Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLES OF RESTATEMENT
OF
THE
ARTICLES OF Incorporation
OF
AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Pursuant to Sections 490.1006
and 490.1007 of the Iowa Business Corporation Act, the undersigned corporation, incorporated and existing under the Iowa Business Corporation
Act, hereby amends and restates its Articles of Incorporation in their entirety by adopting the following Articles of Restatement of
the Articles of Incorporation (the “Restated Articles”). The undersigned corporation hereby certifies the following:
1. The name of the corporation
is American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (“AEL”).
2.
The corporation has entered into a plan of merger (“Plan of Merger”) providing
for the merger of Arches Merger Sub Inc., an Iowa corporation (“Merger Sub”), into AEL, with AEL being the surviving
corporation (the “Surviving Corporation”).
3. The Plan of Merger provides
that the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended and restated as set forth in these Restated Articles.
4. These Restated Articles
contain amendments to the Articles of Incorporation that require approval by the shareholders of AEL and these Restated Articles have
been duly approved by the shareholders in the manner required by the Iowa Business Corporation Act and the Articles of Incorporation.
5. These Restated Articles
were adopted by vote of the shareholders of AEL on November 10, 2023.
6. These Restated Articles
amend and restate the original Articles of Incorporation of AEL, together with all subsequent amendments thereto, in their entirety and
consolidate all such amendments into a single document.
7. The text of the Restated
Articles is as follows:
FIRST:
The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the “Corporation”) is American Equity Investment Life Holding Company.
SECOND:
The address, including street, number, city, and county, of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Iowa is Corporation
Service Company, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 729, Polk County, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 and the name of the registered agent of the
Corporation in the State of Iowa at such address is Corporation Service Company.
THIRD:
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Iowa Business
Corporation Act.
FOURTH:
The total number of shares that may be issued by the Corporation is 202,000,000 shares, of which 2,000,000 shares of the par value of
$1 per share shall be designated Preferred Stock, comprising of 5.95% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A
(“Series A Preferred Stock”) and 6.625% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B (“Series B
Preferred Stock”, and together with the Series A Preferred Stock, the “Preferred Stock”) and 200,000,000
shares of the par value of $1 per share shall be designated Common Stock.
A. Common Stock. Each
holder of Common Stock shall have one vote for each share of Common Stock held by such holder. Subject to the rights of the holders of
any outstanding Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends from the remaining surplus of the
Corporation, when and as such dividends shall be declared by the Board of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding
Preferred Stock, upon the dissolution of the Corporation or upon its liquidation otherwise, or upon any distribution of its assets by
way of return of capital, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive and be paid all the remaining assets of the Corporation.
B. Preferred Stock.
The following is (i) a statement of the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights and the qualifications, limitations
or restrictions of the Preferred Stock except as the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights and qualifications, limitations
or restrictions thereof of any series of Preferred Stock may be stated and expressed in a resolution or resolutions providing for the
issuance of such series pursuant to authority herein expressly vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation; and (ii) a statement
of the authority referred to above expressly vested in the Board of Directors.
(1) The
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series of any number of shares; provided that the aggregate number of
shares outstanding of all such series shall not exceed the total number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized by this Article FOURTH.
Each series of Preferred Stock shall be distinctively designated. Except as otherwise provided by the resolutions creating the series
of Preferred Stock, all series of Preferred Stock shall rank equally and be identical in all respects.
(2) Except
as otherwise provided by the resolutions creating any series of Preferred Stock, holders of such Preferred Stock shall not have any right
to vote for election of directors or on any other matter or any right to notice of any meeting of stockholders.
(3) In
the event of any complete, or substantially complete, voluntary or involuntary, liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock, if one or more series of Preferred Stock has been
created as authorized in this Article FOURTH, all of the assets of the Corporation shall be paid and distributed among the shareholders
of the Corporation as provided in the resolution or resolutions creating such series.
Neither the merger
nor consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other corporation, nor the merger of any corporation into the Corporation, nor
the sale or transfer by the Corporation of all or any part of its assets shall be deemed a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation for the purposes of this subsection (3).
(4) Authority
is hereby vested in the Board of Directors from time to time to authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock of any series and to state
and express, in the resolution or resolutions creating and providing for the issue of shares of any series, the designations, voting
powers, if any, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof of such series to the full extent nor or hereafter permitted by the laws of the State of Iowa in respect of the matters set forth
in the following clauses (a) through (h), inclusive.
(a) The designation
of the series and the number of shares which shall constitute such series, which number may be altered from time to time by like action
of the Board of Directors in respect of shares then unissued.
(b) The annual
dividend rate on the shares of that series, the conditions upon which the time or times when such dividends are payable, the preference
to, or the relation to, the payment of the dividends payable on shares of such series to the dividends payable on shares of any other
class or classes or any other series of stock, whether such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative and, if cumulative, the dates
from which dividends on shares of such series shall be cumulative.
(c) The redemption
price or prices, if any, and the time or times at which the terms and conditions upon which shares of such series shall be redeemable.
(d) The rights
of shares of such series upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation
and the preference to, or the relation to, such rights of shares of such series to the rights on any other class or classes or any other
series of stock of the Corporation.
(e) The voting
rights, if any, of such series in addition to the voting rights prescribed by law, and the terms of exercise of such voting rights.
(f) The rights,
if any, of the holders of such shares of such series to convert such shares into, or to exchange such shares for, shares of any other
class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation and the price or prices
or the rates of exchange and the adjustments at which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable, and any other terms and conditions
of such conversion or exchange.
(g) The requirement
of any sinking or purchase fund or funds to be applied to the purchase or redemption of shares of such series and, if so, the amount
of such fund or funds and the manner of application.
(h) Any other
preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of shares of such series and qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof.
Exhibit A
attached hereto sets forth the designation, authorization, and terms of the Series A Preferred Stock and is incorporated
herein by reference as if set forth in full.
Exhibit B
attached hereto sets forth the designation, authorization, and terms of the Series B Preferred Stock and is incorporated
herein by reference as if set forth in full.
FIFTH:
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized
to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.
SIXTH:
To the fullest extent permitted by the law of the State of Iowa as it now exists and as it may hereafter be amended, no director or officer
of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director or officer; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Article SIXTH shall eliminate or
limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for any breach of the director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty to the
Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 490.832 of the Iowa Business Corporation Act or (iv) for any transaction from
which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit. No amendment to or repeal of this Article SIXTH shall apply
to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director or officer of the Corporation for or with respect to any
acts or omissions of such director or officer occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
SEVENTH:
The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Sections 490.850 through 490.859 of the Iowa Business Corporation Act, as the
same may be amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under said Section from
and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities, or other matters referred to in or covered by said Sections. Such indemnification
shall be mandatory and not discretionary. The indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to
which those indemnified may be entitled under any Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both
as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to
a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators
of such a person. Any repeal or modification of this Article SEVENTH shall not adversely affect any right to indemnification of
any persons existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any matter occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
The Corporation shall to the
fullest extent permitted by the Iowa Business Corporation Act advance all costs and expenses (including without limitation, attorneys’
fees and expenses) incurred by any director or officer within 15 days of the presentation of same to the Corporation, with respect to
any one or more actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, so long as the Corporation receives
from the director or officer an unsecured undertaking to repay such expenses if it shall ultimately be determined that such director
or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation under the Iowa Business Corporation Act. Such obligation to advance costs
and expenses shall be mandatory, and not discretionary, and shall include, without limitation, costs and expenses incurred in asserting
affirmative defenses, counterclaims and cross claims. Such undertaking to repay may, if first requested in writing by the applicable
director or officer, be on behalf of (rather than by) such director or officer, provided that in such case the Corporation shall
have the right to approve the party making such undertaking.
EIGHT:
Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need
not be by written ballot.
Signed and verified by the
undersigned officer of AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY as of this 2nd day of May, 2024.
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/s/ Erik H. Askelsen |
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Name: Erik H. Askelsen |
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Title: General Counsel |
[Signature Page to Restated AOI of American
Equity Investment Life Holding Company]
Exhibit A
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
OF
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
OF
AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
In accordance with Article FOURTH
of the Articles of Incorporation of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (the “Corporation”), the voting
powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, option or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of a series of preferred stock designated as “5.95% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A”
are expressed in this Certificate of Designations (the “Certificate of Designations”) as follows:
1. Designation.
The distinctive serial designation of such series of preferred stock is “5.95% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock,
Series A” (the “Series A Preferred Stock”). Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be identical
in all respects to every other share of Series A Preferred Stock, except as to the respective dates from which dividends thereon
shall accrue, to the extent such dates may differ as permitted pursuant to Section 5(a) below.
2. Number
of Shares. The authorized number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be 20,000. Such number may from time to time be
increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of preferred stock of the Corporation, less all shares of any other
series of preferred stock authorized at the time of such increase) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock then outstanding) by the Board. The Corporation may at any time and from time to time, without notice to or the consent
of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, issue additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock that shall form a single series
with the Series A Preferred Stock initially authorized hereby, provided that such additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock
are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the Series A Preferred Stock authorized hereby. Shares of Series A Preferred
Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, or converted into another series of preferred stock, shall
be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation undesignated as to series.
3. Definitions.
As used herein with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock:
(a) “Articles
of Incorporation” shall mean the articles of incorporation of the Corporation, as the same may be amended or restated from
time to time, and shall include this Certificate of Designations.
(b) “Board”
shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(c) “Business
Day” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday or (ii) a day on which federal or state
banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation
to close.
(d) “Bylaws”
means the Fifth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, effective as of May 2, 2024, as the same may be amended or restated
from time to time.
(e) “Calculation
Agent” means, at any time, the person or entity appointed by the Corporation and serving as such agent with respect to the
Series A Preferred Stock at such time.
(f) “Certificate
of Designations” has the meaning specified in the preamble.
(g) “Common
Stock” means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Corporation.
(h) “Dividend
Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 5(a).
(i) “Dividend
Period” has the meaning specified in Section 5(a).
(j) “Dividend
Record Date” has the meaning specified in Section 5(a).
(k) “DTC”
means The Depository Trust Company.
(l) “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(m) “First
Call Date” means December 1, 2024.
(n) “first
series” has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).
(o) “Five-year
U.S. Treasury Rate” means, as of any Reset Dividend Determination Date, as applicable, (i) an interest rate (expressed
as a decimal) determined to be the per annum rate equal to the weekly average yield to maturity for U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity
of five years from the next Reset Date and trading in the public securities markets or (ii) if there is no such published U.S. Treasury
security with a maturity of five years from the next Reset Date and trading in the public securities markets, then the rate will be determined
by interpolation between the most recent weekly average yield to maturity for two series of U.S. Treasury securities trading in the public
securities market, (A) one maturing as close as possible to, but earlier than, the Reset Date following the next succeeding Reset
Dividend Determination Date, and (B) the other maturity as close as possible to, but later than, the Reset Date following the next
succeeding Reset Dividend Determination Date, in each case as published in the most recent H.15 (519). If the Five-year U.S. Treasury
Rate cannot be determined pursuant to the methods described in clause (i) or (ii) above, then the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate
will be the same interest rate determined for the prior Reset Dividend Determination Date.
(p) “H.15
(519)” means the weekly statistical release designated as such, or any successor publication, published by the Board of Governors
of the United States Federal Reserve System and “most recent H.15 (519)” means the H.15 (519) published closest in
time but prior to the close of business on the second Business Day prior to the applicable Reset Date.
(q) “Junior
Stock” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation that ranks junior to the Series A
Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.
(r) “Liquidation
Preference” has the meaning specified in Section 6(b).
(s) “Parity
Stock” means any class or series of the Corporation’s stock that ranks equally with the Series A Preferred Stock
in the distribution of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.
(t) “person”
means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other
entity of whatever nature.
(u) “Preferred
Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock, having a par value of $1.00 per share, of the Corporation, including the
Series A Preferred Stock.
(v) “Preferred
Stock Directors” has the meaning specified in Section 8(b).
(w) “Rating
Agency Event” means any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62)
of the Exchange Act), that then publishes a rating for the Corporation (a “Rating Agency”) amends, clarifies or changes
the criteria it uses to assign equity credit to securities such as the Series A Preferred Stock, which amendment, clarification
or change results in:
(i) the
shortening of the length of time the Series A Preferred Stock is assigned a particular level of equity credit by that Rating Agency
as compared to the length of time they would have been assigned that level of equity credit by that Rating Agency or its predecessor
on the initial issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(ii) the
lowering of the equity credit (including up to a lesser amount) assigned to the Series A Preferred Stock by that Rating Agency as
compared to the equity credit assigned by that Rating Agency or its predecessor on the initial issuance of the Series A Preferred
Stock.
(x) “Registrar”
means the registrar with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, which shall initially be Computershare Inc., and its successors,
including any successor appointed by the Corporation.
(y) “Regulatory
Capital Event” means that the Corporation becomes subject to capital adequacy supervision by a capital regulator and the capital
adequacy guidelines that apply to the Corporation as a result of being so subject set forth criteria pursuant to which the liquidation
preference amount of the Series A Preferred Stock would not qualify as capital under such capital adequacy guidelines, as the Corporation
may determine at any time, in its sole discretion.
(z) “Reset
Date” means the First Call Date and each date falling on the fifth anniversary of the preceding Reset Date.
(aa) “Reset
Dividend Determination Date” means, in respect of any Reset Period, the day falling two Business Days prior to the beginning
of such Reset Period.
(bb) “Reset
Period” means the period from, and including, the First Call Date to, but excluding, the next following Reset Date and thereafter
each period from, and including, each Reset Date to, but excluding, the next following Reset Date.
(cc) “second
series” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5(b).
(dd) “Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(ee) “Transfer
Agent” means the transfer agent with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, which shall initially be Computershare Inc.,
and its successors, including any successor appointed by the Corporation.
(ff) “Voting
Preferred Stock” means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to
vote as specified in Section 8 of this Certificate of Designations, any other class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation
ranking equally with the Series A Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of
the Corporation and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter.
4. Ranking.
With respect to the distribution of assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, the Series A Preferred
Stock will rank in right of payment: (a) senior to any Junior Stock; and (b) equally with any series of Parity Stock that
the Corporation may issue (except for any senior series that may be issued with the requisite vote or consent of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding and entitled to vote) with respect to any distribution
of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.
5. Dividends.
(a) Rate.
Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will not be mandatory. Holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive,
when, as and if declared by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board), out of funds legally available for the payment of
dividends, under Iowa law, quarterly in arrears on the first day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing
on March 1, 2020 (each such date, a “Dividend Payment Date”), non-cumulative cash dividends that accrue for the relevant
Dividend Period as follows:
(i) from
the date of original issue, to, but excluding, the First Call Date at a fixed rate per annum of 5.95% on the stated amount of $25,000
per share; and
(ii) from
the First Call Date, during each Reset Period, at a rate per annum equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate as of the most recent Reset
Dividend Determination Date plus 4.322% on the stated amount of $25,000 per share.
If the Corporation issues
additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock after the original issue date, dividends on such shares will accrue from the original
issue date if such shares are issued prior to the first Dividend Payment Date. Dividends on Series A Preferred Stock issued after
the first Dividend Payment Date will accrue from either the date on which such shares are issued (if such shares are issued on a Dividend
Payment Date) or the Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date such shares are issued (if such shares are not issued on a Dividend
Payment Date).
Dividends on the Series A
Preferred Stock shall not be cumulative. Accordingly, if the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) does not declare a dividend
on the Series A Preferred Stock payable in respect of any Dividend Period before the related Dividend Payment Date, (i) such
dividend will not accrue, (ii) the Corporation will have no obligation to pay a dividend for that Dividend Period on the Dividend
Payment Date or at any future time, whether or not dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are declared for any future Dividend
Period and (iii) no interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend not so declared.
Dividends, if so declared,
that are payable on the Series A Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to holders of record of the Series A
Preferred Stock as they appear on the books of the Corporation on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day before
such Dividend Payment Date or such other record date fixed by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) that is not more
than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any such day that
is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day.
Each dividend period (a “Dividend
Period”) shall (i) commence on and include a Dividend Payment Date (other than the initial Dividend Period, which shall
commence on, and include, the original issue date of the Series A Preferred Stock (provided that for any share of Series A
Preferred Stock issued after the original issue date of the Series A Preferred Stock, the initial Dividend Period for such shares
may commence on and include the original issue date of the Series A Preferred Stock if such shares are issued prior to the first
Dividend Payment Date or otherwise will commence on and include the date on which such shares are issued (if it is a Dividend Payment
Date) or the Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date they are issued)) and (ii) end on, but exclude, the next Dividend Payment
Date.
Dividends payable on the
Series A Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months. If any Dividend Payment Date is a day that is not a Business Day, then the dividend with respect to that Dividend Payment
Date will instead be paid on the immediately succeeding Business Day, without interest or other payment in respect of such delayed payment.
The applicable dividend rate
for each Reset Period will be determined by the Calculation Agent, as of the applicable Reset Dividend Determination Date. Promptly upon
such determination, the Calculation Agent shall notify the Corporation of the dividend rate for the Reset Period. The Calculation Agent’s
determination of any dividend rate, and its calculation of the amount of dividends for any Dividend Period beginning on or after the
First Call Date will be (i) on file at the Corporation’s principal offices, (ii) made available to any holder of Series A
Preferred Stock upon request and (iii) final and binding in the absence of manifest error.
Holders of Series A
Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if
any) declared and payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as specified in this Section 5 (subject to the other provisions of
this Certificate of Designations).
(b) Priority
Dividends. So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding for any Dividend Period, unless the full dividends
for the latest completed Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been declared and paid (or declared
and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside), during a Dividend Period:
(i) no
dividend shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock or Parity Stock (except, in the case of Parity
Stock, on a pro rata basis with the Series A Preferred Stock as described below), other than:
(A) any
dividend paid on Junior Stock or Parity Stock in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the
stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid
or is other Junior Stock or (solely in the case of Parity Stock) other Parity Stock; or
(B) any
dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property
under such plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under such plan; and
(ii) no
Common Stock or other Junior Stock or Parity Stock (except, in the case of Parity Stock, on a pro rata basis with the Series A
Preferred Stock as described below) shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly
or indirectly, other than:
(A) as
a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other
Parity Stock, as applicable,
(B) the
exchange, redemption or conversion of one share of Junior Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock or the exchange, redemption
or conversion of one share of Parity stock for or into another share of Parity Stock, as applicable,
(C) purchases,
redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of Junior Stock or Parity Stock in connection with (x) any employment contract, benefit
plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors, consultants or independent contractors,
(y) a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan, or (z) the satisfaction of the Corporation’s obligations
pursuant to any contract relating to the foregoing clauses (x) or (y) outstanding at the beginning of the applicable Dividend
Period requiring such purchase, redemption or other acquisition,
(D) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock or Parity Stock, as the case may be, pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such securities or the security being converted or exchanged,
(E) through
the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of Junior Stock or Parity Stock, as applicable, or
(F) in
the case of Parity Stock, pro rata purchases, offers or other acquisitions for consideration by the Corporation to purchase all,
or a pro rata portion of, the Series A Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock.
When dividends are not paid
(or declared and a sum sufficient for payment thereof set aside) in full on any Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock
having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within a Dividend Period)
on the Series A Preferred Stock and any shares of Parity Stock, all dividends declared on the Series A Preferred Stock and
all such Parity Stock and payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different
from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date)
shall be declared pro rata so that the respective amounts of such dividends shall bear the same ratio to each other as all accrued
but unpaid dividends per share on the Series A Preferred Stock and all Parity Stock payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in
the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling
within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) bear to each other. As used in this paragraph, payment of dividends
“in full” means, as to any Parity Stock that bears dividends on a cumulative basis, the amount of dividends that would
need to be declared and paid to bring such Parity Stock current in dividends, including undeclared dividends for past dividend periods.
To the extent a Dividend Period with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock or any shares of Parity Stock (in either case, the
“first series”) coincides with more than one dividend period with respect to another series, as applicable (in either
case, a “second series”), then, for purposes of this paragraph, the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board)
may, to the extent permitted by the terms of each affected series, treat such dividend period for the first series as two or more consecutive
dividend periods, none of which coincides with more than one dividend period with respect to the second series, or may treat such dividend
period(s) with respect to any Parity Stock and Dividend Period(s) with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock for purposes
of this paragraph in any other manner that it deems to be fair and equitable in order to achieve ratable payments of dividends on such
Parity Stock and the Series A Preferred Stock.
Subject to the foregoing,
and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board (or a duly authorized committee
of the Board) may be declared and paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock from time to time out of any funds legally
available for such payment, and the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.
Dividends on the Series A
Preferred Stock will not be declared, paid or set aside for payment if the Corporation fails to comply, or if such act would cause the
Corporation to fail to comply, with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
6. Liquidation
Rights.
(a) Voluntary
or Involuntary Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether
voluntary or involuntary, holders of Series A Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets
of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders of the Corporation, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the
Corporation and any required distributions to holders of stock, if any, that ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Stock in the
distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up but before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common
Stock and any other Junior Stock, a liquidating distribution equal to the stated amount of $25,000 per share plus declared but unpaid
dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock
shall not be entitled to any other amounts from the Corporation after they have received their full liquidation preference.
(b) Partial
Payment. If in any distribution described in Section 6(a) above the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay
the Liquidation Preferences (as defined below) in full to all holders of Series A Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity
Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and to the holders of all such other Parity Stock shall be paid
pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate Liquidation Preferences of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and
the holders of all such other Parity Stock. In any such distribution, the “Liquidation Preference” of any holder of
Series A Preferred Stock or Parity Stock shall mean the amount otherwise payable to such holder in such distribution (assuming no
limitation on the assets of the Corporation available for such distribution), including an amount equal to any declared but unpaid dividends
(and, in the case of any holder of stock on which dividends accrue on a cumulative basis, an amount equal to any unpaid, accrued cumulative
dividends, whether or not declared, as applicable).
(c) Residual
Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series A Preferred Stock and any Parity
Stock, the holders of Junior Stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation (or proceeds
thereof) according to their respective rights and preferences.
(d) Merger,
Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 6, the merger or consolidation of the Corporation
with any other corporation or other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock
receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or other property)
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation.
7. Redemption.
(a) Optional
Redemption. The Series A Preferred Stock is perpetual and has no maturity date. The Corporation may, at its option, redeem the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding upon notice given as provided in Section 7(c) below:
(i) in
whole or in part, from time to time, on or after the First Call Date, at a redemption price equal to the stated amount of $25,000 per
share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus (except as provided below) an amount equal to any declared but unpaid dividends and the
portion of the quarterly dividend per share attributable to the then-current Dividend Period that has not been declared and paid to,
but excluding, the Redemption Date,
(ii) in
whole, but not in part, at any time prior to the First Call Date, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Rating Agency Event, at a
redemption price equal to $25,500 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus (except as provided below) an amount equal
to any declared but unpaid dividends and the portion of the quarterly dividend per share of Series A Preferred Stock attributable
to the then-current Dividend Period that has not been declared and paid to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, or
(iii) in
whole, but not in part, at any time prior to the First Call Date, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Event,
at a redemption price equal to the stated amount of $25,000 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus (except as provided
below) an amount equal to any declared but unpaid dividends and the portion of the quarterly dividend per share of Series A Preferred
Stock attributable to the then-current Dividend Period that has not been declared and paid to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
The redemption price for
any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be payable on the Redemption Date to the holder of such shares against surrender of
the certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Corporation or its agent. Any declared but unpaid dividends payable on a Redemption
Date that occurs subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not constitute a part of or be paid to the holder
entitled to receive the redemption price on the Redemption Date, but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares
on the Dividend Record Date relating to such Dividend Payment Date as provided in Section 5 above. Holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock will have no right to require the redemption or repurchase of the Series A Preferred Stock.
(b) No
Sinking Fund. The Series A Preferred Stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund, retirement fund, purchase
fund or other similar provisions.
(c) Notice
of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be given by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of
the Corporation. Such mailing shall be not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof.
Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 7(c) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the
holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to
any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for
the redemption of any other shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series A Preferred Stock
is held in book-entry form through DTC or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Series A
Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility.
Each such notice given to
a holder shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed
and, if less than all the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of shares of such
Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed from such holder (if determinable at the time of such notice); (iii) the redemption
price; (iv) if shares of Series A Preferred Stock are evidenced by definitive certificates, the place or places where
holders may surrender certificates evidencing those shares of Series A Preferred Stock for payment of the redemption price;
and (v) that dividends will not accrue for any period beginning on or after the Redemption Date.
(d) Partial
Redemption. In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares
to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata, by lot or by such other method in accordance with the procedures of DTC. Subject
to the provisions hereof, the Corporation shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares
of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time. If fewer than all the shares represented by any certificate are
redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares without charge to the holder thereof.
(e) Effectiveness
of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the Redemption Date specified in the notice all funds
necessary for the redemption have been set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds, in trust for the pro
rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, then, notwithstanding
that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the Redemption Date
(i) dividends shall not accrue on all shares so called for redemption for any period beginning on or after the Redemption Date,
(ii) all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding and (iii) all rights with respect to such shares
shall forthwith on such Redemption Date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable
on such redemption, without interest. Any funds unclaimed at the end of two years from the Redemption Date, to the extent permitted by
law, shall be released from the trust so established and may be commingled with other funds of the Corporation, and after that time the
holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.
8. Voting
Rights.
(a) General.
The holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to
time required by law.
(b) Right
to Elect Two Directors on Nonpayment of Dividends. Whenever dividends on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have not
been declared and paid for the equivalent of at least six Dividend Periods, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “Nonpayment”),
the holders of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class with holders of any and all other series
of Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding, will be entitled to vote for the election of a total of two additional members of the Board
(the “Preferred Stock Directors”), provided that the election of any such directors shall not cause the Corporation
to violate the corporate governance requirement of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (or any other exchange
on which the securities of the Corporation may be listed) that listed companies must have a majority of independent directors and provided,
further, that the Board shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors. In that event, the number of directors on the
Board shall automatically increase by two, and the new directors shall be elected at a special meeting called at the request of the holders
of record of at least 20% of the Series A Preferred Stock or of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock (unless such request
is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders, in which event such election
shall be held at such next annual or special meeting of stockholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting. These voting rights will
continue until dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and any such series of Voting Preferred Stock for at least four
consecutive dividend periods (or the equivalent thereof, in the case of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock) following the Nonpayment
shall have been fully paid.
If and when dividends for
at least four consecutive Dividend Periods (or the equivalent thereof, in the case of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock) following
a Nonpayment have been paid in full, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be divested of the foregoing voting rights
(subject to revesting in the event of each subsequent Nonpayment) and, if such voting rights for all other holders of Voting Preferred
Stock have terminated, the term of office of each Preferred Stock Director so elected shall immediately terminate and the number of directors
on the Board shall automatically decrease by two. In determining whether dividends have been paid for at least four consecutive Dividend
Periods (or the equivalent thereof, in the case of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock) following a Nonpayment, the Corporation
may take account of any dividend the Corporation elects to pay for such a Dividend Period after the regular Dividend Payment Date for
that period has passed. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of record of a majority
of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and any other shares of Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding (voting together
as a class) when they have the voting rights described above. So long as a Nonpayment shall continue, any vacancy in the office of a
Preferred Stock Director (other than prior to the initial election after a Nonpayment) may be filled by the written consent of the Preferred
Stock Director remaining in office, or if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding
Series A Preferred Stock and any other shares of Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding (voting together as a class) when
they have the voting rights described above, provided that the filling of any such vacancy shall not cause the Corporation to violate
the corporate governance requirement of the NYSE (or any other exchange on which the securities of the Corporation may be listed) that
listed companies must have a majority of independent directors. Any such vote to remove, or to fill a vacancy in the office of, a Preferred
Stock Director may be taken only at a special meeting called at the request of the holders of record of at least 20% of the Series A
Preferred Stock or of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock (unless such request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed
for the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders, in which event such election shall be held at such next annual or special
meeting of stockholders). The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter.
(c) Other
Voting Rights. So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of
stockholders required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3 %
of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without
a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:
(i) Authorization
of Senior Stock. Any amendment or alteration of the Articles of Incorporation to authorize or increase the authorized amount of,
or issue any shares of any class or series or any obligation or securities convertible into shares of any class or series of the Corporation’s
capital stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up
of the Corporation;
(ii) Amendment
of Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or Certificate of Designations. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the
Articles of Incorporation (including this Certificate of Designations) or the Bylaws that would alter or change the voting powers, preferences,
privileges or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely; provided, however, that the amendment
of the Articles of Incorporation so as to increase the amount of authorized or issued Series A Preferred Stock or authorized Common
Stock or Preferred Stock, or so as to authorize or create, or to increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of
stock that does not rank senior to the Series A Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the Corporation shall not be deemed to affect adversely the voting powers, preferences, privileges or special rights of
the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iii) Share
Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations and Other Transactions. Any consummation of (A) a binding share exchange
or reclassification involving the Series A Preferred Stock, (B) a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another entity
(whether or not a corporation) or (C) a conversion, transfer, domestication or continuance of the Corporation into another entity
or an entity organized under the laws of another jurisdiction, unless, in each case, (x) the shares of Series A Preferred Stock
remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or
resulting entity, or any such conversion, transfer, domestication or continuance, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are converted
into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares remaining
outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations
and restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences,
privileges and voting powers, and restrictions and limitations thereof, of the Series A Preferred Stock immediately prior to such
consummation, taken as a whole.
If an amendment, alteration,
repeal, share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation, or conversion, transfer, domestication or continuance described above
would materially and adversely affect one or more but not all series of Voting Preferred Stock (including the Series A Preferred
Stock for this purpose), then only the series materially and adversely affected and entitled to vote shall vote to the exclusion of all
other series of Preferred Stock. If all series of Preferred Stock are not equally affected by the proposed amendment, alteration, repeal,
share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation, or conversion, transfer, domestication or continuance, described above, there
shall be required a two-thirds approval of each series that will have a diminished status.
(d) Changes
for Clarification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, without the consent of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, so
long as such action does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock,
the Corporation may supplement any terms of the Series A Preferred Stock:
| (i) | to cure any ambiguity, or to cure, correct
or supplement any provision contained in this Certificate of Designations that may be defective
or inconsistent; or |
| (ii) | to make any provision with respect to
matters or questions arising with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock that is not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Certificate of Designations. |
(e) Changes
After Provisions for Redemption. No vote or consent of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to
Sections 8(b) and (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant
to Sections 8(b) and (c), all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called
for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been set aside for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 7
above, unless in the case of a vote or consent required to authorize stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock in the
distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, if all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred
Stock are being redeemed with the proceeds from the sale of such stock to be authorized.
(f) Procedures
for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series A Preferred
Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such
a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed
by any rules the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board), in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and
procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities
exchange or other trading facility on which the Series A Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time. Whether a plurality, majority
or other portion of the Series A Preferred Stock and any Voting Preferred Stock has been voted in favor of any matter shall be determined
by the Corporation by reference to the respective stated amounts of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and Voting Preferred
Stock voted or covered by the consent.
9. Record
Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation and the Transfer Agent for the Series A Preferred
Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Series A Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all
purposes, and neither the Corporation nor such Transfer Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
10. Notices.
All notices or communications in respect of Series A Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered
in person or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Certificate of Designations,
in the Articles of Incorporation, in the Bylaws or by applicable law.
11. No
Conversion Rights. The Series A Preferred Stock shall not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock or
any other class or series of stock or other securities of the Corporation.
12. No
Preemptive Rights. No share of Series A Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any securities
of the Corporation, or any warrants, rights or options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities, or
such warrants, rights or options, may be designated, issued or granted.
13. Other
Rights. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional
or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Articles of
Incorporation or as provided by applicable law.
14. Certificates.
The Corporation may, at its option, issue shares of Series A Preferred Stock without certificates. As long as DTC or its nominee
is the registered owner of the Series A Preferred Stock, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner
and holder of all shares of Series A Preferred Stock for all purposes under the instruments governing the rights and obligations
of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock. If DTC discontinues providing its services as securities depositary with respect
to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or if DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, in the
event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained within 90 days, the Corporation will either print and deliver certificates
for the shares of Series A Preferred Stock or provide for the direct registration of the Series A Preferred Stock with the
Transfer Agent. If the Corporation decides to discontinue the use of the system of book-entry- only transfers through DTC (or a successor
securities depositary), certificates for the shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be printed and delivered to DTC or the Corporation
will provide for the direct registration of the Series A Preferred Stock with the Transfer Agent. Except in the limited circumstances
referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in the Series A Preferred Stock:
(a) will
not be entitled to have such Series A Preferred Stock registered in their names;
(b) will
not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of securities certificates in exchange for beneficial interests in the Series A
Preferred Stock; and
(c) will
not be considered to be owners or holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock for any purpose under the instruments governing
the rights and obligations of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
Exhibit B
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
OF
SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK
OF
AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
In accordance with Article FOURTH
of the Articles of Incorporation of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (the “Corporation”), the voting
powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, option or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of a series of preferred stock designated as “6.625% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B”
are expressed in this Certificate of Designations (the “Certificate of Designations”) as follows:
1. Designation.
The distinctive serial designation of such series of preferred stock is “6.625% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock,
Series B” (the “Series B Preferred Stock”). Each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall be identical
in all respects to every other share of Series B Preferred Stock, except as to the respective dates from which dividends thereon
shall accrue, to the extent such dates may differ as permitted pursuant to Section 5(a) below.
2. Number
of Shares. The authorized number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be 12,000. Such number may from time to time be
increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of preferred stock of the Corporation, less all shares of any other
series of preferred stock authorized at the time of such increase) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock then outstanding) by the Board. The Corporation may at any time and from time to time, without notice to or the consent
of holders of the Series B Preferred Stock, issue additional shares of Series B Preferred Stock that shall form a single series
with the Series B Preferred Stock initially authorized hereby, provided that such additional shares of Series B Preferred Stock
are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the Series B Preferred Stock authorized hereby. Shares of Series B Preferred
Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, or converted into another series of preferred stock, shall
be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation undesignated as to series.
3. Definitions.
As used herein with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock:
(a) “Articles
of Incorporation” shall mean the articles of incorporation of the Corporation, as the same may be amended or restated from
time to time, and shall include this Certificate of Designations.
(b) “Board
of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(c) “Business
Day” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday or (ii) a day on which federal or state
banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation
to close.
(d) “Bylaws”
means the Fifth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, effective as of May 2, 2024, as the same may be amended or restated
from time to time.
(e) “Calculation
Agent” means, at any time, the person or entity appointed by the Corporation and serving as such agent with respect to the
Series B Preferred Stock at such time.
(f) “Certificate
of Designations” has the meaning specified in the preamble.
(g) “Common
Stock” means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Corporation.
(h) “Dividend
Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 5(a).
(i) “Dividend
Period” has the meaning specified in Section 5(a).
(j) “Dividend
Record Date” has the meaning specified in Section 5(a).
(k) “DTC”
means The Depository Trust Company.
(l) “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(m) “First
Call Date” means September 1, 2025.
(n) “first
series” has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).
(o) “Five-year
U.S. Treasury Rate” means, as of any Reset Dividend Determination Date, as applicable, (i) an interest rate (expressed
as a decimal) determined to be the per annum rate equal to the weekly average yield to maturity for U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity
of five years from the next Reset Date and trading in the public securities markets or (ii) if there is no such published U.S. Treasury
security with a maturity of five years from the next Reset Date and trading in the public securities markets, then the rate will be determined
by interpolation between the most recent weekly average yield to maturity for two series of U.S. Treasury securities trading in the public
securities market, (A) one maturing as close as possible to, but earlier than, the Reset Date following the next succeeding Reset
Dividend Determination Date, and (B) the other maturity as close as possible to, but later than, the Reset Date following the next
succeeding Reset Dividend Determination Date, in each case as published in the most recent H.15. If the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate
cannot be determined pursuant to the methods described in clause (i) or (ii) above, then the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate will
be the same interest rate determined for the prior Reset Dividend Determination Date.
(p) “H.15”
means the weekly statistical release designated as such, or any successor publication, published by the Board of Governors of the United
States Federal Reserve System and “most recent H.15” means the H.15 published closest in time but prior to the close
of business on the second Business Day prior to the applicable Reset Date.
(q) “Junior
Stock” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation that ranks junior to the Series B
Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.
(r) “Liquidation
Preference” has the meaning specified in Section 6(b).
(s) “Parity
Stock” means the Series A Preferred Stock and any other class or series of the Corporation’s stock that ranks equally
with the Series B Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.
(t) “person”
means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other
entity of whatever nature.
(u) “Preferred
Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock, having a par value of $1.00 per share, of the Corporation, including the
Series B Preferred Stock.
(v) “Preferred
Stock Directors” has the meaning specified in Section 8(b).
(w) “Rating
Agency Event” means any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62)
of the Exchange Act), that then publishes a rating for the Corporation (a “Rating Agency”) amends, clarifies or changes
the criteria it uses to assign equity credit to securities such as the Series B Preferred Stock, which amendment, clarification
or change results in:
(i) the
shortening of the length of time the Series B Preferred Stock is assigned a particular level of equity credit by that Rating Agency
as compared to the length of time they would have been assigned that level of equity credit by that Rating Agency or its predecessor
on the initial issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock; or
(ii) the
lowering of the equity credit (including up to a lesser amount) assigned to the Series B Preferred Stock by that Rating Agency as
compared to the equity credit assigned by that Rating Agency or its predecessor on the initial issuance of the Series B Preferred
Stock.
(x) “Registrar”
means the registrar with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock, which shall initially be Computershare Trust Company, N.A., and
its successors, including any successor appointed by the Corporation.
(y) “Regulatory
Capital Event” means that the Corporation becomes subject to capital adequacy supervision by a capital regulator and the capital
adequacy guidelines that apply to the Corporation as a result of being so subject set forth criteria pursuant to which the liquidation
preference amount of the Series B Preferred Stock would not qualify as capital under such capital adequacy guidelines, as the Corporation
may determine at any time, in its sole discretion.
(z) “Reset
Date” means the First Call Date and each date falling on the fifth anniversary of the preceding Reset Date.
(aa) “Reset
Dividend Determination Date” means, in respect of any Reset Period, the day falling two Business Days prior to the beginning
of such Reset Period.
(bb) “Reset
Period” means the period from, and including, the First Call Date to, but excluding, the next following Reset Date and thereafter
each period from, and including, each Reset Date to, but excluding, the next following Reset Date.
(cc) “second
series” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5(b).
(dd) “Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(ee) “Series A
Preferred Stock” means the Corporation’s 5.95% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A.
(ff) “Transfer
Agent” means the transfer agent with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock, which shall initially be Computershare Trust
Company, N.A., and its successors, including any successor appointed by the Corporation.
(gg) “Voting
Preferred Stock” means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to
vote as specified in Section 8 of this Certificate of Designations, any other class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation
ranking equally with the Series B Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of
the Corporation and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter.
4. Ranking.
With respect to the distribution of assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, the Series B Preferred
Stock will rank in right of payment: (a) senior to any Junior Stock; and (b) equally with the Series A Preferred
Stock and each other series of Parity Stock that the Corporation may issue (except for any senior series that may be issued with the
requisite vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding
and entitled to vote) with respect to any distribution of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.
5. Dividends.
(a) Rate.
Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock will not be mandatory. Holders of Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive,
when, as and if declared by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board), out of funds legally available for the payment of
dividends, under Iowa law, quarterly in arrears on the first day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing
on December 1, 2020 (each such date, a “Dividend Payment Date”), non-cumulative cash dividends that accrue for the relevant
Dividend Period as follows:
(i) from
the date of original issue, to, but excluding, the First Call Date at a fixed rate per annum of 6.625% on the stated amount of $25,000
per share; and
(ii) from
the First Call Date, during each Reset Period, at a rate per annum equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate as of the most recent Reset
Dividend Determination Date plus 6.297% on the stated amount of $25,000 per share.
If the Corporation issues
additional shares of Series B Preferred Stock after the original issue date, dividends on such shares will accrue from the original
issue date if such shares are issued prior to the first Dividend Payment Date. Dividends on Series B Preferred Stock issued after
the first Dividend Payment Date will accrue from either the date on which such shares are issued (if such shares are issued on a Dividend
Payment Date) or the Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date such shares are issued (if such shares are not issued on a Dividend
Payment Date).
Dividends on the Series B
Preferred Stock shall not be cumulative. Accordingly, if the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) does not declare a dividend
on the Series B Preferred Stock payable in respect of any Dividend Period before the related Dividend Payment Date, (i) such
dividend will not accrue, (ii) the Corporation will have no obligation to pay a dividend for that Dividend Period on the Dividend
Payment Date or at any future time, whether or not dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock are declared for any future Dividend
Period and (iii) no interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend not so declared.
Dividends, if so declared,
that are payable on the Series B Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to holders of record of the Series B
Preferred Stock as they appear on the books of the Corporation on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day before
such Dividend Payment Date or such other record date fixed by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) that is not more
than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any such day that
is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day.
Each dividend period (a “Dividend
Period”) shall (i) commence on and include a Dividend Payment Date (other than the initial Dividend Period, which shall
commence on, and include, the original issue date of the Series B Preferred Stock (provided that for any share of Series B
Preferred Stock issued after the original issue date of the Series B Preferred Stock, the initial Dividend Period for such shares
may commence on and include the original issue date of the Series B Preferred Stock if such shares are issued prior to the first
Dividend Payment Date or otherwise will commence on and include the date on which such shares are issued (if it is a Dividend Payment
Date) or the Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date they are issued)) and (ii) end on, but exclude, the next Dividend Payment
Date.
Dividends payable on the
Series B Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months. If any Dividend Payment Date is a day that is not a Business Day, then the dividend with respect to that Dividend Payment
Date will instead be paid on the immediately succeeding Business Day, without interest or other payment in respect of such delayed payment.
The applicable dividend rate
for each Reset Period will be determined by the Calculation Agent, as of the applicable Reset Dividend Determination Date. Promptly upon
such determination, the Calculation Agent shall notify the Corporation of the dividend rate for the Reset Period. The Calculation Agent’s
determination of any dividend rate, and its calculation of the amount of dividends for any Dividend Period beginning on or after the
First Call Date will be (i) on file at the Corporation’s principal offices, (ii) made available to any holder of Series B
Preferred Stock upon request and (iii) final and binding in the absence of manifest error.
Holders of Series B
Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if
any) declared and payable on the Series B Preferred Stock as specified in this Section 5 (subject to the other provisions of
this Certificate of Designations).
(b) Priority
Dividends. So long as any shares of Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding for any Dividend Period, unless the full dividends
for the latest completed Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock have been declared and paid (or declared
and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside), during a Dividend Period:
(i) no
dividend shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock or Parity Stock (except, in the case of Parity
Stock, on a pro rata basis with the Series B Preferred Stock as described below), other than:
| (A) | any dividend paid on Junior Stock or Parity
Stock in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or
the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock
as that on which the dividend is being paid or is other Junior Stock or (solely in the case
of Parity Stock) other Parity Stock; or |
| (B) | any dividend in connection with the implementation
of a shareholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property
under such plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under such plan; and |
(ii) no
Common Stock or other Junior Stock or Parity Stock (except, in the case of Parity Stock, on a pro rata basis with the Series B
Preferred Stock as described below) shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly
or indirectly, other than:
| (A) | as a result of a reclassification of Junior
Stock for or into other Junior Stock or a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other
Parity Stock, as applicable, |
| (B) | the exchange, redemption or conversion of
one share of Junior Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock or the exchange, redemption
or conversion of one share of Parity stock for or into another share of Parity Stock, as
applicable, |
| (C) | purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions
of shares of Junior Stock or Parity Stock in connection with (x) any employment contract,
benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees,
officers, directors, consultants or independent contractors, (y) a dividend reinvestment
or shareholder stock purchase plan, or (z) the satisfaction of the Corporation’s
obligations pursuant to any contract relating to the foregoing clauses (x) or (y) outstanding
at the beginning of the applicable Dividend Period requiring such purchase, redemption or
other acquisition, |
| (D) | the purchase of fractional interests in
shares of Junior Stock or Parity Stock, as the case may be, pursuant to the conversion or
exchange provisions of such securities or the security being converted or exchanged, |
| (E) | through the use of the proceeds of a substantially
contemporaneous sale of Junior Stock or Parity Stock, as applicable, or |
| (F) | in the case of Parity Stock, pro rata
purchases, offers or other acquisitions for consideration by the Corporation to purchase
all, or a pro rata portion of, the Series B Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock. |
When dividends are not paid
(or declared and a sum sufficient for payment thereof set aside) in full on any Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock
having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within a Dividend Period)
on the Series B Preferred Stock and any shares of Parity Stock, all dividends declared on the Series B Preferred Stock and
all such Parity Stock and payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different
from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date)
shall be declared pro rata so that the respective amounts of such dividends shall bear the same ratio to each other as all accrued
but unpaid dividends per share on the Series B Preferred Stock and all Parity Stock payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in
the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling
within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) bear to each other. As used in this paragraph, payment of dividends
“in full” means, as to any Parity Stock that bears dividends on a cumulative basis, the amount of dividends that would
need to be declared and paid to bring such Parity Stock current in dividends, including undeclared dividends for past dividend periods.
To the extent a Dividend Period with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock or any shares of Parity Stock (in either case, the
“first series”) coincides with more than one dividend period with respect to another series, as applicable (in either
case, a “second series”), then, for purposes of this paragraph, the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board)
may, to the extent permitted by the terms of each affected series, treat such dividend period for the first series as two or more consecutive
dividend periods, none of which coincides with more than one dividend period with respect to the second series, or may treat such dividend
period(s) with respect to any Parity Stock and Dividend Period(s) with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock for purposes
of this paragraph in any other manner that it deems to be fair and equitable in order to achieve ratable payments of dividends on such
Parity Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock.
Subject to the foregoing,
and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board (or a duly authorized committee
of the Board) may be declared and paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock from time to time out of any funds legally
available for such payment, and the Series B Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.
Dividends on the Series B
Preferred Stock will not be declared, paid or set aside for payment if the Corporation fails to comply, or if such act would cause the
Corporation to fail to comply, with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
6. Liquidation
Rights.
(a) Voluntary
or Involuntary Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether
voluntary or involuntary, holders of Series B Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets
of the Corporation available for distribution to shareholders of the Corporation, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the
Corporation and any required distributions to holders of stock, if any, that ranks senior to the Series B Preferred Stock in the
distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up but before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common
Stock and any other Junior Stock, a liquidating distribution equal to the stated amount of $25,000 per share plus declared but unpaid
dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any
other amounts from the Corporation after they have received their full liquidation preference.
(b) Partial
Payment. If in any distribution described in Section 6(a) above the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay
the Liquidation Preferences (as defined below) in full to all holders of Series B Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity
Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series B Preferred Stock and to the holders of all such other Parity Stock shall be paid
pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate Liquidation Preferences of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock and
the holders of all such other Parity Stock. In any such distribution, the “Liquidation Preference” of any holder of
Series B Preferred Stock or Parity Stock shall mean the amount otherwise payable to such holder in such distribution (assuming no
limitation on the assets of the Corporation available for such distribution), including an amount equal to any declared but unpaid dividends
(and, in the case of any holder of stock on which dividends accrue on a cumulative basis, an amount equal to any unpaid, accrued cumulative
dividends, whether or not declared, as applicable).
(c) Residual
Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series B Preferred Stock and any Parity
Stock, the holders of Junior Stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation (or proceeds
thereof) according to their respective rights and preferences.
(d) Merger,
Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 6, the merger or consolidation of the Corporation
with any other corporation or other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Series B Preferred Stock
receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or other property)
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation.
7. Redemption.
(a) Optional
Redemption. The Series B Preferred Stock is perpetual and has no maturity date. The Corporation may, at its option, redeem the
shares of Series B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding upon notice given as provided in Section 7(c) below:
(i) in
whole or in part, from time to time, on or after the First Call Date, at a redemption price equal to the stated amount of $25,000 per
share of Series B Preferred Stock, plus (except as provided below) an amount equal to any declared but unpaid dividends and the
portion of the quarterly dividend per share attributable to the then-current Dividend Period that has not been declared and paid to,
but excluding, the Redemption Date,
(ii) in
whole, but not in part, at any time prior to the First Call Date, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Rating Agency Event, at a
redemption price equal to $25,500 per share of Series B Preferred Stock, plus (except as provided below) an amount equal
to any declared but unpaid dividends and the portion of the quarterly dividend per share of Series B Preferred Stock attributable
to the then-current Dividend Period that has not been declared and paid to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, or
(iii) in
whole, but not in part, at any time prior to the First Call Date, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Event,
at a redemption price equal to the stated amount of $25,000 per share of Series B Preferred Stock, plus (except as provided
below) an amount equal to any declared but unpaid dividends and the portion of the quarterly dividend per share of Series B Preferred
Stock attributable to the then-current Dividend Period that has not been declared and paid to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
The redemption price for
any shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be payable on the Redemption Date to the holder of such shares against surrender of
the certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Corporation or its agent. Any declared but unpaid dividends payable on a Redemption
Date that occurs subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not constitute a part of or be paid to the holder
entitled to receive the redemption price on the Redemption Date, but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares
on the Dividend Record Date relating to such Dividend Payment Date as provided in Section 5 above. Holders of the Series B
Preferred Stock will have no right to require the redemption or repurchase of the Series B Preferred Stock.
(b) No
Sinking Fund. The Series B Preferred Stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund, retirement fund, purchase
fund or other similar provisions.
(c) Notice
of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be given by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of
the Corporation. Such mailing shall be not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof.
Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 7(c) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the
holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to
any holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for
the redemption of any other shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series B Preferred Stock
is held in book-entry form through DTC or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Series B
Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility.
Each such notice
given to a holder shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to
be redeemed and, if less than all the shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of shares
of such Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed from such holder (if determinable at the time of such notice); (iii) the
redemption price; (iv) if shares of Series B Preferred Stock are evidenced by definitive certificates, the place or places
where holders may surrender certificates evidencing those shares of Series B Preferred Stock for payment of the redemption price;
and (v) that dividends will not accrue for any period beginning on or after the Redemption Date.
(d) Partial
Redemption. In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares
to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata, by lot or by such other method in accordance with the procedures of DTC. Subject
to the provisions hereof, the Corporation shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares
of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time. If fewer than all the shares represented by any certificate are
redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares without charge to the holder thereof.
(e) Effectiveness
of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the Redemption Date specified in the notice all funds
necessary for the redemption have been set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds, in trust for the pro
rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, then, notwithstanding
that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the Redemption Date
(i) dividends shall not accrue on all shares so called for redemption for any period beginning on or after the Redemption Date,
(ii) all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding and (iii) all rights with respect to such shares
shall forthwith on such Redemption Date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable
on such redemption, without interest. Any funds unclaimed at the end of two years from the Redemption Date, to the extent permitted by
law, shall be released from the trust so established and may be commingled with other funds of the Corporation, and after that time the
holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.
8. Voting
Rights.
(a) General.
The holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to
time required by law.
(b) Right
to Elect Two Directors on Nonpayment of Dividends. Whenever dividends on any shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have not
been declared and paid for the equivalent of at least six Dividend Periods, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “Nonpayment”),
the holders of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class with holders of any and all other series
of Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding, will be entitled to vote for the election of a total of two additional members of the Board
(the “Preferred Stock Directors”), provided that the election of any such directors shall not cause the Corporation
to violate the corporate governance requirement of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (or any other exchange
on which the securities of the Corporation may be listed) that listed companies must have a majority of independent directors and provided,
further, that the Board shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors. In that event, the number of directors on the
Board shall automatically increase by two, and the new directors shall be elected at a special meeting called at the request of the holders
of record of at least 20% of the Series B Preferred Stock or of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock (unless such request
is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the shareholders, in which event such election
shall be held at such next annual or special meeting of shareholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting. These voting rights will
continue until dividends on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock and any such series of Voting Preferred Stock for at least four
consecutive dividend periods (or the equivalent thereof, in the case of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock) following the Nonpayment
shall have been fully paid.
If and when dividends
for at least four consecutive Dividend Periods (or the equivalent thereof, in the case of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock)
following a Nonpayment have been paid in full, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be divested of the foregoing voting
rights (subject to revesting in the event of each subsequent Nonpayment) and, if such voting rights for all other holders of Voting Preferred
Stock have terminated, the term of office of each Preferred Stock Director so elected shall immediately terminate and the number of directors
on the Board shall automatically decrease by two. In determining whether dividends have been paid for at least four consecutive Dividend
Periods (or the equivalent thereof, in the case of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock) following a Nonpayment, the Corporation
may take account of any dividend the Corporation elects to pay for such a Dividend Period after the regular Dividend Payment Date for
that period has passed. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of record of a majority
of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and any other shares of Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding (voting together
as a class) when they have the voting rights described above. So long as a Nonpayment shall continue, any vacancy in the office of a
Preferred Stock Director (other than prior to the initial election after a Nonpayment) may be filled by the written consent of the Preferred
Stock Director remaining in office, or if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding
Series B Preferred Stock and any other shares of Voting Preferred Stock then outstanding (voting together as a class) when
they have the voting rights described above, provided that the filling of any such vacancy shall not cause the Corporation to violate
the corporate governance requirement of the NYSE (or any other exchange on which the securities of the Corporation may be listed) that
listed companies must have a majority of independent directors. Any such vote to remove, or to fill a vacancy in the office of, a Preferred
Stock Director may be taken only at a special meeting called at the request of the holders of record of at least 20% of the Series B
Preferred Stock or of any other series of Voting Preferred Stock (unless such request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed
for the next annual or special meeting of the shareholders, in which event such election shall be held at such next annual or special
meeting of shareholders). The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter.
(c) Other
Voting Rights. So long as any shares of Series B Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of
shareholders required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3 %
of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without
a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:
(i) Authorization
of Senior Stock. Any amendment or alteration of the Articles of Incorporation to authorize or increase the authorized amount of,
or issue any shares of any class or series or any obligation or securities convertible into shares of any class or series of the Corporation’s
capital stock ranking senior to the Series B Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up
of the Corporation;
(ii) Amendment
of Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or Certificate of Designations. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the
Articles of Incorporation (including this Certificate of Designations) or the Bylaws that would alter or change the voting powers, preferences,
privileges or special rights of the Series B Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely; provided, however, that the amendment
of the Articles of Incorporation so as to increase the amount of authorized or issued Series B Preferred Stock or authorized Common
Stock or Preferred Stock, or so as to authorize or create, or to increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of
stock that does not rank senior to the Series B Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the Corporation shall not be deemed to affect adversely the voting powers, preferences, privileges or special rights of
the Series B Preferred Stock; or
(iii) Share
Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations and Other Transactions. Any consummation of (A) a binding share exchange
or reclassification involving the Series B Preferred Stock, (B) a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another entity
(whether or not a corporation) or (C) a conversion, transfer, domestication or continuance of the Corporation into another entity
or an entity organized under the laws of another jurisdiction, unless, in each case, (x) the shares of Series B Preferred Stock
remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or
resulting entity, or any such conversion, transfer, domestication or continuance, the shares of Series B Preferred Stock are converted
into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares remaining
outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations
and restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences,
privileges and voting powers, and restrictions and limitations thereof, of the Series B Preferred Stock immediately prior to such
consummation, taken as a whole.
If an amendment,
alteration, repeal, share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation, or conversion, transfer, domestication or continuance
described above would materially and adversely affect one or more but not all series of Voting Preferred Stock (including the Series B
Preferred Stock for this purpose), then only the series materially and adversely affected and entitled to vote shall vote to the exclusion
of all other series of Preferred Stock. If all series of Preferred Stock are not equally affected by the proposed amendment, alteration,
repeal, share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation, or conversion, transfer, domestication or continuance, described above,
there shall be required a two-thirds approval of each series that will have a diminished status.
(d) Changes
for Clarification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, without the consent of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, so
long as such action does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series B Preferred Stock,
the Corporation may supplement any terms of the Series B Preferred Stock:
(i) to
cure any ambiguity, or to cure, correct or supplement any provision contained in this Certificate of Designations that may be defective
or inconsistent; or
(ii) to
make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock that is not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Certificate of Designations.
(e) Changes
After Provisions for Redemption. No vote or consent of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to
Sections 8(b) and (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant
to Sections 8(b) and (c), all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called
for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been set aside for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 7
above, unless in the case of a vote or consent required to authorize stock ranking senior to the Series B Preferred Stock in the
distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, if all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred
Stock are being redeemed with the proceeds from the sale of such stock to be authorized.
(f) Procedures
for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series B Preferred
Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such
a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed
by any rules the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board), in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and
procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities
exchange or other trading facility on which the Series B Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time. Whether a plurality, majority
or other portion of the Series B Preferred Stock and any Voting Preferred Stock has been voted in favor of any matter shall be determined
by the Corporation by reference to the respective stated amounts of the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock and Voting Preferred
Stock voted or covered by the consent.
9. Record
Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation and the Transfer Agent for the Series B Preferred
Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Series B Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all
purposes, and neither the Corporation nor such Transfer Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
10. Notices.
All notices or communications in respect of Series B Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered
in person or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Certificate of Designations,
in the Articles of Incorporation, in the Bylaws or by applicable law.
11. No
Conversion Rights. The Series B Preferred Stock shall not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock or
any other class or series of stock or other securities of the Corporation.
12. No
Preemptive Rights. No share of Series B Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any securities
of the Corporation, or any warrants, rights or options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities, or
such warrants, rights or options, may be designated, issued or granted.
13. Other
Rights. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall not have any voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional
or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Articles of
Incorporation or as provided by applicable law.
14. Certificates.
The Corporation may, at its option, issue shares of Series B Preferred Stock without certificates. As long as DTC or its nominee
is the registered owner of the Series B Preferred Stock, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner
and holder of all shares of Series B Preferred Stock for all purposes under the instruments governing the rights and obligations
of holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock. If DTC discontinues providing its services as securities depositary with respect
to the shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or if DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, in the
event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained within 90 days, the Corporation will either print and deliver certificates
for the shares of Series B Preferred Stock or provide for the direct registration of the Series B Preferred Stock with the
Transfer Agent. If the Corporation decides to discontinue the use of the system of book-entry- only transfers through DTC (or a successor
securities depositary), certificates for the shares of Series B Preferred Stock will be printed and delivered to DTC or the Corporation
will provide for the direct registration of the Series B Preferred Stock with the Transfer Agent. Except in the limited circumstances
referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in the Series B Preferred Stock:
(a) will
not be entitled to have such Series B Preferred Stock registered in their names;
(b) will
not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of securities certificates in exchange for beneficial interests in the Series B
Preferred Stock; and
(c) will
not be considered to be owners or holders of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock for any purpose under the instruments governing
the rights and obligations of holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock.
