. (a) Notwithstanding Section 2 of Section 27 of the BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT as from time to time in force, the holders of equity shares of any class, in the case of the proposed issuance by the Corporation of, or the proposed granting by the Corporation of rights or options to purchase, its equity shares of any class or any shares or other securities convertible into or carrying rights or options to purchase its equity shares of any class, shall not as such, even if the issuance of the equity shares proposed to be issued or issuable upon exercise of such 4 rights or options or upon conversion of such other securities would adversely affect the unlimited dividend rights of such holders, have the right to purchase such shares or other securities. (b) Notwithstanding Sections 3 of Section 27 of the Business Corporations Act as from time to time in force, the holders of voting shares of any class in the case of the proposed issuance by the Corporation of, or the proposed granting by the Corporation of rights or options to purchase, its voting shares of any class or any shares or other securities convertible into or carrying rights or options to purchase its voting shares of any class, shall not as such, even if the issuance of the voting shares proposed to be issued or issuable upon exercise of such rights or options or upon conversion of such other securities would adversely affect the voting rights of such holders, have the right to purchase such shares or other securities. 5 NEW BRUNSWICK NOUVEAU BRUNSWICK BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT LOI SUR LES CORPORATIONS COMMERCIALES FORM 2 FORMULE 2 NOTICE OF REGISTERED OFFICE AVIS DE DESIGNATION OU NOTICE OF CHANGE OF REGISTERED OFFICE AVIS DE CHANGEMENT DU DUREAD ENREGISTRE (SECTION 17) (ARTICLE 17) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-Name of Corporation/Raison sociale de la 2-Corporation No./No. de corporation corporation PCI Chemicals Canada Inc./Produits Chimiques PCI Canada Inc. 505548 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-Place and address of the registered office/Lieu et adresse du bureau enregistre 44 Chipman Hill Suite 1000 P.O. Box 7289, Stn. "A" Saint John, NB E2L 4S6 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-Effective date of change Date d'entree en vigueur du changement N/A - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5-Previous place and address of the Derniers lieu et adresse du bureau registered office N/A enregistre - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date Signature Description of office - Function - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September [ ] /s/ Illegible Incorporator 1997 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT LOI SUR LES CORPORATIONS COMMERCIALES FORM 4 FORMULE 4 NOTICE OF DIRECTORS OR NOTICE OF LISTE DES ADMINISTRATEURS OU CHANGE OF DIRECTORS AVIS DE CHANGEMENT D'ADMINISTRATEURS (SECTION 64, 71) (ARTICLE 64, 71) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-Name of Corporation - Raison sociale de la corporation PCI Chemicals Canada Inc./Produits Chimiques PCI Canada Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-The following persons became directors Liste des personnes devenues administrateurs of this corporation de la corporation Effective Date Date d'entree en vigueur Upon the issuance of the Certificate of Incorporation - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name/Nom Residential Address or Address for Service Occupation Telephone Adresse residentelle ou adresse pour fin de Telephone signification - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See attached Schedule "A" - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-The following persons ceased to be directors Liste des personnes qui ont cesse of the corporation d'etre administrateure de la corporation Effective Date / Date d'entree en vigueur Upon the Issuance of the Certificate of Incorporation - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name/Nom Residential Address or Address for Service Addresse residentialle ou adresse pour fin de signification - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- N/A N/A - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-The directors of the corporation now are Administrateurs actuale de la corporation - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name/Nom Residential Address or address for service Occupation Telephone Adresse residentielle ou adresse pour fin de Telephone signification - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See attached Schedule "A" - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date Signature Description of Office / Function - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 16th /s/ Illegible Incorporator 1997 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Department Use Only/Reserve a l'usage du Forms 2 and 4/Formules 2 et 4 ministers Filed/Depose Filed [Illegible], 1997 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: TO BE USED FOR NEW INCORPORATIONS ONLY REM: A N'UTILISER QUE POUR UNE NOUVELLE CONSTITUTION EN CORPORATION 6 SCHEDULE "A" DIRECTORS Michael J. Ferris 700 Louisiana Street Suite 4300 Houston, Texas U.S.A. 77002 Tel: (713) 225-3831 Philip J. Ablove 700 Louisiana Street Suite 4300 Houston, Texas U.S.A. 77002 Tel: (713) 225-3831 Kent R. Stephenson 700 Louisiana Street Suite 4300 Houston, Texas U.S.A. 77002 Tel: (713) 225-3831