EX-3.1 2 d267135dex31.htm EX-3.1 EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

FORTERRA, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

Lori Browne, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Forterra, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify as follows:

1. The name of the Corporation is Forterra, Inc.

2. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 21, 2016.

3. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

4. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the corporation is Forterra, Inc.

ARTICLE II

AGENT

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

ARTICLE IV

STOCK

Section 4.1 Authorized Stock. The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Two Hundred Million (200,000,000), of which One Hundred Ninety Million (190,000,000) shall be designated as Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and Ten Million (10,000,000) shall be designated as Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).


Section 4.2 Common Stock.

(a) Voting. Each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation, including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock (each hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Designation”), that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation).

(b) Dividends. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends out of any funds of the Corporation legally available therefor when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors.

(c) Liquidation. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them.

Section 4.3 Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Subject to limitations prescribed by law and the provisions of this Article IV, the Board of Directors is hereby authorized to provide by resolution and by causing the filing of a Preferred Stock Designation for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, if any, of the shares of each such series.

The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

(i) the number of shares constituting such series, which number the Board of Directors may thereafter (except where otherwise provided in the Preferred Stock Designation) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares in any such series then outstanding), and the distinctive designation of such series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(ii) the dividend rate on the shares of such series, if any, whether dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends on shares of such series;

(iii) whether the shares of such series shall have voting rights (including multiple, fractional or no votes per share) in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;

(iv) whether the shares of such series shall have conversion rights, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such rights, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;

(v) whether or not the shares of such series shall be redeemable, and if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption rates;

(vi) whether a sinking fund shall be provided for the redemption or purchase of shares of such series, and, if so, the terms and the amount of such sinking fund;

(vii) the restrictions, if any, on the issuance of the same series or of any other class or series;

(viii) the rights of the shares of such series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of such series; and


(ix) any other relative rights, powers, preferences and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series.

Section 4.4 No Class Vote on Changes in Authorized Number of Shares of Stock. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of any class or classes of stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock entitled to vote thereon, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 5.1 Number. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the Board of Directors shall consist of not fewer than two nor more than 15 directors, the exact number to be determined from time to time solely by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office; provided, however, that it is not less than one-third of the total number of directors then authorized.

Section 5.2 Classification; Vacancies; Removal.

(a) The Board of Directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation) (the “Preferred Stock Directors”)) shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I directors shall initially serve until the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Section 5.2; Class II directors shall initially serve until the second annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Section 5.2; and Class III directors shall initially serve until the third annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Section 5.2. Commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Section 5.2 and ending with third annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Section 5.2, directors of each class the term of which shall then expire shall be elected to hold office for a three-year term and until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office. Commencing with the fourth annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Section 5.2, directors of each class the term of which shall then expire shall be elected to hold office for a one-year term and until the election and qualification of their respective successor in office. In case of any increase or decrease, from time to time prior to the sixth annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Section 5.2, in the number of directors (other than Preferred Stock Directors), the number of directors in each class shall be apportioned as nearly equal as possible. The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III, with such assignment becoming effective as of the effectiveness of this Section 5.2.

(b) Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, and unless otherwise required by law, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office and entitled to vote thereon, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, or by the sole remaining director. Any director so chosen shall hold office until the next election of directors of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, as applicable, and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(c) Except for such additional directors, if any, as are elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and unless otherwise restricted by law, (i) prior to the date on which Lone Star Fund IX (U.S.), L. P., a Delaware limited partnership, and its Affiliates (as defined in Section 12.5) (collectively, the “Lone Star Entities”) cease to beneficially own, in the aggregate, a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office, with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, and (ii) on and after the date on which the Lone Star Entities cease to beneficially own, in the aggregate, a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office, only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of at least 66  23% of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.


(d) During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional directors as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such number of directors that the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have a right to elect, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions and (ii) each Preferred Stock Director shall serve until such Preferred Stock Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by the holders of Preferred Stock pursuant to said provisions. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to said provisions, the terms of office of all such Preferred Stock Directors elected by the holders of such Preferred Stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 5.3 Powers. Subject to the provisions of the DGCL and to any limitations in this Certificate of Incorporation relating to action required to be approved by the stockholders, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 5.4 Election; Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

(a) Ballot Not Required. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation so provide.

(b) Notice. Advance notice of nominations for the election of directors, and of business other than nominations, to be proposed by stockholders for consideration at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

(c) Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix.

ARTICLE VI

STOCKHOLDER ACTION

Prior to the date on which the Lone Star Entities cease to beneficially own, in the aggregate, a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by the holders of the outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. References in this Article VI to written consent shall be deemed to include a telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken if such transmission complies with Section 228(d) of the DGCL. On and after the date on which the Lone Star Entities cease to beneficially own, in the aggregate, a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), no action that is required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be effected by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting of stockholders.


ARTICLE VII

SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Except as otherwise required by law, and except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), a special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called at any time only by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or by the Chief Executive Officer with the concurrence of a majority of the Board of Directors. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.

ARTICLE VIII

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS WITH INTERESTED STOCKHOLDER

The Corporation hereby expressly states that it shall not be bound or governed by, or otherwise subject to, Section 203 of the DGCL.

ARTICLE IX

EXISTENCE

The Corporation shall have perpetual existence.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT

Section 10.1 Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right at any time, and from time to time, to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all powers, preferences and rights of any nature conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation and in addition to any requirements of law, the affirmative vote of at least 66  23% of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 10.2 Amendment of Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, and in addition to any requirements of law, the affirmative vote of at least 66  23% of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE XI

LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS

Section 11.1 No Personal Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.


Section 11.2 Transactions Involving the Lone Star Entities. Any Affiliate of the Lone Star Entities who serves as a director or officer of the Corporation shall be deemed to have fully satisfied and fulfilled his or her fiduciary duties to the Corporation and its stockholders with respect to any contract or transaction between the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and one or more Lone Star Entities, on the other hand, if: (a) the material facts as to such Affiliate’s and the Lone Star Entities’ relationship to or interest in such contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or a committee thereof consisting solely of disinterested directors of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors or such committee in good faith authorizes such contract or transaction by (i) in the case of the Board of Directors, the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors on the Board of Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, or (ii) in the case of such committee, the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of such committee; (b) the material facts as to such Affiliate’s and the Lone Star Entities’ relationship to or interest in such contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, and such contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders (excluding the Lone Star Entities and any stockholder that has a material financial interest in the contract or transaction); or (c) such contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it enters into such contract or transaction.

Section 11.3 Amendment or Repeal. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article XI that adversely affects any right of a director shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

ARTICLE XII

COMPETITION AND CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

Section 12.1 General. In recognition and anticipation that (a) certain directors, principals, officers, employees and/or other representatives of the Lone Star Entities may serve as directors or officers of the Corporation, (b) the Lone Star Entities and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (c) members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Corporation (“Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article XII are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve the Lone Star Entities, the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.

Section 12.2 No Duty to Refrain, Communicate or Offer. None of (a) any Lone Star Entity or any of its Affiliates or (b) any Non-Employee Director or his or her Affiliates (the Persons (as defined below) identified in (a) and (b) above being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall have any duty to refrain from, directly or indirectly, (i) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (ii) otherwise competing with the Corporation, and, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. The Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 12.3. In the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself or himself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder or director of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself or himself, or offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person.


Section 12.3 Corporate Opportunities Offered in Capacity as a Director of the Corporation. The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director if such opportunity is expressly offered to such Non-Employee Director solely in his or her capacity as a director of the Corporation and the provisions of Section 12.2 shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.

Section 12.4 Opportunities Not Deemed Corporate Opportunities. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article XII, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that the Corporation is not permitted to undertake under the terms of Article III or that the Corporation is not financially able or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

Section 12.5 Definitions. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, (a) “Affiliate” shall mean (i) in respect of a Lone Star Entity, any Person that, (A) is directly or indirectly, controlled by such Lone Star Entity, controls such Lone Star Entity or is under common control with such Lone Star Entity or (B) is a principal, member, director, manager, partner, stockholder, officer, employee or other representative of any of the foregoing (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation), (ii) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and (iii) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation, and (b) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.

Section 12.6 Notice and Consent. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of Article XI, this Article XII and Article XIII.

ARTICLE XIII

FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES

Section 13.1 Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and subject to applicable jurisdictional requirements, the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including any beneficial owner) to bring internal corporate claims (as defined below) shall be a state court located within the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware). For purposes of this Article XIII, “internal corporate claims” means claims, including claims in the right of the Corporation: (a) that are based upon a violation of a duty by a current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder in such capacity, or (b) as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of this Article XIII is filed in a court other than a state court located within the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) (a “Foreign Action”) by any stockholder (including any beneficial owner), such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to: (a) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce this Article XIII and (b) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

Section 13.2 Enforceability. If any provision of this Article XIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XIII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities or circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.


ARTICLE XIV

EFFECTIVE TIME

This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective as of 9:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time on October 6, 2016.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed, signed and acknowledged by Lori Browne, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Corporation, this 5th day of October, 2016.

 

FORTERRA, INC.

/s/ Lori Browne

By:   Lori Browne
Title:   Senior Vice President and General Counsel