EX-3.1 3 a2106522zex-3_1.htm EX-3.1
QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 3.1

SECOND ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
OF
AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUST, INC.

American Residential Investment Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, having its principal office in the State of Maryland in Baltimore (hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation"), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

FIRST: The Corporation desires to amend and restate its Charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of the corporation (which is hereinafter called the "Corporation") is:

American Residential Investment Trust, Inc.

ARTICLE II
PURPOSES

(a) The purposes for which and any of which the Corporation is formed and the business and objects to be carried on and promoted by it are:

(1): To engage in the business of direct loan origination and management of mortgage loan portfolios.
(2): To engage in any other lawful business or other activity, whether or not related to the business described elsewhere in this Article or to any other business at the time or theretofore engaged in by the Corporation.

(b) The foregoing enumerated purposes and objects shall be in no way limited or restricted by reference to, or inference from, the terms of any other clause of this or any other Article of the Charter of the Corporation, and each shall be regarded as independent; and they are intended to be and shall be construed as powers as well as purposes and objects of the Corporation and shall be in addition to and not in limitation of the general powers of corporations under the General Laws of the State of Maryland.

ARTICLE III
PRINCIPAL OFFICE

The present address of the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is:


		11 E. Chase Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202

ARTICLE IV
RESIDENT AGENT

The name and address of the resident agent of the Corporation are:


		National Registered Agents, Inc. of MD 11 E. Chase Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Said resident agent is a Maryland corporation.

ARTICLE V
CAPITAL STOCK

A. The total number of shares of Capital Stock of all classes which the Corporation has authority to issue is twenty-five million (25,000,000) shares of Capital Stock, par value one cent ($0.01) per share, amounting in aggregate par value to Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000). Twenty-Four Million Nine Hundred Thousand (24,900,00) of such shares are initially classified as "Common Stock." One Hundred Thousand (100,000) of shares of Capital Stock shall be designated as "Series A Preferred Stock." The Board of Directors may classify and reclassify any unissued shares of Capital Stock, whether now or hereafter authorized, by setting or changing in any one or more respects the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of such shares of Capital Stock. All persons who acquire shares of Capital Stock or securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of Capital Stock shall acquire such shares subject to the provisions of the Charter and Bylaws of the Corporation.

B. The following is a description of the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of the Common Stock of the Corporation:

(1): Each share of Common Stock shall have one vote, and, except as otherwise provided in respect of any class of Capital Stock hereafter classified or reclassified, the exclusive voting power for all purposes shall be vested in the holders of the Common Stock.
(2): Subject to the provisions of law and any preferences of any class of Capital Stock hereafter classified or reclassified, dividends, including dividends payable in shares of the Corporation's Capital Stock, may be paid ratably on the Common Stock of the Corporation at such time and in such amounts as the Board of Directors may deem advisable.
(3): In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and the amount to which the holders of any class of Capital Stock hereafter classified or reclassified having a preference on distributions in the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation shall be entitled, together with the holders of any other class of Capital Stock hereafter classified or reclassified not having a preference on distributions in the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, to share ratably in the remaining net assets of the Corporation.

C. The following is a description of the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock of the Corporation:

(1)

Dividends and Distributions:

(a): The dividend rate on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be for each quarterly dividend (hereinafter referred to as a "quarterly dividend period"), which quarterly dividend periods shall commence on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 each year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date") (or in the case of original issuance, from the date of original issuance) and shall end on and include the day next preceding the first date of the next quarterly dividend period, at a rate per quarterly dividend period (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $7.50 or (b) subject to the provisions for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in cash, based upon the fair market value at the time the non-cash dividend or other distribution is declared as determined in good faith by the Board of

Directors) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared (but not withdrawn) on the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation during the immediately preceding quarterly dividend period, or, with respect to the first quarterly dividend period, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event this Company shall at any time after February 26, 1999 (the "Rights Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(b): Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 45 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

(2)

Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

(a): Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(b): Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock

shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

(c): Except as set forth herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation and in the By-laws, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

(3): Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
(4): Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive the greater of (a) 3,000 per share, plus accrued dividends to the date of distribution, whether or not earned or declared, or (b) an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event pursuant to clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(5): Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(6): No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
(7): Fractional Shares. Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and have the benefit of all other rights of holders

of Series A Preferred Stock. All payments made with respect to fractional shares hereunder shall be rounded to the nearest whole cent.

(8)

Certain Restrictions:

(a)

Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 1 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

(i): declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;
(ii): declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii): redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv): purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

(b): The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 9, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

(9): Ranking. The Series A Preferred Stock shall be junior to all other Series of the Corporation's preferred stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any series shall provide otherwise.
(10): Amendment. The Charter of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock voting together as a single class.

D. Subject to the foregoing, the power of the Board of Directors to classify and reclassify any of the shares of Capital Stock shall include, without limitation, subject to the provisions of the Charter,

authority to classify or reclassify any unissued shares of such Capital Stock into a class or classes of preferred stock, preference stock, special stock, or other stock, and to divide and classify shares of any class into one or more series of such class, by determining, fixing or altering one or more of the following:

(1): The distinctive designation of such class or series and the number of shares to constitute such class or series; provided that, unless otherwise prohibited by the terms of such or any other class or series, the number of shares of any class or series may be decreased by the Board of Directors in connection with any classification or reclassification of unissued shares and the number of shares of such class or series may be increased by the Board of Directors in connection with any such classification or reclassification, and any shares of any class or series which have been redeemed, purchased, otherwise acquired or converted into shares of Common Stock or any other class or series shall become part of the authorized Capital Stock and be subject to classification and reclassification as provided in this subparagraph.
(2): Whether or not and, if so, the rates, amounts and times at which, and the conditions under which, dividends shall be payable on shares of such class or series, whether any such dividends shall rank senior or junior to or on a parity with the dividends payable on any other class or series of Capital Stock, and the status of any such dividends as cumulative, cumulative to a limited extent or noncumulative and as participating or nonparticipating.
(3): Whether or not shares of such class or series shall have voting rights in addition to any voting rights provided by law and, if so, the terms of such voting rights.
(4): Whether or not shares of such class or series shall have conversion or exchange privileges and, if so, the terms and conditions thereof, including provision for adjustment of the conversion or exchange rate in such events or at such times as the Board of Directors shall determine.
(5): Whether or not shares of such class or series shall be subject to redemption and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates; and whether or not there shall be any sinking fund or purchase account in respect thereof, and if so, the terms thereof.
(6): The rights of the holders of shares of such class or series upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation, which rights may vary depending upon whether such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is voluntary or involuntary and, if voluntary, may vary at different dates, and whether such rights shall rank senior or junior to or on a parity with such rights of any other class or series of Capital Stock.
(7): Whether or not there shall be any limitations applicable, while shares of such class or series are outstanding, upon the payment of dividends or making of distributions on, or the acquisition of, or the use of moneys for purchase or redemption of, any Capital Stock of the Corporation, or upon any other action of the Corporation, including action under this subparagraph, and, if so, the terms and conditions thereof.
(8): Any other preferences, rights, restrictions, including restrictions on transferability, and qualifications of shares of such class or series, not inconsistent with law and the Charter.

E. For the purposes hereof and of any Articles Supplementary hereto providing for the classification or reclassification of any shares of Capital Stock or of any other Charter document of the

Corporation (unless otherwise provided in any such Articles or document), any class or series of Capital Stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to rank:

(1): prior to another class or series either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if the holders of such class or series shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, as the case may be, in preference or priority to holders of such other class or series;
(2): on a parity with another class or series either as to dividends or upon liquidation, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates or redemption or liquidation price per share thereof be different from those of such others, if the holders of such class or series of stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or redemption or liquidation prices, without preference or priority over the holders of such other class or series; and
(3): junior to another class or series either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if the rights of the holders of such class or series shall be subject or subordinate to the rights of the holders of such other class or series in respect of the receipt of dividends or the amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, as the case may be.

ARTICLE VI
DIRECTORS

A. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The current number of directors of the Corporation is eight (8), which number may be increased or decreased pursuant to the Bylaws of the Corporation, but shall never be less than the minimum number permitted by the General Laws of the State of Maryland now or hereafter in force.

B. Effective upon the closing of the initial public offering of the Capital Stock of the Corporation under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws and thereafter, the directors shall be divided into three classes as follows: (1) the term of office of Class I shall be until the 1998 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified and thereafter shall be for three years and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified; (2) the term of office of Class II shall be until the 1999 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified and thereafter shall be for three years and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified; and (3) the term of office of Class III shall be until the 2000 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified and thereafter shall be for three years and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified. The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall initially designate the directors within each class, provided, however, that the number of directors in each class shall be as nearly equal as possible. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes as determined by the Board of Directors so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible. A director elected by stockholders shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

C. The Corporation has a classified board currently consisting of three Class I directors (H. James Brown, Ray W. McKewon and John C. Rocchio), two Class II directors (Keith Johnson and Richard T. Pratt) and three Class III directors (John M. Robbins, Jay Fuller and Mark Reidy), who will serve until the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2004, 2005 and 2003, respectively, and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.

D. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of preferred stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or other cause shall be filled by the required vote of the stockholders or by a majority of the remaining directors then in office, whether or not they constitute a quorum, the directors then in office. A director so chosen by the stockholders or remaining directors shall hold office for the balance of the term then remaining. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall affect the tenure of office of any director.

E. Whenever the holders of any one or more series of preferred stock of the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect one or more directors of the Corporation, the Board of Directors shall consist of such directors so elected in addition to the number of directors fixed as provided in paragraph A of this Article VI or in the Bylaws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except as otherwise may be required by law, whenever the holders of any one or more series of preferred stock of the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect one or more directors of the Corporation, the terms of the director or directors elected by such holders shall expire at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders.

F. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class separately entitled to elect one or more directors, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and then only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the combined voting power of all classes of shares of Capital Stock entitled to vote in the election for directors voting together as a single class.

ARTICLE VII
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

No holder of any Capital Stock or any other securities of the Corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized, shall have a preemptive right to subscribe for or purchase any Capital Stock or any other securities of the Corporation other than such, if any, as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may determine and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may fix; and any Capital Stock or other securities which the Board of Directors may determine to offer for subscription may, as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion shall determine, be offered to the holders of any class, series or type of Capital Stock or other securities at the time outstanding to the exclusion of the holders of any or all other classes, series or types of Capital Stock or other securities at the time outstanding.

ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION

The Corporation shall indemnify (A) its directors and officers, whether serving the Corporation or at its request any other entity, to the full extent required or permitted by the General Laws of the State of Maryland now or hereafter in force, including the advance of expenses under the procedures and to the full extent permitted by law and (B) other employees and agents whether serving the Corporation or at its request any other entity, to such extent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors or the Corporation's Bylaws and be permitted by law. The foregoing rights of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled. The Board of Directors may take such action as is necessary to carry out these indemnification provisions and is expressly empowered to adopt, approve and amend from time to time such Bylaws, resolutions or contracts implementing such provisions or such further indemnification arrangements as may be permitted by law. No amendment of the Charter of the Corporation or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the right to indemnification provided hereunder with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal or shall eliminate the rights granted under

indemnification agreements entered into by the Corporation and its directors, officers, employees and agents.

ARTICLE IX
PERSONAL LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by Maryland statutory or decisional law, as amended or interpreted, no director or officer of this Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages. No amendment of the Charter of the Corporation or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the benefits provided to directors and officers under this provision with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such amendment or repeal.

ARTICLE X
DIRECTOR DISCRETION

With respect to any proposed merger, acquisition, business combination or other similar transaction or proposal, a director of the Corporation, in determining what is in the best interests of the Corporation, shall consider the interest of the stockholders of the Corporation and, in his or her discretion, may consider (i) the interests of the Corporation's employees, suppliers, creditors and customers, (ii) the economy of the nation, (iii) community and societal interests and (iv) the long-term as well as short-term interests of the Corporation and its stockholders, including the possibility that these interests may be best served by the continued independence of the Corporation. Pursuant to this provision, the Board of Directors may consider numerous judgmental or subjective factors affecting a proposal, including certain nonfinancial matters, and on the basis of these considerations may oppose a business combination or other transaction which, as an exclusively financial matter, might be attractive to some, or a majority, of the Corporation's stockholders. If the Board of Directors determines that any proposed Business Combination (as defined in Section 3-601 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland) or actual or proposed transaction which would or may involve a change in control of the Corporation should be rejected, it may take any lawful action to defeat such transaction, including, but not limited to, any or all of the following: advising stockholders not to accept the proposal; instituting litigation against the party making the proposal; filing complaints with governmental and regulatory authorities; acquiring the stock or any of the securities of the Corporation; selling or otherwise issuing authorized but unissued stock, other securities or granting options or rights with respect thereto, acquiring a company to create an antitrust or other regulatory problem for the party making the proposal; and obtaining a more favorable offer from another individual or entity.

ARTICLE XI
MAJORITY VOTE

Notwithstanding any provision of law requiring the authorization of any action by a greater proportion than a majority of the total number of shares of all classes of Capital Stock or of the total number of shares of any class of Capital Stock, such action shall be valid and effective if authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of all classes outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, except as otherwise provided in the Charter.

ARTICLE XII
SHARE ISSUANCE

The Board of Directors is hereby empowered to authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of its Capital Stock of any class, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of its Capital Stock of any class or classes, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as may be deemed advisable by the Board of Directors and without any action by the stockholders.

ARTICLE XIII
CHARTER AMENDMENTS

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in the Charter, including any amendments changing the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any of its outstanding stock by classification, reclassification or otherwise, by a majority of the directors' adopting a resolution setting forth the proposed change, declaring its advisability, and either calling a special meeting of the stockholders entitled to vote on the proposed change, or directing the proposed change to be considered at the next annual stockholders meeting. Unless otherwise provided herein, the proposed change will be effective only if it is adopted upon the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate votes entitled to be cast thereon (considered for this purpose as a single class); provided, however, that any amendment to, repeal of or adoption of any provision inconsistent with Article VI or this Article XIII will be effective only if it is also advised by at least two-thirds of the Board of Directors and adopted upon the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the aggregate votes entitled to be cast thereon (considered for this purpose as a single class).

ARTICLE XIV
DIRECTORS' POWERS

The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Board of Directors included in the foregoing Articles shall in no way be limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other Article of the Charter of the Corporation, or construed as or deemed by inference or otherwise in any manner to exclude or limit any powers conferred upon the Board of Directors under the General Laws of the State of Maryland now or hereafter in force.

The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall, consistent with applicable law, have power in its sole discretion to determine from time to time in accordance with sound accounting practice or other reasonable valuation methods what constitutes annual or other net profits, earnings, surplus, or net assets in excess of capital; to fix and vary from time to time the amount to be reserved as working capital, or determine that retained earnings or surplus shall remain in the hands of the Corporation; to set apart out of funds of the Corporation such reserve or reserves in such amount or amounts and for such proper purpose or purposes as it shall determine and to abolish any such reserve or any part thereof; to distribute and pay distributions or dividends in Capital Stock, cash or other securities or property, out of surplus or any other funds or amounts legally available therefore, at such times and to the stockholders of record on such dates as it may, from time to time, determine; and to determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the books, accounts and documents of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of stockholders, except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Bylaws, and, except as so provided, no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any book, account or document of the Corporation unless authorized to do so by resolution of the Board of Directors.

For any stockholder proposal to be presented in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, including any proposal relating to the nomination of a director to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the stockholders must have given timely written notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation in the manner and containing the information required by the Bylaws. Stockholder proposals to be presented in connection with a special meeting of stockholders will be presented by the Corporation only to the extent required by Section 2-502 of the MGCL and the Bylaws.

ARTICLE XV
DURATION

The duration of the Corporation shall be perpetual.

ARTICLE XVI
DEFINITIONS

The following terms shall have the meanings provided below when used in the Charter:

Board of Directors. The term "Board of Directors" shall mean the board of directors of the Corporation, as it may be constituted from time to time.

Bylaws. The term "Bylaws" shall mean the Corporation's bylaws adopted by the Board of Directors, as they may be amended from time to time.

Capital Stock. The term "Capital Stock" shall mean all classes or series of stock of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Common Stock and Preferred Stock.

Charter. The term "Charter" shall mean the charter of the Corporation, as that term is defined in the MGCL.

Corporation. The term "Corporation" shall mean the corporation formed by these Articles of Incorporation, as they may be amended from time to time.

MGCL. The term "MGCL" shall mean the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.

* * * *

SECOND: This amendment to and restatement of the Charter of the Corporation has been duly advised by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by law.

THIRD: This amendment and restatement of the Charter of the Corporation does not increase the authorized stock of the Corporation.

FOURTH: The undersigned President of the Corporation acknowledges these Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned President of the Corporation acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and attested by its Secretary on this 17 day of January, 2003.

		AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUST, INC.
By: /s/ CLAYTON STRITTMATTER Name: Clayton Strittmatter Title: Secretary		By: /s/ JAY M. FULLER Name: Jay M. Fuller Title: President and Chief Operating Officer

QuickLinks

Exhibit 3.1

SECOND ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUST, INC.