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EXHIBIT 3.1
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
VIXEL CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the
"Company"), 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 15, 2000:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with the provisions of its
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a
series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company and hereby
states the designation and number of shares, and fixes the relative designations
and the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and
restrictions thereof (in addition to the provisions set forth in the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Company, which are applicable to the Preferred Stock of
all classes and series), as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. Six Hundred Thousand (600,000) shares
of Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, are designated "Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock" with the designations and the powers, preferences
and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions specified
herein (the "Junior Preferred Stock"). 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 Junior 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 Company
convertible into Junior Preferred Stock.
SECTION 2. 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 Junior Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of
Junior Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of
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Common Stock, par value $0.0015 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company,
and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of April, July,
October and January 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
Junior Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent)
equal to the greater of (a) $l.00 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash
dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in 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 Junior Preferred Stock. In the event the Company 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 Junior 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 Company shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Junior 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 $1.00 per share on the Junior
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 Junior 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 Junior 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 Junior Preferred Stock in an amount
less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on
such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such
shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for
the determination of holders of shares of Junior Preferred
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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 3. VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of shares of Junior Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Junior Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100
votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. In
the event the Company 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 Junior
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 Designation creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by
law, the holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock and the holders of shares
of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Company having general voting
rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Company.
(c) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
holders of Junior 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 4. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.
(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Junior 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 Junior Preferred Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Company shall not:
(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 Junior 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 Junior
Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Junior 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;
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(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 Junior Preferred Stock, provided
that the Company may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of
any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Company ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up)
to the Junior Preferred Stock; or
(4) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Junior Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock
ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) with the Junior 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 Company shall not permit any subsidiary of the Company to
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Company unless the Company could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 4,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
SECTION 5. REACQUIRED SHARES. Any shares of Junior Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company 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 Amended
Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designation
creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise
required by law.
SECTION 6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP. Upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be made (1) to
the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Junior Preferred Stock unless,
prior thereto, the holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock shall have
received $100 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 Junior Preferred Stock shall be entitled
to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be
distributed per share to holders of 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 Junior Preferred Stock, except
distributions made ratably on the Junior 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
Company 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
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Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of
Junior 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 7. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. In case the Company 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
Junior 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 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash
and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or
for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the
Company 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 Junior 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 8. NO REDEMPTION. The shares of Junior Preferred Stock shall not
be redeemable.
SECTION 9. RANK. The Junior 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 Company's Preferred Stock.
SECTION 10. AMENDMENT. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Junior 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 Junior Preferred Stock, voting
together as a single class.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this certificate as of
____________, 2000.
------------------------------------------
JAMES M. MCCLUNEY
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
------------------------------------------
KURTIS L. ADAMS
SECRETARY
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RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
VIXEL CORPORATION
VIXEL CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
1. The name of the corporation is Vixel Corporation. The date of filing
of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State was
February 13, 1995.
2. This Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in
accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, the Board of Directors of the corporation having adopted resolutions
setting forth the proposed Restated Certificate of Incorporation, declaring its
advisability and directing that it be submitted to the stockholders of the
corporation for their approval; the holders of outstanding stock having not less
than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take
such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were
present and voted having consented in writing to the adoption thereof; and
written notice of such adoption by the stockholders without a meeting by less
than unanimous written consent having been given to those stockholders from whom
such written consent was not received.
3. This Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates and integrates
and further amends the Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation by
restating the text of the original Certificate of Incorporation in full to read
as follows:
I.
The name of this corporation is Vixel Corporation.
II.
The address of the registered office of the corporation in the State of
Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, and
the name of the registered agent of the corporation in the State of Delaware at
such address is the Corporation Trust Company.
III.
The purpose of this 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.
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IV.
A. This corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be
designated, respectively, "Common Stock" and "Preferred Stock." The total number
of shares which the corporation is authorized to issue is sixty-five million
(65,000,000) shares. Sixty million (60,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock,
each having a par value of fifteen one-hundredths of one cent ($.0015). Five
million (5,000,000) shares shall be Preferred Stock, each having a par value of
one-tenth of one cent ($.001).
B. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more
series. The Board of Directors is hereby authorized, by filing a certificate (a
"Preferred Stock Designation") pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law
("DGCL"), to fix or alter from time to time the designation, powers, preferences
and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations
or restrictions of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and to
establish from time to time the number of shares constituting any such series or
any of them; and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series
subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series, but not below the number of
shares of such series then outstanding. In case the number of shares of any
series shall be decreased in accordance with the foregoing sentence, the shares
constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the
adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such
series.
V.
For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of
the corporation, and in further definition, limitation and regulation of the
powers of the corporation, of its directors and of its stockholders or any class
thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided that:
A.
1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The management of the business and the
conduct of the affairs of the corporation shall be vested in its Board of
Directors. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of
Directors shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted by the
Board of Directors.
2. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred
Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, following the
closing of the initial public offering pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),
covering the offer and sale of Common Stock to the public (the "Initial Public
Offering"), the directors shall be divided into three classes designated as
Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively. Directors shall be assigned to
each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board
of Directors. At the first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing
of the Initial Public Offering, the term of office of the Class I directors
shall expire and Class I directors shall be elected for a full term of three
years. At the second annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the
Initial Public Offering, the term of office of the Class II directors shall
expire and Class II directors shall be elected for a full
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term of three years. At the third annual meeting of stockholders following the
closing of the Initial Public Offering, the term of office of the Class III
directors shall expire and Class III directors shall be elected for a full term
of three years. At each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, directors
shall be elected for a full term of three years to succeed the directors of the
class whose terms expire at such annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this section, each director shall serve until his successor is
duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal. No
decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall
shorten the term of any incumbent director. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this section, each director shall serve until his successor is
duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal. No
decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall
shorten the term of any incumbent director.
3. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS.
a. Neither the Board of Directors nor any individual
director may be removed without cause.
b. Subject to any limitation imposed by law, any individual
director or directors may be removed with cause by the holders of a majority of
the voting power of the corporation entitled to vote at an election of
directors.
4. VACANCIES.
a. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of
Preferred Stock, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death,
resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, shall,
unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies
or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders, except as
otherwise provided by law, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of
Directors, and not by the stockholders. Any director elected in accordance with
the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of
the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such
director's successor shall have been elected and qualified.
b. If at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly
created directorship, the directors then in office shall constitute less than a
majority of the whole board (as constituted immediately prior to any such
increase), the Delaware Court of Chancery may, upon application of any
stockholder or stockholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the total
number of the shares at the time outstanding having the right to vote for such
directors, summarily order an election to be held to fill any such vacancies or
newly created directorships, or to replace the directors chosen by the directors
then in offices as aforesaid, which election shall be governed by Section 211 of
the DGCL.
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B.
1. Subject to paragraph (h) of Section 43 of the Bylaws, the Bylaws
may be altered or amended or new Bylaws adopted by the affirmative vote of at
least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of
the then-outstanding shares of the voting stock of the corporation entitled to
vote. The Board of Directors shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal
Bylaws.
2. The directors of the corporation need not be elected by written
ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.
3. No action shall be taken by the stockholders of the corporation
except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders called in accordance with
the Bylaws or by written consent of stockholders in accordance with the Bylaws
prior to the closing of the Initial Public Offering and following the closing of
the Initial Public Offering no action shall be taken by the stockholders by
written consent.
4. 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.
VI.
A. The liability of the directors for monetary damages shall be
eliminated to the fullest extent under applicable law.
B. Any repeal or modification of this Article VI shall be prospective
and shall not affect the rights under this Article VI in effect at the time of
the alleged occurrence of any act or omission to act giving rise to liability or
indemnification.
VII.
A. The corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal
any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now
or hereafter prescribed by statute, except as provided in paragraph B. of this
Article VII, and all rights conferred upon the stockholders herein are granted
subject to this reservation.
B. 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 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 sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) 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 Articles V, VI
and VII.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate has been subscribed this 5th day of
October, 1999 by the undersigned who affirms that the statements made herein
are true and correct.
By: /s/ Kurtis L. Adams
----------------------------------
Name: Kurtis L. Adams
--------------------------------
Title: Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary
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5.
