AMBASE CORPORATION
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/s/ John Ferrara
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By: John Ferrara, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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July 9, 2024
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ATTEST:
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/s/ Richard A. Bianco
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Richard A. Bianco
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I. |
The Cumulative Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, the shares of each series to have such designations and powers, preferences and rights, and qualifications, limitations
and restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors as hereafter provided.
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II. |
Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors of the Company, subject to the provisions of this Article Fourth, to authorize the issue of one or more series of Cumulative Preferred Stock,
and with respect to each series to fix by resolution or resolutions providing for the issues of such series:
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(a)
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The number of shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock which shall comprise such series and the distinctive designation thereof;
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(b)
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The dividend rate or rates (which may be contingent upon the happening of certain events) on the shares of such series, the date or dates from which dividends shall accumulate as
herein provided and the quarterly dates on which dividends, if declared, shall be payable;
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(c)
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Whether or not the shares of such series shall be redeemable, the limitations and restrictions with respect to such redemption, the manner of selecting shares of such series for
redemption if fewer than all shares are to be redeemed, and the amount, if any, in addition to any accrued dividends thereon which the holders of shares of such series shall be entitled to receive upon the redemption thereof, which amount
may vary at different redemption dates and may be different with respect to shares redeemed through the operation of any purchase, retirement or sinking fund and with respect to shares otherwise redeemed;
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(d)
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The amount in addition to any accrued dividends thereon which the holders of shares of such series shall be entitled to receive upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, which amount shall not be less than par value but otherwise may vary depending on whether such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is voluntary or involuntary and, if voluntary, may vary at
different dates (the amount so payable upon such involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, exclusive of accrued dividends, being hereinafter sometimes called the “involuntary liquidation value”);
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(e)
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Whether or not the shares of such series shall be subject to the operation of a purchase, retirement or sinking fund, and, if so, whether such purchase, retirement or sinking fund
shall be cumulative or noncumulative, the extent to and the manner in which such fund shall be applied to the purchase or redemption of the shares of such series for retirement or to other corporate purposes and the terms and provisions
relative to the operation thereof;
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(f)
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Whether or not the shares of such series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of stock of any other class or classes, or of any other series of the same class, or for
any other securities of the Company, and if so convertible or exchangeable, the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjusting the same;
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(g)
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The voting powers, if any, of such series in addition to the voting powers provided in paragraphs X and XI of this Section A; and
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(h)
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Any other preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof as shall not be inconsistent with the
Section A.
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III.
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All shares of any one series of Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be identical with each other in all respects, except that shares of any one series issued at different
times may differ as to the dates from which dividends thereon shall be cumulative; and all series shall rank equally and be identical in all respects, except as permitted by the foregoing provisions of paragraph II of this Section A.
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IV.
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Before any dividends on any class or classes of stock of the Company ranking junior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock (other than dividends payable in shares of any
class or classes of stock of the Company ranking junior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock) shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment, the holders of shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock of each series shall be entitled to
such cash dividends, but only when and as declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor, as they may be entitled to in accordance with the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors
providing for the issue of such series, payable quarterly on such dates as may be fixed in such resolution or resolutions in each year to holders of record on the respective dates not exceeding fifty (50) days preceding such dividend
payment dates as may be determined by the Board of Directors in advance of the payment of each particular dividend. Such dividends shall be cumulative from the date or dates fixed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board
of Directors providing for the issue of such series, which date or dates shall in no instance be more the ninety (90) days before or after the date of the initial issuance of shares of such series then to be issued. Dividends in full
shall not be declared or paid or set apart for payment on the Cumulative Preferred Stock of any one series for any dividend period unless dividends in full have been declared or paid or set apart payment on the Cumulative Preferred
Stock of all series for all dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date. When the dividends are not paid in full on all series of the Cumulative Preferred Stock, the shares of all series shall share ratably in the
payment of dividends, including accumulations, if any, in accordance with the sums which would be payable on said shares if all dividends were declared and paid in full. A “dividend period” is the period between any two consecutive
dividend payment dates (or, when shares are originally issues, the period from the date from which dividends are cumulative to the first dividend payment date) as fixed for a particular series. Accruals of dividends shall not bear
interest.
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V.
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In the event of any liquidation, dissolution nor winding up the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, before any payment or distribution of the assets of the
Company shall be made to or set apart for the holders of shares of any class or classes of stock of the Company ranking junior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock, the holders of the shares of each series of the Cumulative Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to receive payment of the amount per share fixed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of the shares of such series, plus an amount equal to all dividends
accrued thereon to the date of final distribution to such holders, but they shall be entitled to no further payment. If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the assets of the Company, or proceeds thereof,
distributable among the holders of the shares of the Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount aforesaid, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among such holders
ratably in accordance with the respective amounts which would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full. For the purposes of this paragraph V., the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash,
shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or a consolidation or merger of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company with
one or more corporations shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voluntary or involuntary.
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VI.
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To the extent and (subject to the provisions of this paragraph VI and paragraphs VII through IX of this Section A) upon the terms fixed in the resolution or
resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of any such series, the Company, at the option of the Board of Directors, may redeem at any time the whole or from time to time any part of the Cumulative Preferred
Stock of any series at the outstanding, at the amount fixed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of the series of such shares, plus in every case an amount equal to all accrued
dividends with respect to each share so to be redeemed (the total sum so payable on any such redemption being in this Section A referred to as the “redemption price”). Notice of every such redemption, stating the redemption date, the
redemption price and the place of payment thereof, shall be mailed at least thirty (30) and not more than sixty (60) days in advance of the date designated for such redemption to the holders of record of the shares of Cumulative
Preferred Stock so to be redeemed at their respective addresses as the same shall appear on the books of the Company. A similar notice shall be published at least once in a daily newspaper printed in the English language and
published and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York. In order to facilitate the redemption of any shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock that may be selected for redemption as provided in this
paragraph VI, the Board of Directors is authorized to cause the transfer books of the Company to be closed as to such shares at any time not exceeding fifty (50) days prior to the date designated for redemption thereof. In case of
the redemption of a part only of any series of Cumulative Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of such series so to be redeemed shall be selected in such manner as may be fixed in the resolution or resolutions adopted
by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of such series, or in the event such manner of selection is not fixed in such resolution or resolutions, such shares shall be selected pro rata or by lot as the Board of Directors may
from time to time determine. The Board of Directors shall have full power and authority, subject to the limitations and provisions herein contained, to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which the Cumulative Preferred Stock
shall be redeemed from time to time.
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VII.
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If after the giving of such notice but before the redemption date specified therein, the Company shall deposit with a bank or trust company, having a capital and
surplus of at least $5,000,000, in trust to be applied to the redemption of the shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock so called for redemption, the funds necessary for such redemption, then from and after the date of such deposit all
rights of the holders of the shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall cease and terminate, excepting only the right to receive the redemption price therefore, but without interest, and such shares shall not
thereafter be deemed to be outstanding. Any funds so deposited which shall not be required for such redemption because of the exercise of any right of conversion or exchange subsequent to the date of such deposit shall be returned to
the Company. In case the holders of shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock which shall have been called for redemption shall not, within six (6) years after the date fixed for redemption, claim the amount deposited with respect to the
redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Company such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof to such holder
and such holder shall look only to the Company for the payment thereof. Any interest accrued on funds so deposited shall be paid to the Company from time to time.
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VIII.
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Shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock which have been redeemed or purchased or retired through the operation of a purchase, retirement or sinking fund or which have
been converted into shares of any other class or classes of stock of the Company ranking junior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock, upon compliance with any applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, s hall have
the status of authorized and unissued shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock and may be reissued as a part of the series of which they were originally a part (if the terms of such series do not prohibit such reissue) or as part of a new
series of Cumulative Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors or as part of any other series of Cumulative Preferred Stock the terms of which do not prohibit such reissue.
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IX.
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If at any time the Company shall have failed to pay dividends in full on the Cumulative Preferred Stock, thereafter and until dividends in full, including all accrued
and unpaid dividends to the next preceding dividend payment date on the Cumulative Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been declared and set apart in trust for payment or paid, or if at any time the Company shall have failed to pay
in full amounts payable with respect to any obligations to retire shares of the Cumulative Preferred Stock, thereafter and until such amounts shall have been paid in full or set apart in trust for payment, (a) the Company, without the
affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the Cumulative Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at a special meeting called for the
purpose, at which the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock shall vote separately as a class, regardless of series, shall not redeem less than all of the Cumulative Preferred Stock at such time outstanding, other than in
accordance with paragraph XV of this Section A, and (b) the Company shall not purchase any Cumulative Preferred Stock except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing to all holders of Cumulative Preferred Stock of all
series upon such terms as the Board of Directors, in their sole discretion after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series, shall determine (which
determination shall be final and conclusive) will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series; provided that (i) the Company, to meet the requirement of any purchase, retirement or sinking fund provisions with
respect to any series, may use shares of such series acquired by it prior to such failure and then held by it as treasury stock and (ii) nothing shall prevent the Company from completing the purchase or redemption of shares of
Cumulative Preferred Stock for which a purchase contract was entered into for any purchase, retirement or sinking fund purposes, or the notice of redemption of which was initially mailed, prior to such default.
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X.
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So long as any of the Cumulative Preferred Stock is outstanding the Company:
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(a)
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Will not declare or pay, or set apart for payment, any dividends (other than dividends payable in shares of any class or classes of stock of the Company ranking
junior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock), or make any distribution on any class or classes or stock of the Company ranking junior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock, and will not redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, whether
voluntarily, for a sinking fund or otherwise, any shares of any class or classes of stock of the Company ranking junior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock, if at the time of making such declaration, payment, setting apart,
distribution, redemption, purchase or acquisition the Company shall be in default with respect to any dividend payable on or any obligation to retire shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock, provided that notwithstanding the foregoing
the Company may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of stock of any such junior class in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds from the concurrent sale of other shares of stock of any such junior class;
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(b)
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Will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of all the Cumulative Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, given in person or
by proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at a special meeting called for the purpose, at which the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock, regardless of series, shall vote separately as a class, (i) create any other
class or classes of stock ranking prior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, or create any stock or other security convertible into or exchangeable for or evidencing the right to purchase any
such stock so ranking prior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock, or increase the authorized number of shares of any such other class of stock or other security, or (ii) amend, later or repeal (by any means, including, without
limitation, merger or consolidation) any of the provision of this Section A so as to materially adversely affect the preferences, rights or powers of the Cumulative Preferred Stock; and
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(c)
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Will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of any series of the Cumulative Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, given in
person or by proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at a special meeting called for the purpose (the holders of such series of the Cumulative Preferred Stock consenting or voting, as the case may be, separately as a class),
amend, alter or repeal (by any means, including, without limitation, merger or consolidation) any of the provisions herein or in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of such series so
as to materially adversely affect the preferences, rights or powers of the Cumulative Preferred Stock of such series.
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The Company may, without any vote or consent of the holders of shares of any series of Cumulative Preferred Stock, (a) increase the number of shares of authorized Common Stock, whether
or not the shares of one or more series of Cumulative Preferred Stock have general voting rights, and (b) increase the authorized number of shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock.
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XI.
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Whenever dividends payable on all shares of the Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be in default in a n aggregate amount equal to six (6) full quarterly dividends on
the shares of all Cumulative Preferred Stock then outstanding, the number of directors then constituting the Board of Directors of the Company shall ipso facto be increased by two (2), and the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have, in addition to any other voting rights, the exclusive and special right, voting separately as a class and without
regard to series, to elect two (2) directors of the Company to fill such newly created directorships. Whenever such right of the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have vested, such right may be exercised initially
either at a special meeting of such holders of the cumulative Preferred Stock called as provided in paragraph XII of this Section A, or any annual meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders. The right
of the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock voting separately as a class to elect members of the Board of Directors or the Company as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on all series of
Cumulative Preferred Stock to the dividend payment date next preceding the date of any such determination shall have been paid in full, or declared and set apart in trust for payment, at which time the special right of the holders of
the Cumulative Preferred Stock so to vote separately as a class for the election of directors shall terminate, subject to retesting in the event of each and every subsequent default in an aggregate amount equal to six (6) full
quarterly dividends as above provided. Upon such termination the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be reduced as provided in paragraph XIV of this Section A.
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XII.
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At any time when such special voting power shall have vested in the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph XI of this Section A, a proper
officer of the Company shall, upon the written request of the holders of record of at least 10% of the Cumulative Preferred Stock then outstanding, regardless of series, addressed to the Secretary of the Company, call a special
meeting of the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock for the purpose of electing directors. Such meeting shall be held at the earliest practicable date at the place for the holding of annual meetings of stockholders of the
Company. If such meeting shall not be called by the proper officers of the Company within twenty (20) days after personnel service of the said written request upon the Secretary of the Company, or within twenty (20) days after
mailing the same within the United States of America, by registered mail addressed to the Secretary of the Company at its principal office, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Cumulative Preferred Stock then outstanding,
regardless of series, may designate in writing one of their number to call such meeting at the expense of the Company, and such meeting may be called by such person so designated upon the notice required for annual meetings of
stockholders and shall be held at the place for the holding of annual meeting of stockholders of the Company. Any holder of Cumulative Preferred Stock so designated shall have access to the stock books of the Company for the purpose
of causing meetings of stockholders to be called pursuant to these provisions. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph XII, no such special meeting shall be called during the period within ninety (90) days immediately
preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of stockholders.
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XIII.
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At any meeting held for the purpose of electing directors at which the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have the special right, voting separately as a
class, to elect directors as provided in paragraph XI of this Section A, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of 33 1/3% of the Cumulative Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be required to constitute a quorum of
such class for the election of any director by the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock as a class. At any such meeting or adjournment thereof: (a) the absence of a quorum of the Cumulative Preferred Stock shall not prevent the
election of directors other than those to be elected by the Cumulative Preferred Stock voting as a class and the absence of a quorum for the election of such other directors shall not prevent the election of the directors to be
elected by the Cumulative Preferred Stock voting as a class; and (b) in the absence of either or both such quorums, a majority of the holders present in person or by proxy of the stock or stocks which lack a quorum shall have power to
adjourn the meeting for the election of directors which they are entitled to elect from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting until a quorum shall be present.
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XIV.
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During any period when the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock have the right to vote as a class for directors as provided in paragraph XI of this Section A:
(a) the directors so elected by the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been elected by such holders or until termination of the right of the holders or the Cumulative
Preferred Stock to vote as a class for directors; and (b) any vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be filled only by vote of a majority (even if that be only a single director) of the remaining directors theretofore elected by
the holders of the class or classes of stock which elected the director whose office shall have become vacant. Immediately upon any termination of the right of holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock to vote as a class for
directors as provided in paragraph XI of the Section A: (a) the term of office of the directors then in office so elected by the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock shall terminate; and (b) the number of directors shall be such
number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of said paragraph XI.
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XV.
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If in any case the amounts payable with respect to any obligation to retire shares of the Cumulative Preferred Stock are not paid in full in the case of all series
with respect to which such obligations exist, the number of shares of each of such series to be retired pursuant to any such obligations shall be in proportion to the respective amounts which would be payable on account of such
obligations if all amounts payable in respect of such series were discharged in full.
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XVI.
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No holder of Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have any pre-emptive right to subscribe to stock, obligations, warrants, rights to subscribe to stock or other
securities of the Company of any class, whether now or hereafter authorized.
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XVII.
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The term “class or classes of stock of the Company ranking junior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock” shall mean the Common Stock referred to in Section B of this
Article Fourth and any other class or classes of stock of the Company hereafter authorized which shall rank junior to the Cumulative Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation.
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I.
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Subject to the provision of law and the preference of the Cumulative Preferred Stock, dividends may be paid on the Common Stock of the Company at such time and in such amounts as the Board of Directors
may deem advisable.
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II.
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The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to effect the elimination of shares of its Common Stock purchased or otherwise reacquired by the Company from the authorized capital stock or number of
shares of the Company in the manner provided for in the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
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III.
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No holder of Common Stock shall have any pre-emptive right to subscribe to stock, obligations, warrants, rights to subscribe to stock or other securities of the Company of any class whether now or
hereafter authorized.
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