Attached files
file | filename |
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EX-4.2 - EX-4.2 - ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP | c66177exv4w2.htm |
EX-5.2 - EX-5.2 - ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP | c66177exv5w2.htm |
EX-5.1 - EX-5.1 - ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP | c66177exv5w1.htm |
EX-5.3 - EX-5.3 - ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP | c66177exv5w3.htm |
EX-4.4 - EX-4.4 - ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP | c66177exv4w4.htm |
EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP | c66177exv99w1.htm |
8-K - FORM 8-K - ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP | c66177e8vk.htm |
Exhibit 3.1, 4.1
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
These Articles of Amendment (the Articles of Amendment) to the Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation of Associated Banc-Corp, a corporation organized under Chapter 180 of the
Wisconsin Statutes (the Corporation), are executed by the undersigned for the purpose of
amending the Corporations Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. In accordance with the
provisions of Sections 180.0602 and 180.1002 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the amendment, set forth
below, to the Corporations Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation was adopted by the Board
of Directors of the Corporation without shareholder approval, which was not required.
ARTICLE I
The name of the Corporation is Associated Banc-Corp.
ARTICLE II
The following Articles of Amendment constituting an amendment to the Corporations Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation were adopted by the directors of the Corporation by unanimous
written consent on September 1, 2011, in accordance with Section 180.0602 of the Wisconsin
Statutes:
The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation are amended by adding the language set
forth below to ARTICLE III of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. As of the date
of these Articles of Amendment, the Corporation has not issued any shares of the 8.00% Perpetual
Preferred Stock, Series B, par value $1.00 per share.
(9) Designation of 8.00% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B.
(a) Series B Preferred Stock. There shall be a series of the Preferred Stock with the
following terms, preferences, limitations, and relative rights, in addition to those otherwise
expressed in these Articles of Incorporation or any amendment thereto.
(i) Designation. The distinctive designation of such series is 8.00% Perpetual Preferred
Stock, Series B (Series B Preferred Stock).
(ii) Number of Shares. The number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be 65,000.
Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total
number of authorized
shares of Preferred Stock that have not been designated as another series of Preferred Stock) or
decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding) by the
Board of Directors.
(iii) Definitions. As used herein with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock:
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.
Business Day means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on which
banking institutions in the City of New York are not authorized or obligated by law, regulation or
executive order to close.
Cumulative Dividend Period means the period prior to the Non-Cumulative Dividend
Period.
Dividend Parity Stock has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
(iv)(A)(5)(b).
Dividend Payment Date has the meaning assigned to such term in Section (iv)(A)(1).
Dividend Period means each period commencing on (and including) a Dividend Payment
Date and continuing to (but not including) the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date (except that
the first Dividend Period (i) for the initial issuance of Series B Preferred Stock shall commence
upon (and include) the Issue Date and (ii) for Series B Preferred Stock issued after the Issue
Date, shall commence upon (and include) the applicable Start Date).
Dividend Rate means a rate per annum equal to 8.00%.
Issue Date means the initial date of delivery of shares of Series B Preferred Stock.
Junior Stock means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the
Corporation hereafter authorized over which Series B Preferred Stock has preference in the payment
of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation.
Liquidation Event has the meaning assigned to such term in Section (vi)(A).
Non-Cumulative Dividend Period means the period commencing upon the effective date
of an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation permitting issuance of Preferred Stock that pays
non-cumulative dividends.
Optional Redemption has the meaning assigned to such term in Section (v)(A)(1).
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Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited
liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.
Preferred Stock Directors has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
(vii)(B)(1).
Regulatory Capital Treatment Event means the good faith determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of (i) any amendment to, or change in, the laws or regulations of the
United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes
effective after the initial issuance of any share of Series B Preferred Stock; (ii) any proposed
change in those laws or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of any share of
Series B Preferred Stock; or (iii) any official administrative decision or judicial decision or
administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or
regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of any share of Series B Preferred Stock,
there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the
full liquidation value of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock (assuming that the shares of
Series B Preferred Stock are non-cumulative whether or not the determination is made during the
Non-Cumulative Dividend Period) then outstanding as Tier 1 Capital (or its equivalent) for
purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, Regulation Y, 12 CFR 225 (or, as and if applicable, the capital adequacy guidelines or
regulations of any successor Appropriate Federal Banking Agency), as then in effect and applicable,
for as long as any share of Series B Preferred Stock is outstanding.
Regulatory Event Redemption has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
(v)(A)(2).
Start Date means, for each share of Series B Preferred Stock, (x) the Issue Date, if
such share was issued on the Issue Date, (y) if such share was not issued on the Issue Date, the
date of issue, if issued on a Dividend Payment Date, or (z) otherwise, the most recent Dividend
Payment Date preceding the date of issue of such share.
Voting Parity Stock has the meaning assigned to such term in Section (vii)(B)(1).
(iv) Dividends.
A. General.
(1) Dividend Payment Dates, Dividend Rate, Etc. Holders of Series B
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, only when, as and if declared by the
Board of Directors, or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, but
only out of funds legally available therefor, cash dividends computed in accordance
with Section (iv)(A)(3) and payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of each
March, June, September and December in each year (each such date a
Dividend Payment Date), commencing on December 15, 2011, to holders
of record on the 15th calendar day before such Dividend Payment Date or
such other record date not more than 60 nor less than 10 days preceding such
Dividend
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Payment Date fixed for that purpose by the Board of Directors or such
committee in advance of payment of each particular dividend. Notwithstanding any
other provision hereof, dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock shall not be
declared, paid or set aside for payment to the extent such act would cause the
Corporation to fail to comply with laws and regulations applicable thereto,
including applicable capital adequacy guidelines.
(2) Business Day Convention. If a Dividend Payment Date is not a
Business Day, the applicable dividend will be paid on the first Business Day
following that day without adjustment.
(3) Dividend Computation.
(a) The amount of the dividend computed per share of Series B Preferred
Stock on each Dividend Payment Date that occurs during the Cumulative
Dividend Period will be equal to (x) the sum of the amounts determined as
follows for each Dividend Period that has occurred since the Start Date for
that share of Series B Preferred Stock, less (y) the sum of all dividends
previously paid with respect to that share of Series B Preferred Stock:
Multiply the Dividend Rate by 0.25, and then multiply the result so obtained
by $1,000 (with the result of such calculation rounded upward if necessary
to the nearest .00001 of 1%); provided that, if the Dividend Period is
shorter than a full quarterly dividend period, multiply the result of that
calculation by a ratio the numerator of which is the sum of the calendar
days within each month encompassed by such Dividend Period (but not more
than 30 calendar days for any month) and the denominator of which is 90.
Any dividend payment actually made during the Cumulative Dividend Period on
shares of Series B Preferred Stock will first be credited against dividends
computed with respect to Dividend Periods for the shares of Series B
Preferred Stock for which dividends have not been paid in full, beginning
with the first such period. Dividends for any Dividend Period that ends
during the Cumulative Dividend Period that have not been paid on the regular
Dividend Payment Date may be declared and paid at any time during the
Cumulative Dividend Period, without reference to any Dividend Payment Date
for that Dividend Period, to holders of record of the Series B Preferred
Stock on such date as may be fixed by the Board of Directors or duly
authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
(b) The amount of the dividend computed per share of Series B Preferred
Stock on each Dividend Payment Date that occurs during the Non-Cumulative
Dividend Period will be equal to the Dividend Rate multiplied by 0.25, and
then multiplied by $1,000 (with the result of such calculation rounded
upward if necessary to the nearest .00001 of 1%);
provided that, if the Dividend Period is shorter than a full quarterly
dividend period, multiply the result of that calculation by a ratio the
numerator of which is the sum of the calendar days within each month
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encompassed by such Dividend Period (but not more than 30 calendar days for
any month) and the denominator of which is 90. During the Non-Cumulative
Dividend Period, dividends on shares of the Series B Preferred Stock shall
not be cumulative. To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares
of the Series B Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not
declared and paid, in full or otherwise, on such Dividend Payment Date, then
such unpaid dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be
payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the
holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive,
dividends accrued for such Dividend Period after the Dividend Payment Date
for such Dividend Period or interest with respect to such dividends, whether
or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with
respect to the Series B Preferred Stock.
(4) Dividend Payment Dates for Other Preferred Stock. For so long as
any shares of Series B Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not
issue any shares of Preferred Stock having any dividend payment date that is not
also a Dividend Payment Date for the Series B Preferred Stock.
(5) Priority of Dividends.
(a) So long as any of the shares of the Series B Preferred Stock are
outstanding, (1) no dividends (other than (a) dividends payable on Junior
Stock in Junior Stock and (b) cash in lieu of fractional shares in
connection with any such dividend) shall be paid or declared, in cash or
otherwise, nor shall any other distribution be made, on the Common Stock or
on any other Junior Stock and (2) the Corporation shall not purchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire for consideration any Junior Stock or shares of any
other series of Preferred Stock, unless, in either case (1) or (2), on the
payment date for such dividend, purchase, redemption, or other acquisition,
(a) the Corporation shall not be in default on its obligation to redeem any
of the shares of its Series B Preferred Stock called for redemption, (b) if
such payment date occurs during the Cumulative Dividend Period, dividends in
an amount computed in accordance with Section (iv)(A)(3)(a) for each share
of Series B Preferred Stock for all Dividend Periods through the Dividend
Payment Date for the then current Dividend Period have been paid or declared
and funds set aside therefor, and (c) if such payment date occurs during the
Non-Cumulative Dividend Period, dividends in an amount computed in
accordance with Section (iv)(A)(3)(b) for each share of Series B Preferred
Stock as of the Dividend Payment Date for the then current Dividend Period
have been paid or declared and funds set aside therefore.
(b) On any Dividend Payment Date during the Non-Cumulative Dividend
Period for which full dividends are not paid, or declared and funds set
aside therefor, on the Series B Preferred Stock and on any other class or
series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation ranking
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on a parity with Series
B Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends (any such class or series being
herein referred to as Dividend Parity Stock), all dividends paid
or declared for payment on that Dividend Payment Date with respect to the
Series B Preferred Stock and any Dividend Parity Stock shall be shared (1)
first ratably by the holders of such shares, if any, who have the right to
receive dividends with respect to dividend periods prior to the then current
Dividend Period (which shall not include the Series B Preferred Stock) but
for which such dividends were not declared and paid, in proportion to the
respective amounts of such undeclared or unpaid dividends relating to prior
Dividend Periods, and (2) thereafter by the holders of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock and Dividend Parity Stock on a pro rata basis.
(v) Redemption.
A. Redemption.
(1) Subject to the further terms and conditions provided herein, the
Corporation, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal
Banking Agency, may, upon notice given as provided in Section (v)(B), redeem shares
of the Series B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding in whole or in part, from
time to time, on any Dividend Payment Date on or after the Dividend Payment Date on
December 15, 2016 (Optional Redemption).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days following the occurrence of a
Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, the Corporation, at its option, subject to the
approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, at any time, all
(but not less than all) of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock at the time
outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section (v)(B) below, at the
redemption price applicable on such date of redemption (Regulatory Event
Redemption).
(2) If the redemption date, whether as a result of an Optional Redemption or
Regulatory Event Redemption, occurs during the Cumulative Dividend Period, the
redemption price per share of Series B Preferred Stock shall be cash in an amount
equal to $1,000 plus an amount computed in accordance with Section (iv)(A)(3)(a) for
such share of Series B Preferred Stock for all Dividend Periods through the Dividend
Payment Date next following the redemption date; provided that, for purposes of such
computation, the dividend computed for the Dividend Period in which the redemption
date occurs shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of days in such Dividend Period prior to the redemption date and the denominator of
which is the total number of days in such Dividend Period.
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(3) Non-Cumulative Dividend Period Redemption.
(a) If an Optional Redemption date occurs during the Non-Cumulative
Dividend Period, the redemption price per share of Series B Preferred Stock
shall be cash in an amount equal to $1,000 plus an amount equal to any
declared and unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend Periods to the
redemption date, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
(b) If a Regulatory Event Redemption date occurs during the
Non-Cumulative Dividend Period, the redemption price per share of Series B
Preferred Stock shall be cash in an amount equal to $1,000 plus an amount
equal to (i) any declared and unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend
Periods plus (ii) any accrued but unpaid and undeclared dividends for the
Dividend Period in which the redemption date occurs (if applicable)
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in
such Dividend Period prior to the redemption date, and the denominator of
which is the total number of days in such Dividend Period.
(4) The Series B Preferred Stock will not be subject to any sinking fund or
other obligation of the Corporation to redeem, repurchase or retire the Series B
Preferred Stock.
B. Notice of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock shall be mailed 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 Section
(v)(B) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder
receives such notice, and failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such
notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock
designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if the Series B Preferred Stock or any depositary shares representing interests in the
Series B Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depositary Trust Company
or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Series B
Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility. Each notice
shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock
to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by the holder are to be redeemed, the
number of shares to be redeemed from the holder; (iii) the redemption price; and (iv) the
place or places where the shares of Series B Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for
payment of the redemption price.
C. Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of
Series B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be
selected either pro rata or by lot or in such other manner as the Board of Directors or a
duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors may determine to be fair and equitable.
Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors or such committee
shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.
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D. Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given
and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the
redemption have been set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds,
in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as
to be and continue to be available therefor, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for
any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after
the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be 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 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.
(vi) Liquidation Rights.
A. Liquidation. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation (each a Liquidation
Event), after payment or provision for payment of debts and other liabilities of the
Corporation and before any distribution to the holders of shares of Common Stock or any
other Junior Stock, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive the
following out of the net assets of the Corporation, for each share of Series B Preferred
Stock: (1) if the Liquidation Event occurs during the Cumulative Dividend Period, an amount
equal to $1,000 plus an amount computed in accordance with Section (iv)(A)(3)(a) for such
share of Series B Preferred Stock for all Dividend Periods through the Dividend Payment Date
next following the date of the Liquidation Event; provided that, for purposes of such
computation, the dividend computed for the Dividend Period in which the Liquidation Event
occurs shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in
such Dividend Period prior to the date of the Liquidation Event and the denominator of which
is the total number of days in such Dividend Period; or (2) if the Liquidation Event occurs
during the Non-Cumulative Dividend Period, an amount equal to $1,000 plus an amount equal to
(i) any declared and unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend Periods plus (ii) any declared
and unpaid dividends for the Dividend Period in which the Liquidation Event occurs (if
applicable) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such
Dividend Period prior to the date of the Liquidation Event, and the denominator of which is
the total number of days in such Dividend Period.
B. Partial Payment. If the assets of the Corporation are insufficient to
permit the payment of the full preferential amounts payable in connection with a Liquidation
Event to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock
ranking on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon
a Liquidation Event, then the assets available for distribution to holders of shares of the
Series B Preferred Stock and each such other series of Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation shall be distributed ratably to the holders of
shares of the Series B Preferred Stock and each such other series of Preferred Stock in proportion to the full preferential amounts payable on their respective shares upon the
Liquidation Event.
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C. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. Neither the sale,
conveyance, lease, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other
consideration) of all or substantially all the property and assets of the Corporation, the
consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other entity, nor the merger or
consolidation of any other entity into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation for purposes of this Section (vi).
(vii) Voting Rights.
A. General. The holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall not have any voting
rights except as set forth in this Section (vii) or as otherwise required by law.
B. Right to Elect Two Directors Upon Non-Payment of Dividends.
(1) If and whenever dividends on Series B Preferred Stock and any other class
or series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation ranking on a parity with Series B
Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and having voting rights equivalent to
those provided in this Section (vii)(B) for the Series B Preferred Stock (any such
class or series being herein referred to as Voting Parity Stock) have not
been declared and paid in an aggregate amount, as to any such class or series, equal
to at least six quarterly dividends (whether or not consecutive) computed in
accordance with Section (iv)(A)(3) in the case of the Series B Preferred Stock, and
computed in accordance with the terms thereof in the case of any Voting Parity
Stock, the authorized number of directors then constituting the Board of Directors
shall be automatically increased by two and the holders of Series B Preferred Stock,
together with the holders of all other affected classes and series of Voting Parity
Stock similarly entitled to vote for the election of a total of two additional
directors, voting separately as a single class, shall be entitled to elect the two
additional members of the Corporations Board of Directors (the Preferred Stock
Directors) at any annual meeting of shareholders or any special meeting of the
holders of Series B Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock for which dividends
have not been paid, called as hereinafter provided, but only if the election of any
Preferred Stock Directors would not cause the Corporation to violate the corporate
governance requirement of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other exchange on
which its securities may be listed) that listed companies must have a majority of
independent directors. The Board of Directors shall at no time have more than two
Preferred Stock Directors.
(2) At any time after the voting power provided for in this Section (vii) shall
have been vested in the holders of Series B Preferred Stock and any Voting Parity
Stock, the Secretary of the Corporation may, and upon the written request of holders
of record of at least 20% of the outstanding shares of Series B
Preferred Stock and any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (addressed to
the Secretary at the principal office of the Corporation) shall, call a special
meeting of
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the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity
Stock having such voting rights, for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors,
such call to be made by notice similar to that provided in the bylaws for a special
meeting of the shareholders or as required by law. If any such special meeting so
required to be called shall not be called by the Secretary within 20 days after
receipt of any such request, then any holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock
may (at the Corporations expense) call such meeting, upon notice as herein
provided, and for that purpose shall have access to the shareholder records of the
Corporation. The Preferred Stock Directors elected at any such special meeting
shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the shareholders if such office
shall not have previously terminated as below provided. In case any vacancy shall
occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor shall be elected by the Board
of Directors to serve until the next annual meeting of the shareholders upon the
nomination of the then remaining Preferred Stock Directors or, if no Preferred Stock
Director remains in office, by the vote of the holders of record of a majority of
the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock for
which dividends have not been paid, voting as a single class.
(3) Whenever either (a) during the Cumulative Dividend Period, all dividends on
the Series B Preferred Stock computed in accordance with Section (iv)(A)(3)(a) and
any other cumulative Voting Parity Stock have been paid in full, or (b) during the
Non-Cumulative Dividend Period, (i) all dividends on any cumulative Voting Parity
Stock have been paid in full, (ii) full dividends computed in accordance with
Section (iv)(A)(3)(b) have been paid on the applicable Dividend Payment Dates on the
Series B Preferred Stock for at least one year and (iii) full dividends on any
non-cumulative Voting Parity Stock then outstanding have been paid in accordance
with the terms thereof for at least one year, then the right of the holders of
Series B Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock to elect such Preferred Stock
Directors shall cease (but subject always to the same provisions for the vesting of
such voting rights in the case of any similar non-payment of dividends in respect of
future Dividend Periods), and the terms of office of all Preferred Stock Directors
shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the Board of
Directors shall be reduced accordingly.
C. Other Voting Rights.
(1) So long as any shares of Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the
Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the Series B Preferred Stock outstanding at the time (voting
separately as a class): (i) authorize or create, or increase the authorized or
issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking
senior to the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the
distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or reclassify
any authorized shares of capital stock of the Corporation into any such shares, or
(ii)
amend, alter or repeal the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation,
whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely
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affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series B Preferred
Stock or the holders thereof; provided, however, that with respect to the occurrence
of any event set forth in clause (ii) above, so long as any shares of the Series B
Preferred Stock remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged or
new shares of the surviving corporation or entity are issued with the same terms as
the Series B Preferred Stock, in each case taking into account that upon the
occurrence of an event the Corporation may not be the surviving entity, the
occurrence of any such event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect
any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series B Preferred Stock or
the holders thereof, and provided, further, that (i) any increase in the amount of
the authorized Common Stock or Preferred Stock or the creation or issuance of any
Junior Stock or Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Series B Preferred
Stock with respect to payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or
non-cumulative) or distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up, and (ii) any change to the number of directors or number of classes of
directors, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights,
preferences, privileges or voting powers.
(2) On any matter on which the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to vote (as provided herein or by applicable law), including any action by
written consent, each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall have one vote per
share.
(3) The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time
when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be
effected, all outstanding Series B Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or
called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been set
aside by the Corporation for the benefit of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock
to effect such redemption.
(viii) Other Rights. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall not have any voting powers,
preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Articles of
Incorporation.
(ix) Additional Preferred Stock. The Corporation may authorize and issue additional shares of
Junior Stock and on any other class or series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation ranking on a
parity with Series B Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends (whether such dividends
are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, without the consent of the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Associated Banc-Corp has caused these Articles of Amendment to be executed
and sealed by its duly authorized officer on this 12th day of September, 2011.
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP |
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By: | /s/ Brian R. Bodager | |||
Name: | Brian R. Bodager | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
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