Attached files

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8-K - FORM 8-K, FILED AUGUST 31, 2012 - A. M. Castle & Co.form8kreshrghtpl.htm
EX-99.1 - PRESS RELEASE, ISSUED AUGUST 31, 2012 - A. M. Castle & Co.prdtd31aug12.htm
EX-4.1 - RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF AUGUST 31, 2012 - A. M. Castle & Co.rightsagrmtexh4-1.htm
EXHIBIT 3.1



AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
 
of
 
A. M. CASTLE & CO.
 
Pursuant to Section 2-605 of the
 
Maryland General Corporation Law
 
We, Scott F. Stephens, Interim Chief Executive Officer, CFO and Treasurer, and Robert J. Perna, Secretary, of A. M. Castle & Co., a corporation organized and existing under the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “Corporation”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 2-605 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
 
That on August 31, 2012, the Board of Directors, acting pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by Article Fifth of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation and in accordance with Section 2-105 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, adopted the following amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation:
 
Article Fifth of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following:
 
  “(c)  The shares of a series of the Preferred Stock of the Corporation, no par value per share, shall be designated as "Junior Preferred Stock, Series B" (the "Series B Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the series shall be 400,000.
 
  (i)   Dividends.    
                                         
 
(A)   The holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the fifteenth day of January, April, July and October in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series B Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $0.01 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock of the Corporation (the “Common Stock”) since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series B Preferred Stock.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision of combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each of those cases the multiplier set forth in clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such multiplier by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of share of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
 
 
EX-1-
 

 
 
  (B)   The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series B Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $0.01 per share on the Series B Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on the subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
                       
  (C)   Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of the shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on the shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of the shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events the dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.  Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest.  Dividends paid on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of the dividends at the time accrued and payable on the shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share by share basis among all the shares at the time outstanding.  The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
 
  (ii)   Voting Rights.  The holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
 
  (A)   Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock; or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to the event shall be adjusted by multiplying the number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the event, and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the event.
                      
 
EX-2-
 

 
 
  (B)   Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
                              
  (C)       (i)   If at any time dividends on any Series B Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of the contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “default period”) which shall extend until the time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all pervious quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series B Preferred stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment.  During each default period, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two Directors, which Directors shall be in addition to the then otherwise authorized number of Directors.
                                                              
  (ii)   During any default period, such voting right of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section (C) or at any annual meeting of stockholders provided that such voting right shall not be exercised unless the holders of 25% in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy.  The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right.  After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect Directors in any default period and during the continuance of such period, the number of Directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided.
                       
  (iii)   Unless the holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall, during an existing default period, have previously exercised their right to elect Directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than 10% of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the President, a Vice-President or the Secretary of the Corporation.  Notice of the meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to him at his last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation.  The meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than 20 days and not later than 60 days after the order or request or in default of the calling of the meeting within 60 days after the order or request, the meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than 10% of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (c)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within 60 days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.
                                        
  (iv)   In any default period the holders of Common Stock, and other classes of stock of the Corporation, if applicable, shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of Directors then otherwise authorized.
                                           
 
EX-3-
 

 
 
  (v)   The Directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors shall have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period.  Any vacancy in the Board of Directors may be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining Directors theretofore elected by the holders of the class of stock which elected the Director whose office shall have become vacant.  References in this paragraph (C) to Directors elected by the holders of a particular class of stock shall include Directors elected by the Directors to fill vacancies as provided in the foregoing sentence.
                                         
  (vi)   Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect Directors shall cease, (y) the term of any Directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of Directors shall be such number as may then be authorized by the Board of Directors.
 
  (D)   Except as set forth herein, holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
 
  (iii)   Certain Restrictions.   
                
  (A)  Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series B Preferred Stock as provided in subpart (i) are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
 
  (i)   Declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock;
 
  (ii)   Declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series B Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series B Preferred Stock and all the parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
                                   
  (iii)   Redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock; or
 
  (iv)   Purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of the shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
 
 
EX-4-
 

 
 
  (B)   The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this subparagraph (iii), purchase or otherwise acquire the shares at the time and in the manner therein set forth.
                               
  (iv)   Reacquired Shares.  Any shares of Series B Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof.  All shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
 
  (v)   Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.     Upon any voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have received $0.01 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series B Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series B Preferred Stock and all other such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to the event under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying the amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the event.
 
  (vi)   Consolidation, Merger, etc.  In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying the amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event
 
 
EX-5-
 

 
 
  (vii)   No Redemption.  The shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
 
  (viii)   Amendment.     The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner that would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series B Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.
            
                      
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this Certificate and do affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury as of this 31st day of August, 2012.
 
   
     
 
 
/s/ Scott F. Stephens
    Scott F. Stephens
    Interim Chief Executive Officer, CFO and Treasurer
     
 
 
  ATTEST:
     
 
 
/s/ Robert J. Perna 
    Robert J. Perna
    Secretary
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EX-6-