CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
We, W. G. Holliman, Chairman of the Board, and Lynn Chipperfield,
Secretary, of FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC., a corporation organized and
existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 151(g) thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company, the said Board of
Directors on July 30, adopted the following resolution creating a series of One
Million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors
of the Company in accordance with the provisions of its Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, a series of Preferred Stock of the company be and it
hereby is created, and that the designation and amount thereof and the powers,
preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of
the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof are as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount.
There shall be a series of the Preferred Stock which shall be designated as
the "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock," no par value, and the
number of shares constituting such series shall be 1,000,000. 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 Junior
Participating Preferred Stock to a number less than that of the shares then
outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding
rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued
by the Company.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of
preferred stock of the Company ranking prior and superior to the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders
of shares of Common Stock, no par value, of the Company (the "Common Stock"),
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 any regular quarterly dividend
payment date as shall be established by the Board of Directors (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 Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an
amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00
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 Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the event the Company shall at
any time after July 30, 1998 (the "Rights Declaration Date") 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 Junior
Participating 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
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series A
Junior Participating 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 Junior Participating 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 Junior Participating 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 Junior Participating 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, in accordance with applicable law, fix
a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than such
number of days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof as may be allowed
by applicable law.
Section 3. Voting Rights.
The holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Each share of Series A Junior Participating 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
after the Rights Declaration Date 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 to which holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under 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) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock, and the
holders of shares of 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 otherwise set forth herein or in the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, and except as otherwise provided by law, holders
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting
rights and their consent shall not be required (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 dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Junior
Participating 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 Junior Participating Preferred Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Company shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem
or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on 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 Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Junior Participating
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) except as permitted in Section 4(A)(iv) below, redeem or purchase or
otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the Company may at
any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity 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 Junior
Participating Preferred Stock; and
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity
with the Series A Junior Participating 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.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares.
Any shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchased or
otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and
canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. The Company shall cause all
such shares upon their cancellation to be authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock which may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred
Stock, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of
Preferred Stock of the Company ranking prior and superior to the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock with respect to liquidation, upon any liquidation
(voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Company, no
distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have received
$100.00 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the
"Series A Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full amount of
the Series A Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made
to the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received
an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to the quotient obtained by
dividing (i) the Series A Liquidation Preference by (ii) 100 (as appropriately
adjusted as set forth in subparagraph C below to reflect such events as stock
dividends, and subdivisions, combinations and consolidations with respect to the
Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii) being referred to as the "Adjustment
Number"). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series A Liquidation
Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively,
holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and holders of shares
of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of the
remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1
with respect to such Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common
Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B) In the event there are not sufficient assets available to permit
payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation
preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if any, which rank on a
parity with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, then such
remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity
shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event
there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the
Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to
the holders of Common Stock.
(C) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Rights Declaration
Date declare or pay any dividend on 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 Adjustment Number in
effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such
Adjustment 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.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc.
In case the Company shall enter 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 the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in 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
after the Rights Declaration Date declare or pay any dividend on 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 set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Junior Participating 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 are
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. Redemption.
The shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall not be
redeemable.
Section 9. Ranking.
The Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all
other series of the Company's Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and
the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide
otherwise.
Section 10. Fractional Shares.
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of
a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's
fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in
distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this Certificate and do
affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury this 30th day of
July, 1998.
By: /s/ W.G. Holliman
------------------
Name: W.G. Holliman
Title: Chairman of the Board
Attest
By: /s/ Lynn Chipperfield
----------------------
Name: Lynn Chipperfield
Title: Secretary