Exhibit 4a Restated Articles of Incorporation




Exhibit 4(a)






















RESTATED ARTICLES
OF INCORPORATION


OF


AVISTA CORPORATION




















As Amended and Restated June 6, 2012







RESTATED 
 
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF 
 
AVISTA CORPORATION 
Know all men by these presents that we have this day voluntarily associated ourselves together for the purpose of forming, and we do hereby form and agree to become a Corporation, under and by virtue of the laws of the Territory of Washington, and for such purpose we do hereby certify:
FIRST:        That the name of said Corporation is Avista Corporation.
SECOND:    The objects and purposes for which the Corporation is formed are:
To acquire, buy, hold, own, sell, lease, exchange, dispose of, finance, deal in, construct, build, equip, improve, use, operate, maintain and work upon:
		
	(a)
	Any and all kinds of plants and systems for the manufacture, production, storage, utilization, purchase, sale, supply, transmission, distribution or disposition of electric energy, natural or artificial gas, water or steam, or power produced thereby, or of ice and refrigeration of any and every kind;


		
	(b)
	Any and all kinds of telephone, telegraph, radio, wireless and other systems, facilities and devices for the receipt and transmission of sounds and signals, any and all kinds of interurban, city and street railways and bus lines for the transportation of passengers and/or freight, transmission lines, systems, appliances, equipment and devices and tracks, stations, buildings and other structures and facilities;


		
	(c)
	Any and all kinds of works, power plants, manufactories, structures, substations, systems, tracks, machinery, generators, motors, lamps, poles, pipes, wires, cables, conduits, apparatus, devices, equipment, supplies, articles and merchandise of every kind pertaining to or in anywise connected with the construction, operation or maintenance of telephone, telegraph, radio, wireless and other systems, facilities and devices for the receipt and transmission of sounds and signals, or of interurban, city and street railways and bus lines, or in anywise connected with or pertaining to the manufacture, production, purchase, use, sale, supply, transmission, distribution, regulation, control or application of electric energy, natural or artificial gas, water, steam, ice, refrigeration and power or any other purpose;


To acquire, buy, hold, own, sell, lease, exchange, dispose of, transmit, distribute, deal in, use, manufacture, produce, furnish and supply street and interurban railway and bus service, electric energy, natural or artificial gas, light, heat, ice, refrigeration, water and steam in any form and for any purposes whatsoever; and any power or force, or energy in any form and for any purposes whatsoever; 
To manufacture, produce, buy or in any other manner acquire, and to sell, furnish, dispose of and distribute steam for heating or other purposes, and to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, build, construct, erect, hold, own, improve, enlarge, maintain, operate, control, supervise and manage and to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of plants, works and facilities, including distribution systems, mains, pipes, conduits and meters, and all other necessary apparatus and appliances used or useful or convenient for use in the business 

2






of manufacturing, producing, selling, furnishing, disposing of and distributing steam for heating or for any other purposes; 
To acquire, organize, assemble, develop, build up and operate constructing and operating and other organizations and systems, and to hire, sell, lease, exchange, turn over, deliver and dispose of such organizations and systems in whole or in part and as going organizations and systems and otherwise, and to enter into and perform contracts, agreements and undertakings of any kind in connection with any or all of the foregoing powers; 
To do a general contracting business; 
To purchase, acquire, develop, mine, explore, drill, hold, own, sell and dispose of lands, interest in and rights with respect to lands and waters and fixed and movable property; 
To plan, design, construct, alter, repair, remove or otherwise engage in any work upon bridges, dams, canals, piers, docks, wharfs, buildings, structures, foundations, mines, shafts, tunnels, wells, waterworks and all kinds of structural excavations and subterranean work and generally to carry on the business of contractors and engineers; 
To manufacture, improve and work upon and to deal in, purchase, hold, sell and convey minerals, metals, wood, oils and other liquids, gases, chemicals, animal and plant products or any of the products and by-products thereof or any article or thing into the manufacture of which any of the foregoing may enter; 
To manufacture, improve, repair and work upon and to deal in, purchase, hold, sell and convey any and all kinds of machines, instruments, tools, implements, mechanical devices, engines, boilers, motors, generators, rails, cars, ships, boats, launches, automobiles, trucks, tractors, airships, aeroplanes, articles used in structural work, building materials, hardware, textiles, clothing, cloth, leather goods, furs and any other goods, wares and merchandise of whatsoever kind; 
To construct, erect and sell buildings and structures in and on any lands for any use or purpose; to equip and operate warehouses, office buildings, hotels, apartment houses, apartment hotels and restaurants, or any other buildings and structures of whatsoever kind; 
To guarantee, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of the capital stock of, or any bonds, securities or evidences of indebtedness created by any other corporation or corporations of the state of Washington or of any other state or government, and, while the owner of such stock, to exercise all the rights, powers and privileges of individual ownership with respect thereto, including the right to vote thereon, and to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto; 
To aid in any manner any corporation or association, domestic or foreign, or any firm or individual, any shares of stock in which or any bonds, debentures, notes, securities, evidence of indebtedness, contracts or obligations of which are held by or for the Corporation or in which or in the welfare of which the Corporation shall have any interest, and to do any acts designed to protect, preserve, improve or enhance the value of any property at any time held or controlled by the Corporation, or in which it may be interested at any time; and to organize or promote or facilitate the organization of subsidiary companies; 
To purchase from time to time any of its stock outstanding (so far as may be permitted by law) at such price as may be fixed by its Board of Directors or Executive Committee and accepted by the holders of the stock purchased, and to resell any stock so purchased at such price as may be fixed by its said Board of Directors or Executive Committee; 

3






In any manner to acquire, enjoy, utilize and to sell or otherwise dispose of patents, copyrights and trademarks and any licenses or other rights or interests therein and thereunder; 
To purchase, acquire, hold, own and sell or otherwise dispose of franchises, concessions, consents, privileges and licenses; 
To borrow money and contract debts, to issue bonds, promissory notes, bills of exchange, debentures and other obligations and evidences of indebtedness payable at a specified time or times or payable upon the happening of a specified event or events, whether secured by mortgage, pledge or otherwise or unsecured, for money borrowed or in payment for property purchased or acquired or any other lawful objects; all as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee of the Corporation, pursuant to the authority hereby conferred; 
To create mortgages or deeds of trust which shall cover and create a lien upon all or any part of the property of the Corporation of whatsoever kind and wheresoever situated, then owned or thereafter acquired, and to provide in any such mortgage or deed of trust that the amount of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued thereunder and to be secured thereby shall be limited to a definite amount or limited only by the conditions therein specified and to issue or cause to be issued by the Corporation the bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be secured thereby; all as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee of the Corporation pursuant to the authority hereby conferred; 
To do all and everything necessary and proper for the accomplishment of the objects enumerated in these Articles of Incorporation or any amendment thereof or necessary or incidental to the protection and benefit of the Corporation, and in general to carry on any lawful business necessary or incidental to the attainment of the objects of the Corporation whether or not such business is similar in nature to the objects set forth in these Articles of Incorporation or any amendment thereof; 
To do any or all things herein set forth, to the same extent and as fully as natural persons might or could do, and in any part of the world, and as principal, agent, contractor or otherwise, and either alone or in conjunction with any other persons, firms, associations or corporations; 
To conduct its business in any or all its branches in the state of Washington, other states, the District of Columbia, the territories and colonies of the United States, and any foreign countries, and to have one or more offices out of the state of Washington. 
THIRD:    
		
	(a)
	The amount of capital with which the Corporation will begin to carry on business hereunder shall be FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($5,000,500).


		
	(b)
	The aggregate number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 210,000,000 shares, divided into 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock without nominal or par value, issuable in series as hereinafter provided, and 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock without nominal or par.


		
	(c)
	A statement of the preferences, limitations and relative rights of each class of capital stock of the Corporation, namely, the Preferred Stock without nominal or par value and the Common Stock without nominal or par value, of the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between series of the Preferred Stock insofar as the same are fixed by these Articles of Incorporation, and of the authority vested in the Board of Directors of the 



4






Corporation to establish series of Preferred Stock and to fix and determine the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between series insofar as the same are not fixed by these Articles of Incorporation and as to which there may be variations between series is as follows.
		
	(d)
	The shares of the Preferred Stock may be divided into and issued in series. Each series shall be so designated as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series of the Preferred Stock and all other classes of capital stock of the Corporation. To the extent that these Articles of Incorporation shall not have established series of the Preferred Stock and fixed and determined the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between series, the Board of Directors shall have authority, and is hereby expressly vested with authority, to divide the Preferred Stock into series and, within the limitations set forth in these Articles of Incorporation and such limitations as may be provided by law, to fix and determine the relative rights and preferences of any series of the Preferred Stock so established. Such action by the Board of Directors shall be expressed in a resolution or resolutions adopted by it prior to the issuance of shares of each series, which resolution or resolutions shall also set forth the distinguishing designation of the particular series of the Preferred Stock established thereby. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, authority is hereby expressly vested in the Board of Directors so to fix and determine, with respect to any series of the Preferred Stock:


		
	(1)
	the rate or rates of dividend, if any, which may be expressed in terms of a formula or other method by which such rate or rates shall be calculated from time to time, and the date or dates on which dividends may be payable;


		
	(2)
	whether shares may be redeemed and, if so, the redemption price and the terms and conditions of redemption;


		
	(3)
	the amount payable upon shares in event of voluntary and involuntary liquidation;


		
	(4)
	sinking fund provisions, if any, for the redemption or purchase of shares; and


		
	(5)
	the terms and conditions, if any, on which shares may be converted.


All shares of the Preferred Stock of the same series shall be identical except that shares of the same series issued at different times may vary as to the dates from which dividends thereon shall be cumulative; and all shares of the Preferred Stock, irrespective of series, shall constitute one and the same class of stock, shall be of equal rank, and shall be identical except as to the designation thereof, the date or dates from which dividends on shares thereof shall be cumulative, and the relative rights and preferences set forth above in clauses (1) through (5) of this subdivision (d), as to which there may be variations between different series. Except as may be otherwise provided by law, by subdivision (j) of this Article THIRD, or by the resolutions establishing any series of Preferred Stock in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this subdivision (d), whenever the written consent, affirmative vote, or other action on the part of the holders of the Preferred Stock may be required for any purpose, such consent, vote or other action shall be taken by the holders of the Preferred Stock as a single class irrespective of series and not by different series. 
		
	(e)
	Out of any funds legally available for the payment of dividends, the holders of the Preferred Stock of each series shall be entitled, in preference to the holders of the Common Stock, to 



5






receive, but only when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends at the rate or rates fixed and determined with respect to each series in accordance with these Articles of Incorporation, and no more, payable as hereinafter provided. Such dividends shall be cumulative so that if for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend periods dividends shall not have been paid or declared and set apart for payment on all outstanding shares of each series of the Preferred Stock, at the dividend rates fixed and determined for the respective series, the deficiency shall be fully paid or declared and set apart for payment before any dividends on the Common Stock shall be paid or declared and set apart for payment; provided, however, that nothing in this subdivision (e) or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation shall prevent the simultaneous declaration and payment of dividends on both the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock if there are sufficient funds legally available to pay all dividends concurrently. Dividends on all shares of the Preferred Stock of each series shall be cumulative from the date of issuance of shares of such series. If more than one series of the Preferred Stock shall be outstanding and if dividends on each series shall not have been paid or declared and set apart for payment, at the dividend rate or rates fixed and determined for such series, the shares of the Preferred Stock of each series shall share ratably in the payment of dividends including accumulations, if any, in accordance with the sums which would be payable on such shares if all dividends were declared and paid in full. As to all series of Preferred Stock, the dividend payment dates for regular dividends shall be the fifteenth day of March, June, September and December in each year, unless other dividend payment dates shall have been fixed and determined for any series in accordance with subdivision (d) of this Article THIRD, and the dividend period in respect of which each regular dividend shall be payable in respect of each series shall be the period commencing on the next preceding dividend payment date for such series and ending on the day next preceding the dividend payment date for such dividend. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments which may be in arrears.
		
	(f)
	Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (e) or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation (and subject to the rights of any class of stock hereafter authorized), dividends may be paid on the Common Stock when and as declared by the Board of Directors out of any funds legally available for the payment of dividends, and no holder of shares of any series of the Preferred Stock as such shall be entitled to share therein.


		
	(g)
	In the event of any voluntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock, the holders of the Preferred Stock of each series then outstanding shall be entitled to receive out of the net assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders the respective amounts per share fixed and determined in accordance with these Articles of Incorporation to be payable on the shares of such series in the event of voluntary liquidation, and no more, and in the event of any involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock, the holders of the Preferred Stock of each series then outstanding shall be entitled to receive out of the net assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders the respective amounts per share fixed and determined in accordance with these Articles of Incorporation to be payable on the shares of such series in the event of involuntary liquidation, and no more. If upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the net assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of all outstanding 



6






shares of Preferred Stock of all series the full amounts to which they shall be respectively entitled as aforesaid, the entire net assets of the Corporation available for distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of all series in proportion to the amounts to which they shall be respectively so entitled. For the purposes of this and the next succeeding subdivision, and without limiting the right of the Corporation to distribute its assets or to dissolve, liquidate or wind up in connection with any sale, merger or consolidation, the sale of all or substantially all of the property of the Corporation, or the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or corporations, shall not be deemed to be a distribution of assets or a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary.
		
	(h)
	Subject to the limitations set forth in subdivision (g) of this Article THIRD or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation (and subject to the rights of any class of stock hereafter authorized) upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, any net assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders shall be distributed ratably to holders of the Common Stock.


		
	(i)
	The Preferred Stock may be redeemed in accordance with the following provisions of this subdivision (i):


		
	(1)
	Each series of the Preferred Stock which has been determined to be redeemable as permitted by subdivision (d) of this Article THIRD may be redeemed in whole or in part by the Corporation, at its election expressed by resolution of the Board of Directors, at any time or from time to time, at the then applicable redemption price fixed and determined with respect to each series, subject however, to any terms and conditions specified in respect of any series of the Preferred Stock in accordance with subdivision (d) of this Article THIRD. If less than all of the shares of any series are to be redeemed, the redemption shall be made either pro rata or by lot in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine.


		
	(2)
	In the event the Corporation shall so elect to redeem shares of the Preferred Stock, notice of the intention of the Corporation to do so and of the date and place fixed for redemption shall be mailed not less than thirty nor more than ninety days before the date fixed for redemption to each holder of shares of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed at his address as it shall appear on the books of the Corporation, and on and after the date fixed for redemption and specified in such notice (unless the Corporation shall default in making payment of the redemption price), such holders shall cease to be shareholders of the Corporation with respect to such shares and shall have no interest in or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, excepting only the right to receive the redemption price therefor from the Corporation on the date fixed for redemption, without interest, upon endorsement, if required, and surrender of their certificates for such shares.


		
	(3)
	Contemporaneously with the mailing of notice of redemption of any shares of the Preferred Stock as aforesaid or at any time thereafter on or before the date fixed for redemption, the Corporation may, if it so elects, deposit the aggregate redemption price of the shares to be redeemed with any bank or trust company doing business in the City of New York, New York, or Spokane, Washington, having a capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000, named in such notice, payable on the date fixed for 



7






redemption in the proper amounts to the respective holders of the shares to be redeemed, upon endorsement, if required, and surrender of their certificates for such shares, and on and after the making of such deposit such holders shall cease to be shareholders of the Corporation with respect to such shares and shall have no interest in or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, excepting only the right to exercise such redemption or exchange rights, if any, on or before the date fixed for redemption as may have been provided with respect to such shares or the right to receive the redemption price of their shares from such bank or trust company on the date fixed for redemption, without interest, upon endorsement, if required, and surrender of their certificates for such shares.
		
	(4)
	If the Corporation shall have so elected to deposit the redemption moneys with a bank or trust company, any moneys so deposited which shall remain unclaimed at the end of six years after the redemption date shall be repaid to the Corporation, and upon such repayment holders of Preferred Stock who shall not have made claim against such moneys prior to such repayment shall be deemed to be unsecured creditors of the Corporation for an amount, without interest, equal to the amount they would theretofore have been entitled to receive from such bank or trust company. Any redemption moneys so deposited which shall not be required for such redemption because of the exercise, after the date of such deposit, of any right of conversion or exchange or otherwise, shall be returned to the Corporation forthwith. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive any interest allowed by any bank or trust company on any moneys deposited with such bank or trust company as herein provided, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim against any such interest.


		
	(5)
	Nothing herein contained shall limit any legal right of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of the Preferred Stock.


		
	(j)
	The holders of the Preferred Stock shall not have any right to vote for the election of Directors or for any other purpose except as otherwise provided by law and as set forth below in this subdivision of this Article THIRD or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation. Holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to notice of each meeting of shareholders at which they shall have any right to vote but except as may be otherwise provided by law shall not be entitled to notice of any other meeting of shareholders.


		
	(1)
	Whenever and as often as, at any date, dividends payable on any shares of the Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of dividends accumulated on such shares of the Preferred Stock over the eighteen-month period ended on such date, the holders of the Preferred Stock of all series, voting separately and as a single class, shall be entitled to vote for and to elect a majority of the Board of Directors, and the holders of the Common Stock, voting separately and as a single class, shall be entitled to vote for and to elect the remaining Directors of the Corporation. The right of the holders of the Preferred Stock to elect a majority of the Board of Directors shall, however, cease when all defaults in the payment of dividends on their stock shall have been cured and such dividends shall be declared and paid out of any funds legally available therefor as soon as in the judgment of the Board of Directors is reasonably practicable. The terms of office of all persons who may be Directors of the Corporation at the time the right to elect 



8






Directors shall accrue to the holders of the Preferred Stock as herein provided shall terminate upon the election of their successors at a meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation then entitled to vote. Such election shall be held at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders or may be held at a special meeting of shareholders but shall be held upon notice as provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation for a special meeting of the shareholders. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors occurring during any period when the Preferred Stock shall have elected representatives on the Board shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining Directors representing the class of stock theretofore represented by the Director causing the vacancy. At all meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing Directors during such times as the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of all series shall be required to substitute a quorum of such class for the election of Directors, and the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be required to constitute a quorum of such class for the election of Directors; provided, however, that the absence of a quorum of the holders of stock of either class shall not prevent the election at any such meeting, or adjournment thereof, of Directors by the other class if the necessary quorum of the holders of stock of such class is present in person or by proxy at such meeting; and provided further, that, in the absence of a quorum of the holders of stock of either class, a majority of those holders of such stock who are present in person or by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the election of those Directors to be elected by that class from time to time without notice, other than announcement at the meeting, until the requisite amount of holders of stock of such class shall be present in person or by proxy.
		
	(2)
	So long as any shares of the Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, adopt any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation if such amendment would:


		
	(i)
	create or authorize any new class of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up;


		
	(ii)
	increase the authorized number of shares of the Preferred Stock; or


		
	(iii)
	change any of the rights or preferences of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding provided, however, that if any proposed change of any of the rights or preferences of any outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock would affect the holders of shares of one or more, but not all, series of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, only the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of all series so affected shall be required; and provided further, that nothing herein shall authorize the adoption of any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation by the vote of the holders of a lesser number of shares of the Preferred Stock, or of any other class of stock, or of all classes of stock, than is required for 



9






such an amendment by the laws of the state of Washington at the time applicable thereto.
		
	(3)
	So long as any shares of the Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, issue any shares of the Preferred Stock, or of any other class of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, unless the net income of the Corporation available for the payment of dividends for a period of twelve consecutive calendar months within the fifteen calendar months immediately preceding the issuance of such shares (including, in any case in which such shares are to be issued in connection with the acquisition of new property, the net income of the property so to be acquired, computed on the same basis as the net income of the Corporation) is at least equal to one and one-half times the annual dividend requirements on all shares of the Preferred Stock, and on all shares of all other classes of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, which will be outstanding immediately after the issuance of such shares, including the shares proposed to be issued; provided, however, that if the shares of any series of the Preferred Stock or any such prior or parity stock shall have a variable dividend rate, the annual dividend requirement on the shares of such series shall be determined by reference to the weighted average dividend rate on such shares during the twelve-month period for which the net income of the Corporation available for the payment of dividends shall have been determined; and provided, further, that if the shares of the series to be issued are to have a variable dividend rate, the annual dividend requirement on the shares of such series shall be determined by reference to the initial dividend rate upon the issuance of such shares. In any case where it would be appropriate, under generally accepted accounting principles to combine or consolidate the financial statements of any parent or subsidiary of the Corporation with those of the Corporation, the foregoing computation may be made on the basis of such combined or consolidated financial statements.


		
	(k)
	Subject to the limitations set forth in subdivision (j) of this Article THIRD (and subject to the rights of any class of stock hereafter authorized), and except as may be otherwise provided by law, the holders of the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of Directors and for all other purposes. At each meeting of shareholders, each holder of stock entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to one vote for each share of such stock held by him and recorded in his name on the record date for such meeting, and may vote and otherwise act in person or by proxy. Voting in the election of directors by shares within each voting group shall be governed by the additional provisions set forth below:


		
	(1)
	In an election of directors which is not a contested election (as defined below):


		
	(A)
	Each vote entitled to be cast may be cast for or cast against one or more candidates, or a shareholder may indicate an abstention with respect to one or more candidates. Shareholders shall not be entitled to cumulate votes;


		
	(B)
	A candidate shall be elected by such voting group if the number of votes cast within such voting group for such candidate exceeds the number of 



10






votes cast within such voting group against such candidate. A candidate who does not receive such majority of votes cast but who is a director at the time of the election shall continue to serve as a director for a term that shall terminate on the date that is the earliest of (I) the date of the commencement of the term of a new director selected by the board of directors to fill the office held by such director, (II) the effective date of the resignation of such director and (III) the later of (X) the last day of the sixth calendar month commencing after the election in which such candidate failed to receive a majority of votes cast and (Y) December 31 of the calendar year on which such election occurred;
		
	(C)
	Only votes cast for and votes cast against a candidate shall be taken into account in determining whether the votes required for the election of such candidate have been received. Shares otherwise present at the meeting but for which there is an abstention with respect to a candidate or as to which no authority or direction to vote is given or specified with respect to a candidate shall not be deemed to have been voted; and


		
	(D)
	In the event that a director does not receive the required majority vote for election, a majority of the other directors duly elected by shares within such voting group in such or a prior election may select any qualified individual to fill the office held by such director, such selection being deemed to constitute the filling of a vacancy.


		
	(2)
	In a contested election:


		
	(A)
	Each vote entitled to be cast may be cast for one or more candidates (not to exceed the number of directors to be elected), or may be withheld with respect to one or more candidates. Shareholders shall not be entitled to cumulate votes; and


		
	(B)
	The candidates elected shall be those receiving the largest numbers of votes cast within such voting group, up to the number of directors to be elected.


		
	(3)
	An election of directors by a voting group shall be deemed to be a “contested election” with respect to such voting group if at the expiration of the time fixed in the Bylaws requiring advance notice of a shareholder’s intent to nominate a person for election as a director, there are more candidates for election by such voting group than the number of directors to be elected by such voting group, one or more of whom have been properly proposed by shareholders.


		
	(l)
	Subject to the limitations set forth in subdivision (j) of this Article THIRD (and subject to the rights of any class of stock hereafter authorized), and except as may be otherwise provided by law, upon the vote of a majority of all of the Directors of the Corporation and of the holders of record of a majority of the total number of shares of the Corporation then issued and outstanding and entitled to vote (or, if the vote of a larger number or different proportion of shares is required by the laws of the state of Washington, notwithstanding the above agreement of the shareholders of the Corporation to the contrary, then upon the vote of the holders of record of the larger number or different proportion of shares so required) the Corporation may from time to time create or authorize one or more other classes of stock 



11






with such preferences, designations, rights, privileges, powers, restrictions, limitations and qualifications as may be determined by said vote, which may be the same or different from the preferences, designations, rights, privileges, powers, restrictions, limitations and qualifications of the classes of stock of the Corporation then authorized and/or the Corporation may increase or decrease the number of shares of one or more of the classes of stock then authorized.
		
	(m)
	All stock of the Corporation without nominal or par value whether authorized herein or upon subsequent increases of capital stock or pursuant to any amendment hereof may be issued, sold and disposed of by the Corporation from time to time for such consideration in labor, services, money or property as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors and authority to the Board of Directors so to fix such consideration is hereby granted by the shareholders. The consideration received by the Corporation from the issuance and sale of new or additional shares of capital stock without par value shall be entered in the capital stock account.


		
	(n)
	No holder of any stock of the Corporation shall be entitled as of right to purchase or subscribe for any part of any stock of the Corporation authorized herein or of any additional stock of any class to be issued by reason of any increase of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation or of any bonds, certificates of indebtedness, debentures or other securities convertible into stock of the Corporation but any stock authorized herein or any such additional authorized issue of any stock or of securities convertible into stock may be issued and disposed of by the Board of Directors to such persons, firms, corporations or associations upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors in their discretion may determine without offering any thereof on the same terms or any terms to the shareholders then of record or to any class of shareholders.


FOURTH:    The duration of the Corporation shall be perpetual.
FIFTH:    The number of Directors of the Corporation shall be such number, not to exceed eleven (11), as shall be specified from time to time by the Board of Directors in the Bylaws; provided, however, that if the right to elect a majority of the Board of Directors shall have accrued to the holders of the Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD, then, during such period as such holders shall have such right, the number of Directors may exceed eleven (11). Commencing with the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Directors shall be elected at each Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term which shall expire at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders; it being understood that the term of each Director elected prior to the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term that was to expire after the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders shall expire at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Directors elected by the holders of the Preferred Stock in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD shall be elected for a term that shall expire not later than the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All Directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.
Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD, any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by the Board of Directors, and any Director so elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for a term of office continuing until the next election of Directors by the shareholders; provided, however, if the Directors then in office constitute fewer than a quorum of the Board, the affirmative vote of a majority of all Directors then in office shall be required to fill such vacancy. 

12






No decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director. 
Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD and the provisions of the next preceding paragraph of this Article FIFTH, any Director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, only by the holders of shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled generally to vote in the election of Directors (such stock being hereinafter in these Articles of Incorporation called “Voting Stock,” voting together as a single class, at a meeting of shareholders called expressly for that purpose and only if the number of votes cast for the removal of such Director exceeds the number of votes cast against such removal. 
Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles of Incorporation to the contrary, the provisions of this Article FIFTH shall not be altered, amended or repealed, and no provision inconsistent therewith shall be included in these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all of the shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class. 
SIXTH:    That the principal place of business of said Corporation shall be Spokane, Spokane County, Washington. 
SEVENTH:    The corporate powers shall be exercised by the Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided by statute or by these Articles of Incorporation. The Board of Directors shall have power to authorize the payment of compensation to the Directors for services to the Corporation, including fees for attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors and other meetings, and to determine the amount of such compensation and fees. 
The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt, alter, amend and repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. To the extent provided under the laws of the state of Washington, any Bylaws adopted by the Directors under the powers conferred hereby may be repealed or changed by the shareholders. 
An Executive Committee may be appointed by and from the Board of Directors in such manner and subject to such regulations as may be provided in the Bylaws, which committee shall have and may exercise, when the Board is not in session, all the powers of said Board which may be lawfully delegated subject to such limitations as may be provided in the Bylaws or by resolutions of the Board. The fact that the Executive Committee has acted shall be conclusive evidence that the Board was not in session at the time of such action. Additional committees may be appointed by and from the Board of Directors in such manner and subject to such regulations as may be provided in the Bylaws. Any action required or permitted by these Articles of Incorporation to be taken by the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be taken by a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, except as otherwise required by law. 
No Director shall have any personal liability to the Corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for his or her conduct as a Director of the Corporation; provided, however, that nothing herein shall eliminate or limit any liability which may not be so eliminated or limited under Washington law, as from time to time in effect. No amendment, modification or repeal of this paragraph shall eliminate or limit the protection afforded by this paragraph with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to the effective date thereof. 
The Corporation shall, to the full extent permitted by applicable law, as from time to time in effect, indemnify any person made a party to, or otherwise involved in, any proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Director of the Corporation against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable 

13






expenses actually incurred by him or her in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall pay any reasonable expenses incurred by a Director in connection with any such proceeding in advance of the final determination thereof upon receipt from such Director of such undertakings for repayment as may be required by applicable law and a written affirmation by such director that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification, but without any prior determination, which would otherwise be required by Washington law, that such standard of conduct has been met. The Corporation may enter into agreements with each Director obligating the Corporation to make such indemnification and advances of expenses as are contemplated herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not make any indemnification or advance which is prohibited by applicable law. The rights to indemnity and advancement of expenses granted herein shall continue as to any person who has ceased to be a Director and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. 
A Director of the Corporation shall not be disqualified by his office from dealing or contracting with this Corporation either as a vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any transaction or contract of the Corporation be void or voidable by reason of the fact that any Director, or any firm of which any Director is a member, or any corporation of which any Director is a shareholder or Director, is in any way interested in such transaction or contract, provided that such transaction or contract is or shall be authorized, ratified, or approved, either (1) by vote of a majority of a quorum of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee without counting in such majority or quorum any Directors so interested, or a member of a firm so interested, or a shareholder or Director of a corporation so interested; or (2) by the written consent or by vote at a shareholders’ meeting of the holders of record of a majority in number of all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote; nor shall any Director be liable to account to the Corporation for any profits realized by and from or through any such transaction or contract of the Corporation authorized, ratified, or approved as aforesaid by reason of the fact that he, or any firm of which he is a member, or any corporation of which he is a shareholder or a Director, was interested in such transaction or contract. Nothing herein contained shall create any liability in the events above described or prevent the authorization, ratification or approval of such transaction or contract in any other manner approved by law. 
Shareholders shall have no rights, except as conferred by statute or by the Bylaws, to inspect any book, paper or account of the Corporation. 
In any circumstance in which Washington law would require the approval of shareholders to authorize (1) the merger of the Corporation with or into another entity or a statutory share exchange with another entity, (2) a sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of property of the Corporation or (3) the dissolution of the Corporation, the requisite shareholder approval shall be the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on such transaction, unless Washington law shall require a higher standard. 
Special meetings of the shareholders may be called by the President, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Board of Directors, any Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, and shall be called by the President at the request of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of all of the shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class. Only those matters that are specified in the call of or request for a special meeting may be considered or voted upon at such meeting. 
Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles of Incorporation to the contrary, the paragraph in this Article SEVENTH relating to the adoption, alteration, amendment, change and repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation, the paragraph in this Article SEVENTH relating to the calling and conduct of special meetings of the shareholders and this paragraph, and the provisions of the Bylaws of the Corporation relating to procedures for the nomination of Directors, shall not be altered, amended or repealed, and no provision 

14






inconsistent therewith shall be included in these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all the shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class. 
EIGHTH:    
		
	(a)
	In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or these Articles of Incorporation, and except as otherwise expressly provided in subdivision (b) of this Article EIGHTH:


		
	(1)
	any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with (a) any Interested Shareholder (as hereinafter defined) or (b) any other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested Shareholder) which is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested Shareholder; or


		
	(2)
	any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $10,000,000 or more; or


		
	(3)
	the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $10,000,000 or more; or


		
	(4)
	the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation proposed by or on behalf of an Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder; or


		
	(5)
	any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Interested Shareholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder;


shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all of the shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class. Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required or that the vote of a lower percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise. The term “Business Combination” as used in this Article EIGHTH shall mean any transaction which is referred to in any one or more of paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subdivision (a).
		
	(b)
	The provisions of subdivision (a) of this Article EIGHTH shall not be applicable to any particular Business Combination, and such Business Combination shall require only such affirmative vote, if any, as is required by law and any other provision of these Articles of 



15






Incorporation, if all of the conditions specified in either paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) below are met:
		
	(1)
	The Business Combination shall have been approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors (as hereinafter defined); or


		
	(2)
	All of the following conditions shall have been met:


		
	(A)
	The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of Common Stock in such Business Combination shall be at least equal to the highest of the following:


		
	(i)
	(if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Shareholder for any shares of Common Stock acquired by it (x) within the two-year period immediately prior to the date of the first public announcement of the proposal of the Business Combination (the “Announcement Date”) or (y) in the transaction in which it became an Interested Shareholder, whichever is higher;


		
	(ii)
	the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Announcement Date or on the date on which the Interested Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder (the “Determination Date”), whichever is higher; and


		
	(iii)
	(if applicable) the price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock determined pursuant to clause (A)(ii) above, multiplied by the ratio of (x) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Shareholder for any shares of Common Stock acquired by it within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date to (y) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the first day in such two-year period upon which the Interested Shareholder acquired any shares of Common Stock.


		
	(B)
	The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of shares of each class of outstanding Voting Stock (other than Common Stock and Institutional Voting Stock [as hereinafter defined]) shall be at least equal to the highest of the following (it being intended that the requirements of this subparagraph (B) shall be required to be met with respect to every class of outstanding Voting Stock (other than Institutional Voting Stock), whether or not the Interested Shareholder has previously acquired any shares of a particular class of Voting Stock):



16






		
	(i)
	(if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Shareholder for any shares of such class of Voting Stock acquired by it (x) within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date or (y) in the transaction in which it became an Interested Shareholder, whichever is higher;


		
	(ii)
	(if applicable) the highest preferential amount per share to which the holders of shares of such class of Voting Stock are entitled in the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation;


		
	(iii)
	the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting Stock on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is higher; and


		
	(iv)
	(if applicable) the price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting Stock determined pursuant to clause (B)(iii) above, multiplied by the ratio of (x) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Shareholder for any shares of such class of Voting Stock acquired by it within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date to (y) the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting Stock on the first day in such two-year period upon which the Interested Shareholder acquired any shares of such class of Voting Stock


		
	(C)
	The consideration to be received by holders of a particular class of outstanding Voting Stock (including Common Stock) shall be in cash or in the same form as the Interested Shareholder has previously paid for shares of such class of Voting Stock. If the Interested Shareholder has paid for shares of any class of Voting Stock with varying forms of consideration, the form of consideration for such class of Voting Stock shall be either cash or the form used to acquire the largest number of shares of such class of Voting Stock previously acquired by it.


		
	(D)
	After such Interested Shareholder has become an Interested Shareholder and prior to the consummation of such Business Combination:


		
	(i)
	except as approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, there shall have been no failure to declare and pay at the regular date therefor full dividends (whether or not cumulative) on the outstanding shares of stock of all classes ranking prior as to dividends to the Common Stock;


		
	(ii)
	there shall have been (x) no reduction in the annual rate of dividends paid on the Common Stock (except as necessary to reflect any subdivision of the Common Stock), except as approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, and (y) an increase in such annual rate of dividends as necessary to reflect any reclassification 



17






(including any reverse stock split), recapitalization, reorganization or any similar transaction which has the effect of reducing the number of outstanding shares of the Common Stock, unless the failure to so increase such annual rate is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors; and
		
	(iii)
	such Interested Shareholder shall not have become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting Stock except as part of the transaction which results in such Interested Shareholder becoming an Interested Shareholder.


		
	(E)
	After such Interested Shareholder has become an Interested Shareholder, such Interested Shareholder shall not have received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantages provided by the Corporation, whether in anticipation of or in connection with such Business Combination or otherwise.


		
	(F)
	A proxy or information statement describing the proposed Business Combination and complying with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provisions replacing such Act, rules or regulations) shall be mailed to shareholders of the Corporation at least 30 days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination (whether or not such proxy or information statement is required to be mailed pursuant to such Act or subsequent provisions).


		
	(c)
	For the purposes of this Article EIGHTH:


The terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on January 1, 1987. 
A person shall be deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of any Voting Stock: 
		
	(i)
	which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or;


		
	(ii)
	which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (a) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (b) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; or


		
	(iii)
	which is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of Voting Stock.



18






For the purposes of determining whether a person is an Interested Shareholder the number of shares of Voting Stock deemed to be outstanding shall include all shares of which such person is the beneficial owner in accordance with the foregoing definition but shall not include any other shares of Voting Stock which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise. 
The term “Continuing Director” means any member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation who is unaffiliated with the Interested Shareholder and was a member of the Board of Directors prior to the time that the Interested Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder, and any successor of a Continuing Director who is unaffiliated with the Interested Shareholder and is recommended to succeed a Continuing Director by a majority of Continuing Directors then on the Board of Directors. 
The term “Fair Market Value” means (i) in the case of stock, the highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding the date in question of a share of such stock on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange-Listed Stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such stock is not listed on such Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on which such stock is listed, or, if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest closing bid quotation with respect to a share of such stock during the 30-day period preceding the date in question on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the fair market value on the date in question of a share of such stock as determined by the Continuing Directors in good faith; and (ii) in the case of property other than cash or stock, the fair market value of such property on the date in question as determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors in good faith. 
The term “Interested Shareholder” shall mean any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary) who or which: 
		
	(i)
	is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock; or


		
	(ii)
	is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock; or


		
	(iii)
	is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any shares of Voting Stock which were at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question beneficially owned by any Interested Shareholder, if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


The term “Institutional Voting Stock” shall mean any class of Voting Stock which was issued to and continues to be held solely by one or more insurance companies, pension funds, commercial banks, savings banks or similar financial institutions or institutional investors. 
The term “person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity. 

19






The term “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Interested Shareholder set forth above, the term “Subsidiary” shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation. 
The term “Voting Stock” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Article FIFTH. 
In the event of any Business Combination in which the Corporation survives, the phrase “consideration other than cash to be received” as used in paragraphs 2(A) and 2(B) of subdivision (b) of this Article EIGHTH shall include the shares of Common Stock and/or the shares of any other class of outstanding Voting Stock retained by the holders of such shares. 
		
	(d)
	The Directors of the Corporation shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article EIGHTH, on the basis of information known to them after reasonable inquiry, (A) whether a person is an Interested Shareholder, (B) the number of shares of Voting Stock beneficially owned by any person, (C) whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another person, (D) whether a class of Voting Stock is Institutional Voting Stock, and (E) whether the assets which are the subject of any Business Combination have, or the consideration to be received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation or any Subsidiary in any Business Combination has, an aggregate Fair Market Value of $10,000,000 or more.


Nothing contained in this Article EIGHTH shall be construed to relieve any Interested Shareholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law. 
Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles of Incorporation to the contrary, the provisions of this Article EIGHTH shall not be altered, amended or repealed, and no provision inconsistent therewith shall be included in these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all of the shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class. 

20








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have set our hands and seals under these presents, this 29th day of May 2012. 
	
	
	 

	 

	   /s/ Scott L. Morris

	Scott L. Morris, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

	 

	ATTEST:

	 

	/s/ Karen S. Feltes

	Karen S. Feltes, Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary




(SEAL) 
 



21








CERTIFICATE
The undersigned officers of Avista Corporation, being first duly sworn on oath, depose and say:
		
	(a)
	That they have been authorized to execute the within Restated Articles of Incorporation by resolution of the Board of Directors adopted on the 3rd day of February 2012; and


		
	(b)
	That Subdivision (l) of Article THIRD and Article SEVENTH of these Restated Articles of Incorporation correctly set forth the text of the amendments approved by the shareholders on the 10th of May 2012 in accordance with the provisions of RCW 23B.10.030 and 23B.10.040, such amendments being set forth in Exhibit A to this certificate; and


		
	(c)
	That these Restated Articles of Incorporation correctly set forth the text of the Articles of Incorporation as heretofore amended and as further amended by the amendments approved by the shareholders referred to under clause (b) above, and, except as indicated under clause (b) above, no shareholder action is required for these Restated Articles of Incorporation; and


		
	(d)
	That these Restated Articles of Incorporation supersede the original Articles of Incorporation and all amendments thereto and restatements thereof.


	
	
	   /s/ Scott L. Morris

	Scott L. Morris, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

	 

	/s/ Karen S. Feltes

	Karen S. Feltes, Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary




State of Washington    )
) ss.:
County of Spokane    )


I certify that I know or have satisfactory evidence that Scott L. Morris and Karen S. Feltes are the persons who appeared before me, and each of said persons acknowledged that he or she signed this instrument, on oath stated that he or she was authorized to execute this instrument and acknowledged it as an executive officer of Avista Corporation to be the free and voluntary act of Avista Corporation for the uses and purposes mentioned in this instrument.
Dated:  May 29, 2012 
	
			
	 
	 
	/s/ Rae An Cornell

	 
	 
	Notary Public

	(SEAL)
	 
	 

	 
	 
	RAE AN CORNELL

	 
	 
	Notary Public

	 
	 
	State of Washington

	 
	 
	Commission Expires January 29, 2014





22






AMENDMENTS TO 
RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF 
AVISTA CORPORATION
The amendments and restatements of specified provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation approved by the shareholders on May 10, 2012 are set forth below. Text stricken through indicates deletions, and text in italics indicates additions.
Article THIRD
Subdivision (l) of Article THIRD, which relates to the authorization of new classes of capital stock senior to the common stock, would be amended and restated as set forth below:
Subject to the limitations set forth in subdivision (j) of this Article THIRD (and subject to the rights of any class of stock hereafter authorized), and except as may be otherwise provided by law, upon the vote of a majority of all of the Directors of the Corporation and of the holders of record of two-thirds a majority of the total number of shares of the Corporation then issued and outstanding and entitled to vote (or, if the vote of a larger number or different proportion of shares is required by the laws of the state of Washington, notwithstanding the above agreement of the shareholders of the Corporation to the contrary, then upon the vote of the holders of record of the larger number or different proportion of shares so required) the Corporation may from time to time create or authorize one or more other classes of stock with such preferences, designations, rights, privileges, powers, restrictions, limitations and qualifications as may be determined by said vote, which may be the same or different from the preferences, designations, rights, privileges, powers, restrictions, limitations and qualifications of the classes of stock of the Corporation then authorized and/or the Corporation may increase or decrease the number of shares of one or more of the classes of stock then authorized.
Article SEVENTH
The eighth, ninth and tenth paragraphs of Article SEVENTH, which relates, among other things, to sales of assets and mergers, would be deleted:
Any property of the Corporation not essential to the conduct of its corporate business may be sold, leased, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, by authority of its Board of Directors and the Corporation may sell, lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of, all of its property and franchises, or any of its property, franchises, corporate rights, or privileges, essential to the conduct of its corporate business and purposes upon the consent of and for such consideration and upon such terms as may be authorized by a majority of all of the Directors and the holders of two-thirds of the issued and 







As Amended and Restated June 6, 2012




outstanding shares of the Corporation having voting power (or, if the consent or vote of a larger number or different proportion of the Directors and/or shares is required by the laws of the state of Washington, notwithstanding the above agreement of the shareholders of the Corporation to the contrary, then upon the consent or vote of the larger number or different proportion of the Directors and/or shares so required) expressed in writing, or by vote at a meeting of holders of the shares of the Corporation having voting power duly held as provided by law, or in the manner provided by the Bylaws of the Corporation, if not inconsistent therewith.
Upon the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation having voting power given at a meeting of the holders of the shares of the Corporation having voting power duly called for that purpose or when authorized by the written consent of the holders of two-thirds of the issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation having voting power and upon the vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, all of the property, franchises, rights and assets of the Corporation may be sold, conveyed, assigned and transferred as an entirety to a new company to be organized under the laws of the United States, the state of Washington or any other state of the United States, for the purpose of so taking over all the property, franchises, rights and assets of the Corporation, with the same or a different authorized number of shares of stock and with the same preferences, voting powers, restrictions and qualifications thereof as may then attach to the classes of stock of the Corporation then outstanding so far as the same shall be consistent with such laws of the United States or of Washington or of such other state (provided that the whole or any part of such stock or of any class thereof may be stock with or without a nominal or par value), the consideration for such sale and conveyance to be the assumption by such new company of all of the then outstanding liabilities of the Corporation and the issuance and delivery by the new company of shares of stock (any or all thereof either with or without nominal or par value) of such new company of the several classes into which the stock of the Corporation is then divided equal in number to the number of shares of stock of the Corporation of said several classes then outstanding. In the event of such sale, each holder of stock of the Corporation agrees so far as he may be permitted by the laws of Washington forthwith to surrender for cancellation his certificate or certificates for stock of the Corporation and to receive and accept in exchange therefor, as his full and final distributive share of the proceeds of such sale and conveyance and of the assets of the Corporation, a number of shares of the stock of the new company of the class corresponding to the class of the shares surrendered equal in number to the shares of stock of the Corporation so surrendered, and in such event no holder of any of the stock of the Corporation shall have any rights or interests in or against the Corporation, except the right upon surrender of his certificate as aforesaid properly endorsed, to receive from the Corporation certificates for such 

2






shares of said new company as herein provided. Such new company may have all or any of the powers of the Corporation and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of such new company may contain all or any of the provisions contained in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Corporation. 
Upon the written assent, in person or by proxy, or pursuant to the affirmative vote, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority in number of the shares then outstanding and entitled to vote (or, if the assent or vote of a larger number or different proportion of shares is required by the laws of the state of Washington notwithstanding the above agreement of the shareholders of the Corporation to the contrary, then upon the assent or vote of the larger number or different proportion of the shares so required) (1) any or every statute of the state of Washington hereafter enacted, whereby the rights, powers or privileges of the Corporation are or may be increased, diminished, or in any way affected, or whereby the rights, powers or privileges of the shareholders of corporations organized under the law under which the Corporation is organized are increased, diminished or in any way affected or whereby effect is given to the action taken by any part less than all of the shareholders of any such corporation shall, notwithstanding any provision which may at the time be contained in these Articles of Incorporation or any law, apply to the Corporation, and shall be binding not only upon the Corporation but upon every shareholder thereof, to the same extent as if such statute had been in force at the date of the making and filing of these Articles of Incorporation and/or (2) amendments to said Articles authorized at the time of the making of such amendments by the laws of the state of Washington may be made. provided, however, that (a) the provisions of Article THIRD hereof limiting the preemptive rights of shareholders, requiring majority voting in the election of Directors and regarding entry in the capital stock account of consideration received upon the sale of shares of capital stock without nominal or par value and all of the provisions of Article FIFTH hereof shall not be altered, amended, repealed, waived or changed in any way, unless the holders of record of at least two-thirds of the number of shares entitled to vote then outstanding shall consent thereto in writing or affirmatively vote therefor in person or by proxy at a meeting of shareholders at which such change is duly considered. 
The following paragraph would be inserted after the stricken text, shown above, in Article SEVENTH:
In any circumstance in which Washington law would require the approval of shareholders to authorize (1) the merger of the Corporation with or into another entity or a statutory share exchange with another entity, (2) a sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of property of the Corporation or (3) the dissolution of the Corporation, the requisite shareholder approval shall be 

3






the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on such transaction, unless Washington law shall require a higher standard. 

4