EX-3.1 2 dex31.htm ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION Articles of Incorporation

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

Pursuant to the provisions of Act 284, Public Acts of 1972, the undersigned corporation executes the following Certificate:

 

1. The present name of the corporation is: Manitex International, Inc.

 

2. The identification number assigned by the Bureau is: 10296D.

 

3. Article III of the Articles of Incorporation is hereby amended to read as follows:

See attached Exhibit A.

 

4. The foregoing amendment to the Articles of Incorporation proposed by the board was duly adopted on the 15th day of October, 2008, by the board of a profit corporation pursuant to section 611(2) of the Act.

 

Signed this 17th day of October, 2008
  By:   /s/ David Langevin
   

David Langevin, Chief

Executive Officer


EXHIBIT A

TO

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF

MANITEX INTERNATIONAL, INC.

ARTICLE III

1. Classes and Number of Shares. The corporation is authorized to have two classes of shares, designated as common stock and preferred stock. The aggregate number of shares of stock of each class are as follows:

a. Twenty million (20,000,000) shares of common stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”)

b. One hundred fifty thousand (150,000) shares of preferred stock, no par value (“Preferred Stock”), which may be issued in one or more series having such relative rights, preferences, priorities, privileges, restrictions and limitations as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.

2. Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. There is hereby created a series of Preferred Stock that shall be designated as “Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock”, no par value per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 125,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the corporation into Series A Preferred Stock.

3. Dividends and Distributions.

a. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first business days of January, April, July and October in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 or (ii) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all noncash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of


the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the corporation shall at any time after October 17, 2008 (the “Rights Declaration Date”) (a) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (b) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (c) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

b. The corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph 3.a immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

c. Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

 

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4. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

a. Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the corporation. In the event the corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

b. Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other resolution of the Board of Directors creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the corporation.

c. Except as set forth herein, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

5. Certain Restrictions.

a. Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 3 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the corporation shall not:

i. declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;

ii. declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

iii. redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with (both as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) the Series A Preferred Stock; or

 

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iv. purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

b. The corporation shall not permit any corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors of such corporation is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation or otherwise controlled by the corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the corporation unless the corporation could, under paragraph 5.a, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

6. Reacquired Shares. All shares of Series A Preferred Stock that shall at any time have been reacquired by the corporation shall, after such reacquisition, have the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock of the corporation, without designation as to series, and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.

7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, no distribution shall be made (A) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received $100 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (B) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all other such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause (A) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

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8. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination, share exchange or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (A) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (C) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

9. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

10. Amendment. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, prior to such time as shares of Series A Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding, the Board of Directors may modify, amend, alter or revoke any of the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock or the other terms of the Series A Preferred Stock. From and after such time as shares of Series A Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding, the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation shall not be amended in any manner that would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.

11. Fractional Shares. Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

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CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

Pursuant to the provisions of Act 284, Public Acts of 1972, the undersigned corporation executes the following Certificate:

 

1. The present name of the corporation is Veri-Tek International, Corp.

 

2. The identification number assigned by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth Bureau of Commercial Services is 10296D.

 

3. Article I of the Articles of Incorporation is hereby amended to read as follows:

“The name of the corporation is Manitex International, Inc.”

The foregoing amendment to the Articles of Incorporation proposed by the board was duly adopted on the 28th day of April, 2008 by the 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.

 

4. The effective date of this Certificate of Amendment is May 28, 2008.

 

Signed this 22nd day of May, 2008
By:   /s/ David Langevin
Name:   David Langevin
Title:   Chief Executive Officer


ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF VERI-TEK INTERNATIONAL, CORP.,

AS AMENDED

ARTICLE I (As amended December 11, 2003)

The name of the corporation is Veri-Tek International, Corp.

ARTICLE II

The purpose or purposes for which the corporation is formed is to engage in any activity within the purposes for which corporations may be formed under the Business Corporation Act of Michigan.

ARTICLE III (As amended July 16, 2004)

The total authorized shares:

1. Common Shares: 20,000,000

    Preferred Shares: 150,000

2. A statement of all or any of the relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each class is as follows:

The Preferred Stock may be issued, from time to time, in one or more series as authorized by the Board of Directors. Prior to issuance of shares of each series, the Board of Directors by resolution shall designate that series to distinguish it from all other series and classes of stock of the Corporation, shall specify the number of shares to be included in the series and shall set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption. Subject to the express terms of any other series of Preferred Stock outstanding at the time and notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may increase or decrease the number of shares of, or alter the designation or classify or reclassify, any unissued shares of any series of Preferred Stock by setting or changing, in any one or more respects, from time to time before issuing the shares, the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of the shares of any series of Preferred Stock.


ARTICLE IV

The address of the registered office is 28213 Van Dyke Avenue, Warren, Michigan 48093. The name of the registered agent at the registered office is Michael C. Azar, Esq.

ARTICLE V

The name and address of the incorporator is as follows: Michael C. Azar, 28213 Van Dyke Avenue, Warren, Michigan 48093.

ARTICLE VI

When a compromise or arrangement or a plan of reorganization of this corporation is proposed between this corporation and its creditors or any class of them or between this corporation and its shareholders or any class of them, a court of equity jurisdiction within the state, on application of this corporation or of a creditor or shareholder thereof, or on application of a receiver appointed for the corporation, may order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors or of the shareholders or class of shareholders to be affected by the proposed compromise or arrangement or reorganization, to be summoned in such manner as the court directs. If a majority in number representing 3/4 in value of the creditors or class of creditors, or of the shareholders or class of shareholders to be affected by the proposed compromise or arrangement or a reorganization, agree to a compromise or arrangement or a reorganization of this corporation as a consequence of the compromise or arrangement, the compromise or arrangement and the reorganization, if sanctioned by the court to which the application has been made, shall be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, or on all the shareholders or class of shareholders, and also on this corporation.

ARTICLE VII

Any action required or permitted by the Act to be taken at an annual or special meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote, if consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote on the action were present and voted. A written consent shall bear the date of signature of the shareholder who signs the consent. Written consents are not effective to take corporate action unless within 60 days after the record date for determining shareholders entitled to express consent to or dissent from a proposal without a meeting, written consents dated not more than 10 days before the record date and signed by a sufficient number of shareholders to take the action are delivered to the corporation. Delivery shall be to the corporation’s registered office, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the minutes of the proceedings of its shareholders. Delivery made to a corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

 

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Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to shareholders who would have been entitled to notice of the shareholder meeting if the action had been taken at a meeting and who have not consented to the action in writing. An electronic transmission consenting to an action must comply with Section 407(3).

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I, the incorporator sign my name this 15th day of October, 2003.

 

By   /s/ Michael A. Azar

 

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