Exhibit (3)(a)
FILED AND EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2004
STATE OF MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & ECONOMIC GROWTH
BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION DIVISION
LANSING, MICHIGAN
RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
(Profit Corporation)
Corporation Identification Number 485-283
These Restated Articles of Incorporation of CMS Energy Corporation (the Corporation) are
executed pursuant to the provisions of Sections 641 through 651, Act 284, Public Acts of 1972, as
amended, (the Act). These Restated Articles of Incorporation were authorized by the Board of
Directors at its meeting held on May 28, 2004 without a vote of the shareholders pursuant to the
provisions of Section 642 of the Act in order to restate and integrate the Articles and do not
further amend the Articles as theretofore amended, and there is no material discrepancy between
those provisions and the provisions of these Restated Articles.
The present name of the Corporation is CMS Energy Corporation. There are no former names.
The date of filing the original Articles of Incorporation in Michigan was February 26, 1987.
RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
The following Restated Articles of Incorporation supersede the original Articles as amended
and shall be the Articles of Incorporation of CMS Energy Corporation.
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation is CMS Energy Corporation (hereinafter called the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
The purpose or purposes for which the Corporation is organized is to engage in any activity
within the purposes for which corporations may be organized under the Business Corporation Act of
Michigan.
ARTICLE III
The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority
to issue is 360,000,000, of which 10,000,000 shares, par value $.01 per share, are of a class
designated Preferred Stock (Preferred Stock), and 350,000,000 shares, par value $.01 per share,
are of a class designated Common Stock (Common Stock).
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The statement of the designations and the voting and other powers, preferences and rights,
and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the Common Stock and of the
Preferred Stock is as follows:
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
The holders of shares of Preferred Stock or of Common Stock shall have no preemptive rights
to subscribe for or purchase any additional issues of shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation of any class now or hereafter authorized or any Preferred Stock, bonds, debentures, or
other obligations or rights or options convertible into or exchangeable for or entitling the
holder or owner to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock, or any rights to
exchange shares issued for shares to be issued.
PREFERRED STOCK
The shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series with such
relative rights and preferences of the shares of any such series as may be determined by the Board
of Directors. The Board of Directors is authorized to fix by resolution or resolutions adopted
prior to the issuance of any shares of each particular series of Preferred Stock, the designation,
powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other rights, and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, if any, of such series, including, but
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:
(a) The rate of dividend, if any;
(b) The price at and the terms and conditions upon which shares may be redeemed;
(c) The rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the series upon voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, merger, consolidation, distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation;
(d) Sinking fund or redemption or purchase provisions, if any, to be provided for shares of
the series;
(e) The terms and conditions upon which shares may be converted into shares of other series or
other capital stock, if issued with the privilege of conversion; and
(f) The voting rights in the event of default in the payment of dividends or under such other
circumstances and upon such conditions as the Board of Directors may determine.
No holder of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote in the
election of directors or in respect of any other matter except as may be required by the Michigan
Business Corporation Act, as amended, or as is permitted by the resolution or resolutions adopted
by the Board of Directors authorizing the issue of such series of Preferred Stock.
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Series Established By Articles
There is hereby established one series of Preferred Stock designated as 4.50% Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock. The number of shares that shall constitute such series shall be
5,000,000 shares.
4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
The Board of Directors hereby establishes a series of the preferred stock of the Corporation
and hereby states that the series voting powers, designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof (in addition to the provisions set forth in the Articles of Incorporation which are
applicable to the preferred stock of all series), shall be as follows:
1. Designation and Amount; Ranking.
(a) There shall be created from the 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Corporation authorized to be issued pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, a
series of preferred stock, designated as the 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock), and the number of shares of such
series shall be 5,000,000. Such number of shares may be decreased by resolution of the Board of
Directors; provided that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock to a number less than that of the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock then
outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of options or rights then outstanding.
(b) The 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock will, with respect to both dividend rights and
rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, rank (i) senior to all
Junior Stock and (ii) on a parity with all other Parity Stock.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Accumulated Dividends shall mean, with respect to any share of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock, as of any date, the aggregate accumulated and unpaid dividends on such
share from and including the most recent Dividend Payment Date to which dividends have been
paid (or the Issue Date, if such date is prior to the first Dividend Payment Date) to but
not including such date.
Additional Dividends shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3(b).
Affiliate shall have the meaning ascribed to it, on the date hereof, under Rule 405
of the Securities Act.
Agent Members shall have the meaning given to it in Section 11(a)(ii).
Board of Directors shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation or, with
respect to any action to be taken by the Board of Directors, any committee (special or
otherwise) of the Board of Directors duly authorized to take such action.
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Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to
close.
Certificate of Designation means the designation if the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
in this Article III.
Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall have the meaning given to it in
Section 4(f).
Common Equity of any Person means capital stock of such Person that is generally entitled
to (i) vote in the election of directors of such Person or (ii) if such Person is not a
corporation, vote or otherwise participate in the selection of the governing body, partners,
managers or others that will control the management or policies of such Person.
Common Stock shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation, or
any other class of stock resulting from successive changes or reclassifications of such common
stock consisting solely of changes in par value, or from par value to no par value, or as a result
of a subdivision, combination or merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the
Corporation is a constituent corporation.
Continuing Director means a director who either was a member of the Board of Directors on
December 5, 2003 or who becomes a member of the Board of Directors subsequent to that date and
whose appointment, election or nomination for election by the Corporations shareholders is duly
approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors on the Board of Directors at the time of such
approval, either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement issued by the Corporation
on behalf of the Board of Directors in which such individual is named as nominee for director.
Conversion Agent means the office or agency designated by the Corporation where 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock may be presented for conversion. Initially, the Conversion Agent shall
be the Corporation located at One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan 49201.
Conversion Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(b).
Conversion Notice shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(a).
Conversion Price shall mean $9.893 per share of Common Stock.
Conversion Rate shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
a share of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock per Liquidation Preference. The initial Conversion
Rate is 5.0541 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock per Liquidation Preference.
Corporation Notice shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(e).
Corporation Notice Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(e).
Distributed Assets or Securities shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(f)(iii).
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Dividend Payment Date shall mean March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year,
commencing March 1, 2004.
Dividend Rate shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3(a).
Dividend Record Date shall mean February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.
DTC or Depository means The Depository Trust Company.
Equity Interests means any capital stock, partnership, joint venture, member or limited
liability or unlimited liability company interest, beneficial interest in a trust or similar
entity or other equity interest or investment of whatever nature.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
Fair Market Value means the amount which a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in an
arms length transaction.
A Fundamental Change shall be deemed to have occurred at such time after the original
issuance of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock that any of the following occurs: (i) the Common
Stock or other capital stock into which the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible is
neither listed for trading on a United States national securities exchange nor approved for
trading on the NASDAQ National Market or another established automated over-the-counter trading
market in the United States; (ii) a person or group within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act, other than the Corporation, any subsidiary of the Corporation or any employee
benefit plan of the Corporation or any such subsidiary, files a Schedule TO (or any other
schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act) disclosing that such person or group has become
the direct or indirect ultimate beneficial owner (as such term is used in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5
under the Exchange Act, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have beneficial
ownership of all shares that such Person or group has the right to acquire whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) of Common Equity of the Corporation
representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Corporations Common Equity; (iii)
consummation of any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Corporation pursuant to which
the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property or any sale, lease or
other transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the
consolidated assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person
(other than the Corporation or one or more of the Corporations subsidiaries); provided, however,
that a transaction where the holders of the Corporations Common Equity immediately prior to such
transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the aggregate voting power of all
classes of Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee immediately
after such event shall not be a Fundamental Change; or (iv) Continuing Directors cease to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that a Fundamental
Change shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of any of the foregoing if either (A) the
Last Reported Sale Price per share of Common Stock for any five Trading Days within the period of
10 consecutive Trading Days ending immediately before the later of the Fundamental Change or the
public announcement thereof shall equal or exceed 105% of the Conversion Price in effect
immediately before the Fundamental Change or the public announcement thereof or (B) at
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least 90% of the consideration (excluding cash payments for fractional shares) in the transaction
or transactions constituting the Fundamental Change consists of shares of capital stock traded on a
national securities exchange or quoted on the NASDAQ National Market (or which shall be so traded
or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such Fundamental Change) (such securities
being referred to as Publicly Traded Securities) and as a result of such transaction or
transactions the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock becomes convertible into such Publicly Traded
Securities (excluding cash payments for fractional shares).
Fundamental Change Purchase Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(a).
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c).
Fundamental Change Purchase Price shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(a).
Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall have the meaning given to it in Section
11(a)(i).
Holder or holder shall mean a holder of record of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock.
Issue Date shall mean December 5, 2003, the original date of issuance of the 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock.
Junior Stock shall mean all classes of common stock of the Corporation and each other class
of capital stock or series of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock established after the Issue Date,
by the Board of Directors, the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series
ranks senior to or on parity with the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or
rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation.
Last Reported Sale Price of Common Stock on any date means the closing sale price per share
(or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than
one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on that date as
reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. securities exchange on which Common
Stock is traded or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a U.S. national or regional securities
exchange, as reported by the NASDAQ National Market. If the Common Stock is not listed for trading
on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange and not reported by the NASDAQ National Market
on the relevant date, the Last Reported Sale Price shall be the last quoted bid price for Common
Stock in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date as reported by the National Quotation
Bureau or similar organization. If the Common Stock is not so quoted, the Last Reported Sale Price
will be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices for the Common Stock on the
relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking
firms selected by the Corporation for this purpose.
Liquidation Preference shall mean, with respect to each share of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock, $50.
Mandatory Conversion Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 8(b).
Market Price means the average of the Last Reported Sales Price per share of Common
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Stock for the 20 Trading Day period ending on the applicable date of determination (if the
applicable date of determination is a Trading Day or, if not, then on the last Trading Day prior to
such applicable date of determination), appropriately adjusted to take into account the occurrence,
during the period commencing on the first of the Trading Days during such 20 Trading Day period and
ending on the applicable date of determination, of any event that would result in an adjustment of
the Conversion Rate under this Certificate of Designation.
Market Value shall mean the average closing price of the Common Stock for a five
consecutive Trading Day period on the NYSE (or such other national securities exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed or authorized for quotation
or, if the Common Stock is not so listed or authorized for quotation, an amount determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors to be the fair value of the Common Stock).
Maximum Conversion Rate shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(f)(viii).
NYSE shall mean the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Officer means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice President,
the Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by two Officers.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the
Transfer Agent. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Corporation or the Transfer
Agent.
Parity Stock shall mean any class of capital stock or series of preferred stock established
as of or after the Issue Date by the Board of Directors, the terms of which expressly provide that
such class or series will rank on parity with the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock as to dividend
rights or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation.
Paying Agent means any Person authorized by the Corporation to pay the dividends or
Fundamental Change Purchase Price on any of the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock on
behalf of the Corporation. Initially, the Paying Agent shall be the Corporation.
Person shall mean any individual, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership,
limited liability partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, limited
liability company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof.
Registration Default shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3(b).
Registration Rights Agreement means the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December
5, 2003, among the Corporation, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated and the certain other initial purchasers of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock.
SEC or Commission shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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Security Register means the security register recording the holders of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock kept at the offices of the Corporation.
Security Registrar shall be the Person holding the Security Register, and the Corporation
will initially be designated as the Security Registrar.
Senior Stock shall mean each class of capital stock or series of preferred stock
established after the Issue Date by the Board of Directors, the terms of which expressly provide
that such class or series will rank senior to the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock as to dividend
rights or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation.
Shelf Registration Statement shall mean a shelf registration statement filed with the SEC
to cover resales of Transfer Restricted Securities by holders thereof, as required by the
Registration Rights Agreement.
Spin-Off Market Price per share of Common Stock of the Corporation or the Equity Interests
in a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Corporation on any day means the average of the
daily Last Reported Sale Prices for the 10 consecutive Trading Days commencing on and including
the fifth Trading Day after the ex date with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring
such computations. As used herein, the term ex date, when used with respect to any issuance or
distribution, shall mean the first date on which the security trades regular way on the NYSE or
such other national regional exchange or market in which the security trades without the right to
receive such issuance or distribution.
Subsidiary means a Person more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned,
directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the
Corporation and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, voting
stock means stock which ordinarily has voting power of the election of directors, whether at all
times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any
contingency.
Trading Day means (i) if the applicable security is listed, admitted for trading or quoted
on the NYSE, the NASDAQ National Market or another national security exchange, a day on which the
NYSE, the NASDAQ National Market or another national security exchange is open for business or
(ii) if the applicable security is not so listed, admitted for trading or quoted, any day other
than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are
authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.
Trading Exception shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(a)(ii).
Trading Price of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock on any date of determination means
the average of the secondary market bid quotations per share of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
obtained by the Conversion Agent for $5,000,000 Liquidation Preference of the 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such determination date from
three independent nationally recognized securities dealers the Corporation selects, provided that
if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the Conversion Agent, but two such bids are
obtained, then the average of the two bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably
be obtained by the Conversion Agent, this one bid shall be used. If the Conversion Agent cannot
reasonably obtain at least one bid for
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$5,000,000 Liquidation Preference of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock from a nationally
recognized securities dealer, then the Trading Price will be deemed to be less than 95% of
the product of the sale price of Common Stock and the then applicable Conversion Rate.
Transfer Agent shall mean the Corporations duly appointed transfer agent for the
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. Initially, the Corporation will be the Transfer Agent.
Transfer Restricted Securities shall mean each share of 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock (or the shares of Common Stock into which such share of 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock is convertible) until (i) the date on which such security or its predecessor has been
effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf
Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which such security or predecessor is distributed to
the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act or (iii) the date that such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
ceases to be outstanding.
Voting Rights Class shall have the meaning given to it in Section 5(a)(i).
Voting Rights Triggering Event shall mean the failure of the Corporation to pay
dividends on the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to six or more quarterly
periods (whether or not consecutive).
Voting Stock shall mean, with respect to any Person, securities of any class or
classes of Capital Stock in such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times
or only so long as no senior class of stock has voting power by reason of contingency)
generally to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors or other governing
body of such Person. For purposes of this definition, Capital Stock shall mean, with
respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents
(however designated) of corporate stock or partnership interests and any and all warrants,
options and rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including
each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person.
3. Dividends.
(a) The holders of shares of the outstanding 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be
entitled, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds of the Corporation
legally available therefor, to receive cumulative cash dividends at the rate per annum of 4.50%
per share on the Liquidation Preference (equivalent to $2.25 per annum per share), payable
quarterly in arrears (the Dividend Rate). The Dividend Rate may be increased in the
circumstances described in Section 3(b) below. Dividends payable for each full dividend period
will be computed by dividing the Dividend Rate by four and shall be payable in arrears on each
Dividend Payment Date (commencing March 1, 2004) for the quarterly period ending immediately prior
to such Dividend Payment Date, to the holders of record of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock at
the close of business on the Dividend Record Date applicable to such Dividend Payment Date. Such
dividends shall be cumulative from the most recent date as to which dividends shall have been paid
or, if no dividends have been paid, from the Issue Date (whether or not in any dividend period or
periods the Board of Directors shall have declared such dividends or there shall be funds of the
Corporation legally available for the payment of such dividends) and shall accumulate on a
day-to-day basis, whether or not earned or declared, from and after the Issue Date. Dividends
payable for any partial dividend period shall be computed on the basis of days elapsed over a
360-day year consisting of twelve 30-
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day months. Accumulated unpaid dividends accrue and cumulate dividends at the annual rate of 4.50%
and are payable in the manner provided in this Section 3.
(b) If (i) by November 5, 2004, the Shelf Registration Statement has not been filed with the
Commission, (ii) by March 5, 2005, the Shelf Registration Statement has not been declared effective
by the Commission, (iii) after the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective the
Corporation fails to file a post-effective amendment, prospectus supplement, amendment or
supplement to any document incorporated by reference into such prospectus or document if required
by applicable law with the SEC within five business days after a Holder provides the Corporation
with certain required information, if such filing is necessary to enable the Holder to deliver the
prospectus to purchasers of such Holders Transfer Restricted Securities, (iv) the Shelf
Registration Statement ceases to be effective or fails to be usable without being succeeded within
30 days by a post-effective amendment or an additional registration statement filed and declared
effective (other than as permitted in (iii) above) pursuant to the Exchange Act that cures the
failure of the registration statement to be effective or usable, and (v) the aggregate duration of
any suspension periods in any period exceeds certain limits described in the Registration Rights
Agreement (each such event referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) a Registration
Default), additional dividends shall accumulate on the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, from and
including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to, but excluding, the date
on which the Registration Default has been cured, at the rate of 0.25% per year for the first 90
days following such date and at a rate of 0.50% per year thereafter (Additional Dividends). With
respect to shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock,
Additional Dividends will accumulate on the then applicable conversion price from and including the
date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to, but excluding, the date on which the
Registration Default has been cured, at the rate of 0.25% per year for the first 90 days following
such date and at a rate of 0.50% per year thereafter. Except as mentioned above, the Corporation
will have no other liabilities for monetary damages with respect to its registration obligations.
The receipt of Additional Dividends will be the sole monetary remedy available to a Holder if the
Corporation fails to meet these obligations.
(c) No dividend will be declared or paid upon, or any sum set apart for the payment of
dividends upon, any outstanding share of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to any
dividend period unless all dividends for all preceding dividend periods have been declared and paid
or declared and a sufficient sum set apart for the payment of such dividend upon all outstanding
shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock.
(d) No dividends or other distributions (other than a dividend or distribution payable solely
in shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock (in the case of Parity Stock) or Junior Stock (in the
case of Junior Stock) and other than cash paid in lieu of fractional shares) may be declared, made
or paid, or set apart for payment upon, any Parity Stock or Junior Stock, nor may any Parity Stock
or Junior Stock be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any money
paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any Parity Stock or Junior
Stock) by or on behalf of the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of
Parity Stock or Junior Stock (in the case of Parity Stock) or Junior Stock (in the case of Junior
Stock)), unless full Accumulated Dividends shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and
paid, or are declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for such payment,
on the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock for all dividend payment periods
terminating on or prior to the date of such declaration, payment, redemption, purchase or
acquisition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if full dividends have not been paid on the 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock, dividends may be declared and paid on the 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock so long as the dividends are declared and paid
pro rata so that the amounts of dividends
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declared per share on the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock will in all cases
bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock and such other Parity Stock bear to each other.
(e) Holders of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any
dividends on the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in
excess of full cumulative dividends and Additional Dividends (if any).
(f) The holders of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock at the close of business on a
Dividend Record Date will be entitled to receive the dividend payment on those shares on the
corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the subsequent conversion thereof or the
Corporations default in payment of the dividend due on that Dividend Payment Date. However, shares
of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion during the period between the close
of business on any Dividend Record Date and the close of business on the Business Day immediately
preceding the applicable Dividend Payment Date must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to
the dividend payable on the shares on that Dividend Payment Date; provided, however, that no such
payment need be made if (1) the Corporation has specified a Mandatory Conversion Date that is after
a Dividend Record Date and on or prior to the immediately following Dividend Payment Date or (2)
any accumulated and unpaid dividends exist at the time of conversion with respect to such shares of
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock to the extent of such accumulated and unpaid dividends. A holder
of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock on a Dividend Record Date who (or whose transferee)
tenders any shares for conversion on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date will receive the
dividend payable by the Corporation on the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock on that date, and the
converting holder need not include payment in the amount of such dividend upon surrender of shares
of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock for conversion. Except as provided above with respect to a
voluntary conversion pursuant to Section 7, the Corporation shall make no payment or allowance for
unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on converted shares or for dividends on the shares of
Common Stock issued upon conversion.
(g) In any case where any Dividend Payment Date or Conversion Date (including upon the
occurrence of a Fundamental Change) of any 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be a
Business Day, at any place of payment, then payment of dividends (and Additional Dividends, if any)
need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such place of
payment with the same force and effect as if made on the dividend payment date or Conversion Date
(including upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change); and no interest shall accumulate on the
amount so payable for the period from and after such Dividend Payment Date or Conversion Date, as
the case may be, to such Business Day.
(h) The Paying Agent shall return to the Corporation upon written request any money or
property held by it for the payment of any amount with respect to the 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock that remains unclaimed for two years, provided, however, that the Paying Agent, before being
required to make any such return, shall at the expense of the Corporation cause to be published
once in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or mail to each such Holder
notice that such money or property remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein,
which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed
money or property then remaining shall be returned to the Corporation. After return to the
Corporation, Holders entitled to the money or property must look to the Corporation for payment as
general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
11
4. Fundamental Change.
(a) Purchase at the Option of the Holder Upon a Fundamental Change. Each Holder shall have the
right, at such Holders option, to require the Corporation to purchase any or all of such Holders
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock for cash or a check on the date that is no earlier than 60 days
nor later than 90 days after the date of the Corporation Notice of the occurrence of such
Fundamental Change (subject to extension to comply with applicable law, as provided in Section 4(h)
(the Fundamental Change Purchase Date). The 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be
repurchased in integral multiples of $50.00 (representing the Liquidation Preference). The
Corporation shall purchase such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock at a price (the Fundamental
Change Purchase Price) equal to 100% of the Liquidation Price of the number of shares of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock to be purchased plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, including
Additional Dividends, if any, to the Fundamental Change Purchase Date.
(b) Notice of Fundamental Change. The Corporation, or at its request (which must be received
by the Paying Agent at least three Business Days (or such lesser period as agreed to by the Paying
Agent) prior to the date the Paying Agent is requested to give such notice as described below), the
Paying Agent, in the name of and at the expense of the Corporation, shall mail to all Holders a
Corporation Notice of the occurrence of a Fundamental Change and of the purchase right arising as a
result thereof, including the information required by Section 4(e) hereof, on or before the 30th
day after the occurrence of such Fundamental Change.
(c) Exercise of Option. For 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock to be so purchased at the option
of the Holder, the Paying Agent must receive at its office in Jackson, Michigan, or any other
offices of the Paying Agent maintained for such purposes, such shares of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock duly endorsed for transfer, together with a written notice of purchase in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A (a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice) duly completed, on or before
the 30th day prior to the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, subject to extension to comply with
applicable law. The Fundamental Change Purchase Notice shall state:
| |
(i) |
|
if certificated, the certificate numbers of the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock which the Holder shall deliver to be purchased, or, if not certificated, the
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice must comply with appropriate Depository procedures; |
| |
| |
(ii) |
|
the number of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock which the Holder shall
deliver to be purchased, which portion must be $50.00 or an integral multiple thereof;
and |
| |
| |
(iii) |
|
that such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be purchased as of the
Fundamental Change Purchase Date pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock and in this Certificate of Designation. |
(d) Procedures. The Corporation shall purchase from a Holder, pursuant to this Section 4,
shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or multiples of $50.00 if so requested by such Holder.
Any purchase by the Corporation contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4
shall be consummated by the delivery of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price to be received by
the Holder promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change Purchase Date or the time of
book-entry transfer or delivery of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock.
12
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice contemplated by Section 4(c) hereof shall have the right at any
time prior to the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Fundamental Change Purchase
Date to withdraw such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice (in whole or in part) by delivery of a
written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 4(f) hereof.
The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Corporation of the receipt by it of any
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.
On or before 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, the
Corporation shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Corporation or an Affiliate of the
Corporation is acting as the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to
pay the aggregate Fundamental Change Purchase Price of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock to be
purchased pursuant to this Section 4. Payment by the Paying Agent of the Fundamental Change
Purchase Price for such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be made promptly following the
later of the Fundamental Change Purchase Date or the time of book-entry transfer or delivery of
such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. If the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with the terms of
this Certificate of Designation, money sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Purchase Price of
such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock on the Business Day following the Fundamental Change
Purchase Date, then, on and after such date, such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall cease to
be outstanding and dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any) on such 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock shall cease to accumulate, whether or not book-entry transfer of such 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock is made or such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is delivered to the
Paying Agent, and all other rights of the Holder shall terminate (other than the right to receive
the Fundamental Change Purchase Price upon delivery or transfer of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock). Nothing herein shall preclude any withholding tax required by law.
The Corporation shall require each Paying Agent to agree in writing that the Paying Agent
shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment
of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price. If the Corporation or an Affiliate of the Corporation
acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a
separate trust fund.
All questions as to the validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of
any 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to a Fundamental Change shall be determined by the
Corporation, whose determination shall be final and binding.
(e) Notice of Fundamental Change. The Corporation shall send notices (each, a Corporation
Notice) to the Holders (and to beneficial owners as required by applicable law) at their
addresses shown in the Security Register maintained by the Security Registrar, and delivered to
the Paying Agent on or before the 30th day after the occurrence of the Fundamental Change
(Corporation Notice Date). Each Corporation Notice shall include a form of Fundamental Change
Purchase Notice to be completed by a Holder and shall state:
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(i) |
|
the applicable Fundamental Change Purchase Price, excluding accumulated and unpaid
dividends, Conversion Rate at the time of such notice (and any adjustments to the
Conversion Rate) and, to the extent known at the time of such notice, the amount of
dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any), if any, that will be payable with
respect to the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock on the applicable Fundamental Change
Purchase Date; |
13
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(ii) |
|
the events causing the Fundamental Change and the date of the Fundamental Change; |
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(iii) |
|
the Fundamental Change Purchase Date; |
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(iv) |
|
the last date on which a Holder may exercise its purchase right; |
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(v) |
|
the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent; |
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(vi) |
|
that the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock must be surrendered to the Paying
Agent to collect payment of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price; |
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| |
(vii) |
|
that the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock as to which a Fundamental Change
Purchase Notice has been given may be converted only if the applicable Fundamental
Change Purchase Notice has been withdrawn in accordance with the terms of this
Certificate of Designation; |
| |
| |
(viii) |
|
that the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for any of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock as to which a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has been given and not withdrawn
shall be paid by the Paying Agent promptly following the later of the Fundamental
Change Purchase Date or the time of book-entry transfer or delivery of such 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock; |
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| |
(ix) |
|
the procedures the Holder must follow under this Section 4; |
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| |
(x) |
|
briefly, the conversion rights of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock; |
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| |
(xi) |
|
that, unless the Corporation defaults in making payment of such Fundamental
Change Purchase Price on the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock covered by any
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice, dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any)
will cease to accumulate on and after the Fundamental Change Purchase Date; |
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(xii) |
|
the CUSIP or ISIN number of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock; and |
| |
| |
(xiii) |
|
the procedures for withdrawing a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice. |
In connection with providing such Corporation Notice, the Corporation will issue a press
release and publish a notice containing the information in such Corporation Notice in a newspaper
of general circulation in The City of New York or publish such information on the Corporations
then existing Web site or through such other public medium as the Corporation may use at the time.
At the Corporations request, made at least five Business Days prior to the date upon which
such notice is to be mailed, and at the Corporations expense, the Paying Agent shall give the
Corporation Notice in the Corporations name; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of
the Corporation Notice shall be prepared by the Corporation.
(f) Effect of Fundamental Change Purchase Notice. Upon receipt by the Corporation of the
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice specified in this Section 4, the Holder of the 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock in respect of which such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice was given
shall (unless such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice is withdrawn as specified in this Section
4(f)) thereafter be entitled to receive solely the Fundamental Change Purchase Price with respect
to such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. Such Fundamental Change Purchase Price shall be paid by
the Paying Agent to such Holder promptly following the later of (x) the Fundamental
14
Change Purchase Date with respect to such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock (provided the
conditions in this Section 4 have been satisfied) and (y) the time of delivery or book-entry
transfer of such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock to the Paying Agent by the Holder thereof in the
manner required by this Section 4. 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock in respect of which a
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has been given by the Holder thereof may not be converted for
shares of Common Stock on or after the date of the delivery of such Fundamental Change Purchase
Notice unless such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has first been validly withdrawn as specified
in this Section 4(f). Payment of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for shares of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock in registered, certificated form (Certificated 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock) for which a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has been delivered and not
withdrawn is conditioned upon delivery of such Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
(together with necessary endorsements) to the Paying Agent at its office in Jackson, Michigan, or
any other office of the Paying Agent maintained for such purpose, at any time (whether prior to, on
or after the Fundamental Change Purchase Date) after the delivery of such Fundamental Change
Purchase Notice. Payment of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for such Certificated 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock will be made promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change
Purchase Date or the time of delivery of such Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock.
If the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with the terms of this Certificate of Designation,
money sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Purchase Price of shares of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock on the Business Day following the Fundamental Change Purchase Date for such 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock, then, on and after such date, dividends on such 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock will cease to accumulate, whether or not such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is
delivered to the Paying Agent, and all other rights of the Holder shall terminate (other than the
right to receive the Fundamental Change Purchase Price upon delivery of the 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock).
A Fundamental Change Purchase Notice may be withdrawn by means of a written notice of
withdrawal delivered to the office of the Paying Agent at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. New York
City time on the Business Day prior to the Fundamental Change Purchase Date to which it relates
specifying:
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(i) |
|
if certificated, the certificate number of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock in respect
of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, or, if not certificated, the
written notice of withdrawal must comply with appropriate Depository procedures; |
| |
| |
(ii) |
|
the number of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to which
such notice of withdrawal is being submitted; and |
| |
| |
(iii) |
|
the number of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, if any, which remains
subject to the original Fundamental Change Purchase Notice and which have been or shall
be delivered for purchase by the Corporation. |
(g) 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock Purchased in Part. Any shares of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock that are to be purchased only in part shall be surrendered (in physical or
book-entry form) at the office of the Paying Agent (with, if the Corporation so requires, due
endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation duly
executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holders attorney duly authorized in writing) and the
Corporation shall execute and the Transfer Agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of
such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, without service charge, new shares of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock, as requested by
15
such Holder in an amount equal to, and in exchange for, the portion of the Liquidation Preference
of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock so surrendered which is not purchased.
(h) Covenant to Comply with Securities Laws Upon Purchase of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock. In connection with any offer to purchase 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock under this
Section 4, the Corporation shall, to the extent applicable: (i) comply with Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1
(and any successor provisions thereto) under the Exchange Act, if applicable; (ii) file the
related Schedule TO (or any successor schedule, form or report) under the Exchange Act, if
applicable; and (iii) otherwise comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws so as
to permit the rights and obligations under this Section 4 hereof to be exercised in the time and
in the manner specified in this Section 4.
(i) Repayment to the Corporation. The Paying Agent shall return to the Corporation any cash
or property that remains unclaimed as provided in the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, together
with interest that the Paying Agent has agreed to pay, if any, held by it for the payment of a
Fundamental Change Purchase Price; provided, however, that to the extent that the aggregate amount
of cash or property deposited by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 4 exceeds the aggregate
Fundamental Change Purchase Price of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or portions thereof
which the Corporation is obligated to purchase as of the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, then
promptly on and after the Business Day following the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, the Paying
Agent shall return any such excess to the Corporation together with interest that the Paying Agent
has agreed to pay, if any.
(j) Officers Certificate. At least five Business Days before the Corporation Notice Date,
the Corporation shall deliver an Officers Certificate to the Paying Agent (provided, that, at the
Corporations option, the matters to be addressed in such Officers Certificate may be divided
among two such certificates) specifying:
| |
(i) |
|
the manner of payment selected by the Corporation; and |
| |
| |
(ii) |
|
whether the Corporation desires the Paying Agent to give the Corporation
Notice required by Section 4(e) hereof. |
5. Voting.
(a) The shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights except as set
forth below or as otherwise required by Michigan law from time to time:
| |
(i) |
|
If and whenever at any time or times a Voting Rights Triggering Event occurs, then
the holders of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, voting as a single class
with any other 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or preference securities having similar
voting rights that are exercisable (the Voting Rights Class), will be entitled at the
next regular or special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation to elect two
additional directors of the Corporation, unless the Board of Directors is comprised of
fewer than six directors at such time, in which case the Voting Rights Class shall be
entitled to elect one additional director. Upon the election of any such additional
directors, the number of directors that comprise the Board of Directors shall be
increased by such number of additional directors. |
| |
| |
(ii) |
|
Such voting rights may be exercised at a special meeting of the holders of
the shares of the Voting Rights Class, called as hereinafter provided, or at any annual
meeting of |
16
| |
|
|
shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, and thereafter at each such annual
meeting until such time as all dividends in arrears on the shares of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, at which time or times such voting rights and
the term of the directors elected pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) shall terminate. |
| |
| |
(iii) |
|
At any time when such voting rights shall have vested in holders of shares of the Voting
Rights Class, an Officer of the Corporation may call, and, upon written request of the record
holders of shares representing at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting power of the
shares then outstanding of the Voting Rights Class, addressed to the Secretary of the
Corporation, shall call a special meeting of the holders of shares of the Voting Rights Class.
Such meeting shall be held at the earliest practicable date upon the notice required for
annual meetings of shareholders at the place for holding annual meetings of shareholders of
the Corporation, or, if none, at a place designated by the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 5(a)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during a
period within the 60 days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of
shareholders, in which such case the election of directors pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) shall
be held at such annual meeting of shareholders. |
| |
| |
(iv) |
|
At any meeting held for the purpose of electing directors at which the holders of the Voting
Rights Class shall have the right to elect directors as provided herein, the presence in
person or by proxy of the holders of shares representing more than fifty percent (50%) in
voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Voting Rights Class shall be required and
shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum of such class for the election of directors by
such class. The affirmative vote of the holders of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock constituting a majority of the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock present at
such meeting, in person or by proxy shall be sufficient to elect any such director. |
| |
| |
(v) |
|
Any director elected pursuant to the voting rights created under this Section 5(a) shall
hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders (unless such term has previously
terminated pursuant to Section 5(a)(ii)) and any vacancy in respect of any such director
shall be filled only by vote of the remaining director so elected by holders of the Voting
Rights Class, or, if there be no such remaining director, by the holders of shares of the
Voting Rights Class at a special meeting called in accordance with the procedures set forth
in this Section 5, or, if no such special meeting is called, at the next annual meeting of
shareholders. Upon any termination of such voting rights, the term of office of all directors
elected pursuant to this Section 5 shall terminate. |
| |
| |
(vi) |
|
So long as any shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock remain outstanding, unless a
greater percentage shall then be required by law, the Corporation shall not, without the
affirmative vote or consent of the holders of all of the outstanding 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock voting or consenting, as the case may be, separately as one class, (i)
create, authorize or issue any class or series of Senior Stock (or any security convertible
into Senior Stock) or (ii) amend the Articles of Incorporation so as to affect adversely the
specified rights, preferences, privileges or voting rights of holders of shares of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock. |
| |
| |
(vii) |
|
In exercising the voting rights set forth in this Section 5(a), each share of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote. |
17
(b) The Corporation may authorize, increase the authorized amount of, or issue any class or
series of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, without the consent of the holders of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock, and in taking such actions the Corporation shall not be deemed to have affected
adversely the rights, preferences, privileges or voting rights of holders of shares of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock.
6. Liquidation Rights.
(a) In the event of any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, whether
voluntary of involuntary, each holder of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for
distribution to its
shareholders the Liquidation Preference plus Accumulated Dividends and Additional Dividends
thereon in preference to the holders of, and before any payment or distribution is made on,
any Junior
Stock, including, without limitation, on any Common Stock.
(b) Neither the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities
or
other consideration) of all or substantially all the assets or business of the Corporation
(other than in
connection with the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of its business) nor the merger or
consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Person shall be deemed to be a
liquidation,
winding-up or dissolution, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 6.
(c) After the payment to the holders of the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock of
full
preferential amounts provided for in this Section 6, the holders of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock
as such shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.
(d) In the event the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to the holders of
shares
of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock upon any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the
Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all
amounts to
which such holders are entitled pursuant to Section 6(a), no such distribution shall be made
on account of any shares of Parity Stock upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding-up unless
proportionate distributable amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of 4.50%
Convertible
Preferred Stock, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of
all
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock and of any Parity Stock are entitled upon such liquidation,
winding-up or dissolution.
7. Conversion.
(a) Conversion Rights. A Holder may convert 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock into Common
Stock during the periods and upon satisfaction of at least one of the conditions set forth below:
| |
(i) |
|
in any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) if the Last Reported
Sale Price for Common Stock for at least 20 Trading Days during the period of 30
consecutive Trading Days ending on the last Trading Day of the previous calendar quarter
is greater than or equal to 120% of the Conversion Price per share of Common Stock on
such last Trading Day; |
| |
| |
(ii) |
|
during the five Business Days immediately following any ten consecutive Trading
Day period in which the Trading Price per Liquidation Preference of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock (as determined following a request by a Holder of 4.50% Convertible |
18
| |
|
|
Preferred Stock in accordance with the procedures described herein) for each day of that
period was less than 95% of the product of the sale price of Common Stock and the then
applicable Conversion Rate (the Trading Exception); provided, however, that a Holder
may not convert its 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock if the average closing sale price
of Common Stock for such ten consecutive Trading Day period is between the then current
Conversion Price and 120% of the then applicable Conversion Price; in connection with any
conversion upon satisfaction of such Trading Price condition, the Conversion Agent shall
have no obligation to determine the Trading Price unless the Corporation has requested
such determination; and the Corporation shall have no obligation to make such request
unless the Holder provides reasonable evidence that the Trading Price would be less than
95% of the product of the sale price of Common Stock and the then applicable Conversion
Rate; at which time, the Corporation shall instruct the Conversion Agent to determine the
Trading Price beginning on the next Trading Day and on each successive Trading Day until
the Trading Price is greater than or equal to 95% of the product of the sale price of
Common Stock and the then applicable Conversion Rate; |
| |
| |
(iii) |
|
the Corporation becomes a party to a consolidation, merger or binding share
exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock would be converted into cash or property
(other than securities), in which case a Holder may surrender 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock for conversion at any time from and after the date which is 15 days
prior to the anticipated effective date for the transaction until 15 days after the
actual effective date of such transaction; or |
| |
| |
(iv) |
|
the Corporation elects to (i) distribute to all holders of Common Stock assets,
debt securities or rights to purchase securities of the Corporation, which distribution
has a per share value as determined by the Board of Directors exceeding 15% of the Last
Reported Sale Price of a share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding
the declaration date for such distribution, or (ii) distribute to all holders of Common
Stock rights entitling them to purchase, for a period expiring within 60 days after the
date of such distribution, shares of Common Stock at less than the Last Reported Sale
Price of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the declaration date of
the distribution. In the case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Corporation
must notify the Holders at least 20 Business Days immediately prior to the ex-dividend
date for such distribution. Once the Corporation has given such notice, Holders may
surrender their 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock for conversion at any time thereafter
until the earlier of the close of business on the Business Day immediately prior to the
ex-dividend date or the Corporations announcement that such distribution will not take
place; provided, however, that a Holder may not exercise this right to convert if the
Holder may participate in the distribution without conversion. As used herein, the term
ex dividend date, when used with respect to any issuance or distribution, shall mean
the first date on which the Common Stock trades regular way on such exchange or in such
market without the right to receive such issuance or distribution. |
The initial Conversion Rate is 5.0541 shares of Common Stock per share of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock, subject to adjustment in certain events as described herein. The Corporation
shall deliver cash or a check in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock. A Holder may
convert fewer than all of its 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock so long as the 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock converted is an integral multiple of the Liquidation Preference.
19
Holders of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock at the close of business on a Dividend Record
Date will receive payment of dividends, payable on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date
notwithstanding the conversion of such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock at any time after the
close of business on such Dividend Record Date. 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock surrendered for
conversion by a Holder during the period from the close of business on any Dividend Record Date to
the opening of business on the immediately following Dividend Payment Date must be accompanied by
payment of an amount equal to the dividend that the Holder is to receive on such 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock; provided, however, that no such payment need be made if (1) the Corporation has
specified a Mandatory Conversion Date that is after a Dividend Record Date and on or prior to the
immediately following Dividend Payment Date or (2) any accumulated and unpaid dividends exist at
the time of conversion with respect to such shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock to the
extent of such accumulated and unpaid dividends.
To convert 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock a Holder must (i) complete and manually sign the
irrevocable conversion notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (a Conversion Notice) (or
complete and manually sign a facsimile of such notice) and deliver such notice to the Conversion
Agent at its office in Jackson, Michigan or any other offices of the Conversion Agent maintained by
the Conversion Agent for such purpose, (ii) surrender the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock to the Conversion Agent, (iii) furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents if
required by the Conversion Agent or the Corporation and (iv) pay any transfer or similar tax, if
required.
(b) Conversion Procedures. To convert 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, a Holder must
satisfy the requirements in this Section 7 and in the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. The date on which the Holder satisfies all those requirements is the conversion date (the Conversion
Date). As soon as practicable, but in no event later than the fifth Business Day following the
Conversion Date, the Corporation shall update the global security representing the shares of
Common Stock to record the Holders interest in the Common Stock, or deliver to the Holder,
through the Conversion Agent, a certificate for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the conversion and cash or a check in lieu of any fractional share determined pursuant to
Section 7(c) hereof. The Person in whose name the certificate is registered shall be treated as a
shareholder of record on and after the Conversion Date; provided, however, that no surrender of
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock on any date when the stock transfer books of the Corporation
shall be closed shall be effective to constitute the Person or Persons entitled to receive the
shares of Common Stock upon such conversion as the record holder or holders of such shares of
Common Stock on such date, but such surrender shall be effective to constitute the Person or
Persons entitled to receive such shares of Common Stock as the record holder or holders thereof
for all purposes at the close of business on the next succeeding day on which such stock transfer
books are open; such conversion shall be at the Conversion Rate in effect on the date that such
shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall have been surrendered for conversion, as if the
stock transfer books of the Corporation had not been closed. Upon conversion of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock, such Person shall no longer be a Holder of such 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock.
No payment or adjustment shall be made for dividends on or other distributions with respect
to any Common Stock except as provided in Section 7(f) hereof or as otherwise provided in this
Certificate of Designation.
On conversion of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, that portion of Accumulated Dividends
with respect to the converted 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock will be deemed canceled,
20
extinguished or forfeited, rather than paid in full to the Holder thereof through delivery of the
Common Stock (together with the cash or check payment, if any, in lieu of fractional shares) in
exchange for the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to the
provisions hereof, and the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock (together with any
such cash or check payment in lieu of fractional shares) shall be treated as issued, to the extent
thereof, first in exchange for Accumulated Dividends through the Conversion Date, and the balance,
if any, of such Fair Market Value of such Common Stock (and any such cash or check payment) shall
be treated as issued in exchange for the Liquidation Preference of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock being converted pursuant to the provisions hereof.
Upon surrender of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock that is converted in part, the
Corporation shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder,
new shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock in a number equal to the unconverted portion of
the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock surrendered.
If the last day on which 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted is a legal
holiday in a place where a Conversion Agent is located, the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock may
be surrendered to that Conversion Agent on the next succeeding day that it is not a legal holiday.
(c) Cash or Check Payments in Lieu of Fractional Shares. The Corporation shall not issue a
fractional share of Common Stock upon conversion of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. Instead
the Corporation shall deliver cash (or Corporations check) for the current market value of
the
fractional share. The current market value of a fractional share shall be determined to the
nearest
1/10,000th of a share by multiplying the Last Reported Sale Price of a full share of Common
Stock
on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Conversion Date by the fractional amount and
rounding the product to the nearest whole cent.
(d) Taxes on Conversion. If a Holder converts 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, the
Corporation shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on the issue
of
shares of Common Stock upon the conversion. However, the Holder shall pay any such tax which
is
due because the Holder requests the shares to be issued in a name other than the Holders
name. The
Conversion Agent may refuse to deliver the certificates representing the Common Stock being
issued
in a name other than the Holders name until the Conversion Agent receives a sum sufficient to
pay
any tax which shall be due because the shares are to be issued in a name other than the
Holders
name. Nothing herein shall preclude any withholding tax required by law.
(e) Covenants of the Corporation. The Corporation shall, prior to issuance of any 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock hereunder, and from time to time as may be necessary, reserve out
of its
authorized but unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to permit
the conversion of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock.
All shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
shall be newly issued shares or treasury shares, shall be duly and validly issued and fully paid
and nonassessable and shall be free from preemptive rights and free of any lien or adverse claim.
The Corporation shall endeavor promptly to comply with all federal and state securities laws
regulating the order and delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock, if any, and shall cause to have listed or quoted all such shares of
Common Stock on each United States national securities exchange or over-the-counter or other
domestic market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted.
21
(f) Adjustments to Conversion Rate. The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to time,
without duplication, as follows:
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(i) |
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In case the Corporation shall: (a) pay a dividend, or make a distribution,
exclusively in shares of its capital stock, on the Common Stock; (b) subdivide its
outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares; (c) combine its outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares; or (d) reclassify its Common Stock, the
Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the record date or effective date, as
the case may be, for the adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(f) as described below,
shall be adjusted so that the Holder of any 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
thereafter surrendered for conversion shall be entitled to receive the number of shares
of Common Stock of the Corporation which such Holder would have owned or have been
entitled to receive after the happening of any of the events described above had such
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock been converted immediately prior to such record date
or effective date, as the case may be. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 7(f)
shall become effective immediately after the applicable record date in the case of a
dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the applicable
effective date in the case of subdivision, combination or reclassification of the
Corporations Common Stock. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in
clause (a) above is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to
the Conversion Rate which would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had
not been declared. |
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(ii) |
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In case the Corporation shall issue rights or warrants to all holders of the
Common Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within 60 days after the date of
issuance of such rights or warrants) to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock at a
price per share less than the Market Price per share of Common Stock on the record
date fixed for determination of shareholders entitled to receive such rights or
warrants, the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after such record date shall be
adjusted so that the same shall equal the Conversion Rate determined by multiplying
the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after such record date by a fraction of
which (a) the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on
such record date plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock offered for
subscription or purchase, and (b) the denominator shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares which the
aggregate offering price of the total number of shares so offered would purchase at
the Market Price per share of Common Stock on the earlier of such record date or the
Trading Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such issuance of rights or
warrants. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any such rights or
warrants are issued, and shall become effective immediately after the opening of
business on the day following the record date for the determination of shareholders
entitled to receive such rights or warrants. To the extent that shares of Common Stock
are not delivered after the expiration of such rights or warrants, the Conversion Rate
shall be readjusted to the Conversion Rate which would then be in effect had the
adjustments made upon the issuance of such rights or warrants been made on the basis
of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such
rights or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to
be the Conversion Rate which would then be in effect if such record date for the
determination of shareholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants had not been
fixed. In determining whether any rights or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe
for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than such Market Price, and in
determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, |
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there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Corporation for such
rights or warrants, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by
the Board of Directors. |
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(iii) |
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In case the Corporation shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all holders of Common
Stock any assets, debt securities or rights or warrants to purchase any of its securities
(excluding (a) any dividend, distribution or issuance covered by those referred to in Section
7(f)(i) or Section 7(f)(ii) hereof and (b) any dividend or distribution paid exclusively in
cash) (any of the foregoing hereinafter in this Section 7(f)(iii) called the Distributed
Assets or Securities) in an aggregate amount per share of Common Stock that, combined
together with the aggregate amount of any other such distributions to all holders of its
Common Stock made within the 12 months preceding the date of payment of such distribution, and
in respect of which no adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(f)(iii) has been made, exceeds
15% of the Market Price on the Trading Day immediately preceding the declaration of such
distribution, then the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the
Conversion Rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to
the close of business on the record date mentioned below by a fraction of which (A) the
numerator shall be the Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the earlier of such
record date or the Trading Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such dividend or
distribution, and (B) the denominator shall be (1) the Market Price per share of the Common
Stock on the earlier of such record date or the Trading Day immediately preceding the
ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution less (2) the Fair Market Value on the
earlier of such record date or the Trading Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for
such dividend or distribution (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination
shall be conclusive, and described in a certificate filed with the Paying Agent) of the
Distributed Assets or Securities so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock. Such
adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of
shareholders entitled to receive such distribution; provided, however, that, if (a) the Fair
Market Value of the portion of the Distributed Assets or Securities so distributed applicable
to one share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than the Market Price of the Common Stock
on the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution
or (b) the Market Price of the Common Stock on the record date for the determination of
shareholders entitled to receive such distribution is greater than the Fair Market Value per
share of such Distributed Assets or Securities by less than $1.00, then, in lieu of the
foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Holder shall have the
right to receive upon conversion, in addition to the shares of Common Stock, the kind and
amount of assets, debt securities, or rights or warrants comprising the Distributed Assets or
Securities the Holder would have received had such Holder converted such 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock immediately prior to the record date for the determination of shareholders
entitled to receive such distribution. In the event that such distribution is not so paid or
made, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to the Conversion Rate which would then be
in effect if such distribution had not been declared. |
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(iv) |
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In case the Corporation shall make (a) any distributions, by dividend or otherwise, during
any quarterly fiscal periods consisting exclusively of cash to all holders of outstanding
shares of Common Stock in an aggregate amount that, together with (b) other all-cash or
all-check distributions made to all holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock during such
quarterly fiscal period, and (c) any cash and the Fair Market |
23
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Value, as of the expiration of any tender or exchange offer (other than consideration payable
in respect of any odd-lot tender offer) of consideration payable in respect of any tender or
exchange offer by the Corporation or any of the Corporations Subsidiaries for all or any
portion of shares of Common Stock concluded during such quarterly fiscal period, exceed the
product of $0 multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the record
date for such distribution, then, and in each such case, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted
so that the same shall equal the Conversion Rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate
in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the record date fixed for the
determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction
of which (A) the numerator shall be the Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the
earlier of such record date or the Trading Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for
such dividend or distribution and (B) the denominator shall be (1) the Market Price per share
of Common Stock on the earlier of such record date or the Trading Day immediately preceding
the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution plus (2) $0 less (3) an amount equal to
the quotient of (x) the combined amount distributed or payable in the transactions described
in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above during such quarterly fiscal period and (y) the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date, such adjustment to become effective
immediately after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive
such distribution. |
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(v) |
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With respect to Section 7(f)(iii) hereof, in the event that the Corporation makes any
distribution to all holders of Common Stock consisting of Equity Interests in a Subsidiary or
other business unit of the Corporation, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted so that the
same shall equal the Conversion Rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect
immediately prior to the close of business on the record date fixed for the determination of
holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction of which (i) the
numerator shall be (x) the Spin-off Market Price per share of the Common Stock on such record
date plus (y) the Spin-off Market Price per Equity Interest of the Subsidiary or other
business unit of the Corporation on such record date and (ii) the denominator shall be the
Spin-off Market Price per share of the Common Stock on such record date, such adjustment to
become effective 10 Trading Days after the effective date of such distribution of Equity
Interests in a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Corporation. |
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(vi) |
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Upon conversion of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, the Holders shall receive, in
addition to the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the rights issued under any
future shareholder rights plan the Corporation implements (notwithstanding the occurrence of
an event causing such rights to separate from the Common Stock at or prior to the time of
conversion) unless, prior to conversion, the rights have expired, terminated or been
redeemed or exchanged in accordance with such rights plan. If, and only if, the Holders of
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock receive rights under such shareholder rights plans as
described in the preceding sentence upon conversion of their 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock, then no other adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(f) shall be made in connection
with such shareholder rights plans. |
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(vii) |
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For purposes of this Section 7(f), the number of shares of Common Stock at any time
outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Corporation but shall
include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of
shares |
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of Common Stock. The Corporation shall not pay any dividend or make any distribution
on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Corporation. |
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(viii) |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Conversion Rate exceed the
maximum conversion rate specified under this Section 7(f)(viii) (the Maximum
Conversion Rate) as a result of an adjustment pursuant to Section 7(f)(iii) or
Section 7(f)(iv) hereof. The Maximum Conversion Rate shall initially be 6.5703 and
shall be appropriately adjusted from time to time for any stock dividends on or
subdivisions or combinations of the Common Stock. The Maximum Conversion Rate shall
not apply to any adjustments made pursuant to any of the events in Section 7(f)(i) or
Section 7(f)(ii) hereof. |
(g) Calculation Methodology. No adjustment in the Conversion Price need be made unless the
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Conversion Price then in
effect, provided that any adjustment that would otherwise be required to be made shall be carried
forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. Except as stated in this Section 7,
the Conversion Rate will not be adjusted for the issuance of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or carrying the right to purchase any of the
foregoing. Any adjustments that are made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment. All calculations under Section 4 and Section 7(f) hereof and this Section
7(g) shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share, as the case may
be.
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(h) |
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When No Adjustment Required. No adjustment to the Conversion Rate need be made: |
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(i) |
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upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or
future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on
securities of the Corporation and the investment of additional optional amounts in
shares of Common Stock under any plan; |
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(ii) |
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upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to
purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or
consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by the Corporation or any of its
Subsidiaries; |
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(iii) |
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upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option,
warrant, right, or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in
clause (ii) above and outstanding as of the date of this Certificate of Designation; |
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(iv) |
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for a change in the par value or no par value of the Common Stock; |
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(v) |
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for accumulated and unpaid dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any); or |
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(vi) |
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if Holders are to participate in a merger or consolidation on a basis and with
notice that the Board of Directors determines to be fair and appropriate in light of
the basis and notice on which holders of Common Stock participate in the transaction;
provided that the basis on which the Holders are to participate in the transaction
shall not be deemed to be fair if it would require the conversion of securities at any
time prior to the expiration of the conversion period specified for such securities. |
To the extent the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock becomes convertible into cash, assets or
property (other than capital stock of the Corporation or securities to which Section 7(l) hereof
25
applies), no adjustment shall be made thereafter as to the cash, assets or property. Interest shall
not accumulate on such cash.
(i) Notice of Adjustment. Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted, the Corporation shall
promptly mail to Holders a notice of the adjustment. The Corporation shall file with the
Conversion Agent such notice. The certificate shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive evidence
that the adjustment is correct. No Conversion Agent shall be under any duty or responsibility with
respect to any such certificate except to exhibit the same to any Holder desiring inspection
thereof.
(j) Voluntary Increase. The Corporation may make such increases in the Conversion Rate, in
addition to those required by Section 7(f) hereof, as the Board of Directors considers to be
advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase
Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock (or rights to acquire stock) or
from any event treated as such for income tax purposes. To the extent permitted by applicable law,
the Corporation may from time to time increase the Conversion Rate by any amount, temporarily or
otherwise, for any period of at least 20 days if the increase is irrevocable during the period and
the Board of Directors shall have made a determination that such increase would be in the best
interests of the Corporation, which determination shall be conclusive. Whenever the Conversion
Rate is so increased, the Corporation shall mail to Holders and file with the Conversion Agent a
notice of such increase. The Conversion Agent shall not be under any duty or responsibility with
respect to any such notice except to exhibit the same to any holder desiring inspection thereof.
The Corporation shall mail the notice at least 15 days before the date the increased Conversion
Rate takes effect. The notice shall state the increased Conversion Rate and the period it shall be
in effect.
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(k) |
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Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions. In case: |
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(i) |
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the Corporation shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its
Common Stock that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to
Section 7(f) hereof; |
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(ii) |
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the Corporation shall authorize the granting to all or substantially all the
holders of its Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any
share of any class or any other rights or warrants; |
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(iii) |
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of any reclassification or reorganization of the Common Stock of the
Corporation (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding Common Stock,
or a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to
par value), or of any consolidation or merger to which the Corporation is a party and
for which approval of any shareholders of the Corporation is required, or of the sale
or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation; or |
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(iv) |
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of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the
Corporation, |
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the Corporation shall cause to be filed with the Conversion Agent and to be mailed to
each Holder at its address appearing on the Security Register, as promptly as possible
but in any event at least 15 days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a
notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such
dividend, distribution or rights or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the
date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend,
distribution, or rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such |
26
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reclassification, reorganization, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution,
liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective or occur, and the date as of
which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to
exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such
reclassification, reorganization, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution,
liquidation or winding-up. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall
not affect the legality or validity of such dividend, distribution, reclassification,
reorganization, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up. |
(l) Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger, Binding Share Exchange or Sale. If any
of the following events occur, namely: (i) any reclassification or change of outstanding shares of
Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par
value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination); (ii) any consolidation,
merger, combination or binding share exchange of the Corporation with another Person as a result
of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock, securities or other property
or assets (including cash) with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock; or (iii) any sale
or conveyance of the properties and assets of the Corporation as, or substantially as, an entirety
to any other Person as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive
stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash) with respect to or in exchange for
such Common Stock, then the Corporation or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be,
shall cause an amendment to this Certificate of Designation to be executed and filed in accordance
with Michigan law, providing that each share of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be
convertible into the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities or property or assets
(including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger,
combination, binding share exchange, sale or conveyance by a holder of a number of shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock immediately prior
to such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, binding share exchange, sale
or conveyance. Such amended Certificate of Designation shall provide for adjustments which shall
be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Section
7(l).
The Corporation shall cause notice of the execution of such amended Certificate of
Designation to be mailed to each Holder, at its address appearing on the Security Register, within
20 days after filing thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or
validity of such supplemental indenture.
The above provisions of this Section 7(l) shall similarly apply to successive
reclassifications, changes, consolidations, mergers, combinations, binding share exchanges, sales
and conveyances.
If this Section 7(l) applies to any event or occurrence, Section 7(f) hereof shall not
apply.
(m) Responsibility of Conversion Agent. The Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under
any duty or responsibility to any Holder to either calculate the Conversion Rate or determine
whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the Conversion Rate, or with respect
to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the
method employed, or herein or in any amended Certificate of Designation provided to be employed,
in making the same and shall be protected in relying upon an Officers Certificate with respect
to the same. The Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value
(or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities or property, which
may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock and the
27
Conversion Agent makes no representations with respect thereto. The Conversion Agent shall not be
responsible for any failure of the Corporation to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common
Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties,
responsibilities or covenants of the Corporation contained in this Section 7(m). Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Conversion Agent shall not be under any responsibility to
determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any amended Certificate of Designation
entered into pursuant to this Section 7 relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or
securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock after any event referred to in this Section 7 or to any adjustment to
be made with respect thereto, but may accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such
provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, the Officers Certificate (which the
Corporation shall be obligated to file with the Conversion Agent prior to the execution of any such
amended Certificate of Designation) with respect thereto.
(n) Simultaneous Adjustments. In the event that Section 7(f) hereof requires adjustments to
the Conversion Rate under more than one of Section 7(f)(i), Section 7(f)(ii), Section 7(f)(iii) or
Section 7(f)(iv) hereof, and the Dividend Record Dates for the distributions giving rise to such
adjustments shall occur on the same date, then such adjustments shall be made by applying, first,
the provisions of Section 7(f)(iii) hereof, second, the provisions of Section 7(f)(i) hereof and
third, the provisions of Section 7(f)(ii) hereof; provided, however, that nothing in this Section
7(n) shall be done to evade the principle set forth in Section 7(f)(viii) hereof that the Maximum
Conversion Rate shall not apply to any adjustments made with respect to any of the events in
Section 7(f)(i) or Section 7(f)(ii) hereof.
(o) Successive Adjustments. After an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under Section 7(f)
hereof, any subsequent event requiring an adjustment under Section 7(f) shall cause an adjustment
to the Conversion Rate as so adjusted.
(p) General Considerations. Whenever successive adjustments to the Conversion Rate are called
for pursuant to this Section 7, such adjustments shall be made to the Market Price as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the intent of this Section 7 and to avoid unjust or
inequitable results as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.
(q) Corporation Determination Final. Any determination which the Board of Directors must make
pursuant to this Section 7 shall be conclusive and binding on the Holders.
8. Mandatory Conversion.
(a) At any time on or after December 5, 2008, the Corporation shall have the right, at its
option, to cause the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, to be
automatically converted into that number of whole shares of Common Stock for each share of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock equal to the quotient of (i) the Liquidation Preference divided by
(ii) the Conversion Price then in effect, with any resulting fractional shares of Common Stock to
be settled in accordance with Section 7(c). The Corporation may exercise its right to cause a
mandatory conversion pursuant to this Section 8(a) only if the Last Reported Sale Price of the
Common Stock equals or exceeds 130% of the Conversion Price then in effect for at least 20 Trading
Days in any consecutive 30-day trading period on the NYSE (or such other national securities
exchange or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed or authorized for
quotation), including the last
28
Trading Day of such 30-day period, ending on the Trading Day prior to the Corporations issuance of
a press release announcing the mandatory conversion as described in Section 8(b).
(b) To exercise the mandatory conversion right described in Section 8(a), the Corporation
must issue a press release for publication on the Dow Jones News Service prior to the opening
of
business on the first trading day following any date on which the conditions described in
Section 8(a)
are met, announcing such a mandatory conversion. The Corporation shall also give notice by
mail or
by publication (with subsequent prompt notice by mail) to the holders of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock (not more than four Business Days after the date of the press release) of the
mandatory conversion announcing the Corporations intention to convert the 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock. The conversion date will be a date selected by the Corporation (the
Mandatory
Conversion Date) and will be no more than five days after the date on which the Corporation
issues
the press release described in this Section 8(b).
(c) In addition to any information required by applicable law or regulation, the press release
and notice of a mandatory conversion described in Section 8(b) shall state, as appropriate:
(i) the
Mandatory Conversion Date; (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon
conversion of each share of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock; (iii) the number of shares of
4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted; and (iv) that dividends on the 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock to be converted will cease to accumulate on the Mandatory Conversion Date.
(d) On and after the Mandatory Conversion Date, dividends will cease to accumulate on the
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock called for a mandatory conversion pursuant to Section 8(a)
and
all rights of holders of such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock will terminate except for the
right to
receive the whole shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof and cash, in lieu of
any
fractional shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 7(c). The dividend payment with
respect to the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock called for a mandatory conversion pursuant to
Section 8(a) on a date during the period between the close of business on any Dividend Record
Date
to the close of business on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date will be payable on such
Dividend Payment Date to the record holder of such share on such Dividend Record Date if such
share has been converted after such Dividend Record Date and prior to such Dividend Payment
Date.
Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a mandatory
conversion
pursuant to Section 8(a), no payment or adjustment will be made upon conversion of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock for Accumulated Dividends or for dividends with respect to the
Common
Stock issued upon such conversion.
(e) The Corporation may not authorize, issue a press release or give notice of any mandatory
conversion pursuant to Section 8(a) unless, prior to giving the mandatory conversion notice,
all
Accumulated Dividends on the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock for periods ended prior to the
date
of such mandatory conversion notice shall have been paid in cash.
(f) In addition to the mandatory conversion right described in Section 8(a), if there are
less than 250,000 shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding, the Corporation shall
have the right, at any time on or after December 5, 2008, at its option, to cause the 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock to be automatically converted into that number of whole shares of
Common Stock equal to the quotient of (i) the Liquidation Preference divided by (ii) the lesser of
(A) the Conversion Price then in effect and (B) the Market Value for the period ending on the
second Trading Day immediately prior to the Mandatory Conversion Date, with any resulting
fractional shares of Common Stock to be settled in cash in accordance with Section 7(c). The
provisions of clauses (b),
29
(c), (d) and (e) of this Section 8 shall apply to any mandatory conversion pursuant to this clause
(f); provided, that (i) the Mandatory Conversion Date described in Section 8(b) shall not be less
than 15 days nor more than 30 days after the date on which the Corporation issues a press release
pursuant to Section 8(b) announcing such mandatory conversion and (ii) the press release and notice
of mandatory conversion described in Section 8(c) will not state the number of shares of Common
Stock to be issued upon conversion of each share of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock.
9. Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.
(a) The Corporation, without the consent of the Holders of any of the outstanding 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock, may consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey,
transfer
or lease all or substantially all its assets to any Person or may permit any Person to
consolidate with
or merge into, or transfer or lease all or substantially all its properties to, the
Corporation; provided,
however, that: (a) the successor, transferee or lessee is organized under the laws of the
United States
or any political subdivision thereof; (b) the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock will
become
shares of such successor, transferee or lessee, having in respect of such successor,
transferee or lessee
the same powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
rights on
which, and the qualification, limitations or restrictions thereon, the 4.50% Convertible
Preferred
Stock had immediately prior to such transaction; and (c) the Corporation delivers to the
Transfer
Agent an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such transaction
complies with
this Certificate of Designation (including without limitation the requirements of Section
7(l).
(b) Upon any consolidation by the Corporation with, or merger by the Corporation into, any
other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the assets of
the
Corporation as described in Section 9(a), the successor resulting from such consolidation or
into
which the Corporation is merged or the transferee or lessee to which such conveyance, transfer
or
lease is made will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power
of, the
Corporation under the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, and, thereafter, except in
the
case of a lease, the predecessor (if still in existence) will be released from its obligations
and
covenants with respect to the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock.
10. SEC Reports.
Whether or not the Corporation is required to file reports with the Commission, if any shares
of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall file with the
Commission all such reports and other information as it would be required to file with the
Commission by Section 13(a) or 15(d) under the Exchange Act. The Corporation shall supply each
holder of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, upon request, without cost to such holder, copies of
such reports or other information.
11. Certificates.
(a) Form and Dating. The 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock and the Transfer Agents
certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C, which is
hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Certificate of Designation. The 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock certificate may have notations, legends or endorsements required by
law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Corporation is subject, if any, or usage
(provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the
Corporation). Each 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate shall be dated the date of its
authentication. The terms of the
30
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate set forth in Exhibit C are part of the terms of this
Certificate of Designation.
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(i) |
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Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. The 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
shall be issued initially in the form of one or more fully registered global
certificates with the global securities legend and restricted securities legend set
forth in Exhibit C hereto (the Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock), which shall
be deposited on behalf of the purchasers represented thereby with DTC (or with such
custodian as DTC may direct), and registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC,
duly executed by the Corporation and authenticated by the Transfer Agent as hereinafter
provided. The number of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock represented by
Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock may from time to time be increased or
decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Transfer Agent and DTC or its
nominee as hereinafter provided. With respect to shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock that are not restricted securities as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities
Act on a Conversion Date, all shares of Common Stock distributed on such Conversion
Date will be freely transferable without restriction under the Securities Act (other
than by affiliates), and such shares will be eligible for receipt in global form
through the facilities of DTC. |
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(ii) |
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Book-Entry Provisions. In the event Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
is deposited with or on behalf of DTC, the Corporation shall execute and the Transfer
Agent shall authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock certificates that (a) shall be registered in the name of DTC as
depository for such Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or the nominee of DTC and
(b) shall be delivered by the Transfer Agent to DTC or pursuant to DTCs instructions
or held by the Transfer Agent as custodian for DTC. |
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Members of, or participants in, DTC (Agent Members) shall have no rights under this
Certificate of Designation with respect to any Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock held on their behalf by DTC or by the Transfer Agent as the custodian of DTC or
under such Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, and DTC may be treated by the
Corporation, the Transfer Agent and any agent of the Corporation or the Transfer Agent
as the absolute owner of such Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock for all
purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the
Corporation, the Transfer Agent or any agent of the Corporation or the Transfer Agent
from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization
furnished by DTC or impair, as between DTC and its Agent Members, the operation of
customary practices of DTC governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a
beneficial interest in any Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. |
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(iii) |
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Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. Except as provided in Section
11(c), owners of beneficial interests in Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock will
not be entitled to receive Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. |
(b) Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock certificate for the Corporation by manual or facsimile signature.
31
If an Officer whose signature is on a 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate no longer
holds that office at the time the Transfer Agent authenticates the 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock certificate, the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate shall be valid nevertheless.
A 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate shall not be valid until an authorized
signatory of the Transfer Agent and the Security Registrar manually signs the certificate of
authentication on the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate. The signature shall be
conclusive evidence that the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate has been authenticated
under this Certificate of Designation.
The Transfer Agent shall authenticate and deliver certificates for up to 5,000,000 shares of
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock for original issue upon a written order of the Corporation
signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation. Such order
shall specify the number of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock to be authenticated and
the date on which the original issue of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is to be authenticated.
The Transfer Agent may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the
Corporation to authenticate the certificates for 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. Unless limited
by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate certificates for 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock whenever the Transfer Agent may do so. Each reference in this
Certificate of Designation to authentication by the Transfer Agent includes authentication by such
agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the Transfer Agent or agent for service of
notices and demands.
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. The transfer and
exchange of Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or beneficial interests therein shall be
effected through DTC, in accordance with this Certificate of Designation (including applicable
restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of DTC therefor.
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(i) |
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Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange of Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. |
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(1) |
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Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of
Designation (other than the provisions set forth in Section 11(c)(ii)), Global
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock may not be transferred as a whole except by DTC
to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC or by
DTC or any such nominee to a successor depository or a nominee of such successor
depository. |
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(2) |
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In the event that the Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is
exchanged for 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock in definitive registered form
pursuant to Section 11(c)(ii) prior to the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration
Statement with respect to such securities, such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially
consistent with the provisions of this Section 11(c) (including the certification
requirements set forth in the Exhibits to this Certificate of Designation
intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or such other
applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act, as the case may
be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the
Corporation. |
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(3) |
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The 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, and any shares of Common
Stock distributed pursuant to the conversion of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, |
32
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|
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may not be sold or otherwise transferred until the expiration of two years following the
date of payment for and delivery of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, except (a)
pursuant to registration under the Securities Act, (b) in accordance with Rule 144 (if
available) or Rule 144A under the Securities Act (if available) or (c) in offshore
transactions in reliance on Regulation S, and will bear a legend to this effect. |
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(ii) |
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Authentication of Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. If at any time: |
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(1) |
|
DTC notifies the Corporation that DTC is unwilling or unable to continue as
depository for the Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock and a successor depository
for the Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is not appointed by the Corporation
within 90 days after delivery of such notice; |
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(2) |
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DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a
successor depository for the Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is not appointed
by the Corporation within 90 days; or |
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(3) |
|
the Corporation, in its sole discretion, notifies the Transfer Agent in writing
that it elects to cause the issuance of Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
under this Certificate of Designation, |
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|
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then the Corporation will execute, and the Transfer Agent, upon receipt of a written
order of the Corporation signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant
Treasurer of the Corporation requesting the authentication and delivery of Certificated
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock to the Persons designated by the Corporation, will
authenticate and deliver Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock equal to the
number of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock represented by the Global 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock, in exchange for such Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock. |
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(iii) |
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Cancellation or Adjustment of Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. At such time as all
beneficial interests in Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock have either been exchanged
for Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, converted or canceled, such Global 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock shall be returned to DTC for cancellation or retained and
canceled by the Transfer Agent. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial
interest in Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is exchanged for Certificated 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock, converted or canceled, the number of shares of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock represented by such Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be reduced
and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Transfer Agent with respect
to such Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, by the Transfer Agent or DTC, to reflect
such reduction. |
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(iv) |
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Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. |
33
(1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Corporation shall execute and the
Transfer Agent shall authenticate Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock and Global 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11(c).
(2) All Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock and Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Certificated 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock or Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be the valid obligations of the
Corporation, entitled to the same benefits under this Certificate of Designation as the
Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(3) Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any shares of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock, the Transfer Agent and the Corporation may deem and treat the Person in whose name
such shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock are registered as the absolute owner of such 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock and neither the Transfer Agent nor the Corporation shall be affected by
notice to the contrary.
(4) No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange
upon surrender of any 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate or Common Stock certificate at
the office of the Transfer Agent maintained for that purpose. However, the Corporation may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
certificates or Common Stock certificates.
(5) Upon any sale or transfer of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock (including any
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock represented by a Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
certificate) or of certificated Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act or pursuant to Rule 144 or another exemption from registration under the
Securities Act (and based upon an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation if
it so requests):
(A) in the case of any Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or certificated
Common Stock, the Corporation and the Transfer Agent shall permit the holder thereof to
exchange such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or certificated Common Stock for Certificated
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or certificated Common Stock, as the case may be, that does
not bear the restrictive legend set forth on Exhibit C and rescind any restriction on the
transfer of such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or Common Stock issuable in respect of the
conversion of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock; and
(B) in the case of any Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, such 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock shall not be required to bear the restrictive legend set forth on Exhibit C;
provided, however, that with respect to any request for an exchange of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock that is represented by Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock for
Certificated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock that does not bear a restrictive as set forth
on
34
Exhibit C in connection with a sale or transfer thereof pursuant to Rule 144 or
another exemption from registration under the Securities Act (and based upon an
Opinion of Counsel if the Corporation so requests), the Holder thereof shall
certify in writing to the Transfer Agent that such request is being made
pursuant to such exemption (such certification to be substantially in the form
of Exhibit D hereto).
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(v) |
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No Obligation of the Transfer Agent. |
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(1) |
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The Transfer Agent shall have no responsibility or obligation to any
beneficial owner of Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, a member of, or a
participant in, DTC or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the
records of DTC or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with
respect to any ownership interest in the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock or with
respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other
Person (other than DTC) of any notice or the payment of any amount, under or with
respect to such Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock. All notices and
communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders
under the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be given or made only to the
Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in the case of the Global 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the
applicable rules and procedures of DTC. The Transfer Agent may rely and shall be
fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC with respect to its
members, participants and any beneficial owners. |
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(2) |
|
The Transfer Agent shall have no obligation or duty to monitor,
determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed
under this Certificate of Designation or under applicable law with respect to any
transfer of any interest in any 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock (including any
transfers between or among DTC participants, members or beneficial owners in any
Global 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock) other than to require delivery of such
certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and
to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Certificate of
Designation, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to
form with the express requirements hereof. |
(d) Replacement Certificates. If a mutilated 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate is
surrendered to the Transfer Agent or if the Holder of a 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
certificate claims that the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate has been lost, destroyed
or wrongfully taken, the Corporation shall issue and the Transfer Agent shall countersign a
replacement 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate if the reasonable requirements of the
Transfer Agent are met. If required by the Transfer Agent or the Corporation, such Holder shall
furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Corporation and the Transfer Agent to
protect the Corporation and the Transfer Agent from any loss which either of them may suffer if a
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock certificate is replaced. The Corporation and the Transfer Agent
may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
certificate.
35
12. Additional Rights of Holders. In addition to the rights provided to Holders under this
Certificate of Designation, Holders shall have the rights set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
13. Other Provisions.
(a) With respect to any notice to a Holder of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
required to be provided hereunder, neither failure to mail such notice, nor any defect therein or
in the mailing thereof, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of the notice or the
validity of the proceedings referred to in such notice with respect to the other Holders or affect
the legality or validity of any distribution, rights, warrant, reclassification, consolidation,
merger, conveyance, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, or the vote upon any such
action. Any notice which was mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to
have been duly given whether or not the Holder receives the notice.
(b) Shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock issued and reacquired will be retired and
canceled promptly after reacquisition thereof and, upon compliance with the applicable requirements
of Michigan law, have the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock of the
Corporation undesignated as to series and may with any and all other authorized but unissued shares
of preferred stock of the Corporation be designated or redesignated and issued or reissued, as the
case may be, as part of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation, except that any issuance
or reissuance of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock must be in compliance with this
Certificate of Designation.
(c) The shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be issuable only in whole
shares.
(d) All notice periods referred to herein shall commence on the date of the mailing of the
applicable notice.
36
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE PURCHASE NOTICE
To: CMS Energy Corporation
The undersigned registered holder of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock hereby
acknowledges receipt of a notice from CMS Energy Corporation (the Corporation) as to the
occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Corporation and requests and
instructs the Corporation to repurchase the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
($50.00 liquidation preference or an integral multiple thereof) designated below, in
accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designation referred to in such 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock and directs that the check of the Corporation, in payment for
these shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, be issued and delivered to the registered
holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If any portion of these
shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock are not repurchased and are to be issued in the
name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned shall pay all transfer taxes
payable with respect thereto.
Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a commercial bank or trust company or a member firm of a major stock exchange if shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock are to be delivered other than to or in the name of the registered holder.
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Fill in for registration of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred
Stock if to be issued other than to
and in the name of registered holder: |
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Number of shares of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock to be purchased (if less
than all are to be purchased): |
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(City, state and zip code) Please print name and address
|
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Certificate Number (if shares of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock are Certificated): |
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Social Security or other taxpayer number: |
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37
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE
To: CMS Energy Corporation
The undersigned registered holder of these shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock hereby
exercises the option to convert these shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, or portion
hereof (which is $50.00 liquidation preference or an integral multiple thereof) designated below,
for shares of Common Stock of CMS Energy Corporation in accordance with the terms of the
Certificate of Designation referred to in the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, and directs that
the shares, if any, issuable and deliverable upon such conversion, together with any check for
cash deliverable upon such conversion, and any shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock
representing any unconverted shares hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder
hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If shares or any portion of the 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock not converted are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the
undersigned, the undersigned shall pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto.
This notice shall be deemed to be an irrevocable exercise of the option to convert these
shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock.
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Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a commercial bank
or trust company or a member firm of a major stock
exchange if shares of Common Stock are to be issued,
or shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock to be
delivered, other than to or in the name of the
registered holder. |
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|
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Fill in for registration of
shares if to be
delivered, and
shares of 4.50%
Convertible
Preferred Stock if
to be issued other
than to and in the
name of registered
holder: |
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Number of shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted (if less than all): |
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(City, state and zip
code)
Please print
name and address
|
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Certificate Number (if shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock are Certificated): |
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Social Security or other taxpayer number: |
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38
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF PREFERRED STOCK
FACE OF SECURITY
THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND THIS
SECURITY AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.
EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING
ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A
THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS
SECURITY AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES
IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (RULE 144A))
IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A,
(II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (V) TO CMS ENERGY CORPORATION OR (VI) PURSUANT TO
AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (VI) IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE
HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY FROM
IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (A) ABOVE.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT SUCH HOLDER WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
INVOLVING THIS SECURITY AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
THIS SECURITY AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTATION MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME
TO MODIFY THE RESTRICTIONS ON AND PROCEDURES FOR RESALES AND OTHER TRANSFERS OF THIS SECURITY TO
REFLECT ANY CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION (OR THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF) OR IN PRACTICES
RELATING TO THE RESALE OR TRANSFER OF RESTRICTED SECURITIES GENERALLY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY
SHALL BE DEEMED BY THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS SECURITY TO HAVE AGREED TO ANY SUCH AMENDMENT OR
SUPPLEMENT.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO, AND ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF, A REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF DECEMBER 5, 2003 ENTERED INTO BY THE COMPANY FOR THE BENEFIT OF
CERTAIN HOLDERS OF SECURITIES FROM TIME TO TIME.
39
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Number of Shares |
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[ ] |
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CUSIP NO.: |
4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (par value $0.01) (liquidation
preference $50 per share)
of
CMS Energy Corporation
CMS Energy Corporation, a Michigan corporation (the Corporation), hereby certifies that [
]
(the Holder) is the registered owner of [
]
fully paid and non-assessable preferred securities of
the Corporation designated the 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (par value $0.01)
(liquidation preference $50 per share) (the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock). The shares of
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock are transferable on the books and records of the Transfer Agent,
in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and
in proper form for transfer. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and
other terms and provisions of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock represented hereby are issued
and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designation dated
December 4, 2003, as the same may be amended from time to time (the Certificate of Designation).
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Certificate
of Designation. The Corporation will provide a copy of the Certificate of Designation to a Holder
without charge upon written request to the Corporation at its principal place of business.
Reference is hereby made to select provisions of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock set
forth on the reverse hereof, and to the Certificate of Designation, which select provisions and
the Certificate of Designation shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this
place.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Certificate of Designation and
is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
Unless the Transfer Agents Certificate of Authentication hereon has been properly executed,
these shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any benefit under the
Certificate of Designation or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has executed this certificate this day of , 2003.
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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
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40
TRANSFER AGENTS AND SECURITY REGISTRARS CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
These are shares of the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock referred to in the within-mentioned
Certificate of Designation.
Dated: , 2003
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CMS Energy Corporation, as Transfer Agent and Security Registrar
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Authorized Signatory |
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REVERSE OF SECURITY
Cash dividends on each share of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be payable at a rate
per annum set forth on the face hereof or as provided in the Certificate of Designation.
The shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock shall be convertible into the Corporations
Common Stock in the manner and according to the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designation.
The Corporation will furnish without charge to each holder who so requests the powers,
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights of each class of
stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers the shares of 4.50% Convertible
Preferred Stock evidenced hereby to:
(Insert assignees social security or tax identification number)
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints agent to transfer the shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock evidenced hereby on the books of the Transfer Agent. The agent may substitute another to act
for him or her.
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this 4.50% Convertible Preferred
Stock certificate)
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(Signature must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution that is a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the
Transfer Agent, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities
Transfer Agents Medallion Program (stamp) or such other signature guarantee
program as may be determined by the Transfer Agent in addition to, or in substitution for,
stamp, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.) |
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EXHIBIT D
CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF PREFERRED STOCK
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4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock) of CMS Energy Corporation (the Corporation) |
This Certificate relates to shares of 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock held in o */ book-
entry or o */ definitive form by (the Transferor).
The Transferor*:
o has requested the Transfer Agent by written order to deliver in exchange for its
beneficial interest in the 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock held by the Depository shares of 4.50%
Convertible Preferred Stock in definitive, registered form equal to its beneficial interest in such
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock (or the portion thereof indicated above); or
o has requested the Transfer Agent by written order to exchange or register the transfer of
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock.
In connection with such request and in respect of such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock, the
Transferor does hereby certify that the Transferor is familiar with the Certificate of Designation
relating to the above-captioned 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock and that the transfer of this
4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the Securities Act) because */:
o Such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is being acquired for the Transferors
own account without transfer.
o Such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is being transferred to the Corporation.
o Such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is being transferred to a qualified institutional
buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), in reliance on Rule 144A.
o Such 4.50% Convertible Preferred Stock is being transferred in reliance on and in
compliance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and
based on an Opinion of Counsel if the Corporation so requests).
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COMMON STOCK
The shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of Directors shall
determine for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. Each share of Common
Stock of the Corporation shall be equal to every other share of said stock in every respect. The
voting, distribution, dividend, liquidation and other rights and limitations of the Common Stock
are as follows:
(1) Dividend Rights. Subject to the express terms of any outstanding series of Preferred
Stock, dividends or distributions may be declared and paid in cash or otherwise upon the Common
Stock out of the assets of the Corporation legally available therefore.
(2) Voting Rights.
(a) Except as provided in Section 2(b) and except as otherwise provided by law, the
holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote on all matters as to which holders of
Common Stock are entitled to vote. Subject to Article XI, a majority of the votes cast by
the holders of Common Stock entitled to vote thereon is sufficient for the adoption of any
question presented except as otherwise required by law or these Articles of Incorporation.
(b) Unless the vote or consent of the holders of a greater number of shares shall then
be required by law, the vote or consent of the holders of a majority of all of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding, shall be necessary for authorizing, effecting or validating
the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other entity if such merger
or consolidation would adversely affect the powers or special rights of Common Stock either
directly by amendment of these Articles of Incorporation or indirectly by requiring the
holders of Common Stock to accept or retain, in such merger or consolidation, anything other
than (i) shares of Common Stock or (ii) shares of the surviving or resulting corporation
having, in either case, powers and special rights identical to those of Common Stock prior
to such merger or consolidation.
(3) Liquidation Rights. Subject to Section 4, in the event of the dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision for
payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and after there shall have been paid
or set apart for the holders of Preferred Stock the full preferential amounts (including any
accumulated and unpaid dividends) to which they are entitled, the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to receive, on a per share basis, the assets of the Corporation remaining for
distribution to the holders of Common Stock. Neither the merger or consolidation of the
Corporation into or with any other corporation, nor the merger or consolidation of any other
corporation into or with the Corporation nor any sale, transfer or lease of all or any part of the
assets of the Corporation, shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for
purposes of this Section 3.
(4) Subdivision or Combination. If the Corporation shall in any manner subdivide (by stock
split, stock dividend or otherwise) or combine (by reverse stock split or otherwise) the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, the voting and liquidation rights of Common Stock shall be
appropriately adjusted so as to avoid any dilution in the aggregate voting or liquidation rights
of Common Stock.
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ARTICLE IV
The address of the registered office is One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan, 49201. The name
of the resident agent at the registered office is Michael D. VanHemert. The mailing address of the
registered office is One Energy Plaza Jackson, Michigan 49201.
ARTICLE V
Special meetings of the shareholders may be called only by the Board of Directors or by the
Chairman of the Board.
ARTICLE VI
The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as specified in, or determined in the
manner provided in, the bylaws of the Corporation.
Any vacancies occurring on the Corporations Board of Directors (whether by reason of the
death, resignation or removal of a director) may be filled by a majority vote of the directors
then in office although less than a quorum. An increase in the number of members of the Board of
Directors shall be construed as creating a vacancy.
ARTICLE VII
A director may be removed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors then in office. A director also may be removed by shareholders, but only for cause, at an
annual meeting of shareholders and by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares then
entitled to vote for the election of directors. For purposes of this section, cause for removal
shall be construed to exist only if a director whose removal is proposed has been convicted of a
felony by a court of competent jurisdiction and such conviction is no longer subject to appeal or
has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable for willful misconduct in the
performance of his or her duty to the Corporation in a matter of substantial importance to the
Corporation and such adjudication is no longer subject to appeal.
ARTICLE VIII
A director shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for monetary
damages for breach of duty as a director except (i) for a breach of the directors duty of loyalty
to the Corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for a violation of Section
551(1) of the Michigan Business Corporation Act, and (iv) for any transaction from which the
director derived an improper personal benefit. No amendment to or repeal of this Article VIII, and
no modification to its provisions by law, shall apply to, or have any effect upon, the liability
or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or
omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or modification.
ARTICLE IX
Each director and each officer of the Corporation shall be indemnified by the Corporation to
the fullest extent permitted by law against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments,
penalties,
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fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection
with the defense of any proceeding in which he or she was or is a party or is threatened to be made
a party by reason of being or having been a director or an officer of the Corporation. Such right
of indemnification is not exclusive of any other rights to which such director or officer may be
entitled under any now or hereafter existing statute, any other provision of these Articles, bylaw,
agreement, vote of shareholders or otherwise. If the Business Corporation Act of the State of
Michigan is amended after approval by the shareholders of this Article IX to authorize corporate
action further eliminating or limiting 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
Business Corporation Act of the State of Michigan, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of
this Article IX by the shareholders 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.
ARTICLE X
Each director shall be a shareholder of the Corporation and any director ceasing to be a
shareholder shall thereupon immediately cease to be a director.
ARTICLE XI
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision in these
Articles of Incorporation as permitted by law, and all rights conferred on shareholders herein are
granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of Articles V,
VI, VII, VIII, IX and this Article XI may not be amended, altered, changed or repealed unless such
amendment, alteration, change or repeal is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not
less than 75% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.
45
Signed on May 28, 2004
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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION |
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/s/ Michael D. VanHemert
Michael D. VanHemert
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Vice President and Corporate Secretary |
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
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COUNTY OF JACKSON
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On this 28th day of May 2004, before me appeared Michael D. VanHemert, to me
personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did say that he is Vice President and Corporate
Secretary of CMS Energy Corporation, which executed the foregoing instrument, and that the seal
affixed to said instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation, and that said instrument was
signed and sealed in behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors and
shareholders, and said officer acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said
corporation.
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/s/ Joyce H. Norkey
Joyce N. Norkey
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Notary Public for Jackson County |
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State of Michigan |
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My Commission Expires September 2006 |
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46
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF
4.50% CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES B
OF
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 302(4) of the Michigan Business Corporation Act, MCLA §450.1302(4):
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION, a Michigan corporation (the Corporation), does hereby certify that
the following resolution was duly adopted pursuant to the authority of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation, with the provisions thereof fixing the number of shares of the series and the
dividend rate being set through a Special Financing Committee of the Board of Directors:
RESOLVED: That, pursuant to the authority expressly granted to and vested in the Board of
Directors of the Corporation by the provisions of Article III of the Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended from time to time (the Articles of Incorporation),
and pursuant to Section 302(4) of the Michigan Business
Corporation Act, the Board of Directors
hereby establishes a series of the preferred stock of the Corporation and hereby states that the
series voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof (in addition to the
provisions set forth in the Articles of Incorporation which are applicable to the preferred stock
of all series), shall be as follows:
1. Designation and Amount; Ranking.
(a) There shall be created from the 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Corporation authorized to be issued pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, a
series of preferred stock, designated as the 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series
B, par value $0.01 per share (the Preferred Stock), and the number of shares of such series
shall be 4,910,000. Such number of shares may be decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Preferred Stock to a number less
than that of the shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon
exercise of options or rights then outstanding. The Preferred Stock was exchanged for 4,910,000 of
then outstanding shares of 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(the Original Preferred Stock), established pursuant to the Certificate of Designation of 4.50%
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of CMS Energy Corporation dated December 4, 2003 pursuant to
an exchange offer.
(b) The Preferred Stock will, with respect to both dividend rights and rights upon the
liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, rank (i) senior to all Junior Stock and
(ii) on a parity with all other Parity Stock.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Accumulated Dividends shall mean, with respect to any share of Preferred Stock, as of
any date, the aggregate accumulated and unpaid dividends on such share from and including the
most recent Dividend Payment Date to which dividends have been paid (or the Issue Date, if
such date is prior to the first Dividend Payment Date) to but not including such date.
Additional Dividends shall have the meaning given to it in
Section 3(b).
Additional Shares shall have the meaning given
to it in Section 7(f)(vi).
Affiliate shall have the meaning ascribed to it, on the date hereof, under Rule 405 of
the Securities Act.
Agent
Members shall have the meaning given to it in Section 11(a)(ii).
1
Board of Directors shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation or, with respect to
any action to be taken by the Board of Directors, any committee (special or otherwise) of the Board
of Directors duly authorized to take such action.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to
close.
Certificate of Designation means this certificate of designation designating the
Preferred Stock.
Certificated Preferred Stock shall have the meaning given to it in
Section 4(f).
Common Equity of any Person means capital stock of such Person that is generally entitled
to (i) vote in the election of directors of such Person or (ii) if such Person is not a
corporation, vote or otherwise participate in the selection of the governing body, partners,
managers or others that will control the management or policies of such Person.
Common Stock shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation, or
any other class of stock resulting from successive changes or reclassifications of such common
stock consisting solely of changes in par value, or from par value to no par value, or as a result
of a subdivision, combination or merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the
Corporation is a constituent corporation.
Continuing Director means a director who either was a member of the Board of Directors on
November 9, 2004 or who becomes a member of the Board of Directors subsequent to that date and
whose appointment, election or nomination for election by the Corporations shareholders is duly
approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors on the Board of Directors at the time of such
approval, either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement issued by the
Corporation on behalf of the Board of Directors in which such individual is named as nominee for
director.
Conversion Agent means the office or agency designated by the Corporation where Preferred
Stock may be presented for conversion. Initially, the Conversion Agent shall be the Corporation
located at One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan 49201.
Conversion Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section
7(b).
Conversion Notice shall have the meaning given to it in
Section 7(a).
Conversion Price shall mean $9.893 per share of
Common Stock.
Conversion Rate shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of a share of Preferred Stock per Liquidation Preference, subject to adjustment as herein set
forth. The initial Conversion Rate is 5.0541 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a
share of Preferred Stock per Liquidation Preference.
Conversion Value shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(m)(i).
Corporation Notice shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(e).
Corporation Notice Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(e).
Determination Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(m).
Distributed Assets or Securities shall have the meaning given to it in Section
7(f)(iii).
Dividend Adjustment Amount shall have the meaning given to it in
Section 7(f)(iv)(B).
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Dividend Payment Date shall mean March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year,
commencing March 1, 2005.
Dividend Rate shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3(a).
Dividend Record Date shall mean February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.
DTC or Depository means The Depository Trust Company.
Effective Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(a)(iii).
Equity Interests means any capital stock, partnership, joint venture, member or limited
liability or unlimited liability company interest, beneficial interest in a trust or similar entity
or other equity interest or investment of whatever nature.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
Fair Market Value means the amount which a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in an
arms length transaction.
A Fundamental Change shall be deemed to have occurred at such time after the original
issuance of the Preferred Stock that any of the following occurs: (i) the Common Stock or other
capital stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible is neither listed for trading on a
United States national securities exchange nor approved for trading on the NASDAQ National Market
or another established automated over-the-counter trading market in the United States; (ii) a
person or group within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the
Corporation, any subsidiary of the Corporation or any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or
any such subsidiary, files a Schedule TO (or any other schedule, form or report under the Exchange
Act) disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect ultimate beneficial
owner (as such term is used in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person
or group shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares that such Person or group has
the right to acquire whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time) of Common Equity of the Corporation representing more than 50% of the voting power of the
Corporations Common Equity; (iii) consummation of any share exchange, consolidation or merger of
the Corporation pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other
property or any sale, lease or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of
all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, to any Person (other than the Corporation or one or more of the Corporations
subsidiaries); provided, however, that a transaction where the holders of the Corporations Common
Equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the
aggregate voting power of all classes of Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation
or transferee immediately after such event shall not be a Fundamental Change; or (iv) Continuing
Directors cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors; provided, however,
that a Fundamental Change shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of any of the foregoing
if either (1) the Last Reported Sale Price of Common Stock for any five Trading Days within the ten
consecutive Trading Days ending immediately before the later of the Fundamental Change or the
public announcement thereof equals or exceeds 105% of the applicable Conversion Price of the
Preferred Stock in effect immediately before the Fundamental Change or the public announcement
thereof or (2) at least 90% of the consideration (excluding cash payments for fractional shares) in
the transaction or transactions constituting the Fundamental Change consists of shares of capital
stock traded on a national securities exchange or quoted on the NASDAQ National Market (or which
shall be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such Fundamental Change)
(such securities being referred to as Publicly Traded Securities) and as a result of such
transaction or transactions the Preferred Stock becomes convertible into such Publicly Traded
Securities (excluding cash payments for fractional shares).
3
Fundamental Change Purchase Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(a).
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c).
Fundamental Change Purchase Price shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(a).
Global
Preferred Stock shall have the meaning given to it in
Section 11(a)(i).
Holder or holder shall mean a holder of record of the Preferred Stock.
Issue Date shall mean December 15, 2004, the original date of issuance of the Preferred
Stock.
Junior Stock shall mean all classes of common stock of the Corporation and each other class
of capital stock or series of preferred stock established after the Issue Date, by the Board of
Directors, the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series ranks senior to or
on parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up
or dissolution of the Corporation.
Last Reported Sale Price of the applicable security on any date means the closing sale
price per share (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices
or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on
that date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. securities exchange on
which the applicable security is traded or, if the applicable security is not listed on a U.S.
national or regional securities exchange, as reported by the NASDAQ National Market. If the
applicable security is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange
and not reported by the NASDAQ National Market on the relevant date, the Last Reported Sale Price
shall be the last quoted bid price for the applicable security in the over-the-counter market on
the relevant date as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or similar organization. If the
applicable security is not so quoted, the Last Reported Sale Price will be the average of the
mid-point of the last bid and ask prices for the applicable security on the relevant date from
each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the
Corporation for this purpose.
Liquidation Preference shall mean, with respect to each share of Preferred Stock, $50.00.
Mandatory Conversion Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 8(b).
Market Price means the average of the Last Reported Sales Price per share of Common Stock
for the 20 Trading Day period ending on the applicable date of determination (if the applicable
date of determination is a Trading Day or, if not, then on the last Trading Day prior to such
applicable date of determination), appropriately adjusted to take into account the occurrence,
during the period commencing on the first of the Trading Days during such 20 Trading Day period
and ending on the applicable date of determination, of any event that would result in an
adjustment of the Conversion Rate under this Certificate of Designation.
Market Value shall mean the average closing price of the Common Stock for a five
consecutive Trading Day period on the NYSE (or such other national securities exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed or authorized for quotation
or, if the Common Stock is not so listed or authorized for quotation, an amount determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors to be the fair value of the Common Stock).
Maximum Conversion Rate shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(f)(xi).
Net Shares shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(m)(ii)(B).
Net Share Amount shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(m)(ii)(B).
4
NYSE shall mean the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Officer means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice President,
the Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by two Officers.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the
Transfer Agent. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Corporation or the Transfer
Agent.
Original Preferred Stock shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3(a).
Parity Stock shall mean any class of capital stock or series of preferred stock established
as of or after the Issue Date by the Board of Directors, the terms of which expressly provide that
such class or series will rank on parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights
upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation.
Paying Agent means any Person authorized by the Corporation to pay the dividends or
Fundamental Change Purchase Price on any of the shares of Preferred Stock on behalf of the
Corporation. Initially, the Paying Agent shall be the Corporation.
Person shall mean any individual, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership,
limited liability partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, limited
liability company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof.
Pre-Dividend Sale Price shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(f)(iv)(A).
Principal Return shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(m)(ii)(A).
Public
Acquirer Change of Control shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(f)(vii).
Public Acquirer Common Stock shall have the meaning given to it in Section
7(f)(vii).
Registration Default shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3(b).
Registration Rights Agreement means the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December
5, 2003, among the Corporation, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated and the certain other initial purchasers of the Original Preferred Stock.
SEC or Commission shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Security Register means the security register recording the holders of Preferred Stock kept
at the offices of the Corporation.
Security Registrar shall be the Person holding the Security Register, and the Corporation
will initially be designated as the Security Registrar.
Senior Stock shall mean each class of capital stock or series of preferred stock
established after the Issue Date by the Board of Directors, the terms of which expressly provide
that such class or series will rank senior to the Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights
upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation.
5
Share Price means the price per share of Common Stock paid in connection with a corporate
transaction described in Section 7(m)(v) hereof, which shall be equal to (i) if holders of Common
Stock receive only cash in such corporate transaction, the cash amount paid per share of Common
Stock and (ii) in all other cases, the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock on
the five Trading Days up to but not including the Effective Date.
Shelf Registration Statement shall mean the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed
with the SEC on September 24, 2004 to cover resales of Transfer Restricted Securities by holders
thereof, as required by the Registration Rights Agreement.
Spin-Off Market Price per share of Common Stock or the Equity Interests in a Subsidiary or
other business unit of the Corporation on any day means the average of the daily Last Reported
Sale Prices for the 10 consecutive Trading Days commencing on and including the fifth Trading Day
after the ex date with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computations. As
used herein, the term ex date, when used with respect to any issuance or distribution, shall
mean the first date on which the security trades regular way on the NYSE or such other national
regional exchange or market in which the security trades without the right to receive such
issuance or distribution.
Subsidiary means a Person more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned,
directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the
Corporation and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, voting
stock means stock which ordinarily has voting power of the election of directors, whether at all
times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any
contingency.
Ten Day Average Closing Stock Price shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(m)(i)(B).
Trading Day means (i) if the applicable security is listed, admitted for trading or quoted
on the NYSE, the NASDAQ National Market or another national security exchange, a day on which the
NYSE, the NASDAQ National Market or another national security exchange is open for business or
(ii) if the applicable security is not so listed, admitted for trading or quoted, any day other
than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are
authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.
Trading Exception shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7(a)(ii).
Trading Price of the Preferred Stock on any date of determination means the average of the
secondary market bid quotations per share of Preferred Stock obtained by the Conversion Agent for
$5,000,000 Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Stock at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York
City time, on such determination date from three independent nationally recognized securities
dealers the Corporation selects, provided that if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained
by the Conversion Agent, but two such bids are obtained, then the average of the two bids shall
be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the Conversion Agent, this one
bid shall be used. If the Conversion Agent cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for
$5,000,000 Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Stock from a nationally recognized securities
dealer, then the Trading Price will be deemed to be less than 95% of the product of the sale
price of Common Stock and the then applicable Conversion Rate.
Transfer Agent shall mean the Corporations duly appointed transfer agent for the
Preferred Stock. Initially, the Corporation will be the Transfer Agent.
Transfer Restricted Securities shall mean each share of Preferred Stock (or the shares of
Common Stock into which such share of Preferred Stock is convertible) until (i) the date on which
such security or its predecessor has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and
disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which such
security or predecessor is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act
6
or (iii) the date that such Preferred Stock ceases to be outstanding.
Voting Rights Class shall have the meaning given to it in Section 5(a)(i).
Voting Rights Triggering Event shall mean the failure of the Corporation to pay
dividends on the Preferred Stock with respect to six or more quarterly periods (whether or
not consecutive).
Voting Stock shall mean, with respect to any Person, securities of any class or
classes of Capital Stock in such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times
or only so long as no senior class of stock has voting power by reason of contingency)
generally to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors or other governing
body of such Person. For purposes of this definition, Capital Stock shall mean, with
respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents
(however designated) of corporate stock or partnership interests and any and all warrants,
options and rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including
each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person.
3. Dividends.
(a) The holders of shares of the outstanding Preferred Stock shall be entitled, when, as and
if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds of the Corporation legally available therefor,
to receive cumulative cash dividends at the rate per annum of 4.50% per share on the Liquidation
Preference (equivalent to $2.25 per annum per share), payable quarterly in arrears (the Dividend
Rate). The Dividend Rate may be increased in the circumstances described in Section 3(b) below.
Dividends payable for each full dividend period will be computed by dividing the Dividend Rate by
four and shall be payable in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date (commencing March 1, 2005) for
the quarterly period ending immediately prior to such Dividend Payment Date, to the holders of
record of Preferred Stock at the close of business on the Dividend Record Date applicable to such
Dividend Payment Date. Such dividends shall be cumulative from the most recent date as to which
dividends shall have been paid on the Original Preferred Stock or, if no dividends have been paid,
from the Issue Date (whether or not in any dividend period or periods the Board of Directors shall
have declared such dividends or there shall be funds of the Corporation legally available for the
payment of such dividends) and shall accumulate on a day-to-day basis, whether or not earned or
declared, from and after the Issue Date. Dividends payable for any partial dividend period shall be
computed on the basis of days elapsed over a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months.
Accumulated unpaid dividends accrue and cumulate dividends at the annual rate of 4.50% and are
payable in the manner provided in this Section 3.
(b) If (i) by March 5, 2005, the Shelf Registration Statement has not been amended to cover
resales of the Preferred Stock and declared effective by the Commission, (ii) after the Shelf
Registration Statement has been declared effective the Corporation fails to file a post-effective
amendment, prospectus supplement, amendment or supplement to any document incorporated by reference
into such prospectus or document if required by applicable law with the SEC within five business
days after a Holder provides the Corporation with certain required information, if such filing is
necessary to enable the Holder to deliver the prospectus to purchasers of such Holders Transfer
Restricted Securities, (iii) the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or fails to be
usable without being succeeded within 30 days by a post-effective amendment or an additional
registration statement filed and declared effective (other than as permitted in (ii) above)
pursuant to the Exchange Act that cures the failure of the registration statement to be effective
or usable, and (iv) the aggregate duration of any suspension periods in any period exceeds certain
limits described in the Registration Rights Agreement (each such event referred to in clauses (i),
(ii), (iii) and (iv) a Registration Default), additional dividends shall accumulate on the
Preferred Stock, from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to,
but excluding, the date on which the Registration Default has been cured, at the rate of 0.25% per
year for the first 90 days following such date and at a rate of 0.50% per year thereafter
(Additional Dividends). With respect to shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock, Additional Dividends will accumulate on the then applicable conversion price from
and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to, but excluding, the
date on which the Registration Default has been cured, at the rate of 0.25% per year for the first
90 days following such date and at a rate of 0.50% per year thereafter. Except as mentioned above,
the Corporation will have no other liabilities for
7
monetary damages with respect to its registration obligations. The receipt of Additional Dividends
will be the sole monetary remedy available to a Holder if the Corporation fails to meet these
obligations.
(c) No dividend will be declared or paid upon, or any sum set apart for the payment of
dividends upon, any outstanding share of the Preferred Stock with respect to any dividend period
unless all dividends for all preceding dividend periods have been declared and paid or declared and
a sufficient sum set apart for the payment of such dividend upon all outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock.
(d) No dividends or other distributions (other than a dividend or distribution payable solely
in shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock (in the case of Parity Stock) or Junior Stock (in the
case of Junior Stock) and other than cash paid in lieu of fractional shares) may be declared, made
or paid, or set apart for payment upon, any Parity Stock or Junior Stock, nor may any Parity Stock
or Junior Stock be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any money
paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any Parity Stock or Junior
Stock) by or on behalf of the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of
Parity Stock or Junior Stock (in the case of Parity Stock) or Junior Stock (in the case of Junior
Stock)), unless full Accumulated Dividends shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and
paid, or are declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for such payment,
on the Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock for all dividend payment periods terminating on or
prior to the date of such declaration, payment, redemption, purchase or acquisition.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if full dividends have not been paid on the Preferred Stock and any
Parity Stock, dividends may be declared and paid on the Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock so
long as the dividends are declared and paid pro rata so that the amounts of dividends declared per
share on the Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock will in all cases bear to each other the same
ratio that accumulated and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of Preferred Stock and such
other Parity Stock bear to each other.
(e) Holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends on the
Preferred Stock, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends
and Additional Dividends (if any).
(f) The holders of shares of Preferred Stock at the close of business on a Dividend Record
Date will be entitled to receive the dividend payment on those shares on the corresponding
Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the subsequent conversion thereof or the Corporations
default in payment of the dividend due on that Dividend Payment Date. However, shares of Preferred
Stock surrendered for conversion during the period between the close of business on any Dividend
Record Date and the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable
Dividend Payment Date must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the dividend payable on
the shares on that Dividend Payment Date; provided, however, that no such payment need be made if
(1) the Corporation has specified a Mandatory Conversion Date that is after a Dividend Record Date
and on or prior to the immediately following Dividend Payment Date or (2) any accumulated and
unpaid dividends exist at the time of conversion with respect to such shares of Preferred Stock to
the extent of such accumulated and unpaid dividends. A holder of shares of Preferred Stock on a
Dividend Record Date who (or whose transferee) tenders any shares for conversion on the
corresponding Dividend Payment Date will receive the dividend payable by the Corporation on the
Preferred Stock on that date, and the converting holder need not include payment in the amount of
such dividend upon surrender of shares of Preferred Stock for conversion. Except as provided above
with respect to a voluntary conversion pursuant to Section 7, the Corporation shall make no
payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on converted shares or for
dividends on the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion.
(g) In any case where any Dividend Payment Date or Conversion Date (including upon the
occurrence of a Fundamental Change) of any Preferred Stock shall not be a Business Day, at any
place of payment, then payment of dividends (and Additional Dividends, if any) need not be made
on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such place of payment with
the same force and effect as if made on the dividend payment date or Conversion Date (including
upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change); and no dividends shall accumulate on the amount so
payable for the period from and after such Dividend Payment Date or Conversion Date, as the case
may be, to such Business Day.
8
(h) The Paying Agent shall return to the Corporation upon written request any money or
property held by it for the payment of any amount with respect to the Preferred Stock that remains
unclaimed for two years, provided, however, that the Paying Agent, before being required to make
any such return, shall at the expense of the Corporation cause to be published once in a newspaper
of general circulation in The City of New York or mail to each such Holder notice that such money
or property remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less
than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed money or property then
remaining shall be returned to the Corporation. After return to the Corporation, Holders entitled
to the money or property must look to the Corporation for payment as general creditors unless an
applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
4. Fundamental Change.
(a) Purchase at the Option of the Holder Upon a Fundamental Change. Each Holder shall have the
right, at such Holders option, to require the Corporation to purchase any or all of such Holders
Preferred Stock for cash or a check on the date that is no earlier than 60 days nor later than 90
days after the date of the Corporation Notice of the occurrence of such Fundamental Change (subject
to extension to comply with applicable law, as provided in Section 4(h) (the Fundamental Change
Purchase Date). The Preferred Stock shall be repurchased in integral multiples of $50.00
(representing the Liquidation Preference). The Corporation shall purchase such Preferred Stock at
a price (the Fundamental Change Purchase Price) equal to 100% of the Liquidation Price of the
number of shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased plus accumulated and unpaid dividends,
including Additional Dividends, if any, to the Fundamental Change Purchase Date.
(b) Notice of Fundamental Change. The Corporation, or at its request (which must be received
by the Paying Agent at least three Business Days (or such lesser period as agreed to by the Paying
Agent) prior to the date the Paying Agent is requested to give such notice as described below), the
Paying Agent, in the name of and at the expense of the Corporation, shall mail to all Holders a
Corporation Notice of the occurrence of a Fundamental Change and of the purchase right arising as a
result thereof, including the information required by Section 4(e) hereof, on or before the 30th
day after the occurrence of such Fundamental Change.
(c) Exercise of Option. For Preferred Stock to be so purchased at the option of the Holder,
the Paying Agent must receive at its office in Jackson, Michigan, or any other offices of the
Paying Agent maintained for such purposes, such shares of Preferred Stock duly endorsed for
transfer, together with a written notice of purchase in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (a
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice) duly completed, on or before the 30th day prior to the
Fundamental Change Purchase Date, subject to extension to comply with applicable law. The
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice shall state:
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(i) |
|
if certificated, the certificate numbers of the shares of Preferred Stock which
the Holder shall deliver to be purchased, or, if not certificated, the Fundamental
Change Purchase Notice must comply with appropriate Depository procedures; |
| |
| |
(ii) |
|
the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the Holder shall deliver to be
purchased, which portion must be $50.00 or an integral multiple thereof; and |
| |
| |
(iii) |
|
that such Preferred Stock shall be purchased as of the Fundamental Change
Purchase Date pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Preferred Stock and
in this Certificate of Designation. |
(d) Procedures. The Corporation shall purchase from a Holder, pursuant to this Section 4,
shares of Preferred Stock or multiples of $50.00 if so requested by such Holder.
Any purchase by the Corporation contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4
shall be consummated by the delivery of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price to be received by
the Holder promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change Purchase Date or the time of
book-entry transfer or delivery of the Preferred Stock.
9
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice contemplated by Section 4(c) hereof shall have the right at any
time prior to the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Fundamental Change Purchase
Date to withdraw such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice (in whole or in part) by delivery of a
written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 4(f) hereof.
The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Corporation of the receipt by it of any
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.
On or before 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, the
Corporation shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Corporation or an Affiliate of the
Corporation is acting as the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to
pay the aggregate Fundamental Change Purchase Price of the Preferred Stock to be purchased
pursuant to this Section 4. Payment by the Paying Agent of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price
for such Preferred Stock shall be made promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change
Purchase Date or the time of book-entry transfer or delivery of such Preferred Stock. If the
Paying Agent holds, in accordance with the terms of this Certificate of Designation, money
sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Purchase Price of such Preferred Stock on the Business
Day following the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, then, on and after such date, such Preferred
Stock shall cease to be outstanding and dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any) on such
Preferred Stock shall cease to accumulate, whether or not book-entry transfer of such Preferred
Stock is made or such Preferred Stock is delivered to the Paying Agent, and all other rights of
the Holder shall terminate (other than the right to receive the Fundamental Change Purchase Price
upon delivery or transfer of the Preferred Stock). Nothing herein shall preclude any withholding
tax required by law.
The Corporation shall require each Paying Agent to agree in writing that the Paying Agent
shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment
of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price. If the Corporation or an Affiliate of the Corporation
acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a
separate trust fund.
All questions as to the validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of
any Preferred Stock pursuant to a Fundamental Change shall be determined by the Corporation, whose
determination shall be final and binding.
(e) Notice of Fundamental Change. The Corporation shall send notices (each, a Corporation
Notice) to the Holders (and to beneficial owners as required by applicable law) at their
addresses shown in the Security Register maintained by the Security Registrar, and delivered to
the Paying Agent on or before the 30th day after the occurrence of the Fundamental Change
(Corporation Notice Date). Each Corporation Notice shall include a form of Fundamental Change
Purchase Notice to be completed by a Holder and shall state:
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(i) |
|
the applicable Fundamental Change Purchase Price, excluding accumulated and unpaid
dividends, Conversion Rate at the time of such notice (and any adjustments to the
Conversion Rate) and, to the extent known at the time of such notice, the amount of
dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any), if any, that will be payable with
respect to the Preferred Stock on the applicable Fundamental Change Purchase Date; |
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(ii) |
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the events causing the Fundamental Change and the date of the Fundamental Change; |
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(iii) |
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the Fundamental Change Purchase Date; |
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(iv) |
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the last date on which a Holder may exercise its purchase right; |
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(v) |
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the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent; |
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(vi) |
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that the Preferred Stock must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect payment
of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price; |
10
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(vii) |
|
that the Preferred Stock as to which a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has been
given may be converted only if the applicable Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has
been withdrawn in accordance with the terms of this Certificate of Designation; |
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(viii) |
|
that the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for any of the Preferred Stock as to which a
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has been given and not withdrawn shall be paid by the
Paying Agent promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change Purchase Date or the
time of book-entry transfer or delivery of such Preferred Stock; |
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(ix) |
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the procedures the Holder must follow under this
Section 4; |
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(x) |
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briefly, the conversion rights of the
Preferred Stock; |
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(xi) |
|
that, unless the Corporation defaults in making payment of such Fundamental Change
Purchase Price on the Preferred Stock covered by any Fundamental Change Purchase Notice,
dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any) will cease to accumulate on and after
the Fundamental Change Purchase Date; |
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(xii) |
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the CUSIP or ISIN number of the Preferred Stock; and |
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(xiii) |
|
the procedures for withdrawing a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice. |
In connection with providing such Corporation Notice, the Corporation will issue a press
release and publish a notice containing the information in such Corporation Notice in a newspaper
of general circulation in The City of New York or publish such information on the Corporations
then existing Web site or through such other public medium as the Corporation may use at the time.
At the Corporations request, made at least five Business Days prior to the date upon which
such notice is to be mailed, and at the Corporations expense, the Paying Agent shall give the
Corporation Notice in the Corporations name; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of
the Corporation Notice shall be prepared by the Corporation.
(f) Effect of Fundamental Change Purchase Notice. Upon receipt by the Corporation of the
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice specified in this Section 4, the Holder of the Preferred Stock
in respect of which such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice was given shall (unless such
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice is withdrawn as specified in this Section 4(f)) thereafter be
entitled to receive solely the Fundamental Change Purchase Price with respect to such Preferred
Stock. Such Fundamental Change Purchase Price shall be paid by the Paying Agent to such Holder
promptly following the later of (x) the Fundamental Change Purchase Date with respect to such
Preferred Stock (provided the conditions in this Section 4 have been satisfied) and (y) the time
of delivery or book-entry transfer of such Preferred Stock to the Paying Agent by the Holder
thereof in the manner required by this Section 4. Preferred Stock in respect of which a
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has been given by the Holder thereof may not be converted for
shares of Common Stock on or after the date of the delivery of such Fundamental Change Purchase
Notice unless such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has first been validly withdrawn as
specified in this Section 4(f). Payment of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for shares of
Preferred Stock in registered, certificated form (Certificated Preferred Stock) for which a
Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has been delivered and not withdrawn is conditioned upon
delivery of such Certificated Preferred Stock (together with necessary endorsements) to the Paying
Agent at its office in Jackson, Michigan, or any other office of the Paying Agent maintained for
such purpose, at any time (whether prior to, on or after the Fundamental Change Purchase Date)
after the delivery of such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice. Payment of the Fundamental Change
Purchase Price for such Certificated Preferred Stock will be made promptly following the later of
the Fundamental Change Purchase Date or the time of delivery of such Certificated Preferred Stock.
If the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with the terms of this Certificate of Designation,
money sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Purchase Price of shares of Preferred Stock on the
Business Day following the Fundamental Change Purchase Date for such Preferred Stock, then, on
and after such date, dividends on such
11
Preferred Stock will cease to accumulate, whether or not such Preferred Stock is delivered to the
Paying Agent, and all other rights of the Holder shall terminate (other than the right to receive
the Fundamental Change Purchase Price upon delivery of the Preferred Stock).
A Fundamental Change Purchase Notice may be withdrawn by means of a written notice of
withdrawal delivered to the office of the Paying Agent at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. New York
City time on the Business Day prior to the Fundamental Change Purchase Date to which it relates
specifying:
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(i) |
|
if certificated, the certificate number of Preferred Stock in respect of which
such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, or, if not certificated, the written
notice of withdrawal must comply with appropriate Depository procedures; |
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(ii) |
|
the number of shares of Preferred Stock with respect to which such notice of
withdrawal is being submitted; and |
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| |
(iii) |
|
the number of shares of Preferred Stock, if any, which remains subject to the
original Fundamental Change Purchase Notice and which have been or shall be delivered
for purchase by the Corporation. |
(g) Preferred Stock Purchased in Part. Any shares of Preferred Stock that are to be purchased
only in part shall be surrendered (in physical or book-entry form) at the office of the Paying
Agent (with, if the Corporation so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such
Holders attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Corporation shall execute and the Transfer
Agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Preferred Stock, without service
charge, new shares of Preferred Stock, as requested by such Holder in an amount equal to, and in
exchange for, the portion of the Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Stock so surrendered
which is not purchased.
(h) Covenant to Comply with Securities Laws Upon Purchase of the Preferred Stock. In
connection with any offer to purchase Preferred Stock under this Section 4, the Corporation shall,
to the extent applicable: (i) comply with Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1 (and any successor provisions
thereto) under the Exchange Act, if applicable; (ii) file the related Schedule TO (or any
successor schedule, form or report) under the Exchange Act, if applicable; and (iii) otherwise
comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws so as to permit the rights and
obligations under this Section 4 hereof to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in
this Section 4.
(i) Repayment to the Corporation. The Paying Agent shall return to the Corporation any cash
or property that remains unclaimed as provided in the Preferred Stock, together with interest that
the Paying Agent has agreed to pay, if any, held by it for the payment of a Fundamental Change
Purchase Price; provided, however, that to the extent that the aggregate amount of cash or
property deposited by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 4 exceeds the aggregate Fundamental
Change Purchase Price of the Preferred Stock or portions thereof which the Corporation is
obligated to purchase as of the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, then promptly on and after the
Business Day following the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, the Paying Agent shall return any
such excess to the Corporation together with interest that the Paying Agent has agreed to pay, if
any.
(j) Officers Certificate. At least five Business Days before the Corporation Notice Date,
the Corporation shall deliver an Officers Certificate to the Paying Agent (provided, that, at
the Corporations option, the matters to be addressed in such Officers Certificate may be
divided among two such certificates) specifying:
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(i) |
|
the manner of payment selected by the Corporation; and |
| |
| |
(ii) |
|
whether the Corporation desires the Paying Agent to give the Corporation Notice
required by Section 4(e) hereof. |
5. Voting.
(a) The shares of Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights except as set forth below or
as otherwise required by Michigan law from time to time:
12
| |
(i) |
|
If and whenever at any time or times a Voting Rights Triggering Event occurs, then the
holders of shares of Preferred Stock, voting as a single class with any other preferred stock
or preference securities having similar voting rights that are exercisable (the Voting Rights
Class), will be entitled at the next regular or special meeting of shareholders of the
Corporation to elect two additional directors of the Corporation, unless the Board of Directors
is comprised of fewer than six directors at such time, in which case the Voting Rights Class
shall be entitled to elect one additional director. Upon the election of any such additional
directors, the number of directors that comprise the Board of Directors shall be increased by
such number of additional directors. |
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| |
(ii) |
|
Such voting rights may be exercised at a special meeting of the holders of the shares of the
Voting Rights Class, called as hereinafter provided, or at any annual meeting of shareholders
held for the purpose of electing directors, and thereafter at each such annual meeting until
such time as all dividends in arrears on the shares of Preferred Stock shall have been paid
in full, at which time or times such voting rights and the term of the directors elected
pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) shall terminate. |
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| |
(iii) |
|
At any time when such voting rights shall have vested in holders of shares of the Voting
Rights Class, an Officer of the Corporation may call, and, upon written request of the record
holders of shares representing at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting power of the
shares then outstanding of the Voting Rights Class, addressed to the Secretary of the
Corporation, shall call a special meeting of the holders of shares of the Voting Rights
Class. Such meeting shall be held at the earliest practicable date upon the notice required
for annual meetings of shareholders at the place for holding annual meetings of shareholders
of the Corporation, or, if none, at a place designated by the Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(a)(iii), no such special meeting shall be
called during a period within the 60 days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next
annual meeting of shareholders, in which such case the election of directors pursuant to
Section 5(a)(i) shall be held at such annual meeting of shareholders. |
| |
| |
(iv) |
|
At any meeting held for the purpose of electing directors at which the holders of the Voting
Rights Class shall have the right to elect directors as provided herein, the presence in
person or by proxy of the holders of shares representing more than fifty percent (50%) in
voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Voting Rights Class shall be required and
shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum of such class for the election of directors by
such class. The affirmative vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock constituting a
majority of the shares of Preferred Stock present at such meeting, in person or by proxy
shall be sufficient to elect any such director. |
| |
| |
(v) |
|
Any director elected pursuant to the voting rights created under this Section 5(a) shall
hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders (unless such term has previously
terminated pursuant to Section 5(a)(ii)) and any vacancy in respect of any such director
shall be filled only by vote of the remaining director so elected by holders of the Voting
Rights Class, or, if there be no such remaining director, by the holders of shares of the
Voting Rights Class at a special meeting called in accordance with the procedures set forth
in this Section 5, or, if no such special meeting is called, at the next annual meeting of
shareholders. Upon any termination of such voting rights, the term of office of all directors
elected pursuant to this Section 5 shall terminate. |
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| |
(vi) |
|
So long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain outstanding, unless a greater percentage
shall then be required by law, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or
consent of the holders of all of the outstanding Preferred Stock voting or consenting, as
the case may be, separately as one class, (i) create, authorize or issue any class or series
of Senior Stock (or any security convertible into Senior Stock) or (ii) amend the Articles
of Incorporation so as to affect adversely the specified rights, preferences, privileges or
voting rights of holders of shares of Preferred Stock. |
| |
| |
(vii) |
|
In exercising the voting rights set forth in this Section 5(a), each share of Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to one vote. |
13
(b) The Corporation may authorize, increase the authorized amount of, or issue any class or
series of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, without the consent of the holders of Preferred Stock, and
in taking such actions the Corporation shall not be deemed to have affected adversely the rights,
preferences, privileges or voting rights of holders of shares of Preferred Stock.
6. Liquidation Rights.
(a) In the event of any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, whether
voluntary of involuntary, each holder of shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and
to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders the
Liquidation Preference plus Accumulated Dividends and Additional Dividends thereon in preference to
the holders of, and before any payment or distribution is made on, any Junior Stock, including,
without limitation, on any Common Stock.
(b) Neither the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities
or other consideration) of all or substantially all the assets or business of the Corporation
(other than in connection with the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of its business) nor the
merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Person shall be deemed to be a
liquidation, winding-up or dissolution, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section
6.
(c) After the payment to the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock of full preferential
amounts provided for in this Section 6, the holders of Preferred Stock as such shall have no right
or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.
(d) In the event the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to the holders of
shares of Preferred Stock upon any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation,
whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such
holders are entitled pursuant to Section 6(a), no such distribution shall be made on account of any
shares of Parity Stock upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding- up unless proportionate
distributable amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of Preferred Stock, ratably, in
proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all Preferred Stock and of any
Parity Stock are entitled upon such liquidation, winding-up or dissolution.
7. Conversion.
(a) Conversion Rights. A Holder may convert Preferred Stock into cash and shares of Common
Stock during the periods and upon satisfaction of at least one of the conditions set forth below:
| |
(i) |
|
in any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) if the Last
Reported Sale Price for Common Stock for at least 20 Trading Days during the period of
30 consecutive Trading Days ending on the last Trading Day of the previous calendar
quarter is greater than or equal to 120% of the Conversion Price per share of Common
Stock on such last Trading Day; |
| |
| |
(ii) |
|
during the five Business Days immediately following any ten consecutive Trading
Day period in which the Trading Price per Liquidation Preference of Preferred Stock (as
determined following a request by a Holder of Preferred Stock in accordance with the
procedures described herein) for each day of that period was less than 95% of the
product of the sale price of Common Stock and the then applicable Conversion Rate (the
Trading Exception); provided, however, that a Holder may not convert its Preferred
Stock if the average closing sale price of Common Stock for such ten consecutive
Trading Day period is between the then current Conversion Price and 120% of the then
applicable Conversion Price; in connection with any conversion upon satisfaction of
such Trading Price condition, the Conversion Agent shall have no obligation to
determine the Trading Price unless the Corporation has requested such determination;
and the Corporation shall have no obligation to make such request unless the Holder
provides reasonable evidence that the Trading Price would be less than 95% of the
product of the sale price of Common Stock and the then applicable Conversion Rate; at
which time, the Corporation shall instruct the Conversion Agent to determine the
Trading Price beginning on the next |
14
| |
|
|
Trading Day and on each successive Trading Day until the Trading Price is greater than
or equal to 95% of the product of the sale price of Common Stock and the then
applicable Conversion Rate; |
| |
| |
(iii) |
|
the Corporation becomes a party to a consolidation, merger or binding
share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock would be converted into cash or
property (other than securities), in which case a Holder may surrender Preferred
Stock for conversion at any time from and after the date which is 15 days prior to
the anticipated effective date for the transaction until 15 days after the actual
effective date (the Effective Date) of such transaction; or |
| |
| |
(iv) |
|
the Corporation elects to (i) distribute to all holders of Common Stock
assets, debt securities or rights to purchase securities of the Corporation, which
distribution has a per share value as determined by the Board of Directors exceeding
15% of the Last Reported Sale Price of a share of Common Stock on the Trading Day
immediately preceding the declaration date for such distribution, or (ii) distribute
to all holders of Common Stock rights entitling them to purchase, for a period
expiring within 60 days after the date of such distribution, shares of Common Stock
at less than the Last Reported Sale Price of Common Stock on the Trading Day
immediately preceding the declaration date of the distribution. In the case of the
foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Corporation must notify the Holders at least 20
Business Days immediately prior to the ex-dividend date for such distribution. Once
the Corporation has given such notice, Holders may surrender their Preferred Stock
for conversion at any time thereafter until the earlier of the close of business on
the Business Day immediately prior to the ex-dividend date or the Corporations
announcement that such distribution will not take place; provided, however, that a
Holder may not exercise this right to convert if the Holder may participate in the
distribution without conversion. As used herein, the term ex dividend date, when
used with respect to any issuance or distribution, shall mean the first date on which
the Common Stock trades regular way on such exchange or in such market without the
right to receive such issuance or distribution. |
The initial Conversion Rate is 5.0541 shares of Common Stock per share of Preferred Stock,
subject to adjustment in certain events as described herein. The Corporation shall deliver cash
or a check in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock. A Holder may convert fewer than all
of its Preferred Stock so long as the Preferred Stock converted is an integral multiple of the
Liquidation Preference.
Holders of Preferred Stock at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date will receive
payment of dividends, payable on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the
conversion of such Preferred Stock at any time after the close of business on such Dividend
Record Date. Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion by a Holder during the period from the
close of business on any Dividend Record Date to the opening of business on the immediately
following Dividend Payment Date must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the
dividend that the Holder is to receive on such Preferred Stock; provided, however, that no such
payment need be made if (1) the Corporation has specified a Mandatory Conversion Date that is
after a Dividend Record Date and on or prior to the immediately following Dividend Payment Date
or (2) any accumulated and unpaid dividends exist at the time of conversion with respect to
such shares of Preferred Stock to the extent of such accumulated and unpaid dividends.
To convert Preferred Stock a Holder must (i) complete and manually sign the irrevocable
conversion notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (a Conversion Notice) (or complete
and manually sign a facsimile of such notice) and deliver such notice to the Conversion Agent
at its office in Jackson, Michigan or any other offices of the Conversion Agent maintained by
the Conversion Agent for such purpose, (ii) surrender the shares of Preferred Stock to the
Conversion Agent, (iii) furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents if required by
the Conversion Agent or the Corporation and (iv) pay any transfer or similar tax, if required.
(b) Conversion Procedures. To convert Preferred Stock, a Holder must satisfy the
requirements in this Section 7 and in the Preferred Stock. The date on which the Holder
satisfies all those requirements is the conversion date (the Conversion Date). Subject to
the procedures set forth in Section 7(f) hereof, as soon as practicable, but in no event later
than the fifth Business Day following the Conversion Date, the Corporation shall deliver the
Conversion Value in cash and deliver the Common Stock by either of the following methods: (i)
update the global security representing the shares of Common Stock to record the Holders
interest in the Common Stock,
15
or (ii) deliver to the Holder, through the Conversion Agent, a certificate for the number of full
shares representing Net Shares, if any, together with, in either case, cash or a check in lieu of
any fractional share determined pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof. The Person in whose name the
certificate is registered shall be treated as a shareholder of record on and after the Conversion
Date; provided, however, that no surrender of Preferred Stock on any date when the stock transfer
books of the Corporation shall be closed shall be effective to constitute the Person or Persons
entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock upon such conversion as the record holder or holders
of such shares of Common Stock on such date, but such surrender shall be effective to constitute
the Person or Persons entitled to receive such shares of Common Stock as the record holder or
holders thereof for all purposes at the close of business on the next succeeding day on which such
stock transfer books are open; such conversion shall be at the Conversion Rate in effect on the
date that such shares of Preferred Stock shall have been surrendered for conversion, as if the
stock transfer books of the Corporation had not been closed. Upon conversion of Preferred Stock,
such Person shall no longer be a Holder of such Preferred Stock.
No payment or adjustment shall be made for dividends on or other distributions with
respect to any Common Stock except as provided in Section 7(f) hereof or as otherwise provided
in this Certificate of Designation.
On conversion of Preferred Stock, delivery of the Principal Return, the Net Shares and the
cash or check payment, if any, in lieu of fractional shares will be deemed to satisfy the
Corporations obligation to pay the Liquidation Preference of the converted Preferred Stock,
including Accumulated Dividends, if any. Accumulated Dividends with respect to the converted
Preferred Stock will be deemed canceled, extinguished or forfeited, rather than paid in full to
the Holder thereof.
Upon surrender of Preferred Stock that is converted in part, the Corporation shall
execute, and the Transfer Agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder, new shares of
Preferred Stock in a number equal to the unconverted portion of the shares of Preferred Stock
surrendered.
If the last day on which Preferred Stock may be converted is a legal holiday in a place
where a Conversion Agent is located, the Preferred Stock may be surrendered to that Conversion
Agent on the next succeeding day that it is not a legal holiday.
(c) Cash or Check Payments in Lieu of Fractional Shares. The Corporation shall not issue a
fractional share of Common Stock upon conversion of Preferred Stock. Instead the Corporation
shall deliver cash (or Corporations check) for the current market value of the fractional share.
The current market value of a fractional share shall be determined to the nearest 1/10,000th of a
share by multiplying the Last Reported Sale Price of a full share of Common Stock on the Trading
Day immediately preceding the Conversion Date by the fractional amount and rounding the product
to the nearest whole cent.
(d) Taxes on Conversion. If a Holder converts Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall pay
any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on the issue of shares of Common
Stock upon the conversion. However, the Holder shall pay any such tax which is due because the
Holder requests the shares to be issued in a name other than the Holders name. The Conversion
Agent may refuse to deliver the certificates representing the Common Stock being issued in a name
other than the Holders name until the Conversion Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax
which shall be due because the shares are to be issued in a name other than the Holders name.
Nothing herein shall preclude any withholding tax required by law.
(e) Covenants of the Corporation. The Corporation shall, prior to issuance of any
Preferred Stock hereunder, and from time to time as may be necessary, reserve out of its
authorized but unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to permit the
conversion of the Preferred Stock.
All shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion of the Preferred Stock shall be newly
issued shares or treasury shares, shall be duly and validly issued and fully paid and
nonassessable and shall be free from preemptive rights and free of any lien or adverse claim.
16
The Corporation shall endeavor promptly to comply with all federal and state securities
laws regulating the order and delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of
Preferred Stock, if any, and shall cause to have listed or quoted all such shares of Common
Stock on each United States national securities exchange or over-the-counter or other domestic
market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted.
(f) Adjustments to Conversion Rate. The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to
time, without duplication, as follows:
| |
(i) |
|
In case the Corporation shall: (A) pay a dividend, or make a
distribution, exclusively in shares of its capital stock, on the Common Stock; (B)
subdivide its outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares; (C)
combine its outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares; or (D)
reclassify its Common Stock, the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to
the record date or effective date, as the case may be, for the adjustment pursuant
to this Section 7(f) as described below, shall be adjusted so that the Holder of
any Preferred Stock thereafter surrendered for conversion shall be entitled to
receive the cash and number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation which
such Holder would have owned or have been entitled to receive after the happening
of any of the events described above had such Preferred Stock been converted
immediately prior to such record date or effective date, as the case may be. An
adjustment made pursuant to this Section 7(f) shall become effective immediately
after the applicable record date in the case of a dividend or distribution and
shall become effective immediately after the applicable effective date in the case
of subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Corporations Common Stock.
If any dividend or distribution of the type described in clause (A) above is not
so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to the Conversion
Rate which would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been
declared. |
| |
| |
(ii) |
|
In case the Corporation shall issue rights or warrants to all holders
of the Common Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within 60 days after the
date of issuance of such rights or warrants) to subscribe for or purchase Common
Stock at a price per share less than the Market Price per share of Common Stock on
the record date fixed for determination of shareholders entitled to receive such
rights or warrants, the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after such record
date shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the Conversion Rate determined
by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after such record date by
a fraction of which (A) the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of Common
Stock offered for subscription or purchase, and (B) the denominator shall be the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of
shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares so offered
would purchase at the Market Price per share of Common Stock on the earlier of such
record date or the Trading Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such
issuance of rights or warrants. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever
any such rights or warrants are issued, and shall become effective immediately
after the opening of business on the day following the record date for the
determination of shareholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants. To the
extent that shares of Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such
rights or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted to the Conversion Rate
which would then be in effect had the adjustments made upon the issuance of such
rights or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares
of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights or warrants are not so issued,
the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate which would
then be in effect if such record date for the determination of shareholders
entitled to receive such rights or warrants had not been fixed. In determining
whether any rights or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase
shares of Common Stock at less than such Market Price, and in determining the
aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into
account any consideration received by the Corporation for such rights or warrants,
the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board
of Directors. |
17
| |
(iii) |
|
In case the Corporation shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all
holders of Common Stock any assets, debt securities or rights or warrants to purchase
any of its securities (excluding (a) any dividend, distribution or issuance covered
by those referred to in Section 7(f)(i) or Section 7(f)(ii) hereof and (b) any
dividend or distribution paid exclusively in cash) (any of the foregoing hereinafter
in this Section 7(f)(iii) called the Distributed Assets or Securities) in an
aggregate amount per share of Common Stock that, combined together with the aggregate
amount of any other such distributions to all holders of its Common Stock made within
the 12 months preceding the date of payment of such distribution, and in respect of
which no adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(f)(iii) has been made, exceeds 15% of
the Market Price on the Trading Day immediately preceding the declaration of such
distribution, then the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal
the Conversion Rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect
immediately prior to the close of business on the record date mentioned below by a
fraction of which (A) the numerator shall be the Market Price per share of the Common
Stock on the earlier of such record date or the Trading Day immediately preceding the
ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, and (B) the denominator shall be
(1) the Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the earlier of such record date
or the Trading Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such dividend or
distribution less (2) the Fair Market Value on the earlier of such record date or the
Trading Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such dividend or
distribution (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be
conclusive, and described in a certificate filed with the Paying Agent) of the
Distributed Assets or Securities so distributed applicable to one share of Common
Stock. Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record date for
the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution; provided,
however, that, if (a) the Fair Market Value of the portion of the Distributed Assets
or Securities so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock is equal to or
greater than the Market Price of the Common Stock on the record date for the
determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution or (b) the Market
Price of the Common Stock on the record date for the determination of shareholders
entitled to receive such distribution is greater than the Fair Market Value per share
of such Distributed Assets or Securities by less than $1.00, then, in lieu of the
foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Holder shall have
the right to receive upon conversion, in addition to the cash and shares of Common
Stock, the kind and amount of assets, debt securities, or rights or warrants
comprising the Distributed Assets or Securities the Holder would have received had
such Holder converted such Preferred Stock immediately prior to the record date for
the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution. In the event
that such distribution is not so paid or made, the applicable Conversion Rate shall
again be adjusted to the Conversion Rate which would then be in effect if such
distribution had not been declared. |
| |
| |
(iv) |
|
In case the Corporation shall declare a cash dividend or cash distribution
to all or substantially all of the holders of Common Stock, the Conversion Rate
shall be increased so that the applicable Conversion Rate shall equal the price
determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the
record date for such dividend or distribution by a fraction, |
(A) the numerator of which shall be the average of the Last Reported Sale Price of
Common Stock for the five consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day
immediately preceding the record date for such dividend or distribution (the
Pre-Dividend Sale Price), and
(B) the denominator of which shall be the Pre-Dividend Sale Price, minus the full
amount of such cash dividend or cash distribution applicable to one share of Common
Stock (the Dividend Adjustment Amount), with
such adjustment to become effective immediately after the record date for such
dividend or distribution; provided that if the denominator of the foregoing fraction
is less than $1.00 (including a negative amount), then in lieu of the foregoing
adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Holder shall have the
right to receive upon conversion, in addition to the cash and Common Stock issuable
upon such conversion, the amount of cash such Holder would have received had such
18
| |
|
|
Holder converted its Preferred Stock solely into Common Stock at the then applicable
Conversion Rate immediately prior to the record date for such cash dividend or cash
distribution. If such cash dividend or cash distribution is not so paid or made, the
applicable Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that
would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. |
| |
| |
(v) |
|
In the case the Corporation shall make (a) any distributions, by
dividend or otherwise, during any quarterly fiscal periods consisting exclusively
of cash to all holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock in an aggregate amount
that, together with (b) other all-cash or all-check distributions made to all
holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock during such quarterly fiscal period,
and (c) any cash and the Fair Market Value, as of the expiration of any tender or
exchange offer (other than consideration payable in respect of any odd-lot tender
offer) of consideration payable in respect of any tender or exchange offer by the
Corporation or any of the Corporations Subsidiaries for all or any portion of
shares of Common Stock concluded during such quarterly fiscal period, exceed the
product of $0 multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the
record date for such distribution, then, and in each such case, the Conversion Rate
shall be increased in accordance with the provisions of clause (iv) above. |
| |
| |
(vi) |
|
If a Holder elects to convert Preferred Stock in connection with a
corporate transaction that occurs on or prior to December 5, 2008 that constitutes
a Fundamental Change (other than as described in clause (iv) of the definition of
Fundamental Change) and 10% or more of the Fair Market Value of the consideration
for the Common Stock (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination
shall be conclusive evidence of such Fair Market Value) in the corporate
transaction consists of (A) cash, (B) other property or (C) securities that are not
traded or scheduled to be traded immediately following such transaction on a U.S.
national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, then the Conversion
Rate for the Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion by such Holder shall be
adjusted so that such Holder will be entitled to receive cash and shares of Common
Stock equal to the sum of (1) the Conversion Value and (2) the number of additional
shares of Common Stock (the Additional Shares) determined in the manner set forth
below, subject in each case to the Corporations payment elections as described in
Section 7 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the adjustment provided for in this
Section 7(f)(vi) shall only be made with respect to the Preferred Stock being
converted in connection with such Fundamental Change and shall not be effective as
to any Preferred Stock not so converted. |
| |
| |
|
|
The number of Additional Shares will be determined by reference to the table below,
based on the date on which such corporate transaction becomes effective (the
Effective Date) and the Share Price; provided that if the Share Price is between
two Share Price amounts in the table below or the Effective Date is between two
Effective Dates in the table, the number of Additional Shares will be determined by
a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional Shares set forth for
the higher and lower Share Price amounts and the two dates, as applicable, based on
a 365-day year. |
| |
| |
|
|
The Share Prices set forth in the first row of the table below (i.e., column
headers) will be adjusted as of any date on which the applicable Conversion Rate of
the Preferred Stock is adjusted pursuant to this Section 7(f). The adjusted Share
Prices will equal the Share Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment,
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately
prior to the adjustment giving rise to the Share Price adjustment and the
denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. |
| |
| |
|
|
The following table sets forth the hypothetical Share Price and number of
Additional Shares to be received per Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Stock: |
19
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|
Share Price |
Effective Date
|
|
$ |
7.81 |
|
|
$ |
8.00 |
|
|
$ |
9.00 |
|
|
$ |
10.00 |
|
|
$ |
11.00 |
|
|
$ |
12.00 |
|
|
$ |
13.00 |
|
|
$ |
14.00 |
|
|
$ |
15.00 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
$ |
25.00 |
|
|
$ |
30.00 |
|
|
$ |
35.00 |
|
|
$ |
40.00 |
|
|
$ |
50.00 |
|
| |
|
|
November 9, 2004
|
|
|
1.52 |
|
|
|
1.52 |
|
|
|
1.42 |
|
|
|
1.20 |
|
|
|
1.02 |
|
|
|
0.88 |
|
|
|
0.79 |
|
|
|
0.70 |
|
|
|
0.63 |
|
|
|
0.39 |
|
|
|
0.27 |
|
|
|
0.20 |
|
|
|
0.15 |
|
|
|
0.12 |
|
|
|
0.00 |
|
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|
|
December 5, 2005
|
|
|
1.52 |
|
|
|
1.52 |
|
|
|
1.33 |
|
|
|
1.11 |
|
|
|
0.93 |
|
|
|
0.79 |
|
|
|
0.71 |
|
|
|
0.61 |
|
|
|
0.55 |
|
|
|
0.33 |
|
|
|
0.23 |
|
|
|
0.17 |
|
|
|
0.13 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.00 |
|
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December 5, 2006
|
|
|
1.52 |
|
|
|
1.52 |
|
|
|
1.23 |
|
|
|
1.00 |
|
|
|
0.82 |
|
|
|
0.89 |
|
|
|
0.62 |
|
|
|
0.52 |
|
|
|
0.47 |
|
|
|
0.27 |
|
|
|
0.18 |
|
|
|
0.13 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
0.08
|
|
|
0.00 |
|
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December 5, 2007
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1.52 |
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1.43 |
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1.12 |
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0.89 |
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0.70 |
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0.57 |
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0.50 |
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0.41 |
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0.34 |
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0.19 |
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0.12 |
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0.09 |
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0.07 |
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0.05 |
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0.00 |
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December 5, 2008
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1.52 |
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1.36 |
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1.03 |
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0.77 |
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0.57 |
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0.43 |
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0.37 |
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0.27 |
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0.20 |
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0.10 |
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0.06 |
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0.05 |
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0.04 |
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0.03 |
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0.00 |
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The Share Prices and Additional Share amounts set forth above are based
upon an initial Conversion Rate per share of 5.0541 per Liquidation
Preference of the Preferred Stock. |
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If the Share Price is equal to or in excess of $50.00 per share (subject
to adjustment), no Additional Shares will be issued upon conversion. |
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If the Share Price is less than $7.61 per share (subject to adjustment),
no Additional Shares will be issued upon conversion. |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustment to the applicable Conversion
Rate relating to the issuance of Additional Shares as described in this
Section 7(f)(vi) will not exceed the Maximum Conversion Rate. |
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(vii) |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Public
Acquirer Change of Control, the Corporation may, in lieu of increasing
the applicable Conversion Rate by Additional Shares as described in
Section 7(f)(vii) hereof, elect to adjust the applicable Conversion Rate
and the related conversion obligation such that upon conversion the
Issuer will deliver cash and a number of shares of Public Acquirer Common
Stock such that by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately
before the Public Acquirer Change of Control shall be adjusted by a
fraction: |
(A) the numerator of which will be the average of the Last Reported Sale
Price of the Common Stock for the five consecutive trading days prior to
but excluding the effective date of such Public Acquirer Change of
Control; and
(B) the denominator of which will be the average of the Last Reported
Sale Price of the Public Acquirer Common Stock for the five consecutive
trading days commencing on the Trading Day next succeeding the effective
date of such Public Acquirer Change of Control.
A Public Acquirer Change of Control means any event described in Section
7(f)(vi) hereof that would otherwise obligate the Corporation to increase
the Conversion Rate as described in Section 7(f)(vi) hereof and the
acquirer (or any entity of which the acquirer is a directly or indirectly
wholly-owned Subsidiary and such entity provides a guarantee to the
Preferred Stock) has a class of common stock traded on a U.S. national
securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or which will
be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such
event (the Public Acquirer Common Stock).
After the adjustment of the applicable Conversion Rate in connection with
a Public Acquirer Change of Control, the applicable Conversion Rate will
be subject to further similar adjustments in the event that any of the
events described in this Section 7(f) occur thereafter.
The Corporation is required to notify Holders of its election in writing
of such transaction, which notice shall be made five Business Days prior
to the effective date of such Public Acquirer Change of Control. In
addition, the Holder can also, subject to certain conditions, require the
Corporation to repurchase all or a portion of its Preferred Stock as
described under Section 4.
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(viii) |
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With respect to Section 7(f)(iii) hereof, in the event that the
Corporation makes any distribution to all holders of Common Stock
consisting of Equity Interests in a Subsidiary or other business unit of
the |
20
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Corporation, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the
Conversion Rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately
prior to the close of business on the record date fixed for the determination of
holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction of which
(A) the numerator shall be (x) the Spin-off Market Price per share of the Common
Stock on such record date plus (y) the Spin-off Market Price per Equity Interest of
the Subsidiary or other business unit of the Corporation on such record date and (B)
the denominator shall be the Spin-off Market Price per share of the Common Stock on
such record date, such adjustment to become effective 10 Trading Days after the
effective date of such distribution of Equity Interests in a Subsidiary or other
business unit of the Corporation. |
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(ix) |
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Upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, the Holders shall receive, in
addition to the cash and Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the rights
issued under any future shareholder rights plan the Corporation implements
(notwithstanding the occurrence of an event causing such rights to separate from the
Common Stock at or prior to the time of conversion) unless, prior to conversion, the
rights have expired, terminated or been redeemed or exchanged in accordance with
such rights plan. If, and only if, the Holders of Preferred Stock receive rights
under such shareholder rights plans as described in the preceding sentence upon
conversion of their Preferred Stock, then no other adjustment pursuant to this
Section 7(f) shall be made in connection with such shareholder rights plans. |
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(x) |
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For purposes of this Section 7(f), the number of shares of Common Stock at
any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the
Corporation but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates
issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Corporation shall not pay
any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury
of the Corporation. |
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(xi) |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Conversion Rate exceed
the maximum conversion rate specified under this Section 7(f)(xi) (the Maximum
Conversion Rate) as a result of an adjustment pursuant to Sections 7(f)(iii),
7(f)(iv) or 7(f)(vi) hereof. The Maximum Conversion Rate shall initially be 6.5703
and shall be appropriately adjusted from time to time for any stock dividends on or
subdivisions or combinations of the Common Stock. The Maximum Conversion Rate shall
not apply to any adjustments made pursuant to any of the events in Section 7(f)(i) or
Section 7(f)(ii) hereof. |
(g) Calculation Methodology. No adjustment in the Conversion Price need be made unless the
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Conversion Price then in
effect, provided that any adjustment that would otherwise be required to be made shall be
carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. Except as stated in this
Section 7, the Conversion Rate will not be adjusted for the issuance of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or carrying the right to purchase
any of the foregoing. Any adjustments that are made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under Section 4 and Section 7(f) hereof
and this Section 7(g) shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share,
as the case may be.
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(h) |
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When No Adjustment Required. No adjustment to the Conversion Rate need be made: |
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(i) |
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upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present
or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on
securities of the Corporation and the investment of additional optional amounts in
shares of Common Stock under any plan; |
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(ii) |
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upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to
purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or
consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by the Corporation or any of its
Subsidiaries; |
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(iii) |
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upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option,
warrant, right, or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described
in clause (ii) above and outstanding as of the date of this Certificate of
Designation; |
21
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(iv) |
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for a change in the par value or no par value of the Common Stock; |
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(v) |
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for accumulated and unpaid dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any); or |
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(vi) |
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if Holders are to participate in a merger or consolidation on a basis and
with notice that the Board of Directors determines to be fair and appropriate in
light of the basis and notice on which holders of Common Stock participate in the
transaction; provided that the basis on which the Holders are to participate in the
transaction shall not be deemed to be fair if it would require the conversion of
securities at any time prior to the expiration of the conversion period specified
for such securities. |
To the extent the Preferred Stock becomes convertible into cash, assets or property (other
than capital stock of the Corporation or securities to which Section 7(l) hereof applies), no
adjustment shall be made thereafter as to the cash, assets or property. Interest shall not
accumulate on such cash.
(i) Notice of Adjustment. Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted, the Corporation shall
promptly mail to Holders a notice of the adjustment. The Corporation shall file with the
Conversion Agent such notice. The certificate shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive
evidence that the adjustment is correct. No Conversion Agent shall be under any duty or
responsibility with respect to any such certificate except to exhibit the same to any Holder
desiring inspection thereof.
(j) Voluntary Increase. The Corporation may make such increases in the Conversion Rate, in
addition to those required by Section 7(f) hereof, as the Board of Directors considers to be
advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase
Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock (or rights to acquire stock) or
from any event treated as such for income tax purposes. To the extent permitted by applicable law,
the Corporation may from time to time increase the Conversion Rate by any amount, temporarily or
otherwise, for any period of at least 20 days if the increase is irrevocable during the period
and the Board of Directors shall have made a determination that such increase would be in the best
interests of the Corporation, which determination shall be conclusive. Whenever the Conversion
Rate is so increased, the Corporation shall mail to Holders and file with the Conversion Agent a
notice of such increase. The Conversion Agent shall not be under any duty or responsibility with
respect to any such notice except to exhibit the same to any holder desiring inspection thereof.
The Corporation shall mail the notice at least 15 days before the date the increased Conversion
Rate takes effect. The notice shall state the increased Conversion Rate and the period it shall be
in effect.
(k) Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions. In case:
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(i) |
|
the Corporation shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution)
on its Common Stock that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate
pursuant to Section 7(f) hereof; |
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(ii) |
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the Corporation shall authorize the granting to all or substantially all
the holders of its Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase
any share of any class or any other rights or warrants; |
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(iii) |
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of any reclassification or reorganization of the Common Stock of the
Corporation (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding Common
Stock, or a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par
value to par value), or of any consolidation or merger to which the Corporation is
a party and for which approval of any shareholders of the Corporation is required,
or of the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation; or |
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(iv) |
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of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up
of the Corporation, the Corporation shall cause to be filed with the Conversion
Agent and to be mailed to each Holder at its address appearing on the Security
Register, as promptly as possible but in any event at least 15 days prior to the
applicable date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a
record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or rights or
warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of
Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, |
22
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distribution, or rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which
such reclassification, reorganization, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective or occur, and
the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be
entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable
upon such reclassification, reorganization, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Failure to give such notice, or any defect
therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such dividend, distribution,
reclassification, reorganization, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. |
(l) Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger, Binding Share Exchange or Sale. If
any of the following events occur, namely; (i) any reclassification or change of outstanding
shares of Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or
from no par value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination); (ii) any
consolidation, merger, combination or binding share exchange of the Corporation with another
Person as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock,
securities or other property or assets (including cash) with respect to or in exchange for such
Common Stock; or (iii) any sale or conveyance of the properties and assets of the Corporation
as, or substantially as, an entirety to any other Person as a result of which holders of Common
Stock shall be entitled to receive stock, securities or other property or assets (including
cash) with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock, then the Corporation or the
successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall cause an amendment to this
Certificate of Designation to be executed and filed in accordance with Michigan law, providing
that each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible into the kind and amount of shares of
stock and other securities or property or assets (including cash) receivable upon such
reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, binding share exchange, sale or
conveyance by a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such
Preferred Stock immediately prior to such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger,
combination, binding share exchange, sale or conveyance. Such amended Certificate of
Designation shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be
practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Section 7(l).
The Corporation shall cause notice of the execution of such amended Certificate of
Designation to be mailed to each Holder, at its address appearing on the Security Register,
within 20 days after filing thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the
legality or validity of such supplemental indenture.
The above provisions of this Section 7(l) shall similarly apply to successive
reclassifications, changes, consolidations, mergers, combinations, binding share exchanges,
sales and conveyances.
If this Section 7(l) applies to any event or occurrence, Section 7(f)
hereof shall not apply.
(m) Conversion Value of Preferred Stock Tendered.
| |
(i) |
|
Subject to certain exceptions described in Sections 7(a)(ii), 7(a)(iii)
and 7(a)(iv), Holders tendering the Preferred Stock for conversion shall be
entitled to receive, upon conversion of such Preferred Stock, per the Liquidation
Preference, cash and shares of Common Stock, the value of which (the Conversion
Value) shall be equal to the product of: |
(A) the then applicable Conversion Rate; and
(B) the average of the Common Stock prices for the ten consecutive Trading Days
(appropriately
adjusted to take into account the occurrence during such period of stock splits,
stock dividends and similar events) beginning on the second Trading Day
immediately following the day the Preferred Stock is tendered for conversion (the
Ten Day Average Closing Stock Price).
| |
(ii) |
|
Subject to certain exceptions described below and under Sections
7(a)(ii), 7(a)(iii) and 7(a)(iv), the Corporation shall deliver the Conversion
Value to converting Holders as follows; |
23
(A) an amount in cash (the Principal Return) equal to the lesser of (1) the
Conversion Value of the Preferred Stock to be converted and (2) the aggregate
Liquidation Preference per share of Preferred Stock to be converted;
(B) if the aggregate Conversion Value of the Preferred Stock to be converted is
greater than the Principal Return, an amount in whole shares (the Net Shares),
determined as set forth below, equal to such aggregate Conversion Value less the
Principal Return (the Net Share Amount); and
(C) an amount paid in cash, determined as set forth below, in lieu of any
fractional shares of Common Stock.
The number of Net Shares to be paid shall be determined by dividing the Net Share Amount
by the Ten Day Average Closing Stock Price. Holders of Preferred Stock will not receive
fractional shares upon conversion of Preferred Stock. In lieu of fractional shares. Holders
will receive cash for the value of the fractional shares, which cash payment shall be based on
the Ten Day Average Closing Stock Price.
The Conversion Value, Principal Return, number of Net Shares and Net Share Amount shall be
determined by the Corporation at the end of the ten consecutive Trading Day period beginning on
the second Trading Day immediately following the day the Preferred Stock are tendered for
conversion (the Determination Date).
The Corporation shall pay the Principal Return and cash for fractional shares and deliver
the Net Shares, if any, as promptly as practicable after the Determination Date, but in no
event later than five Business Days thereafter. Except as provided in Section 7, delivery of
the Principal Return, Net Shares and cash in lieu of fractional shares shall be deemed to
satisfy the Corporations obligation to pay the Liquidation Preference, including Additional
Dividends, if any. Any accumulated and unpaid dividends, including Additional Dividends, shall
be deemed canceled, extinguished or forfeited rather than paid in full.
(n) Responsibility of Conversion Agent. The Conversion Agent shall not at any time be
under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to either calculate the Conversion Rate or
determine whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the Conversion Rate, or
with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with
respect to the method employed, or herein or in any amended Certificate of Designation provided
to be employed, in making the same and shall be protected in relying upon an Officers
Certificate with respect to the same. The Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with
respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of
any securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of
any Preferred Stock and the Conversion Agent makes no representations with respect thereto. The
Conversion Agent shall not be responsible for any failure of the Corporation to issue, transfer
or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or
cash upon the surrender of any Preferred Stock for the purpose of conversion or to comply with
any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Corporation contained in this Section
7(n). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Conversion Agent shall not be under
any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any amended
Certificate of Designation entered into pursuant to this Section 7 relating either to the kind
or amount of shares of stock or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders
upon the conversion of their Preferred Stock after any event referred to in this Section 7 or
to any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but may accept as conclusive evidence of the
correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, the Officers
Certificate (which the Corporation shall be obligated to file with the Conversion Agent prior
to the execution of any such amended Certificate of Designation) with respect thereto.
(o) Simultaneous Adjustments. In the event that Section 7(f) hereof requires adjustments
to the Conversion Rate under more than one of Section 7(f)(i), Section 7(f)(ii), Section
7(f)(iii) or Section 7(f)(iv) hereof, and the Dividend Record Dates for the distributions
giving rise to such adjustments shall occur on the same date, then such adjustments shall be
made by applying, first, the provisions of Section 7(f)(iii) hereof, second, the provisions of
Section 7(f)(i) hereof and third, the provisions of Section 7(f)(ii) hereof; provided, however,
that nothing in this Section 7(o) shall be done to evade the principle set forth in Section
7(f)(x) hereof that the
24
Maximum Conversion Rate shall not apply to any adjustments made with respect to any of the
events in Section 7(f)(i) or Section 7(f)(ii) hereof.
(p) Successive Adjustments. After an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under Section 7(f)
hereof, any subsequent event requiring an adjustment under Section 7(f) shall cause an
adjustment to the Conversion Rate as so adjusted.
(q) General Considerations. Whenever successive adjustments to the Conversion Rate are
called for pursuant to this Section 7, such adjustments shall be made to the Market Price as
may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the intent of this Section 7 and to avoid unjust
or inequitable results as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.
(r) Corporation Determination Final. Any determination which the Board of Directors must
make pursuant to this Section 7 shall be conclusive and binding on the Holders.
8. Mandatory Conversion.
(a) At any time on or after December 5, 2008, the Corporation shall have the right, at its
option, to cause the Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, to be automatically converted
into cash and shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Value and in accordance with the
provisions of Section 7 hereof. The Corporation may exercise its right to cause a mandatory
conversion pursuant to this Section 8(a) only if the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common
Stock equals or exceeds 130% of the Conversion Price then in effect for at least 20 Trading Days
in any consecutive 30-day trading period on the NYSE (or such other national securities exchange
or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed or authorized for
quotation), including the last Trading Day of such 30-day period, ending on the Trading Day
prior to the Corporations issuance of a press release announcing the mandatory conversion as
described in Section 8(b).
(b) To exercise the mandatory conversion right described in Section 8(a), the Corporation
must issue a press release for publication on the Dow Jones News Service prior to the opening of
business on the first trading day following any date on which the conditions described in
Section 8(a) are met, announcing such a mandatory conversion. The Corporation shall also give
notice by mail or by publication (with subsequent prompt notice by mail) to the holders of
Preferred Stock (not more than four Business Days after the date of the press release) of the
mandatory conversion announcing the Corporations intention to convert the Preferred Stock. The
conversion date will be a date selected by the Corporation (the Mandatory Conversion Date) and
will be no more than five days after the date on which the Corporation issues the press release
described in this Section 8(b).
(c) In addition to any information required by applicable law or regulation, the press
release and notice of a mandatory conversion described in Section 8(b) shall state, as
appropriate: (i) the Mandatory Conversion Date; (ii) the Conversion Value, including the
Principal Return, the Net Shares and the cash in lieu of fractional shares to be delivered upon
conversion of the Preferred Stock; (iii) the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be
converted; and (iv) that dividends on the Preferred Stock to be converted will cease to
accumulate on the Mandatory Conversion Date.
(d) On and after the Mandatory Conversion Date, dividends will cease to accumulate on the
Preferred Stock called for a mandatory conversion pursuant to Section 8(a) and all rights of
holders of such Preferred Stock will terminate except for the right to receive the cash and
whole shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof and cash, in lieu of any
fractional shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 7(c). The dividend payment with
respect to the Preferred Stock called for a mandatory conversion pursuant to Section 8(a) on a
date during the period between the close of business on any Dividend Record Date to the close of
business on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date will be payable on such Dividend Payment
Date to the record holder of such share on such Dividend Record Date if such share has been
converted after such Dividend Record Date and prior to such Dividend Payment Date. Except as
provided in the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a mandatory conversion pursuant
to Section 8(a), no payment or adjustment will be made upon conversion of
25
Preferred Stock for Accumulated Dividends or for dividends with respect to the Common Stock
issued upon such conversion.
(e) The Corporation may not authorize, issue a press release or give notice of any
mandatory conversion pursuant to Section 8(a) unless, prior to giving the mandatory conversion
notice, all Accumulated Dividends on the Preferred Stock for periods ended prior to the date of
such mandatory conversion notice shall have been paid in cash.
(f) In addition to the mandatory conversion right described in Section 8(a), if there are
less than 250,000 shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, the Corporation shall have the right,
at any time on or after December 5, 2008, at its option, to cause the Preferred Stock to be
automatically converted into cash and shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Value and
in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 hereof.
9. Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.
(a) The Corporation, without the consent of the Holders of any of the outstanding Preferred
Stock, may consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or
substantially all its assets to any Person or may permit any Person to consolidate with or merge
into, or transfer or lease all or substantially all its properties to, the Corporation;
provided, however, that: (i) the successor, transferee or lessee is organized under the laws of
the United States or any political subdivision thereof; (ii) the shares of Preferred Stock will
become shares of such successor, transferee or lessee, having in respect of such successor,
transferee or lessee the same powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating,
optional or other rights on which, and the qualification, limitations or restrictions thereon,
the Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction; and (iii) the Corporation
delivers to the Transfer Agent an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that
such transaction complies with this Certificate of Designation (including without limitation the
requirements of
Section 7(l).
(b) Upon any consolidation by the Corporation with, or merger by the Corporation into, any
other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the assets of the
Corporation as described in Section 9(a), the successor resulting from such consolidation or
into which the Corporation is merged or the transferee or lessee to which such conveyance,
transfer or lease is made will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right
and power of, the Corporation under the shares of Preferred Stock, and, thereafter, except in
the case of a lease, the predecessor (if still in existence) will be released from its
obligations and covenants with respect to the Preferred Stock.
10. SEC Reports.
Whether or not the Corporation is required to file reports with the Commission, if any
shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall file with the Commission all
such reports and other information as it would be required to file with the Commission by
Section 13(a) or 15(d) under the Exchange Act. The Corporation shall supply each holder of
Preferred Stock, upon request, without cost to such holder, copies of such reports or other
information.
11. Certificates.
(a) Form and Dating. The Preferred Stock and the Transfer Agents certificate of
authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C, which is hereby incorporated in
and expressly made a part of this Certificate of Designation. The Preferred Stock certificate
may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to
which the Corporation is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or
endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Corporation). Each Preferred Stock certificate shall
be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Preferred Stock certificate set forth
in Exhibit C are part of the terms of this Certificate of Designation.
26
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(i) |
|
Global Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock shall be issued initially in the form
of one or more fully registered global certificates with the global securities legend
and restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit C hereto (the Global Preferred
Stock), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers represented thereby
with DTC (or with such custodian as DTC may direct), and registered in the name of
DTC or a nominee of DTC, duly executed by the Corporation and authenticated by the
Transfer Agent as hereinafter provided. The number of shares of Preferred Stock
represented by Global Preferred Stock may from time to time be increased or decreased
by adjustments made on the records of the Transfer Agent and DTC or its nominee as
hereinafter provided. With respect to shares of Preferred Stock that are not
restricted securities as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act on a
Conversion Date, all shares of Common Stock distributed on such Conversion Date will
be freely transferable without restriction under the Securities Act (other than by
affiliates), and such shares will be eligible for receipt in global form through the
facilities of DTC. |
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(ii) |
|
Book-Entry Provisions. In the event Global Preferred Stock is deposited
with or on behalf of DTC, the Corporation shall execute and the Transfer Agent shall
authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Preferred Stock certificates
that (a) shall be registered in the name of DTC as depository for such Global
Preferred Stock or the nominee of DTC and (b) shall be delivered by the Transfer
Agent to DTC or pursuant to DTCs instructions or held by the Transfer Agent as
custodian for DTC. |
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Members of, or participants in, DTC (Agent Members) shall have no rights under this
Certificate of Designation with respect to any Global Preferred Stock held on their
behalf by DTC or by the Transfer Agent as the custodian of DTC or under such Global
Preferred Stock, and DTC may be treated by the Corporation, the Transfer Agent and any
agent of the Corporation or the Transfer Agent as the absolute owner of such Global
Preferred Stock for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
herein shall prevent the Corporation, the Transfer Agent or any agent of the
Corporation or the Transfer Agent from giving effect to any written certification,
proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or impair, as between DTC and its Agent
Members, the operation of customary practices of DTC governing the exercise of the
rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Preferred Stock. |
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(iii) |
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Certificated Preferred Stock. Except as provided in Section 11(c), owners
of beneficial interests in Global Preferred Stock will not be entitled to receive
Certificated Preferred Stock. |
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(b) |
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Execution and Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the Preferred Stock certificate
for the Corporation by manual or facsimile signature. |
If an Officer whose signature is on a Preferred Stock certificate no longer holds that
office at the time the Transfer Agent authenticates the Preferred Stock certificate, the
Preferred Stock certificate shall be valid nevertheless.
A Preferred Stock certificate shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the
Transfer Agent and the Security Registrar manually signs the certificate of authentication on
the Preferred Stock certificate. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Preferred
Stock certificate has been authenticated under this Certificate of Designation.
The Transfer Agent shall authenticate and deliver certificates for 4,910,000 shares of
Preferred Stock for original issue upon a written order of the Corporation signed by two
Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation. Such order shall
specify the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be authenticated and the date on which the
original issue of Preferred Stock is to be authenticated.
The Transfer Agent may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the
Corporation to authenticate the certificates for Preferred Stock. Unless limited by the terms of
such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate certificates for Preferred Stock
whenever the Transfer Agent may do so. Each reference in
27
this Certificate of Designation to authentication by the Transfer Agent includes authentication by
such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the Transfer Agent or agent for service
of notices and demands.
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Preferred Stock. The transfer and exchange of Global
Preferred Stock or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through DTC, in accordance with
this Certificate of Designation (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein,
if any) and the procedures of DTC therefor.
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(i) |
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Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange of Global Preferred Stock. |
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(A) |
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Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of
Designation (other than the provisions set forth in Section 11(c)(ii)), Global
Preferred Stock may not be transferred as a whole except by DTC to a nominee of
DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any such
nominee to a successor depository or a nominee of such successor depository. |
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(B) |
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In the event that the Global Preferred Stock is exchanged for
Preferred Stock in definitive registered form pursuant to Section 11(c)(ii) prior
to the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such
securities, such Preferred Stock may be exchanged only in accordance with such
procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section
11(c) (including the certification requirements set forth in the Exhibits to this
Certificate of Designation intended to ensure that such transfers comply with
Rule 144A or such other applicable exemption from registration under the
Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to
time be adopted by the Corporation. |
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(C) |
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The Preferred Stock, and any shares of Common Stock distributed
pursuant to the conversion of the Preferred Stock, may not be sold until December
5, 2005, except (a) pursuant to registration under the Securities Act, (b) in
accordance with Rule 144 (if available) or Rule 144A under the Securities Act (if
available) or (c) in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S, and will
bear a legend to this effect. |
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(ii) |
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Authentication of Certificated Preferred Stock. If at any time: |
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(A) |
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DTC notifies the Corporation that DTC is unwilling or unable to
continue as depository for the Global Preferred Stock and a successor depository
for the Global Preferred Stock is not appointed by the Corporation within 90 days
after delivery of such notice; |
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(B) |
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DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange
Act and a successor depository for the Global Preferred Stock is not appointed by
the Corporation within 90 days; or |
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(C) |
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the Corporation, in its sole discretion, notifies the Transfer
Agent in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Certificated Preferred
Stock under this Certificate of Designation, |
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then the Corporation will execute, and the Transfer Agent, upon receipt of a
written order of the Corporation signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an
Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation requesting the authentication and
delivery of Certificated Preferred Stock to the Persons designated by the
Corporation, will authenticate and deliver Certificated Preferred Stock equal to
the number of shares of Preferred Stock represented by the Global Preferred
Stock, in exchange for such Global Preferred Stock. |
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(iii) |
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Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Preferred Stock. At such time as
all beneficial interests in Global Preferred Stock have either been exchanged for
Certificated Preferred Stock, converted or canceled, such Global Preferred Stock
shall be returned to DTC for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Transfer
Agent. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in Global
Preferred Stock is exchanged for Certificated Preferred Stock, converted or
canceled, the |
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number of shares of Preferred Stock represented by such Global Preferred Stock shall
be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Transfer
Agent with respect to such Global Preferred Stock, by the Transfer Agent or DTC, to
reflect such reduction. |
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(iv) |
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Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Preferred Stock. |
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(A) |
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To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the
Corporation shall execute and the Transfer Agent shall authenticate Certificated
Preferred Stock and Global Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 11(c). |
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(B) |
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All Certificated Preferred Stock and Global Preferred Stock
issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Certificated Preferred
Stock or Global Preferred Stock shall be the valid obligations of the
Corporation, entitled to the same benefits under this Certificate of Designation
as the Certificated Preferred Stock or Global Preferred Stock surrendered upon
such registration of transfer or exchange. |
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(C) |
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Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any
shares of Preferred Stock, the Transfer Agent and the Corporation may deem and
treat the Person in whose name such shares of Preferred Stock are registered as
the absolute owner of such Preferred Stock and neither the Transfer Agent nor
the Corporation shall be affected by notice to the contrary. |
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(D) |
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No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration
of transfer or exchange upon surrender of any Preferred Stock certificate or
Common Stock certificate at the office of the Transfer Agent maintained for that
purpose. However, the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Stock certificates or
Common Stock certificates. |
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(E) |
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Upon any sale or transfer of shares of Preferred Stock (including
any Preferred Stock represented by a Global Preferred Stock certificate) or of
certificated Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act or pursuant to Rule 144 or another exemption from
registration under the Securities Act (and based upon an Opinion of Counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation if it so requests): |
(1) in the case of any Certificated Preferred Stock or certificated Common
Stock, the Corporation and the Transfer Agent shall permit the holder thereof to
exchange such Preferred Stock or certificated Common Stock for Certificated
Preferred Stock or certificated Common Stock, as the case may be, that does not
bear the restrictive legend set forth on Exhibit C and rescind any restriction
on the transfer of such Preferred Stock or Common Stock issuable in respect of
the conversion of the Preferred Stock; and
(2) in the case of any Global Preferred Stock, such Preferred Stock shall
not be required to bear the restrictive legend set forth on Exhibit C; provided,
however, that with respect to any request for an exchange of Preferred Stock
that is represented by Global Preferred Stock for Certificated Preferred Stock
that does not bear a restrictive as set forth on Exhibit C in connection with a
sale or transfer thereof pursuant to Rule 144 or another exemption from
registration under the Securities Act (and based upon an Opinion of Counsel if
the Corporation so requests), the Holder thereof shall certify in writing to the
Transfer Agent that such request is being made pursuant to such exemption (such
certification to be substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto).
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(v) |
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No Obligation of the Transfer Agent. |
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(A) |
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The Transfer Agent shall have no responsibility or obligation to
any beneficial owner of Global Preferred Stock, a member of, or a participant
in, DTC or any other Person with respect to the |
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accuracy of the records of DTC or its nominee or of any participant or member
thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Preferred Stock or with
respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other
Person (other than DTC) of any notice or the payment of any amount, under or with
respect to such Global Preferred Stock. All notices and communications to be given
to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Preferred Stock
shall be given or made only to the Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in
the case of the Global Preferred Stock). The rights of beneficial owners in any
Global Preferred Stock shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the
applicable rules and procedures of DTC. The Transfer Agent may rely and shall be
fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC with respect to its
members, participants and any beneficial owners. |
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(B) |
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The Transfer Agent shall have no obligation or duty to monitor,
determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed
under this Certificate of Designation or under applicable law with respect to any
transfer of any interest in any Preferred Stock (including any transfers between or
among DTC participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Preferred Stock)
other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or
evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required
by, the terms of this Certificate of Designation, and to examine the same to
determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. |
(d) Replacement Certificates. If a mutilated Preferred Stock certificate is surrendered to the
Transfer Agent or if the Holder of a Preferred Stock certificate claims that the Preferred Stock
certificate has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Corporation shall issue and the
Transfer Agent shall countersign a replacement Preferred Stock certificate if the reasonable
requirements of the Transfer Agent are met. If required by the Transfer Agent or the Corporation,
such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Corporation and the
Transfer Agent to protect the Corporation and the Transfer Agent from any loss which either of them
may suffer if a Preferred Stock certificate is replaced. The Corporation and the Transfer Agent may
charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Preferred Stock certificate.
12. Additional Rights of Holders. In addition to the rights provided to Holders under
this Certificate of Designation, Holders shall have the rights set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
13. Other Provisions.
(a) With respect to any notice to a Holder of shares of Preferred Stock required to be
provided hereunder,
neither failure to mail such notice, nor any defect therein or in the mailing thereof, to any
particular Holder shall
affect the sufficiency of the notice or the validity of the proceedings referred to in such
notice with respect to the
other Holders or affect the legality or validity of any distribution, rights, warrant,
reclassification, consolidation,
merger, conveyance, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, or the vote upon any
such action. Any notice
which was mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been
duly given whether
or not the Holder receives the notice.
(b) Shares of Preferred Stock issued and reacquired will be retired and canceled promptly
after reacquisition
thereof and, upon compliance with the applicable requirements of Michigan law, have the status
of authorized but
unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation undesignated as to series and may with
any and all other
authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation be designated or
redesignated and issued or
reissued, as the case may be, as part of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation,
except that any issuance or
reissuance of shares of Preferred Stock must be in compliance with this Certificate of
Designation.
(c) The shares of Preferred Stock shall be issuable only in whole shares.
(d) All notice periods referred to herein shall commence on the date of the mailing of the
applicable notice.
30
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed and attested this
15th day of December, 2004.
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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
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By: |
/s/ Michael D. VanHemert
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Name: |
Michael D. VanHemert |
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Title: |
Vice President and
Secretary |
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Attest:
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/s/ Joyce H. Norkey
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Joyce H. Norkey |
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31
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE PURCHASE NOTICE
To: CMS Energy Corporation
The undersigned registered holder of shares of Preferred Stock hereby acknowledges receipt of
a notice from CMS Energy Corporation (the Corporation) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental
Change with respect to the Corporation and requests and instructs the Corporation to repurchase
the shares of Preferred Stock ($50.00 liquidation preference or an integral multiple thereof)
designated below, in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designation referred to in
such Preferred Stock and directs that the check of the Corporation, in payment for these shares of
Preferred Stock, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name
has been indicated below. If any portion of these shares of Preferred Stock are not repurchased
and are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned shall pay
all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto.
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Dated:
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Signature(s) |
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Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a commercial bank or trust company
or a member firm of a major stock exchange if cash and shares of
Preferred Stock are to be delivered other than to or in the name of
the registered holder. |
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Signature
Guarantee
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Fill in for
registration of
Preferred Stock if
to be issued other
than to and in the
name of registered
holder: |
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Number of shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased (if less than all
are to be purchased): |
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(City, state and
zip code)
Please
print name and
address
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Certificate Number (if shares of Preferred Stock are Certificated): |
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Social Security or other taxpayer number: |
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32
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE
To: CMS Energy Corporation
The undersigned registered holder of these shares of Preferred Stock hereby exercises the
option to convert these shares of Preferred Stock, or portion hereof (which is $50.00 liquidation
preference or an integral multiple thereof) designated below, for cash and shares of Common Stock
of CMS Energy Corporation in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designation referred
to in the Preferred Stock, and directs that the shares, if any, issuable and deliverable upon such
conversion, together with any check for cash deliverable upon such conversion, and any shares of
Preferred Stock representing any unconverted shares hereof, be issued and delivered to the
registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If shares or any
portion of the Preferred Stock not converted are to be issued in the name of a Person other than
the undersigned, the undersigned shall pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto.
This notice shall be deemed to be an irrevocable exercise of the option to convert these shares of Preferred Stock.
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Dated:
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Signature(s)
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Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a commercial bank or trust company or
a member firm of a major stock exchange if cash and shares of Common
Stock are to be issued, or shares of Preferred Stock to be delivered,
other than to or in the name of the registered holder. |
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Signature Guarantee |
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Fill in for registration of
shares if to be delivered,
and shares of Preferred
Stock if to be issued other
than to and in the name of
registered holder: |
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Number of shares of Preferred Stock to be converted (if less than all): |
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(City, state and
zip code)
Please
print name and
address
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Certificate Number (if shares of Preferred Stock are Certificated): |
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Social Security or other taxpayer number: |
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33
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF PREFERRED STOCK
FACE OF SECURITY
THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNTIED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT),
AND THIS SECURITY AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.
EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING
ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A
THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS
SECURITY AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY
BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
(RULE 144A)) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE
WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (IV) IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (V) TO
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION OR (VI) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (VI) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES
LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS
REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO
IN CLAUSE (A) ABOVE.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT SUCH HOLDER WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
INVOLVING THIS SECURITY AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
THIS SECURITY AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTATION MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME
TO MODIFY THE RESTRICTIONS ON AND PROCEDURES FOR RESALES AND OTHER TRANSFERS OF THIS SECURITY TO
REFLECT ANY CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION (OR THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF) OR IN
PRACTICES RELATING TO THE RESALE OR TRANSFER OF RESTRICTED SECURITIES GENERALLY. THE HOLDER OF
THIS SECURITY SHALL BE DEEMED BY THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS SECURITY TO HAVE AGREED TO ANY SUCH
AMENDMENT OR SUPPLEMENT.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO, AND ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF, A REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF DECEMBER 5, 2003 ENTERED INTO BY THE COMPANY FOR THE BENEFIT OF
CERTAIN HOLDERS OF SECURITIES FROM TIME TO TIME.
34
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Number of Shares |
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[ ] |
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CUSIP NO.: ___ |
4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B (par value $0.01) (liquidation
preference $50 per share)
of
CMS Energy Corporation
CMS Energy Corporation, a Michigan corporation (the Corporation), hereby certifies that [___] (the
Holder) is the registered owner of [ ___] fully paid and non-assessable preferred securities of the Corporation
designated the 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B (par value $0.01)
(liquidation preference $50 per share) (the Preferred Stock). The shares of Preferred Stock
are transferable on the books and records of the Transfer Agent, in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for
transfer. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Preferred Stock represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be
subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designation dated December 15, 2004, as the
same may be amended from time to time (the Certificate of Designation). Capitalized terms
used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Certificate of
Designation. The Corporation will provide a copy of the Certificate of Designation to a Holder
without charge upon written request to the Corporation at its principal place of business.
Reference is hereby made to select provisions of the Preferred Stock set forth on the
reverse hereof, and to the Certificate of Designation, which select provisions and the
Certificate of Designation shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this
place.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Certificate of Designation
and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
Unless the Transfer Agents Certificate of Authentication hereon has been properly
executed, these shares of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any benefit under the
Certificate of Designation or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has executed this certificate this___ day of , 2004.
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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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35
TRANSFER AGENTS AND SECURITY REGISTRARS CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
These are shares of the Preferred Stock referred to in the within-mentioned Certificate
of Designation.
Dated: , 2004
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CMS Energy Corporation, as Transfer Agent and
Security Registrar
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By: |
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Authorized Signatory |
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REVERSE OF SECURITY
Cash dividends on each share of Preferred Stock shall be payable at a rate per annum set
forth on the face hereof or as provided in the Certificate of Designation.
The shares of Preferred Stock shall be convertible into cash and the shares of the
Corporations Common Stock in the manner and according to the terms set forth in the Certificate
of Designation.
The Corporation will furnish without charge to each holder who so requests the powers,
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights of each class of stock and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers the shares of Preferred Stock
evidenced hereby to:
(Insert assignees social security or tax identification number)
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints agent to transfer the shares of Preferred Stock evidenced hereby on
the books of the Transfer Agent. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Stock certificate) |
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(Signature must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution that is a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the
Transfer Agent, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities
Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP) or such other signature guarantee program as
may be determined by the Transfer Agent in addition to, or in substitution for. STAMP, all in
accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.) |
36
EXHIBIT D
CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF PREFERRED STOCK
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| Re: |
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4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B (the Preferred Stock) of CMS Energy Corporation (the Corporation) |
This Certificate relates to___ shares of Preferred Stock held in o */ book-entry or o */
definitive form by (the Transferor).
The Transferor*:
o has requested the Transfer Agent by written order to deliver in exchange for its
beneficial interest in the Preferred Stock held by the Depository cash and shares of
Preferred Stock in definitive, registered form equal to its beneficial interest in such
Preferred Stock (or the portion thereof indicated above); or
o has requested the Transfer Agent by written order to exchange or register the transfer of
Preferred Stock.
In connection with such request and in respect of such Preferred Stock, the Transferor
does hereby certify that the Transferor is familiar with the Certificate of Designation
relating to the above-captioned Preferred Stock and that the transfer of this Preferred
Stock does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act) because */:
o Such Preferred Stock is being acquired for the Transferors own account
without transfer.
o Such Preferred Stock is being transferred to the Corporation.
o Such Preferred Stock is being transferred to a qualified institutional buyer (as
defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), in reliance on Rule 144A.
o Such Preferred Stock is being transferred in reliance on and in compliance with
another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based on an
Opinion of Counsel if the Corporation so requests).
* /Please check applicable box.
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[NAME OF TRANSFEROR] |
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By:
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Its: |
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Date:
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37
Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth
Filing Endorsement
This is to Certify that the CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
for
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
ID NUMBER: 485283
received by facsimile transmission on February 27, 2006 is hereby endorsed
Filed on February 27, 2006 by the Administrator.
The document is effective on the date filed, unless a
subsequent effective date within 90 days after
received date is stated in the document.
Effective Date: December 20, 2004
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In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal
of
the Department, in the City of Lansing, this 27TH day of February, 2006.
, Director
Bureau of Commercial Services
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Sent by Facsimile Transmission 06058 |
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BCS / CD - 518 (Rev. 12/05) |
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MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & ECONOMIC GROWTH
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BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL SERVICES
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(FOR BUREAU USE ONLY)
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This document is effective on the date
filed, unless a subsequent effective
date within 90 days after received date
is stated in the document. |
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Name |
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| Joyce H Norkey, Assistant Secretary, CMS Energy Corporation |
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Address |
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| One Energy Plaza, EP1-420 |
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City
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State
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Zip Code |
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| Jackson, MI 49201-2276 |
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EFFECTIVE DATE: |
Document will be returned to the name and address you enter above.
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If left blank document will be mailed to the registered office.
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CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
For use by Corporations and Limited Liability Companies
(Please read information and instruction on last page)
Pursuant to the provisions of Act 284, Public Acts of 1972 (profit corporations),
Act 162, Public Acts of 1982 (nonprofit corporations), or Act 23, Public Acts of 1993 (limited liability companies), the undersigned
corporation or limited liability company executes the following Certificate:
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The name of the corporation or limited liability company is: |
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CMS Energy Corporation |
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The identification number assigned by the Bureau is: 485283 |
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The corporation or limited liability company is formed under the laws of the State of Michigan |
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That a Certificate of Designation of 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
Series B (Title of Document Being Corrected)
was filed by the Bureau on
December 20, 2004
and that
said
document requires correction. |
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Describe the inaccuracy or defect contained in the above named document: |
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The amount of shares issued of the 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B,
should have been 5,000,000
shares instead of 4,910,000 shares in exchange for 5,000,000 shares, instead of 4,910,000 shares,
of 4.50% Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock. In addition, a correction needs to be made to the definition of
Fundamental Change. |
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The document is corrected as follows: |
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See Attachment. |
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This document is hereby executed in the same manner as the Act requires the document being
corrected to be executed. |
Signed this 27th day of February, 2006
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By
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/s/ Michael D. VanHemert
(Signature)
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By
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/s/ Joyce H. Norkey
(Signature)
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By
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(Signature)
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Michael D. VanHemert |
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JOYCE H. NORKEY NOTARY PUBLIC JACKSON CO, MI MY COMMISSION EXPIRES Sep 7, 2006 |
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(Type
or Print Name and Title)
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(Type or Print Name and Title)
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(Type or Print Name and Title) |
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Vice President, Corporate Secretary
and Chief Governance Officer |
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ATTACHMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
OF CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
(CORPORATION IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 485-283)
6. The Certificate of Designation of 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, of CMS
Energy Corporation filed on December 20, 2004 is corrected as follows (corrections are in bold):
Page 1
1. Designation and Amount; Ranking.
(a) There shall be created from the 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Corporation authorized to be issued pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, a
series of preferred stock, designated as the 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series
B, par value $0.01 per share (the Preferred Stock), and the number of shares of such series
shall be 5,000,000. Such number of shares may be decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Preferred Stock to a number less
than that of the shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon
exercise of options or rights then outstanding. The Preferred Stock was exchanged for 5,000,000 of
then outstanding shares of 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(the Original Preferred Stock), established pursuant to the Certificate of Designation of 4.50%
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of CMS Energy Corporation dated December 4, 2003 pursuant to
an exchange offer.
* * *
Page 3
A Fundamental Change shall be deemed to have occurred at such time after the original
issuance of the Preferred Stock...; provided, however, that a Fundamental Change shall not be
deemed to have occurred in respect of any of the foregoing if either (1) the Last Reported Sale
Price of Common Stock for any five Trading Days within the ten consecutive Trading Days ending
immediately before the later of the Fundamental Change or the public announcement thereof
equals or exceeds 105% of the applicable Conversion Price of the Preferred Stock in effect
immediately before the Fundamental Change or the public announcement thereof (except that this
clause (1) shall not apply to the events described in Section 7(f)(vi) hereof) or (2) at least
90% of the consideration (excluding cash payments for fractional shares) in the transaction or
transactions constituting the Fundamental Change consists of shares of capital stock traded on
a national securities exchange or quoted on the NASDAQ National Market (or which shall be so
traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such Fundamental Change) (such
securities being referred to as Publicly Traded Securities) and as a result of such
transaction or transactions the Preferred Stock becomes convertible into such Publicly Traded
Securities (excluding cash payments for fractional shares).
* * *
Page 27
The Transfer Agent shall authenticate and deliver certificates for 5,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock for original issue upon a written order of the Corporation signed by two
Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation. Such order shall
specify the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be authenticated and the date on which the
original issue of Preferred Stock is to be authenticated.
* * *
Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth
Filing Endorsement
This is to Certify that the CERT. OF CHANGE OF REG. OFF./RES. AGENT
for
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
ID NUMBER: 485283
received by facsimile transmission on October 27, 2006 is hereby endorsed
Filed on October 27, 2006 by the Administrator.
The document is effective on the date filed, unless a
subsequent effective date within 90 days after received date is
stated in the document.
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Sent by Facsimile Transmission 06300
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In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the Seal of the Department,
in the City of Lansing, this 27TH day
of October, 2006.
, Director
Bureau of Commercial Services |
BCS / CD-520 (Rev. 12/05)
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & ECONOMIC GROWTH
BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL SERVICES
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Date Received
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(FOR BUREAU USE ONLY) |
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This document is effective
on the date filed, unless a
subsequent effective date within
90 days after received date is
stated in the document. |
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Name Jane M.
Kramer |
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Address
One Energy Plaza |
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Zip Code
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Jackson |
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MI
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49201 |
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EFFECTIVE DATE:
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Document will be returned to the name and address
you enter above. If left blank document will be
mailed to the registered office.
CERTIFICATE OF CHANGE OF REGISTERED OFFICE AND/OR CHANGE OF RESIDENT AGENT
For use by Domestic and Foreign Corporations and Limited Liability Companies
(Please read information and Instructions on reverse side)
Pursuant to the provisions of Act 284, Public Acts of 1972 (profit corporations), Act 162,
Public Acts of 1982 (nonprofit
corporations), or Act 23, Public Acts of 1993 (limited liability companies), the undersigned
corporation or limited liability company
executes the following Certificate:
1. The name of the corporation or limited liability company is:
CMS Energy Corporation
2. The identification number assigned by the Bureau is: 485-283
3. a. The name of the resident agent on file with the Bureau is: Michael D. VanHemert
b. The location of the registered office on file with the Bureau is:
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One Energy Plaza, EP1-420 |
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Jackson
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Michigan 492012276
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(Street Address) |
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(Zip Code)
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c. The mailing address of the above registered office on file with the Bureau is:
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One Energy Plaza, EP1-420 |
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Jackson
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Michigan 492012276
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(Street Address or P.O. Box) |
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(Zip Code)
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ENTER IN ITEM 4 THE INFORMATION AS IT SHOULD NOW APPEAR ON THE PUBLIC RECORD
4. a. The name of the resident agent is: Catherine M. Reynolds
b. The address of the registered office is:
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One Energy Plaza, EP1-420 |
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Jackson
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Michigan 492012276
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(Street Address) |
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(City)
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(Zip Code)
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c. The mailing address of the registered office IF DIFFERENT THAN 4B is:
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Michigan
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(Street Address or P.O. Box) |
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(Zip Code)
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The above changes were authorized by resolution duly adopted by: 1. ALL CORPORATIONS:
its Board of Directors; 2. PROFIT CORPORATIONS ONLY: the resident agent if only the
address of the registered office is changed, in which case a copy of this
statement has been mailed to the corporation: 3. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES: an operating
agreement, affirmative vote of a majority of the members pursuant to section 502(1),
managers pursuant to section 405, or the resident agent if only the address of the
registered office is changed. |
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The corporation or limited liability company further states that the address of
its registered office and the address of its resident agent, as
changed, are identical. |
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Signature
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Type or Print Name and Title or Capacity
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Date Signed |
/s/ Jane M. Kramer
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Jane M. Kramer, Assistant Secretary
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10-27-06 |
Michigan Department Of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
Filing Endorsement
This is to Certify that the CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT- CORPORATION
for
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
ID NUMBER: 485283
received by facsimile transmission on May 22, 2009 is hereby endorsed
Filed on May 22, 2009 by the Administrator.
The document is effective on the date filed, unless
a subsequent effective date within 90 days after
received date is stated in the document.
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In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the Seal
of the Department,
in the City of Lansing, this 22ND day
of May, 2009.

, Director |
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BCS / CD-515 (Rev. 03/07)
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & ECONOMIC
GROWTH
BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL SERVICES
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| Date Received
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(FOR BUREAU USE ONLY) |
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This document is effective on the date filed, unless a
subsequent effective date within 90 days after received date
is stated in the document.
Name
CMS Energy Corporation c/o Catherine M. Reynolds
Address
One Energy Plaza, EP12-246
City State ZIP Code
Jackson MI 49201
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Ç Document will be returned to the name and address you enter above. È
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EFFECTIVE DATE: |
If left blank document will be mailed to the registered office. |
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CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
For use by Domestic Profit and Nonprofit Corporations
(Please read information and instructions on the last page)
Pursuant to the provisions of Act 284, Public Acts of 1972, (profit corporations), or Act 162,
Public Acts of 1982 (nonprofit corporations), the undersigned corporation executes the following
Certificate:
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The present name of the corporation is: CMS Energy Corporation |
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The identification number assigned by the Bureau is: 485-283 |
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Article XII of the Articles of Incorporation is hereby amended to read as follows: |
In an uncontested election of directors, each director of the Corporation shall be
elected by a majority of the votes cast by the shares present in person or represented by
proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors (a majority vote);
however, in a contested election, the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes
of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on
the election of directors. For purposes of this provision, a majority of the votes cast means
that the number of shares voted for a director must exceed 50% of the votes cast with
respect to that director. For purposes of this Article XII, (i) an uncontested election is
an election in which the number of nominees for director is not greater than the number to be
elected, and (ii) a contested election is an election in which the number of nominees for
director is greater than the number to be elected.
Following any uncontested election, any incumbent director who failed to receive a
majority vote, shall tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors. A recommendation
on whether or not to accept such resignation offer shall be made by (i) a designated standing
committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee), or (ii) if each member of the Committee
did not receive a majority vote, then the independent directors who did receive a majority
vote may appoint a committee from amongst themselves to consider the resignation offer and
make a recommendation to the Board of Directors, or (iii) if three or fewer independent
directors received a majority vote, then all such directors may participate in the actions
regarding the resignation offers and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors will act on the recommendation and publicly disclose its decision within 90
days from the date of the certification of the election results. The director who tenders his
or her resignation will not participate in the Board of Directors decision.
COMPLETE ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
4. Profit or Nonprofit Corporation: For amendments adopted by unanimous consent of Incorporators
before the first meeting of the board of directors or trustees.
The foregoing amendment to the Articles of Incorporation was duly adopted on the day of
, , in accordance with the provisions of the Act by the unanimous consent of the
incorporator(s) before the first meeting of the Board of Directors or Trustees.
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(Signature)
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(Signature) |
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(Type or Print Name)
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(Type or Print Name) |
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(Signature)
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(Signature) |
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(Type or Print Name)
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(Type or Print Name) |
5. Profit Corporation Only: Shareholder or Board Approval
The foregoing amendment to the Articles of Incorporation proposed by the board
was duly adopted on the 22nd day of May, 2009, by the: (check one of the
following)
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shareholders at a meeting in accordance with Section 611(3) of the Act. |
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written consent of the shareholders having not less than the minimum number of votes required by
statute in accordance with Section 407(1) of the Act. Written notice to shareholders who have not
consented in writing has been given. (Note: Written consent by less than all of the shareholders is
permitted only if such provision appears in the Articles of Incorporation.) |
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written consent of all the shareholders entitled to vote in accordance with Section 407(2) of the Act. |
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board of a profit corporation pursuant to section 611(2) of the Act. |
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Profit Corporations and Professional Service Corporations |
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Signed this 22 day of May, 2009 |
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By
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/s/ Catherine M. Reynolds
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(Signature of an authorized officer or agent)
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Catherine M. Reynolds, Vice President and Corporate Secretary
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(Type or Print Name)
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