FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES INC
8-A12G, 1999-03-08
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-A


                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                         First Federal Bankshares, Inc.
              ____________________________________________________
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


             Delaware                                 42-1485449
________________________________________________________________________________
(State of Incorporation or Organization)    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)



329 Pierce Street, Sioux City, Iowa                          51101         
________________________________________________________________________________
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                   (Zip Code)

If this form relates to the                If this form relates to the
registration of a class of securities      registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the           Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act and is effective              Exchange Act and is effective
pursuant to General Instruction            pursuant to General Instruction
A.(c), please check the following          A.(d), please check the following
box.|_|                                    box.|X|

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
333-69245

                                                                                
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

     None                                                  N/A             
________________________________________________________________________________
(Title of Class)                          (Name of Each Exchange on Which
                                              Each Class is to be Registered)


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:


                   Common Stock par value $0.01 per share 
                  ________________________________________
                             (Title of Class)





<PAGE>



Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.


         For a description of the Registrant's securities,  reference is made to
"Description of Capital Stock of First Federal  Bankshares,"  "Dividend  Policy"
and "Market for the Common Stock" in the Registrant's  Prospectus filed pursuant
to Rule 424(b)(3) of the Securities  Act of 1933 (File No.  333-69245)  which is
hereby  incorporated  by reference.  For a description  of the provisions of the
Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws that may render a change in
control of the Registrant more difficult,  reference is made to "Restrictions on
the  Acquisition  of First Federal  Bankshares" in the  Registrant's  Prospectus
referenced above.


Item 2.  Exhibits.

         1.       Pre-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on
                  Form S-1 (Registration Number 333-69245) dated February 12, 
                  1999 is hereby incorporated by reference.

         2.       Prospectus  filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) of the Securities
                  Act of 1933 (File No.  333-69245)  filed  February 26, 1999 is
                  hereby incorporated by reference.

         3.       Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.

         4.       Bylaws  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.2  of the
                  Registration  Statement  on Form S-1 as filed on December  18,
                  1998).

         5.       Specimen  Stock  Certificate  (incorporated  by  reference  to
                  Exhibit 4 of the  Registration  Statement on Form S-1 as filed
                  on December 18, 1998).






<PAGE>




                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 12 of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant  has duly caused this  registration  statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.


                                      FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC.



Date:    March 8, 1999               By:/s/ Barry E. Backhaus            
                                      ------------------------------     
                                      Barry E. Backhaus
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer


































<PAGE>






                                    EXHIBIT 3

                    CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED











































<PAGE>



                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                            BEFORE PAYMENT OF CAPITAL
                                       OF
                         FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC.


FIRST: That Paragraph A of Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation be
     and hereby is amended to read as follows:

         FOURTH:

         A. The  total  number  of  shares  of all  classes  of stock  which the
Corporation shall have  authority  to issue is  thirteen  million  (13,000,000)
consisting of:

     1.   One million  (1,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, par value one cent
          ($.01) per share (the "Preferred Stock"); and

     2.   Twelve million (12,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value one cent
          ($.01) per share (the "Common Stock").


SECOND: That the corporation has not received any payment for any of its stock.


THIRD: That the amendment was duly adopted in accordance  with the provisions of
     Section 241 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.


<PAGE>



          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  First Federal  Bankshares,  Inc. has caused this
     Certificate to be signed by its President and Chief Executive  Officer this
     24th day of February, 1999.



                                           /s/Barry E. Backhaus                
                                           ____________________________________
                                           Barry E. Backhaus
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer







































<PAGE>



                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                         FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC.

     FIRST:  The name of the  Corporation  is  First  Federal  Bankshares,  Inc.
(hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation").

     SECOND:  The address of the  registered  office of the  Corporation  in the
State of Delaware is Corporation  Trust Center,  1209 Orange Street, in the City
of Wilmington,  County of New Castle.  The name of the registered  agent at that
address is The Corporation Trust Company.

     THIRD:  The  purpose of the  Corporation  is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General  Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.

     FOURTH:

         A. The  total  number  of  shares  of all  classes  of stock  which the
Corporation  shall  have  authority  to issue  is  twenty  million  (20,000,000)
consisting of:

                  1. Two million  (2,000,000)  shares of  Preferred  Stock,  par
         value one cent ($.01) per share (the "Preferred Stock"); and

                  2. Eighteen million  (18,000,000)  shares of Common Stock, par
         value one cent ($.01) per share (the "Common Stock").

     B.  The  Board of  Directors  is  authorized,  subject  to any  limitations
prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of the shares of Preferred  Stock
in series,  and by filing a certificate  pursuant to the  applicable  law of the
State  of  Delaware  (such  certificate  being  hereinafter  referred  to  as  a
"Preferred  Stock  Designation"),  to establish  from time to time the number of
shares to be included in each such series,  and to fix the designation,  powers,
preferences,   and   rights  of  the   shares  of  each  such   series  and  any
qualifications,  limitations or restrictions  thereof.  The number of authorized
shares of  Preferred  Stock may be  increased  or  decreased  (but not below the
number  of shares  thereof  then  outstanding)  by the  affirmative  vote of the
holders of a majority of the Common Stock,  without a vote of the holders of the
Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof,  unless a vote of any such holders is
required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation.

     C.  1.   Notwithstanding   any  other  provision  of  this  Certificate  of
Incorporation,  in no event  shall any record  owner of any  outstanding  Common
Stock which is beneficially owned,  directly or indirectly,  by a person who, as
of any record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote on any
matter,  beneficially  owns in excess of 10% of the  then-outstanding  shares of
Common Stock (the "Limit"),  be entitled, or permitted to any vote in respect of
the shares held in excess of the Limit. The number of votes which may be cast by
any record owner by virtue of the  provisions  hereof in respect of Common Stock
beneficially  owned by such person owning shares in excess of the Limit shall be
a number equal to the total  number of votes which a single  record owner of all
Common  Stock owned by such person  would be entitled to cast,  multiplied  by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of such class or series
which are both  beneficially  owned by such  person  and owned of record by such
record  owner  and the  denominator  of which is the  total  number of shares of
Common Stock  beneficially  owned by such person  owning shares in excess of the
Limit.

          2. The  following  definitions  shall apply to this  Section C of this
     Article FOURTH:

                      (a)  "Affiliate"  shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
                           Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
                           the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on
                           the   date  of   filing   of  this   Certificate   of
                           Incorporation.



<PAGE>



                    (b)  "Beneficial  ownership" shall be determined pursuant to
                         Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and  Regulations  under
                         the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (or any successor
                         rule or  statutory  provision),  or, if said Rule 13d-3
                         shall be rescinded and there shall be no successor rule
                         or statutory  provision thereto,  pursuant to said Rule
                         13d-3  as in  effect  on the  date  of  filing  of this
                         Certificate of Incorporation; provided, however, that a
                         person  shall,  in  any  event,   also  be  deemed  the
                         "beneficial owner" of any Common Stock:

                    (1)  which such person or any of its affiliates beneficially
                         owns, directly or indirectly; or

                    (2)  which such person or any of its  affiliates has (i) the
                         right to acquire  (whether  such  right is  exercisable
                         immediately   or  only  after  the  passage  of  time),
                         pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding
                         (but shall not be deemed to be the beneficial  owner of
                         any  voting  shares  solely by reason of an  agreement,
                         contract, or other arrangement with this Corporation to
                         effect any transaction which is described in any one or
                         more of clauses of Section A of Article EIGHTH) or upon
                         the exercise of  conversion  rights,  exchange  rights,
                         warrants,  or  options  or  otherwise,  or (ii) sole or
                         shared voting or investment  power with respect thereto
                         pursuant to any agreement, arrangement,  understanding,
                         relationship  or otherwise  (but shall not be deemed to
                         be the beneficial  owner of any voting shares solely by
                         reason of a revocable  proxy  granted for a  particular
                         meeting   of   stockholders,   pursuant   to  a  public
                         solicitation of proxies for such meeting,  with respect
                         to shares of which  neither  such  person  nor any such
                         Affiliate is otherwise deemed the beneficial owner); or

                    (3)  which is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
                         any other person with which such first mentioned person
                         or any of its Affiliates acts as a partnership, limited
                         partnership,  syndicate or other group  pursuant to any
                         agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose
                         of  acquiring,  holding,  voting  or  disposing  of any
                         shares of capital stock of this Corporation;

                    and  provided  further,  however,  that (1) no  Director  or
                    Officer of this  Corporation  (or any  Affiliate of any such
                    Director or Officer)  shall,  solely by reason of any or all
                    of such Directors or Officers acting in their  capacities as
                    such, be deemed,  for any purposes  hereof,  to beneficially
                    own any Common  Stock  beneficially  owned by  another  such
                    Director  or Officer  (or any  Affiliate  thereof),  and (2)
                    neither any employee stock ownership plan or similar plan of
                    this Corporation or any subsidiary of this Corporation,  nor
                    any trustee  with respect  thereto or any  Affiliate of such
                    trustee (solely by reason of such capacity of such trustee),
                    shall be deemed,  for any purposes  hereof,  to beneficially
                    own any Common Stock held under any such plan.  For purposes
                    of computing the percentage  beneficial  ownership of Common
                    Stock of a person the outstanding Common Stock shall include
                    shares deemed owned by such person  through  application  of
                    this subsection but shall not include any other Common Stock
                    which may be  issuable by this  Corporation  pursuant to any
                    agreement,  or upon exercise of conversion rights,  warrants
                    or  options,  or  otherwise.  For all  other  purposes,  the
                    outstanding  Common  Stock shall  include  only Common Stock
                    then  outstanding  and shall not  include  any Common  Stock
                    which may be  issuable by this  Corporation  pursuant to any
                    agreement,  or  upon  the  exercise  of  conversion  rights,
                    warrants or options, or otherwise.

                    (c)  A   "person"   shall   mean   any   individual,   firm,
                         corporation, or other entity.

          3. The Board of  Directors  shall have the power to construe and apply
     the provisions of this section and to make all determinations  necessary or
     desirable  to  implement  such  provisions,  including  but not  limited to
     matters  with  respect  to (i)  determining  the number of shares of Common
     Stock beneficially owned by any person,  (ii) determining  whether a person
     is an  affiliate  of  another,  (iii)  determining  whether a person has an
     agreement,  arrangement,  or  understanding  with another as to the matters
     referred to in the definition of beneficial ownership, (iv) determining the
     application of any other  definition or operative  provision of the section
     to the given facts, or (v) any other matter  relating to the  applicability
     or effect of this section.


<PAGE>



          4. The Board of  Directors  shall  have the  right to demand  that any
     person who is  reasonably  believed  to  beneficially  own Common  Stock in
     excess of the Limit (or holds of record Common Stock  beneficially owned by
     any person in excess of the Limit)  supply the  Corporation  with  complete
     information as to (i) the record owner(s) of all shares  beneficially owned
     by such  person who is  reasonably  believed to own shares in excess of the
     Limit,  (ii) any other  factual  matter  relating to the  applicability  or
     effect of this section as may reasonably be requested of such person.

          5. Except as otherwise  provided by law or expressly  provided in this
     section,  the presence,  in person or by proxy, of the holders of record of
     shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitling the holders thereof to
     cast a majority of the votes (after  giving  effect,  if  required,  to the
     provisions of this section) entitled to be cast by the holders of shares of
     capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum
     at  all  meetings  of  the  stockholders,   and  every  reference  in  this
     Certificate of  Incorporation  to a majority or other proportion of capital
     stock (or the  holders  thereof)  for  purposes of  determining  any quorum
     requirement or any requirement for stockholder consent or approval shall be
     deemed to refer to such  majority or other  proportion of the votes (or the
     holders  thereof) then entitled to be cast in respect of such capital stock
     giving effect to the provisions of this Article FOURTH.

          6. Any  constructions,  applications,  or  determinations  made by the
     Board of Directors  pursuant to this section in good faith and on the basis
     of such  information  and assistance as was then  reasonably  available for
     such purpose shall be conclusive and binding upon the  Corporation  and its
     stockholders.

          7. In the event any  provision  (or portion  thereof) of this  section
     shall be found to be invalid,  prohibited or unenforceable  for any reason,
     the remaining provisions (or portions thereof) of this section shall remain
     in full  force and  effect,  and  shall be  construed  as if such  invalid,
     prohibited  or  unenforceable  provision  had  been  stricken  herefrom  or
     otherwise  rendered  inapplicable,  it being the intent of this Corporation
     and its stockholders that such remaining  provision (or portion thereof) of
     this section remain, to the fullest extent permitted by law, applicable and
     enforceable as to all stockholders, including stockholders owning an amount
     of stock over the Limit, notwithstanding any such finding.

         FIFTH: The following  provisions are inserted for the management of the
business  and the  conduct of the  affairs of the  Corporation,  and for further
definition,  limitation and regulation of the powers of the  Corporation  and of
its Directors and stockholders:

                      A. The  business and affairs of the  Corporation  shall be
         managed  by or  under  the  direction  of the  Board of  Directors.  In
         addition to the powers and authority  expressly  conferred upon them by
         statute or by this  Certificate of  Incorporation  or the Bylaws of the
         Corporation,  the Directors  are hereby  empowered to exercise all such
         powers and do all such acts and things as may be  exercised  or done by
         the Corporation.

                      B. The Directors of the Corporation need not be elected by
         written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

                      C. 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  stockholders  of the Corporation and may
         not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.

                      D. Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may
         be  called  only by the Board of  Directors  pursuant  to a  resolution
         adopted by a majority of the total number of  authorized  directorships
         whether  or not there  exist any  vacancies  in  previously  authorized
         directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board
         for  adoption  (the  "Whole  Board") or as  otherwise  provided  in the
         Bylaws.



         SIXTH:

         A. The number of Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively
by the Board of Directors  pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the
Whole Board. The Directors shall be divided into three classes, with the term of
office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders,
the term of office of the


<PAGE>



second class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders one year thereafter
and the term of office of the third  class to expire at the  annual  meeting  of
stockholders two years thereafter with each director to hold office until his or
her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. At each annual meeting
of stockholders  following such initial  classification and election,  Directors
elected to succeed  those  Directors  whose terms  expire shall be elected for a
term of office to expire at the third succeeding  annual meeting of stockholders
after  their  election  with  each  director  to hold  office  until  his or her
successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

         B.  Subject  to the rights of the  holders  of any series of  Preferred
Stock then outstanding,  newly created directorships resulting from any increase
in the authorized number of Directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors
resulting from death, resignation,  retirement,  disqualification,  removal from
office or other  cause may be filled  only by a majority  vote of the  Directors
then in office,  though less than a quorum,  and  Directors so chosen shall hold
office for a term expiring at the annual  meeting of  stockholders  at which the
term of office of the class to which they have been chosen expires.  No decrease
in the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the
term of any incumbent Director.

         C.  Advance  notice of  stockholder  nominations  for the  election  of
Directors  and of business to be brought by  stockholders  before any meeting of
the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the
Bylaws of the Corporation.

         D.  Subject  to the rights of the  holders  of any series of  Preferred
Stock then outstanding,  any Director, or the entire Board of Directors,  may be
removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the  affirmative
vote of the  holders of at least 80  percent  of the voting  power of all of the
then-outstanding  shares of capital  stock of the  Corporation  entitled to vote
generally in the election of Directors (after giving effect to the provisions of
Article FOURTH of this Certificate of Incorporation ("Article FOURTH")),  voting
together as a single class.

         SEVENTH:  The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend
or repeal the Bylaws of the  Corporation.  Any adoption,  amendment or repeal of
the  Bylaws of the  Corporation  by the Board of  Directors  shall  require  the
approval  of a majority of the Whole  Board.  The  stockholders  shall also have
power to  adopt,  amend or  repeal  the  Bylaws  of the  Corporation;  provided,
however,  that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of
stock  of  the   Corporation   required  by  law  or  by  this   Certificate  of
Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80 percent of the
voting power of all of the  then-outstanding  shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation  entitled to vote  generally  in the  election of  Directors  (after
giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH),  voting together as a single
class,  shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal any provisions of the Bylaws
of the Corporation.


         EIGHTH:

         A.  In  addition  to any  affirmative  vote  required  by  law or  this
Certificate of Incorporation, and except as otherwise expressly provided in this
section:

                  1. any  merger  or  consolidation  of the  Corporation  or any
         Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with (i) any Interested Stockholder
         (as hereinafter  defined) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not
         itself an  Interested  Stockholder)  which is, or after such  merger or
         consolidation  would be, an Affiliate  (as  hereinafter  defined) of an
         Interested Stockholder; or

                  2. any sale, lease, exchange,  mortgage,  pledge,  transfer or
         other  disposition (in one transaction or a series of  transactions) to
         or with any Interested Stockholder,  or any Affiliate of any Interested
         Stockholder,  of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having
         an aggregate  Fair Market Value (as  hereinafter  defined)  equaling or
         exceeding 25% or more of the combined assets of the Corporation and its
         Subsidiaries; or

                  3.  the  issuance  or  transfer  by  the  Corporation  or  any
         Subsidiary  (in one  transaction  or a series of  transactions)  of any
         securities  of the  Corporation  or any  Subsidiary  to any  Interested
         Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested  Stockholder in exchange
         for cash,  securities  or other  property  (or a  combination  thereof)
         having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) equaling
         or exceeding 25% of the


<PAGE>



         combined Fair Market Value of the then-outstanding  common stock of the
         Corporation and its Subsidiaries, except to an employee benefit plan of
         the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof; or

                  4. the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
         dissolution  of  the  Corporation  proposed  by  or  on  behalf  of  an
         Interested  Stockholder or any Affiliate of an Interested  Stockholder;
         or

                  5. any  reclassification of securities  (including any reverse
         stock split), or recapitalization of the Corporation,  or any merger or
         consolidation  of the Corporation  with any of its  Subsidiaries or any
         other transaction  (whether or not with or into or otherwise  involving
         an  Interested   Stockholder)   which  has  the  effect,   directly  or
         indirectly,  of increasing the  proportional  share of the  outstanding
         shares  of  any  class  of  equity  or  convertible  securities  of the
         Corporation or any Subsidiary  which is directly or indirectly owned by
         an   Interested   Stockholder   or  any   Affiliate  of  an  Interested
         Stockholder;

shall require the affirmative  vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting
power of the  then-outstanding  shares of stock of the  Corporation  entitled to
vote in the election of Directors  (the "Voting  Stock") (after giving effect to
the  provisions of Article  FOURTH),  voting  together as a single  class.  Such
affirmative vote shall be required  notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be
required,  or that a lesser percentage may be specified,  by law or by any other
provisions  of  this   Certificate  of  Incorporation  or  any  Preferred  Stock
Designation  or in any  agreement  with  any  national  securities  exchange  or
otherwise.

         The term  "Business  Combination"  as used in this Article EIGHTH shall
mean any  transaction  which is referred to in any one or more of  paragraphs  1
through 5 of Section A of this Article EIGHTH.

         B. The  provisions  of Section A of this  Article  EIGHTH  shall not be
applicable to any particular Business Combination, and such Business Combination
shall  require  only the  affirmative  vote of the  majority of the  outstanding
shares of capital stock  entitled to vote, or such vote as is required by law or
by  this  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  if,  in  the  case  of  any  Business
Combination that does not involve any cash or other consideration being received
by the stockholders of the Corporation  solely in their capacity as stockholders
of the Corporation,  the condition specified in the following paragraph 1 is met
or,  in the  case  of any  other  Business  Combination,  all of the  conditions
specified in either of the following paragraphs 1 or 2 are met:

                  1. The  Business  Combination  shall  have  been  approved  by
         two-thirds of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined).

                  2. All of the following conditions shall have been met:

                      (a)  The aggregate  amount of the cash and the Fair Market
                           Value  as of  the  date  of the  consummation  of the
                           Business Combination of consideration other than cash
                           to be  received  per share by the  holders  of Common
                           Stock in such Business  Combination shall at least be
                           equal to the higher of the following:

                           (1) (if  applicable)  the Highest Per Share Price (as
                               hereinafter  defined),  including  any  brokerage
                               commissions,   transfer   taxes  and   soliciting
                               dealers' fees, paid by the Interested Stockholder
                               or any of its Affiliates for any shares of Common
                               Stock  acquired  by it (i)  within  the  two-year
                               period  immediately  prior  to the  first  public
                               announcement  of the  proposal  of  the  Business
                               Combination (the "Announcement Date"), or (ii) in
                               the  transaction in which it became an Interested
                               Stockholder, whichever is higher.

                           (2) the Fair Market  Value per share of Common  Stock
                               on the Announcement  Date or on the date on which
                               the Interested  Stockholder  became an Interested
                               Stockholder  (such  latter date is referred to in
                               this Article EIGHTH as the "Determination Date"),
                               whichever is higher.

                      (b)  The aggregate  amount of the cash and the Fair Market
                           Value  as of  the  date  of the  consummation  of the
                           Business Combination of consideration other than cash
                           to be received


<PAGE>



                           per  share  by  holders  of  shares  of any  class of
                           outstanding  Voting  Stock  other than  Common  Stock
                           shall  be at  least  equal  to  the  highest  of  the
                           following (it being intended that the requirements of
                           this  subparagraph  (b) shall be  required  to be met
                           with  respect  to every  such  class  of  outstanding
                           Voting   Stock,   whether   or  not  the   Interested
                           Stockholder  has previously  acquired any shares of a
                           particular class of Voting Stock):

                           (1) (if  applicable)  the Highest Per Share Price (as
                               hereinafter  defined),  including  any  brokerage
                               commissions,   transfer   taxes  and   soliciting
                               dealers' fees, paid by the Interested Stockholder
                               for any  shares  of such  class of  Voting  Stock
                               acquired  by it (i)  within the  two-year  period
                               immediately  prior to the  Announcement  Date, or
                               (ii) in the  transaction  in which it  became  an
                               Interested Stockholder, whichever is higher;

                           (2) (if applicable) the highest  preferential  amount
                               per share to which the  holders of shares of such
                               class of Voting  Stock are  entitled in the event
                               of  any  voluntary  or  involuntary  liquidation,
                               dissolution or winding up of the Corporation; and

                           (3) the Fair Market  Value per share of such class of
                               Voting Stock on the  Announcement  Date or on the
                               Determination Date, whichever is higher.

                    (c)  The  consideration  to  be  received  by  holders  of a
                         particular class of outstanding Voting Stock (including
                         Common  Stock)  shall be in cash or in the same form as
                         the Interested  Stockholder has paid for shares of such
                         class of Voting Stock.  If the  Interested  Stockholder
                         has  previously  paid for shares of any class of Voting
                         Stock with varying forms of consideration,  the form of
                         consideration  to be  received  per share by holders of
                         shares of such  class of Voting  Stock  shall be either
                         cash or the form used to acquire the largest  number of
                         shares  of  such  class  of  Voting  Stock   previously
                         acquired  by  the  Interested  Stockholder.  The  price
                         determined in accordance with  subparagraph B.2 of this
                         Article   EIGHTH   shall  be  subject  to   appropriate
                         adjustment  in the event of any stock  dividend,  stock
                         split, combination of shares or similar event.

                    (d)  After  such   Interested   Stockholder  has  become  an
                         Interested Stockholder and prior to the consummation of
                         such Business Combination:  (1) except as approved by a
                         majority of the  Disinterested  Directors,  there shall
                         have been no failure to declare  and pay at the regular
                         date therefor any full quarterly  dividends (whether or
                         not  cumulative)  on  any   outstanding   stock  having
                         preference  over the Common  Stock as to  dividends  or
                         liquidation; (2) there shall have been (i) no reduction
                         in the  annual  rate of  dividends  paid on the  Common
                         Stock  (except as necessary to reflect any  subdivision
                         of the Common Stock),  except as approved by a majority
                         of the Disinterested Directors, and (ii) an increase in
                         such annual rate of  dividends  as necessary to reflect
                         any  reclassification   (including  any  reverse  stock
                         split), recapitalization, reorganization or any similar
                         transaction which has the effect of reducing the number
                         of outstanding  shares of the Common Stock,  unless the
                         failure to so increase  such annual rate is approved by
                         a  majority  of the  Disinterested  Directors;  and (3)
                         neither  such  Interested  Stockholder  or  any  of its
                         Affiliates  shall have become the  beneficial  owner of
                         any additional shares of Voting Stock except as part of
                         the  transaction   which  results  in  such  Interested
                         Stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder.

                    (e)  After  such   Interested   Stockholder  has  become  an
                         Interested  Stockholder,  such  Interested  Stockholder
                         shall  not  have  received  the  benefit,  directly  or
                         indirectly  (except  proportionately as a stockholder),
                         of any loans,  advances,  guarantees,  pledges or other
                         financial  assistance  or any tax  credits or other tax
                         advantages  provided  by the  Corporation,  whether  in
                         anticipation  of or in  connection  with such  Business
                         Combination or otherwise.

                    (f)  A  proxy  or  information   statement   describing  the
                         proposed  Business  Combination  and complying with the
                         requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
                         the rules and regulations thereunder (or any subsequent
                         provisions  replacing such Act,  rules or  regulations)
                         shall be mailed to  stockholders  of the Corporation at
                         least 30 days prior to the


<PAGE>



                           consummation of such Business Combination (whether or
                           not such proxy or  information  statement is required
                           to be  mailed  pursuant  to  such  Act or  subsequent
                           provisions).

         C. For the purposes of this Article EIGHTH:

                  1. A "Person" shall include an  individual,  a group acting in
         concert, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint venture,
         a pool, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated  organization
         or similar  company,  a  syndicate  or any other  group  formed for the
         purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities.

                  2. "Interested  Stockholder" shall mean any person (other than
         the  Corporation or any holding  company or Subsidiary  thereof) who or
         which:

                      (a) is the beneficial  owner,  directly or indirectly,  of
                  more than 10% of the voting  power of the  outstanding  Voting
                  Stock; or

                      (b) is an  Affiliate  of the  Corporation  and at any time
                  within the two-year  period  immediately  prior to the date in
                  question was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly,  of
                  10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding Voting
                  Stock; or

                      (c) is an assignee of or has  otherwise  succeeded  to any
                  shares of  Voting  Stock  which  were at any time  within  the
                  two-year  period  immediately  prior to the  date in  question
                  beneficially  owned  by an  Interested  Stockholder,  if  such
                  assignment or succession  shall have occurred in the course of
                  a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public
                  offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.

                  3. For purposes of this Article EIGHTH, "beneficial ownership"
         shall be  determined  in the  manner  provided  in Section C of Article
         FOURTH hereof.

                  4.  "Affiliate"  and  "Associate"  shall  have the  respective
         meanings  ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
         Regulations under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on
         the date of filing of this Certificate of Incorporation.

                  5.  "Subsidiary"  means any corporation of which a majority of
         any class of equity security is owned,  directly or indirectly,  by the
         Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition
         of Interested Stockholder set forth in paragraph 2 of this section, the
         term "Subsidiary"  shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of
         each class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly,  by the
         Corporation.

                  6.  "Disinterested  Director" means any member of the Board of
         Directors who is unaffiliated with the Interested Stockholder and was a
         member of the Board of Directors  prior to the time that the Interested
         Stockholder became an Interested  Stockholder,  and any Director who is
         thereafter  chosen to fill any vacancy of the Board of Directors or who
         is  elected  and  who,  in  either  event,  is  unaffiliated  with  the
         Interested  Stockholder  and in  connection  with  his  or her  initial
         assumption of office is  recommended  for  appointment or election by a
         majority of Disinterested Directors then on the Board of Directors.

                  7. "Fair Market  Value" means:  (a) in the case of stock,  the
         highest  closing  sales  price of the stock  during the  30-day  period
         immediately  preceding the date in question of a share of such stock on
         the National  Association  of Securities  Dealers  Automated  Quotation
         System or any  system  then in use,  or, if such stock is  admitted  to
         trading on a principal  United States  securities  exchange  registered
         under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  Fair Market Value shall be
         the highest sales price reported during the 30-day period preceding the
         date in question,  or, if no such  quotations are  available,  the Fair
         Market  Value  on the  date in  question  of a share  of such  stock as
         determined  by the Board of Directors in good faith,  in each case with
         respect to any class of stock,  appropriately adjusted for any dividend
         or  distribution  in  shares  of  such  stock  or any  stock  split  or
         reclassification  of  outstanding  shares of such  stock into a greater
         number of shares of such stock or any  combination or  reclassification
         of outstanding shares of such stock into a smaller number


<PAGE>



         of shares of such  stock,  and (b) in the case of  property  other than
         cash or stock,  the Fair Market  Value of such  property on the date in
         question as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.

                  8.  Reference  to "Highest Per Share Price" shall in each case
         with respect to any class of stock  reflect an  appropriate  adjustment
         for any dividend or  distribution  in shares of such stock or any stock
         split or  reclassification  of outstanding  shares of such stock into a
         greater  number  of  shares  of  such  stock  or  any   combination  or
         reclassification  of  outstanding  shares of such  stock into a smaller
         number of shares of such stock.

                  9. In the  event of any  Business  Combination  in  which  the
         Corporation  survives,  the phrase "consideration other than cash to be
         received"  as used in  subparagraphs  (a)  and  (b) of  paragraph  2 of
         Section B of this  Article  EIGHTH  shall  include the shares of Common
         Stock and/or the shares of any other class of outstanding  Voting Stock
         retained by the holders of such shares.

         D. A majority of the Directors of the Corporation  shall have the power
and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article  EIGHTH,  on the basis of
information  known to them after  reasonable  inquiry (a) whether a person is an
Interested  Stockholder;  (b) the number of shares of Voting Stock  beneficially
owned by any  person;  (c)  whether a person is an  Affiliate  or  Associate  of
another;  and (d)  whether  the assets  which are the  subject  of any  Business
Combination  have,  or the  consideration  to be  received  for the  issuance or
transfer of  securities  by the  Corporation  or any  Subsidiary in any Business
Combination  has an aggregate Fair Market Value equaling or exceeding 25% of the
combined  Fair  Market  Value of the  common  stock of the  Corporation  and its
Subsidiaries.  A  majority  of the  Directors  shall have the  further  power to
interpret all of the terms and provisions of this Article EIGHTH.

         E.  Nothing  contained  in this  Article  EIGHTH  shall be construed to
relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.

         F.   Notwithstanding  any  other  provisions  of  this  Certificate  of
Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote
or no vote,  but in  addition  to any  affirmative  vote of the  holders  of any
particular class or series of the Voting Stock required by law, this Certificate
of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock Designation, the affirmative vote of the
holders  of  at  least  80   percent   of  the  voting   power  of  all  of  the
then-outstanding  shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class,
shall be required to alter, amend or repeal this Article EIGHTH.

         NINTH: The Board of Directors of the  Corporation,  when evaluating any
offer of another  Person (as  defined  in Article  EIGHTH  hereof) to (A) make a
tender or exchange offer for any equity security of the  Corporation,  (B) merge
or  consolidate  the  Corporation  with  another  corporation  or  entity or (C)
purchase or otherwise  acquire all or  substantially  all of the  properties and
assets of the Corporation,  may, in connection with the exercise of its judgment
in  determining  what  is in the  best  interest  of  the  Corporation  and  its
stockholders, give due consideration to all relevant factors, including, without
limitation,  the social and economic  effect of  acceptance of such offer on the
Corporation's  present  and  future  customers  and  employees  and those of its
Subsidiaries (as defined in Article EIGHTH hereof);  on the communities in which
the Corporation and its Subsidiaries  operate or are located;  on the ability of
the  Corporation  to fulfill its corporate  objectives as a savings bank holding
company  and on the  ability  of its  subsidiary  savings  bank to  fulfill  the
objectives of a stock savings bank under applicable statutes and regulations.

         TENTH:

         A. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a
party to or is otherwise  involved in any action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether
civil, criminal,  administrative or investigative  (hereinafter a "proceeding"),
by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a  Director  or an Officer of the
Corporation  or is or  was  serving  at the  request  of  the  Corporation  as a
Director, Officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture,  trust or other enterprise,  including service with respect to an
employee benefit plan (hereinafter an  "indemnitee"),  whether the basis of such
proceeding  is alleged  action in an official  capacity as a Director,  Officer,
employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a Director, Officer,
employee or agent,  shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to
the fullest extent  authorized by the Delaware  General  Corporation Law, as the
same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment,
only to the  extent  that such  amendment  permits  the  Corporation  to provide
broader indemnification rights than such


<PAGE>



law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such  amendment),  against all
expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments,  fines, ERISA
excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or
suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith;  provided,  however,  that,
except as provided in Section C hereof with  respect to  proceedings  to enforce
rights to  indemnification,  the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee
in connection  with a proceeding (or part thereof)  initiated by such indemnitee
only if such  proceeding  (or  part  thereof)  was  authorized  by the  Board of
Directors of the Corporation.

         B. The right to indemnification  conferred in Section A of this Article
TENTH  shall  include  the  right  to be paid by the  Corporation  the  expenses
incurred in defending any such  proceeding  in advance of its final  disposition
(hereinafter  an  "advancement of expenses");  provided,  however,  that, if the
Delaware General  Corporation Law requires,  an advancement of expenses incurred
by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a Director or Officer (and not in any
other  capacity  in  which  service  was  or is  rendered  by  such  indemnitee,
including,  without  limitation,  service to an employee  benefit plan) shall be
made only upon delivery to the  Corporation  of an undertaking  (hereinafter  an
"undertaking"),  by or on behalf of such  indemnitee,  to repay all  amounts  so
advanced if it shall  ultimately be determined by final  judicial  decision from
which there is no further right to appeal  (hereinafter a "final  adjudication")
that such  indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified  for such expenses under
this Section or otherwise.  The rights to indemnification and to the advancement
of  expenses  conferred  in  Sections  A and B of this  Article  TENTH  shall be
contract  rights and such  rights  shall  continue as to an  indemnitee  who has
ceased to be a  Director,  Officer,  employee  or agent  and shall  inure to the
benefit of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators.

         C. If a claim under Section A or B of this Article TENTH is not paid in
full by the  Corporation  within  sixty  days  after a  written  claim  has been
received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of
expenses,  in which  case  the  applicable  period  shall be  twenty  days,  the
indemnitee  may at any time  thereafter  bring suit against the  Corporation  to
recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any
such suit, or in a suit brought by the  Corporation to recover an advancement of
expenses  pursuant  to the  terms of an  undertaking,  the  indemnitee  shall be
entitled to be paid also the expense of  prosecuting  or defending such suit. In
(i) any suit  brought by the  indemnitee  to enforce a right to  indemnification
hereunder  (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an
advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the
Corporation to recover an  advancement  of expenses  pursuant to the terms of an
undertaking  the  Corporation  shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a
final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable  standard for
indemnification  set forth in the Delaware General  Corporation Law. Neither the
failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors,  independent legal
counsel,  or its  stockholders)  to  have  made  a  determination  prior  to the
commencement  of such suit that  indemnification  of the indemnitee is proper in
the  circumstances  because the indemnitee  has met the  applicable  standard of
conduct  set  forth in the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law,  nor an  actual
determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors,  independent
legal  counsel,  or its  stockholders)  that  the  indemnitee  has not met  such
applicable  standard of conduct,  shall create a presumption that the indemnitee
has not met the  applicable  standard  of conduct or, in the case of such a suit
brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the
indemnitee  to  enforce  a right  to  indemnification  or to an  advancement  of
expenses hereunder,  or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses
pursuant  to the  terms  of an  undertaking,  the  burden  of  proving  that the
indemnitee  is  not  entitled  to be  indemnified,  or to  such  advancement  of
expenses, under this Article TENTH or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

         D. The rights to  indemnification  and to the  advancement  of expenses
conferred in this Article  TENTH shall not be exclusive of any other right which
any person may have or hereafter  acquire under any statute,  the  Corporation's
Certificate  of  Incorporation,  Bylaws,  agreement,  vote  of  stockholders  or
disinterested Directors or otherwise.

         E. The Corporation may maintain  insurance,  at its expense, to protect
itself  and any  Director,  Officer,  employee  or agent of the  Corporation  or
another  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,  trust or other  enterprise
against any expense,  liability or loss,  whether or not the  Corporation  would
have the power to indemnify such person against such expense,  liability or loss
under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

         F. The Corporation  may, to the extent  authorized from time to time by
the Board of Directors,  grant rights to indemnification  and to the advancement
of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of
the  provisions  of this Article TENTH with respect to the  indemnification  and
advancement of expenses of Directors and Officers of the Corporation.


<PAGE>


         ELEVENTH: A Director of this 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  liability  (i) for any breach of the
Director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts
or omissions  not in good faith or which  involve  intentional  misconduct  or a
knowing  violation  of law,  (iii)  under  Section 174 of the  Delaware  General
Corporation  Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the Director derived an
improper personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to
authorize   corporate  action  further  eliminating  or  limiting  the  personal
liability of  Directors,  then the  liability  of a Director of the  Corporation
shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest  extent  permitted by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as so amended.

         Any  repeal  or  modification   of  the  foregoing   paragraph  by  the
stockholders  of the  Corporation  shall  not  adversely  affect  any  right  or
protection of a Director of the Corporation  existing at the time of such repeal
or modification.

         TWELFTH:  The  Corporation  reserves  the right to amend or repeal  any
provision   contained  in  this  Certificate  of  Incorporation  in  the  manner
prescribed  by the laws of the State of Delaware and all rights  conferred  upon
stockholders are granted subject to this reservation;  provided,  however, that,
notwithstanding  any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any
provision of law which might  otherwise  permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in
addition  to any vote of the  holders of any class or series of the stock of the
Corporation  required  by law  or by  this  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  the
affirmative  vote of the  holders of at least 80 percent of the voting  power of
all of the  then-outstanding  shares  of the  capital  stock of the  Corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors  (after giving effect to
the provisions of Article FOURTH),  voting together as a single class,  shall be
required to amend or repeal this Article  TWELFTH,  Section C of Article FOURTH,
Sections C or D of Article FIFTH,  Article SIXTH,  Article  SEVENTH,  or Article
EIGHTH.






























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