EX-4.H 2 exhibit4h-descriptiono.htm EXHIBIT 4.H Exhibit


Exhibit 4.h

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The summary of the general terms and provisions of the capital stock of Polaris Inc. (the “Company”) set forth below does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified by reference to the Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles”), and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws,” and together with the Articles, the “Charter Documents”), each of which is incorporated herein by reference and attached as an exhibit to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For additional information, please read the Charter Documents and the applicable provisions of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”).

Capital Stock

The Company is authorized to issue an aggregate of 180,000,000 shares of capital stock consisting of up to 160,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is authorized at any time and from time to time, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of Preferred Stock in one or more classes and/or series, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix by resolution the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock, without a vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the certificate or certificates establishing the series of Preferred Stock.

Voting Rights

The holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors. The Articles do not permit cumulative voting in the election of directors. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock issued by the Company, each director of the Company shall be elected at a meeting of shareholders by the vote of the majority of votes cast with respect to that director, provided that directors of the Company shall be elected by a plurality of the votes present and entitled to vote on the election of directors at any such meeting for which the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected. Voting rights with respect to certain significant corporate transactions may require more than a majority vote in certain circumstances as described below under “Potential Anti-Takeover Effects.” Holders of Common Stock may act by unanimous written consent in lieu of meeting with respect to any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the shareholders.

Classified Board

Members of the Board are divided into three classes and serve staggered three-year terms. This means that approximately one-third of the directors are elected at each annual meeting of shareholders and that it would take two years to replace a majority of the directors unless they are removed. Under the Articles, directors can be removed from office, with or without cause, during their terms only if holders of at least 75% of the outstanding voting stock, voting together as one class, approve the removal. At least 75% of the outstanding voting stock, voting together as one class, must approve any proposal to amend or repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with, these provisions of the Articles.

Dividend Rights

Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock and any other class or series having a preference as to dividends over the Common Stock then outstanding, the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably, to the extent permitted by law, such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board upon the terms and conditions provided by law and the Articles.

Liquidation Rights

Upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding-up of the Company, the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any Preferred Stock.






No Preemptive Rights

The Common Stock has no sinking fund or redemption provisions or preemptive, conversion or exchange rights. The absence of preemptive rights could result in a dilution of the interest of investors should additional capital stock be issued.

Listing

The Common Stock is currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII.”

Potential Anti-Takeover Effects
The Charter Documents and the MBCA contain certain provisions that may discourage an unsolicited takeover of the Company or make an unsolicited takeover of the Company more difficult. The following are some of the more significant anti-takeover provisions that are applicable to the Company:
Special Meetings of Shareholders; Shareholder Action by Unanimous Written Consent; and Advance Notice of Shareholder Business Proposals and Nominations
Section 302A.433 of the MBCA provides that special meetings of the Company’s shareholders may be called by the Company’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer, two or more directors, or shareholders holding 10% or more of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote, except that a special meeting demanded by shareholders for the purpose of considering any action to directly or indirectly facilitate or effect a business combination, including any action to change or otherwise affect the composition of the Board for that purpose, must be called by 25% or more of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote. Section 302A.441 of the MBCA also provides that action may be taken by shareholders without a meeting only by unanimous written consent. The Bylaws provide an advance written notice procedure with respect to shareholder proposals of business and shareholder nominations of candidates for election as directors. Shareholders at an annual meeting are able to consider only the proposals and nominations specified in the notice of meeting or otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or by a shareholder that has delivered timely written notice in proper form to the Company’s Secretary of the business to be brought before the meeting.
Control Share Provision
Section 302A.671 of the MBCA applies, with certain exceptions, to any acquisition of the Company’s voting stock (from a person other than the Company and other than in connection with certain mergers and exchanges to which the Company is a party) resulting in the acquiring person owning 20% or more of the Company’s voting stock then outstanding. Section 302A.671 requires approval of any such acquisitions by both (i) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote, including shares held by the acquiring person, and (ii) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote, excluding all interested shares. In general, shares acquired in the absence of such approval are denied voting rights and are redeemable at their then fair market value by the Company within 30 days after the acquiring person has failed to give a timely information statement to the Company or the date the shareholders voted not to grant voting rights to the acquiring person’s shares.
Business Combination Provision
Section 302A.673 of the MBCA generally prohibits the Company or any of its subsidiaries from entering into any merger, share exchange, sale of material assets or similar transaction with a 10% shareholder within four years following the date the person became a 10% shareholder, unless either the transaction or the person’s acquisition of shares is approved prior to the person becoming a 10% shareholder by a committee of all of the disinterested members of the Board.
Takeover Offer; Fair Price
Under Section 302A.675 of the MBCA, an offeror may not acquire shares of a publicly held corporation within two years following the last purchase of shares pursuant to a takeover offer with respect to that class, including acquisitions made by purchase, exchange, merger, consolidation, partial or complete liquidation, redemption, reverse stock split, recapitalization, reorganization, or any other similar transaction, unless (i) the acquisition is approved by a committee of the board’s disinterested directors before the purchase of any shares by the offeror pursuant to the earlier takeover offer, or (ii) shareholders are afforded, at the time of the proposed acquisition, a reasonable opportunity to dispose of the shares to the offeror upon substantially equivalent terms as those provided in the earlier takeover offer.
Greenmail Restrictions
Under Section 302A.553 of the MBCA, a corporation is prohibited from buying shares at an above-market price from a greater than 5% shareholder who has held the shares for less than two years unless (i) the purchase is approved by holders of a





majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote or (ii) the corporation makes an equal or better offer to all shareholders for all other shares of that class or series and any other class or series into which they may be converted.
Authority of the Board
The Board has the power to issue any or all of the shares of the Company’s capital stock, including the authority to establish one or more series of Preferred Stock, setting forth the designation of each such series and fixing the relative rights and preferences for each such series, without seeking shareholder approval in most instances. In addition, under the Bylaws, the Board has the right to fill vacancies of the Board (including a vacancy created by an increase in the size of the Board).
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