EX-3.1 3 d90539ex3-1.txt EX-3.1 RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION 1 EXHIBIT 3.1 DELL COMPUTER CORPORATION RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION This Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the corporation's Board of Directors on March 1, 2000 in accordance with Section 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. It only restates and integrates, and does not further amend, the provisions of the corporation's original Certificate of Incorporation (which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 22, 1987), as such original Certificate of Incorporation had theretofore been amended or supplemented. There is no discrepancy between those provisions and the provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation. FIRST: The name of the corporation is DELL COMPUTER CORPORATION. SECOND: The address of the registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the registered agent of the corporation at such address is Corporation Service Company. THIRD: The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the corporation is to engage in any lawful business, act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. FOURTH: The total number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be seven billion and five million (7,005,000,000), which shall consist of five million (5,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, of the par value of $.01 per share, and seven billion (7,000,000,000) shares of Common Stock, of the par value of $.01 per share. The following is a statement fixing certain of the designations and powers, voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights of the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock of the corporation, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, and the authority with respect thereto expressly granted to the Board of Directors of the corporation to fix any such provisions not fixed by this Certificate: I. Preferred Stock The Board of Directors is hereby expressly vested with the authority to adopt a resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, which shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Directors in such resolution or resolutions. The powers, voting powers, designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, of each series of Preferred Stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, if any, of such preferences and/or rights (collectively the "Series Terms"), shall be such as are stated and expressed in a resolution or resolutions providing for the creation or revision of such Series Terms (a "Preferred Stock Series Resolution") adopted by the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors to which such responsibility is specifically and lawfully delegated. The powers of the Board with respect to the Series Terms of a particular series (any of which powers, other than voting powers, may by resolution of the Board of Directors be 2 specifically delegated to one or more of its committees, except as prohibited by law) shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following: (1) The number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series, or any increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) in such number; (2) The dividend rate on the shares of that series, whether such dividends, if any, shall be cumulative, and, if so, the date or dates from which dividends payable on such shares shall accumulate, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends on shares of that series; (3) Whether that series shall have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights; (4) Whether that series shall have conversion privileges with respect to shares of any other class or classes of stock or of any other series of any class of stock, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate upon occurrence of such events as the Board of Directors shall determine; (5) Whether the shares of that series shall be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including their relative rights of priority, if any, of redemption, the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, provisions regarding redemption notices, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates; (6) Whether that series shall have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund; (7) The rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series; (8) The conditions or restrictions upon the creation of indebtedness of the corporation or upon the issuance of additional Preferred Stock or other capital stock ranking on a parity therewith, or senior thereto, with respect to dividends or distribution of assets upon liquidation; (9) The conditions or restrictions with respect to the issuance of, payment of dividends upon, or the making of other distributions to, or the acquisition or redemption of, shares ranking junior to the Preferred Stock or to any series thereof with respect to dividends or distribution of assets upon liquidation; and (10) Any other designations, powers, preferences, and rights, including, without limitation any qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof. 2 3 Any of the Series Terms, including voting rights, of any series may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside the Certificate of Incorporation and the Preferred Stock Series Resolution, provided that the manner in which such facts shall operate upon such Series Terms is clearly and expressly set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or in the Preferred Stock Series Resolution. Subject to the provisions of this Article Fourth, shares of one or more series of Preferred Stock may be authorized or issued from time to time as shall be determined by and for such consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof, in an aggregate amount not exceeding the total number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized by this Certificate of Incorporation. Except in respect of series particulars fixed by the Board of Directors or its committee as permitted hereby, all shares of Preferred Stock shall be of equal rank and shall be identical. All shares of any one series of Preferred Stock so designated by the Board of Directors shall be alike in every particular, except that shares of any one series issued at different times may differ as to the dates from which dividends thereon shall be cumulative. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, which was filed on December 4, 1995 and sets forth the Series Terms of the only series of Preferred Stock that is currently effective. II. Common Stock 1. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of any Preferred Stock Series Resolution, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends and at such times and in such manner as determined by the Board of Directors, declare and pay dividends on the Common Stock of the corporation. No dividend (other than a dividend in capital stock ranking on a parity with the Common Stock or cash in lieu of fractional shares with respect to such stock dividend) shall be declared or paid on any share or shares of any class of stock or series thereof ranking on a parity with the Common Stock in respect of payment of dividends for any dividend period unless there shall have been declared, for the same dividend period, like proportionate dividends on all shares of Common Stock then outstanding. 2. Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the corporation and payment or setting aside for payment of any preferential amount due to the holders of any other class or series of stock, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably any or all assets remaining to be paid or distributed. 3. Voting Rights. Subject to any special voting rights set forth in any Preferred Stock Series Resolution, the holders of the Common Stock of the corporation shall be entitled at all meetings of stockholders to one vote for each share of such stock held by them. III. Senior, Parity or Junior Stock Whenever reference is made in this Article Fourth to shares "ranking senior to" another class of stock or "on a parity with" another class of stock, such reference shall mean and 3 4 include all other shares of the corporation in respect of which the rights of the holders thereof as to the payment of dividends or as to distributions in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the corporation are given preference over, or rank on an equality with, as the case may be, the rights of the holders of such other class of stock. Whenever reference is made to shares "ranking junior to" another class of stock, such reference shall mean and include all shares of the corporation in respect of which the rights of the holders thereof as to the payment of dividends and as to distributions in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the corporation are junior and subordinate to the rights of the holders of such class of stock. Except as otherwise provided herein or in any Preferred Stock Series Resolution, each series of Preferred Stock ranks on a parity with each other and each ranks senior to the Common Stock. Common Stock ranks junior to the Preferred Stock. IV. Liquidation Notices Written notice of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the corporation, stating a payment date and the place where the distributable amounts shall be payable, shall be given by mail, postage prepaid, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the payment date stated therein, to the holders of record of the Preferred Stock, if any, at their respective addresses as the same shall appear on the books of the corporation. V. Reservation and Retirement of Shares The corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available, out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or out of shares of Common Stock held in its treasury, the full number of shares of Common Stock into which all shares of any series of Preferred Stock having conversion privileges from time to time outstanding are convertible. Unless otherwise provided in a Preferred Stock Series Resolution with respect to a particular series of Preferred Stock, all shares of Preferred Stock redeemed or acquired (as a result of conversion or otherwise) shall be retired and restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares. VI. No Preemptive Rights Subject to the provisions of any Preferred Stock Series Resolution, no holder of shares of stock of the corporation shall have any preemptive or other rights, except as such rights are expressly provided by contract, to purchase or subscribe for or receive any shares of any class, or series thereof, of stock of the corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized, or any warrants, options, bonds, debentures or other securities convertible into, exchangeable for or carrying any right to purchase any shares of any class, or series thereof, of stock; but subject to the provisions of any Preferred Stock Series Resolution, such additional shares of stock and such warrants, options, bonds, debentures or other securities convertible into, exchangeable for or carrying any right to purchase any shares of any class, or series thereof, of stock may be issued or disposed of by the Board of Directors to such persons, and on such terms and for such lawful consideration, as in its discretion it shall deem advisable or as to which the corporation shall have by binding contract agreed. 4 5 FIFTH: OMITTED SIXTH: The number of directors of the corporation shall be fixed as specified or provided for in the by-laws of the corporation. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the bylaws shall so provide. No holders of Preferred Stock or Common Stock of the corporation shall have any right to cumulate votes in the election of directors. SEVENTH: The directors shall be classified, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number a possible, as shall be provided in the manner specified in the by-laws of the Corporation, one class to be originally elected for a term expiring on the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 1992, another class to be originally elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 1993, and another class to be originally elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stock holders to be held in 1994, with each class to hold office until its successor is elected and qualified. At each annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election. Any director may be removed from office, but only for cause, by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then issued and outstanding. Cause shall mean willful and gross misconduct by the director that is materially adverse to the best interests of the Corporation, as determined conclusively by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Corporation. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or the sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders; any director so chosen shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, and until his successor shall be duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of the Corporation's voting stock issued and outstanding shall be required to alter, amend, adopt any provision inconsistent with or repeal this Article Seventh. EIGHTH: Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of the Corporation's stock issued and outstanding shall be required to alter, amend, adopt any provision inconsistent with or repeal this Article Eighth. NINTH: The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the by-laws of the Corporation or adopt new by-laws, without any action on the part of the stockholders, by the vote of a majority of the directors; provided, however, that no such adoption, amendment, or repeal shall be valid with respect to by-law provisions which have been adopted, amended, or repealed by the stockholders; and further provided, that by-laws adopted or amended by the Directors and any powers thereby conferred may be amended, altered, or repealed by the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, Article II Section 1, Article II Section 4, Article II 5 6 Section 12, Article III Section 6, Article III Section 7, Article III Section 12 and Article IX of the by-laws shall not be amended, repealed, altered or added to by the stockholders, and no provision inconsistent therewith shall be adopted by the stockholders without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the Corporation's voting stock issued and outstanding. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the Corporation's voting stock issued and outstanding shall be required to alter, amend, adopt any provision inconsistent with or repeal this Article Ninth. TENTH: A director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for such liability as is expressly not subject to limitation under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended to further limit or eliminate such liability. Moreover, the corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify any and all officers and directors of the corporation, and may, to the fullest extent permitted by law or to such lesser extent as is determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors, indemnify any and all other persons whom it shall have power to indemnify, from and against all expenses, liabilities or other matters arising out of their status as such or their acts, omissions or services rendered in such capacities. The corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability. ELEVENTH: The corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in the Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws of the corporation, from time to time, to amend the Certificate of incorporation or any provision thereof in any manner now or hereafter provided by law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the corporation by this Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereof are conferred subject to such right. I, the undersigned, being Secretary of the Corporation, do execute and file this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, having been so authorized by resolution of the corporation's Board of Directors dated March 1, 2001. /s/ THOMAS B. GREEN ------------------------------ Thomas B. Green 6 7 EXHIBIT A The attached Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, which was filed on December 4, 19995, is not affected by the filing of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and will remain in full force and affect. 8 CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS Of SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK Of DELL COMPUTER CORPORATION (Pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law) ------------------------------- Dell Computer Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Corporation", hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation as required by Section 151 of the General Corporation Law at a meeting duly called and held on November 29, 1995: RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the Board of Directors of this Corporation hereinafter called the "Board of Directors" or the "Board") in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a series of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Corporation and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and fixes the relative rights, preferences, and limitations thereof as follows: Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock: Section I. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be 200,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock. Section II. Dividends and Distributions. A. Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if 9 declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) 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 on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, 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. The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. C. 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, 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 10 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 not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof. Section III. 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 1000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, 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 any other Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation. C. Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, 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. Section IV. Certain Restrictions. A. Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 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: 11 1. declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; 2. declare or pay dividends, 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; 3. redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior 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 4. redeem or 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 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner. Section V. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled 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 subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law. Section VI. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of 12 stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received $1000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of 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 distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause (1) 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. Section VII. 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 each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1000 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 declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, 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. Section VIII. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable. 13 Section IX. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series of any other class of the Corporation's Preferred Stock. Section X. Amendment. The Certificate of Incorporation 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 at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chairman of the Board and attested by its Secretary this 29th day of November, 1995. /s/ MICHAEL S. DELL ------------------------------ Chairman of the Board Attest: /s/ THOMAS B. GREEN ------------------------ Secretary