EX-3.1 2 dex31.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation of the Series A Preferred Stock

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

OF THE

SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

OF

AEROCENTURY CORP.

(Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

The Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock of AeroCentury Corp. is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

The undersigned officers of AeroCentury Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) authorizes the issuance of 2,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), and further provides that Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series and the number of shares, designations, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions and limitations of each series as shall be fixed by resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors prior to the issuance of any shares of a particular series of Preferred Stock;

SECOND: The Board of Directors of the Corporation, at a meeting of the Board of Directors on April 8, 1998 did duly adopt resolutions authorizing the creation and issuance of up to 100,000 shares of a series of Preferred Stock to be known as “Series A Preferred Stock” to have the designations, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions and limitations as set forth in the Corporation’s Certificate of Designation of the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 15, 1998;

THIRD: That no shares of the Series A Preferred Stock have been issued nor will any shares be issued subject to the Certificate of Designation previously filed with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock;

FOURTH: The Board of Directors of the Corporation, at a meeting of the Board of Directors on December 1, 2009, pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, did duly adopt the following resolutions modifying the designations, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions and limitations of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock;


RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors does hereby authorize the issuance from time to time of 100,000 shares of its authorized Series A Preferred Stock and hereby fixes the relative designations, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions and limitations of the Series A Preferred Stock that are set forth as follows:

1. Dividends and Distributions.

(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or any other shares of stock of the Corporation ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, each holder of one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share (a “Unit”) of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, (i) quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a Unit of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per Unit (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $0.01 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends declared on shares of the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of a Unit of Series A Preferred Stock, and (ii) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, quarterly distributions (payable in kind) on each Quarterly Dividend Payment Date in an amount per Unit equal to the aggregate per share amount of all non-cash dividends or other distributions (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, by reclassification or otherwise) declared on shares of Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of a Unit of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time after December 1, 2009 (the “Rights Declaration Date”) (i) declare any dividend on outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock or (iii) combine outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount to which the holder of a Unit of Series A Preferred Stock was entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (i) (b) or clause (ii) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction (y) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after such event and (z) the denominator of which shall be 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 Units of Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the shares of Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, by reclassification or otherwise); provided, however, 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 $0.01 per Unit on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and shall be cumulative on each outstanding Unit of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issuance of a Unit of Series A Preferred Stock, unless the date of issuance of such Unit is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such Unit shall begin to accrue from the date of issuance of such Unit, or unless the date of issuance is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record

 

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date for the determination of holders of Units 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 Units of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the aggregate amount of all such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such Units shall be allocated pro rata on a Unit-by-Unit basis among all Units of Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of Units 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.

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

(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each Unit of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall, at any time after the Rights Declaration Date, (i) declare any dividend on outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number of votes per Unit to which holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction (y) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and (z) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation or as required by law, the holders of Units 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 stockholders of the Corporation.

3. Certain Restrictions.

(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on Units of Series A Preferred Stock as provided herein are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on outstanding Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

(i) declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of junior stock;

(ii) declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions on, any shares of parity stock, except dividends paid ratably on Units of Series A Preferred Stock and shares of all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of such Units and all such shares are then entitled;

 

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(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any parity stock, provided, however, that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any junior stock; or

(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Units of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of parity 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 Units and shares of parity stock 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 and classes.

(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation, unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 3, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

4. Reacquired Shares. Any Units of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such Units shall, upon their cancellation, become authorized but unissued shares (or fractions of shares) of Preferred Stock 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.

5. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

(A) Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (i) to the holders of shares of junior stock, unless the holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received, subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided in paragraph (B), the greater of either (a) $0.01 per Unit plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not earned or declared, to the date of such payment, or (b) the amount equal to the aggregate per share amount to be distributed to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (ii) to the holders of shares of parity stock, unless simultaneously therewith distributions are made ratably on Units of Series A Preferred Stock and all other shares of such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled under clause (i)(a) of this sentence and to which the holders of shares of such parity stock are entitled, in each case upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

(B) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event pursuant to clause (i)(b) of paragraph (A) of this Section 5 shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction (y) the numerator of which shall be the

 

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number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after such event and (z) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

6. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or converted into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged for or converted into an amount per Unit (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 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 converted or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the immediately preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or conversion of Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction (y) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after such event and (z) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

7. Redemption. The Units of Series A Preferred Stock and shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

8. Ranking. The Units of Series A Preferred Stock and shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Preferred Stock and to any other class of Preferred Stock that hereafter may be issued by the Corporation as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series or class shall provide otherwise.

9. Fractional Shares. The Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in Units or other fractions of a share, which Units or other fractions shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s Units or other 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.

10. Amendment. At any time when any Units of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation nor this Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation shall be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Units of Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority or more of the outstanding Units of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

11. Certain Definitions. As used in this resolution with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(A) The term “Common Stock” shall mean the class of stock designated as the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation at the date hereof or any other class of stock resulting from successive changes or reclassification of the common stock.

 

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(B) The term “junior stock” (i) as used in Section 3, shall mean the Common Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation over which the Series A Preferred Stock has preference or priority as to dividends and (ii) as used in Section 5, shall mean the Common Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation over which the Series A Preferred Stock has preference or priority in any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

(C) The term “parity stock” (i) as used in Section 3, shall mean any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation hereafter authorized or issued ranking pari passu with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends and (ii) as used in Section 5, shall mean any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking pari passu with the Series A Preferred Stock in any liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, AeroCentury Corp. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation to be signed by its Chairman and President/Chief Executive Officer and its Secretary this December 1, 2009.

 

AEROCENTURY CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Neal D. Crispin

Name:   Neal D. Crispin
Title:   Chairman and President/Chief Executive Officer
By:  

/s/ Toni M. Perazzo

Name:   Toni M. Perazzo
Title:   Secretary

 

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