Document:

exhibit10_1.htm

    
      

    

     

     

    

      877 North 8th West, Riverton, WY 
82501, Ph:  (307) 856-9271, Fx:  (307) 857-3050, www.usnrg.com

      

      

      

      For
Immediate Release

      

      U.S.
ENERGY CORP. RECEIVES MILESTONE PAYMENT FROM THOMPSON CREEK METALS COMPANY
INC.

      

      

      RIVERTON, Wyoming – January 12,
2009 – U.S. Energy Corp. (NASDAQ Capital Market: “USEG”) (“USE” or the
“Company”), a natural resources exploration and development company with
interests in molybdenum, oil and gas, geothermal, and real estate, today
announced that the January 1, 2009 $1 million option payment was paid by
Thompson Creek Metals Company USA on January 2, 2009 on behalf of Mt. Emmons
Moly Company pursuant to the Exploration, Development and Mine Operating
Agreement signed in August 2008.

      

      “Thompson
Creek is one of the world's largest publicly traded, pure molybdenum producers
and we are pleased with their involvement and oversight of the project,” stated
Mark Larsen, President of U.S. Energy Corp.  “We continue to work
closely with them on the Mt. Emmons Project and intend to provide further
updates in the future as they continue their review and planning process and
additional information becomes available,” he added.

      

      

      

      * * * *
*

      
        
           

        

        
           

          
            

          

        

        
           

          
            Press
Release

            January
12, 2009

            Page  of
2 of 2

            

          

        

      

      

      About
U.S. Energy Corp.

      

      U.S.
Energy Corp. is a diversified natural resource company with interests in
molybdenum, oil and gas, geothermal and real estate.  The Company is
headquartered in Riverton, Wyoming, and its common stock is listed on The NASDAQ
Capital Market under the symbol “USEG”.

      

      * * * *
*

      

      

      Disclosure
Regarding Mineral Resources Under SEC and Canadian Regulations; and
Forward-Looking Statements

      

      The
Company owns or may come to own stock in companies which are traded on foreign
exchanges, and may have agreements with some of these companies to acquire
and/or develop the Company’s mineral properties.  An example is Sutter
Gold Mining Inc.  These other companies are subject to the reporting
requirements of other jurisdictions.

      

      United
States residents are cautioned that some of the information available about our
mineral properties, which is reported by the other companies in foreign
jurisdictions, may be materially different from what the Company is permitted to
disclose in the United States.

      

      This
news release includes statements which may constitute “forward-looking”
statements, usually containing the words “believe,” “estimate,” “project,”
“expect," or similar expressions.  These statements are made pursuant
to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.  Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements.  Factors that would cause or contribute to
such differences include, but are not limited to, future trends in mineral
prices, the availability of capital, competitive factors, and other
risks.  By making these forward-looking statements, the Company
undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revision or changes
after the date of this release.

      

      For
further information on the differences between the reporting limitations of the
United States, compared to reports filed in foreign jurisdictions, and also
concerning forward-looking statements, please see the Company’s Form 10-K
(“Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”; “Disclosure Regarding
Mineral Resources under SEC and Canadian Regulation”; and “Risk Factors”); and
similar disclosures in the Company’s Forms 10-Q.

      

      

      *
* * *.*

      

      For
further information, please contact:

      

      Reggie
Larsen

      Director
of Investor Relations

      U.S.
Energy Corp.

      1 800 776
9271

      Reggie@usnrg.com

      

      Nick
Hurst

      The
Equicom Group

      Investor
Relations

      403 538
4845

      nhurst@equicomgroup.comexhibit4-1.htm

    Exhibit
4.1

     

    CERTIFICATE
OF DESIGNATIONS

     

    OF

     

    FIXED
RATE CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK

     

    OF

     

    CENTRAL
PACIFIC FINANCIAL CORP.

     

    Central
Pacific Financial Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Hawaii (the “Corporation”), in
accordance with the provisions of Chapter 414 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes
thereof, does hereby certify:

     

    The Board
of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”)
or an applicable committee of the Board of Directors, in accordance with the
certificate of incorporation of the Corporation and applicable law, adopted a
resolution on December 13, 2008 creating a series of 135,000 shares of Preferred
Stock of the Corporation designated as “Fixed Rate Cumulative
Perpetual Preferred Stock”.

     

    RESOLVED, that pursuant to the
provisions of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation and applicable
law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby
is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and
the voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional
or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof,
of the shares of such series, are as follows:

     

    Part
1. Designation and Number of
Shares.  There is hereby created out of the authorized and
unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation a series of preferred
stock designated as the “Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock” (the
“Designated Preferred Stock”). The authorized number of shares of Designated
Preferred Stock shall be 135,000.

     

    Part
2. Standard
Provisions.  The Standard Provisions contained in Annex A
attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall
be deemed to be a part of this Certificate of Designations to the same extent as
if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.

     

    Part. 3.
Definitions.  The
following terms are used in this Certificate of Designations (including the
Standard Provisions in Annex A hereto) as defined below:

     

    (a) “Common Stock” means
the common stock, no par value, of the Corporation.

     

    (b) “Dividend Payment
Date” means February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each
year.

     

    (c) “Junior Stock” means
the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation the
terms of which expressly provide that it ranks junior to Designated Preferred
Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation.

     

    (d) “Liquidation Amount”
means $1,000 per share of Designated Preferred Stock.

     

    (e) “Minimum Amount” means
$33,750,000.

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (f) “Parity Stock” means
any class or series of stock of the Corporation (other than Designated Preferred
Stock) the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series
will rank senior or junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights
and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation
(in each case without regard to whether dividends accrue cumulatively or
non-cumulatively).

     

    (g) “Signing Date” means
January 9, 2009.

     

    Part
3. Certain Voting
Matters.  Holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock will
be entitled to one vote for each such share on any matter on which holders of
Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, including any action by written
consent.

     

    [Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

     

     

     

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Central Pacific Financial Corp. has caused this Certificate of
Designations to be signed by Glenn K.C. Ching, its Senior Vice President and
Corporate Secretary, this ___ day of January 2009.

     

     

    
      	 	 	CENTRAL PACIFIC
      FINANCIAL CORP. 
	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Glenn K.C.
    Ching 
	 	 	Name: Glenn K.C.
      Ching 
	 	 	Title: Senior Vice
      President & Corporate Secretary 

    

     

     

     

     

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    STANDARD
PROVISIONS

     

    Section
1. General
Matters.  Each share of Designated Preferred Stock shall be
identical in all respects to every other share of Designated Preferred
Stock.  The Designated Preferred Stock shall be perpetual, subject to
the provisions of Section 5 of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the
Certificate of Designations.  The Designated Preferred Stock shall
rank equally with Parity Stock and shall rank senior to Junior Stock with
respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event
of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation.

     

    Section
2. Standard Definitions.
As used herein with respect to Designated Preferred Stock:

     

    (a) “Applicable Dividend
Rate” means (i) during the period from the Original Issue Date to, but
excluding, the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing on or after the
fifth anniversary of the Original Issue Date, 5% per annum and (ii) from and
after the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing on or after the
fifth anniversary of the Original Issue Date, 9% per annum.

     

    (b) “Appropriate Federal Banking
Agency” means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to
the Corporation as defined in Section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act
(12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)), or any successor provision.

     

    (c) “Business Combination”
means a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar transaction
that requires the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders.

     

    (d) “Business Day” means
any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the
State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other
governmental actions to close.

     

    (e) “Bylaws” means the
bylaws of the Corporation, as they may be amended from time to
time.

     

    (f) “Certificate of
Designations” means the Certificate of Designations or comparable
instrument relating to the Designated Preferred Stock, of which these Standard
Provisions form a part, as it may be amended from time to time.

     

    (g) “Charter” means the
Corporation’s certificate or articles of incorporation, articles of association,
or similar organizational document.

     

    (h) “Dividend Period” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

     

    (i) “Dividend Record Date”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

     

    (j) “Liquidation
Preference” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

     

    (k) “Original Issue Date”
means the date on which shares of Designated Preferred Stock are first
issued.

     

    (l) “Preferred Director”
has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

     

    (m) “Preferred Stock”
means any and all series of preferred stock of the Corporation, including the
Designated Preferred Stock.

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (n) “Qualified Equity
Offering” means the sale and issuance for cash by the Corporation to
persons other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries after the Original
Issue Date of shares of perpetual Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any
combination of such stock, that, in each case, qualify as and may be included in
Tier 1 capital of the Corporation at the time of issuance under the applicable
risk-based capital guidelines of the Corporation’s Appropriate Federal Banking
Agency (other than any such sales and issuances made pursuant to agreements or
arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans which were publicly
announced, on or prior to October 13, 2008).

     

    (o) “Share Dilution
Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).

     

    (p) “Standard Provisions”
mean these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of
Designations relating to the Designated Preferred Stock.

     

    (q) “Successor Preferred
Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

     

    (r) “Voting Parity Stock”
means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Designated Preferred
Stock are entitled to vote as specified in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) of these
Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations, any and
all series of Parity Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and
are exercisable with respect to such matter.

     

    Section
3. Dividends.

     

    (a) Rate. Holders of
Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on each share of
Designated Preferred Stock if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors or
any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, but only out of assets
legally available therefor, cumulative cash dividends with respect to each
Dividend Period (as defined below) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable
Dividend Rate on (i) the Liquidation Amount per share of Designated Preferred
Stock and (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend
Period on such share of Designated Preferred Stock, if any. Such dividends shall
begin to accrue and be cumulative from the Original Issue Date, shall compound
on each subsequent Dividend Payment Date (i.e., no dividends shall accrue on
other dividends unless and until the first Dividend Payment Date for such other
dividends has passed without such other dividends having been paid on such date)
and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date,
commencing with the first such Dividend Payment Date to occur at least 20
calendar days after the Original Issue Date.  In the event that any
Dividend Payment Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day,
the dividend payment due on that date will be postponed to the next day that is
a Business Day and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of that
postponement. The period from and including any Dividend Payment Date to, but
excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date is a “Dividend Period”, provided that
the initial Dividend Period shall be the period from and including the Original
Issue Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date.

     

    Dividends
that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period
shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months. The amount of dividends payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any
date prior to the end of a Dividend Period, and for the initial Dividend Period,
shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months, and actual days elapsed over a 30-day month.

     

    Dividends
that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will
be payable to holders of record of Designated Preferred Stock as they appear on
the stock register of the Corporation on the applicable record date, which shall
be the 15th calendar day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date or
such other record date fixed by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized
committee of the Board of Directors that is not more than 60 nor less than 10
days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record
Date”). Any such day that is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend
Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day.

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Holders
of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether
payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if any)
declared and payable on Designated Preferred Stock as specified in this Section
3 (subject to the other provisions of the Certificate of
Designations).

     

    (b) Priority of
Dividends. So long as any share of Designated Preferred Stock remains
outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on the Common
Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock (other than dividends payable solely
in shares of Common Stock) or Parity Stock, subject to the immediately following
paragraph in the case of Parity Stock, and no Common Stock, Junior Stock or
Parity Stock shall be, directly or indirectly,  purchased, redeemed or
otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation or any of its
subsidiaries unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend
Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if
applicable as provided
in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of
Designated Preferred Stock have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid
in full (or have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has
been set aside for the benefit of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred
Stock on the applicable record date). The foregoing limitation shall not apply
to (i) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of Common Stock or
other Junior Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit
plan in the ordinary course of business (including purchases to offset the Share
Dilution Amount (as defined below) pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase
plan) and consistent with past practice, provided that any purchases to offset
the Share Dilution Amount shall in no event exceed the Share Dilution Amount;
(ii) purchases or other acquisitions by a broker-dealer subsidiary of the
Corporation solely for the purpose of market-making, stabilization or customer
facilitation transactions in Junior Stock or Parity Stock in the ordinary course
of its business; (iii) purchases by a broker-dealer subsidiary of the
Corporation of capital stock of the Corporation for resale pursuant to an
offering by the Corporation of such capital stock underwritten by such
broker-dealer subsidiary; (iv) any dividends or distributions of rights or
Junior Stock in connection with a stockholders’ rights plan or any redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant to any stockholders’ rights plan; (v) the
acquisition by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries of record ownership in
Junior Stock or Parity Stock for the beneficial ownership of any other persons
(other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries), including as trustees
or custodians; and (vi) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into
other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock (with the
same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock, in each case,
solely to the extent required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered
into prior to the Signing Date or any subsequent agreement for the accelerated
exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for Common Stock. “Share Dilution
Amount” means the increase in the number of diluted shares outstanding
(determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States, and as measured from the date of the Corporation’s consolidated
financial statements most recently filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission prior to the Original Issue Date) resulting from the grant, vesting
or exercise of equity-based compensation to employees and equitably adjusted for
any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, reclassification or
similar transaction.

     

    When
dividends are not paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for payment thereof set
aside for the benefit of the holders thereof on the applicable record date) on
any Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend
payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment
date falling within a Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) in
full upon Designated Preferred Stock and any shares of Parity Stock, all
dividends declared on Designated Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock and
payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having
dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend
payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment
Date) shall be declared pro
rata so that the respective amounts of such dividends declared shall bear
the same ratio to each other as all accrued and unpaid dividends per share on
the shares of Designated Preferred Stock (including, if applicable as provided
in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) and all Parity Stock payable on
such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend
payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment
date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date)
(subject to their having been declared by the Board of Directors or a duly
authorized committee of the Board of Directors out of legally available funds
and including, in the case of Parity Stock that bears cumulative dividends, all
accrued but unpaid dividends) bear to each other.  If the Board of
Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors determines
not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the
Corporation will provide written notice to the holders of Designated Preferred
Stock prior to such Dividend Payment Date.

     

    Subject
to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, securities
or other property) as may be determined by the Board of Directors or any duly
authorized committee of the Board of Directors may be declared and paid on any
securities, including Common Stock and other Junior Stock, from time to time out
of any funds legally available for such payment, and holders of Designated
Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such
dividends.

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Section
4. Liquidation
Rights.

     

    (a) Voluntary or Involuntary
Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of
Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive for each share of
Designated Preferred Stock, out of the assets of the Corporation or proceeds
thereof (whether capital or surplus) available for distribution to stockholders
of the Corporation, subject to the rights of any creditors of the Corporation,
before any distribution of such assets or proceeds is made to or set aside for
the holders of Common Stock and any other stock of the Corporation ranking
junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, payment in full in
an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) the
amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided
in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), whether or not declared, to
the date of payment (such amounts collectively, the “Liquidation
Preference”).

     

    (b) Partial Payment. If
in any distribution described in Section 4(a) above the assets of the
Corporation or proceeds thereof are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts
payable with respect to all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock and
the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the
Corporation ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such
distribution, holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the holders of such
other stock shall share ratably in any such distribution in proportion to the
full respective distributions to which they are entitled.

     

    (c) Residual
Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all
holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with
respect of any other stock of the Corporation ranking equally with Designated
Preferred Stock as to such distribution has been paid in full, the holders of
other stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets
of the Corporation (or proceeds thereof) according to their respective rights
and preferences.

     

    (d) Merger, Consolidation and
Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 4, the
merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation or other
entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Designated
Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or
the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or other property) of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not constitute a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

     

    Section
5. Redemption.

     

    (a) Optional
Redemption.  Except as provided below, the Designated Preferred
Stock may not be redeemed prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or
after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date. On or after the first
Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original
Issue Date, the Corporation, at its option, subject to the approval of the
Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time
and from time to time, out of funds legally available therefor, the shares of
Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as
provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i)
the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below,
any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in
Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any
dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for
redemption.

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    Notwithstanding
the foregoing, prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the
third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Corporation, at its option,
subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem,
in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, the shares of Designated
Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in
Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the
Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any
accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section
3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are
actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption; provided
that (x) the Corporation (or any successor by Business Combination) has received
aggregate gross proceeds of not less than the Minimum Amount (plus the “Minimum
Amount” as defined in the relevant certificate of designations for each other
outstanding series of preferred stock of such successor that was originally
issued to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Successor Preferred
Stock”) in connection with the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital
Purchase Program) from one or more Qualified Equity Offerings (including
Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor), and (y) the aggregate redemption
price of the Designated Preferred Stock (and any Successor Preferred Stock)
redeemed pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed the aggregate net cash
proceeds received by the Corporation (or any successor by Business Combination)
from such Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of
such successor).

     

    The
redemption price for any shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be payable
on the redemption date to the holder of such shares against surrender of the
certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Corporation or its agent. Any
declared but unpaid dividends payable on a redemption date that occurs
subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not be paid
to the holder entitled to receive the redemption price on the redemption date,
but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares on such
Dividend Record Date relating to the Dividend Payment Date as provided in
Section 3 above.

     

    (b) No Sinking Fund. The
Designated Preferred Stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption,
sinking fund or other similar provisions. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock
will have no right to require redemption or repurchase of any shares of
Designated Preferred Stock.

     

    (c) Notice of Redemption.
Notice of every redemption of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be
given by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record
of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the
books of the Corporation. Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more
than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided
in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given,
whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such
notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any
holder of shares of Designated Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall
not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other
shares of Designated Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares
of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The
Depository Trust Corporation or any other similar facility, notice of redemption
may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock at such time and in
any manner permitted by such facility. Each notice of redemption given to a
holder shall state: (1) the redemption date; (2) the number of shares of
Designated Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held
by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from
such holder; (3) the redemption price; and (4) the place or places where
certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption
price.

     

    (d) Partial Redemption.
In case of any redemption of part of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at
the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or in such other
manner as the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof may
determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board
of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have full power and
authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Designated
Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time. If fewer than all the
shares represented by any certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be
issued representing the unredeemed shares without charge to the holder
thereof.

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (e) Effectiveness of
Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or
before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the
redemption have been deposited by the Corporation, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the
holders of the shares called for redemption, with a bank or trust company doing
business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and having a capital
and surplus of at least $500 million and selected by the Board of Directors, so
as to be and continue to be available solely therefor, then, notwithstanding
that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been
surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date dividends shall
cease to accrue on all shares so called for redemption, all shares so called for
redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights with respect to
such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except
only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such
redemption from such bank or trust company, without interest. Any funds
unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the
extent permitted by law, be released to the Corporation, after which time the
holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the
Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

     

    (f) Status of Redeemed
Shares. Shares of Designated Preferred Stock that are redeemed,
repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall revert to authorized
but unissued shares of Preferred Stock (provided that any such cancelled shares
of Designated Preferred Stock may be reissued only as shares of any series of
Preferred Stock other than Designated Preferred Stock).

     

    Section
6. Conversion. Holders
of Designated Preferred Stock shares shall have no right to exchange or convert
such shares into any other securities.

     

    Section
7. Voting
Rights.

     

    (a) General. The holders
of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set
forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law.

     

    (b) Preferred Stock
Directors. Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on the
shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six
quarterly Dividend Periods or more, whether or not consecutive, the authorized
number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by two
and the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have the right, with
holders of shares of any one or more other classes or series of Voting Parity
Stock outstanding at the time, voting together as a class, to elect two
directors (hereinafter the “Preferred Directors”
and each a “Preferred
Director”) to fill such newly created directorships at the Corporation’s
next annual meeting of stockholders (or at a special meeting called for that
purpose prior to such next annual meeting) and at each subsequent annual meeting
of stockholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend
Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if
applicable as provided
in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of
Designated Preferred Stock have been declared and paid in full at which time
such right shall terminate with respect to the Designated Preferred Stock,
except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event
of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned; provided
that it shall be a qualification for election for any Preferred Director that
the election of such Preferred Director shall not cause the Corporation to
violate any corporate governance requirements of any securities exchange or
other trading facility on which securities of the Corporation may then be listed
or traded that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent
directors. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of
Designated Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock as a class to vote for
directors as provided above, the Preferred Directors shall cease to be qualified
as directors, the term of office of all Preferred Directors then in office shall
terminate immediately and the authorized number of directors shall be reduced by
the number of Preferred Directors elected pursuant hereto. Any Preferred
Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, and any vacancy
created thereby may be filled, only by the affirmative vote of the holders a
majority of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding
voting separately as a class together with the holders of shares of Voting
Parity Stock, to the extent the voting rights of such holders described above
are then exercisable. If the office of any Preferred Director becomes vacant for
any reason other than removal from office as aforesaid, the remaining Preferred
Director may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in
respect of which such vacancy occurred.

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (c) Class Voting Rights as to
Particular Matters. So long as any shares of Designated Preferred Stock
are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of stockholders
required by law or by the Charter, the vote or consent of the holders of at
least 66 2/3% of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time
outstanding, voting as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in
writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose,
shall be necessary for effecting or validating:

     

    (i) Authorization of Senior
Stock. Any amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Designations for
the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter to authorize or create or increase
the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of, any class or
series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking senior to Designated
Preferred Stock with respect to either or both the payment of dividends and/or
the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation;

     

    (ii) Amendment of Designated
Preferred Stock. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of
the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the
Charter (including, unless no vote on such merger or consolidation is required
by Section 7(c)(iii) below, any amendment, alteration or repeal by means of a
merger, consolidation or otherwise) so as to adversely affect the rights,
preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Designated Preferred Stock;
or

     

    (iii) Share Exchanges,
Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations. Any consummation of a
binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Designated Preferred
Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another
corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Designated
Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or
consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or
resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of
the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares
remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have
such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and
restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to
the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers,
and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Designated Preferred Stock
immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole;

     

    provided, however, that for
all purposes of this Section 7(c), any increase in the amount of the authorized
Preferred Stock, including any increase in the authorized amount of Designated
Preferred Stock necessary to satisfy preemptive or similar rights granted by the
Corporation to other persons prior to the Signing Date, or the creation and
issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, whether pursuant to
preemptive or similar rights or otherwise, of any other series of Preferred
Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any
other series of Preferred Stock, ranking equally with and/or junior to
Designated Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether
such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) and the distribution of assets
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation will not be
deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers,
and shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of, the holders of
outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock.

     

    (d) Changes after Provision for
Redemption. No vote or consent of the holders of Designated Preferred
Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(c) above if, at or prior to the
time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such
Section, all outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have
been redeemed, or shall have been called for redemption upon proper notice and
sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust for such redemption, in each
case pursuant to Section 5 above.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    (e) Procedures for Voting and
Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting
of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the
fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of
proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other
aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be
governed by any rules of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee
of the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which
rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Charter, the
Bylaws, and applicable law and the rules of any national securities exchange or
other trading facility on which Designated Preferred Stock is listed or traded
at the time.

     

    Section
8. Record Holders. To
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation and the transfer
agent for Designated Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any
share of Designated Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all
purposes, and neither the Corporation nor such transfer agent shall be affected
by any notice to the contrary.

     

    Section
9. Notices. All notices
or communications in respect of Designated Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently
given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail,
postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this
Certificate of Designations, in the Charter or Bylaws or by applicable law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are
issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Corporation or any
similar facility, such notices may be given to the holders of Designated
Preferred Stock in any manner permitted by such facility.

     

    Section
10. No Preemptive Rights.
No share of Designated Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption
whatsoever as to any securities of the Corporation, or any warrants, rights or
options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such
securities, or such warrants, rights or options, may be designated, issued or
granted.

     

    Section
11. Replacement
Certificates. The Corporation shall replace any mutilated certificate at
the holder’s expense upon surrender of that certificate to the Corporation. The
Corporation shall replace certificates that become destroyed, stolen or lost at
the holder’s expense upon delivery to the Corporation of reasonably satisfactory
evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, stolen or lost, together with
any indemnity that may be reasonably required by the Corporation.

     

    Section
12. Other Rights. The
shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any rights, preferences,
privileges or voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other
special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other
than as set forth herein or in the Charter or as provided by applicable
law.

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00151-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00151-of-00352.parquet"}]]