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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

December 3, 2021

(Date of earliest event reported)

 

Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York   000-00643   46-3235589
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

330 West William Street, Corning, New York 14830
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(607) 936-3755

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
None N/A N/A

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Effective December 8, 2021, Corning Natural Gas Holding Company (the “Company”) issued 5,000 shares of its newly-authorized 1.5% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value of $0.01 per share (the “Series D Preferred Stock”), to ACP Crotona Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Purchaser”), for $1,000 a share, or $5.0 million in the aggregate. As previously reported, on January 12, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Purchaser and ACP Crotona Merger Sub Corp., a New York corporation (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, and the Company will continue as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Purchaser. The Purchaser is an affiliate of Argo Infrastructure Partners, LP.

The Company intends to use the funds raised for general working capital and to fund service expansion projects and capital replacement projects at each of its utilities over the next several years. In the short term, the Company will pay down borrowings under lines of credit at Leatherstocking Gas Company LLC and Corning Natural Gas Corporation.

The Company entered into a purchase agreement with the Purchaser with respect to the purchase and issuance of the Series D Preferred Stock containing customary representations and warranties by the Company and the Purchaser. This description of the purchase agreement is incomplete and is qualified in its entirety by the purchase agreement by and between the Company and the Purchaser attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1.

The issuance of the Series D Preferred Stock was a private placement to an accredited investor exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. The Company elected to issue the shares in a private placement to avoid the delays and costs associated with a public offering of stock.

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The disclosure included under Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference to this Item 2.03.

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The disclosure included under Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference to this Item 3.02.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

Effective December 3, 2021, the Company amended its certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Amendment”) to authorize 5,000 shares of the Series D Preferred Stock. The Series D Preferred Stock accrues cumulative dividends at the rate of 1.5% of the liquidation preference per share (equivalent to $15.00 per annum per share) and are expected to be paid on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year. The Series D Preferred Stock ranks on parity with the Company’s Series A, Series B, and Series C Preferred Stock.

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The Certificate of Amendment provides for certain redemption requirements and rights. Specifically, on December 8, 2026, the Company must redeem all of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid dividends, if any, on the shares (whether or not declared). Further, upon the earlier to occur of (i) the termination of the Merger Agreement and (ii) December 31, 2022, for one year thereafter, any holder of the Series D Preferred Stock may elect to require the Company to redeem all of the shares of the Series D Preferred Stock held by that holder for an amount equal to $1,000 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the effective date of the redemption (the “Redemption Amount”). Moreover, upon the occurrence of any “fundamental changes,” as defined in the Certificate of Amendment, any holder of the Series D Preferred Stock may elect to require the Company to redeem, in whole or in part, the Series D Preferred Stock held by that holder for an amount equal to the Redemption Amount.

This description of the amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation authorizing the Series D Preferred Stock is incomplete and is qualified in its entirety by the Certificate of Amendment attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit 3.1     Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation authorizing 5,000 Shares of 1.5% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Filed with the Department of State of the State of New York on December 3, 2021.

 

Exhibit 10.1    Purchase Agreement, dated December 8, 2021, by and between Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation and ACP Crotona Corp.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation
   
  By: /s/ Charles A. Lenns
  Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Dated: December 8, 2021

 

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CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF
THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
CORNING NATURAL GAS HOLDING CORPORATION

Under Section 805 of the Business Corporation Law

The undersigned, being the President and Chief Executive Officer of Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies that:

FIRST: The name of the Corporation is Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation.

SECOND: The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed by the Department of State of the State of New York on July 19, 2013, and was amended by Certificates of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation filed by the Department of State of the State of New York on January 28, 2016, on March 30, 2016, on June 27, 2017, on April 30, 2018, on March 18, 2020, and on June 29, 2020.

THIRD: Pursuant to Section 502 of the Business Corporation Law and subparagraph (b) of Paragraph FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation, Paragraph FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended by the addition of a new subparagraph (f) which states the number, designation, relative rights, preferences, and limitations of the shares of a new series of Preferred Stock, designated as 1.5% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, as fixed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. New Paragraph FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation shall read in its entirety as follows:

“FOURTH:       Authorized Shares.

(a) The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 5,250,000, of which 4,500,000 shares, par value $0.01 per share, shall be designated “Common Shares” and 750,000 shares, par value $0.01 per shares, shall be designated “Preferred Shares.”

(b) Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to time to issue the Preferred Shares as Preferred Shares of any series and, in connection with the creation of each such series, to fix by the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of shares thereof, the number of shares of such series, and the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations of such series, to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the Business Corporation Law.

(c) 6% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock.

Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated as the “6% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock”). The Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.01 per share, and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 261,500. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board; providedhowever, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding, plus the number of shares reserved, if any, for issuance upon

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the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the exercise of any options, rights or warrants issuable upon conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock. The Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be on parity for all purposes, including, without limitation, dividends, liquidation, voting rights, and redemption, other than date of redemption and redemption price, with the Corporation’s Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock (the “Series B Convertible Preferred Stock”), and any other series of Preferred Stock by its terms on parity as to dividends, liquidation preference, voting rights and redemption, other than date of redemption and redemption price (“Series A Parity Stock”).

 

Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

(A) Subject to Section 1 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH and to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock at the close of business on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, as the case may be, (each such date being referred to herein as a “Series A Dividend Record Date”) immediately preceding the relevant Series A Quarterly Dividend Payment Date (as defined below), shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available for such purpose, cumulative cash dividends at the rate per annum of 6.0% per share of the Series A Liquidation Preference (as defined below) (equivalent to $1.50 per annum per share), payable on the 14th day of January, April, July and October in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Series A Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”) commencing on the first Series A Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock.

(B) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock from the date of issuance of such shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends declared and paid on the shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of 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 and among all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on parity with the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock.

Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise required by New York law, as may be amended from time to time:

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), or by law, the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock and all other Preferred Stock of equal rank having similar voting rights, including without limitation any outstanding Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class (collectively, “Series A and Parity Stock”) is required for the Corporation to: (i) authorize or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any specific class or series of stock ranking senior to such Series A and Parity Stock; or (ii) consummate a binding share exchange or reclassification involving shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another entity unless the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock remains outstanding or is replaced by preference

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securities with terms not materially less favorable to holders. In addition, the holders of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have the rights set forth in Section 9 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(B) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to eight (8) quarterly dividends thereon, then the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “Series A Default Period”) that shall extend until such time as all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment ending on the Dividend Payment Date following the date when all such accrued dividends have been paid. During each Series A Default Period, all holders of Series A and Parity Stock with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to eight (8) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect one (1) member to the Board in accordance with this Section 3(B) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(ii) During any Series A Default Period, such voting right of the holders of Series A and Parity Stock to elect one member to the Board may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(B) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH or at any annual meeting of shareholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of shareholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends have been paid through the Dividend Payment date immediately preceding the record date for the next annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that such voting right shall not be exercised unless the holders of at least one-half in number of shares of Series A and Parity Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Series A and Parity Stock of such voting right. At any annual meeting of shareholders at which the holders of Series A and Parity Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing Series A Default Period, holders of Series A and Parity Stock entitled to vote shall have the right, voting together as a single class, to elect one (1) director. If such voting right is exercised at a special meeting of shareholders, holders of Series A and Parity Stock entitled to vote shall have the right to elect one (1) director to fill such vacancy in the Board as may then exist, if any, provided, however, if no vacancy then exists on the Board, the Board shall act to increase the size of the entire Board by one (1) director prior to such special meeting. After the holders of Series A and Parity Stock shall have exercised their right to elect a director in any Series A Default Period and during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Series A and Parity Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to the Series A and Parity Stock.

(iii) Unless the holders of Series A and Parity Stock shall, during an existing Series A Default Period, have previously exercised their right to elect directors, the Corporation shall, by action of the President or the Board in accordance with the Bylaws, promptly call a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock entitled to vote thereon for such purpose. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Series A and Parity Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this paragraph (B)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of such Series A and Parity Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to such holder at such holder’s last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph

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(B)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the shareholders.

(iv) In any Series A Default Period, the holders of Common Stock shall continue to be entitled to elect the entire Board until the holders of Series A and Parity Stock shall have exercised their right to elect one (1) director, after the exercise of which right (x) the director so elected by the holders of Series A and Parity Stock shall continue in office until his or her successor shall have been elected by such holders of Series A and Parity Stock or until the expiration of the Series A Default Period, and (y) any vacancy in the position of director elected by the holders of Series A and Parity Stock, shall be filled as provided in Section 3(B)(ii) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a Series A Default Period, (x) the right of the holders of Series A and Parity Stock to elect a director shall cease, (y) the term of any director elected by the holders of Series A and Parity Stock shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors constituting the entire Board shall be such number as may be provided for in the Charter or the Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(B)(ii) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Charter or Bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.

Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

(A) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock and for so long as any such shares are issued and outstanding, unless concurrently therewith it shall declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock as required by Section 2 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH and on any other series of Preferred Stock entitled to dividends on a parity stock basis with the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock including, without limitation, any outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

(B) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH are in arrears, until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, to the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock;

(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on parity, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, with the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock,

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except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on parity, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, with the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior, whether as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up), the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock; or

(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on parity with the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, except in accordance with Section 7(B)(ii) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, or pursuant to a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board, 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.

(C) 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, pursuant Section 4(A) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

 

Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Cumulative 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 to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise required by law.

Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. In the event of any liquidation, Deemed Liquidation Event (as defined below), winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, each holder of shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders an amount equal to $25.00 per share (the “Series A Liquidation Preference”), plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon for any dividend period prior to the effective time of such event in preference of the holders of, and before any payment or distribution is made on, any stock ranking junior, including, without limitation, on any Common Stock. After the payment to the holders of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock of the

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full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 6 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, the holders of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation. In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any, that rank on parity with the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, any shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such Series A and Parity Stock in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.

Section 7. Deemed Liquidation Events.

(A) Definition. For the purposes of this subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, each of the following events shall be considered a “Deemed Liquidation Event”:

(i) a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is a constituent party and in which the consideration consists solely of cash and/or the right to receive cash; except any such merger or consolidation involving the Corporation in which the shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to represent, or are converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock that represent, immediately following such merger or consolidation, at least a majority, by voting power, of the capital stock of (1) the surviving or resulting entity; or (2) if the surviving or resulting entity is a wholly owned subsidiary of another entity immediately following such merger or consolidation, the parent entity of such surviving or resulting corporation; or

(ii) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition in which the consideration consists solely of cash, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Corporation, or any subsidiary of the Corporation, of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the sale or disposition (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) of one or more subsidiaries of the Corporation if substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole are held by such subsidiary or subsidiaries, except where such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation or a parent entity owning all of the outstanding shares of the Corporation.

(B) Effecting a Deemed Liquidation Event.

(i) The Corporation shall not have the power to effect a Deemed Liquidation Event referred to in Section 7(A)(i) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH unless the agreement or plan of merger or consolidation for such transaction (a “Merger Agreement”) provides that the consideration payable to the shareholders of the Corporation shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(ii) In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event referred to in Section 7(A)(ii) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, if the Corporation does not effect a dissolution of the Corporation under the New York Business Corporation Law within ninety (90) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, then the Corporation shall send a written notice to each holder of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock no later than the ninetieth (90th) day after the

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Deemed Liquidation Event advising such holders of their right (and the requirements to be met to secure such right) to require the redemption of such shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock. If any holder of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock so requests in a written instrument delivered to the Corporation not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, the Corporation shall use the consideration received by the Corporation for such Deemed Liquidation Event (net of any retained liabilities associated with the assets sold, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation), together with any other assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders, all to the extent permitted by New York law governing distributions to shareholders (the “Available Proceeds”), on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day after such Deemed Liquidation Event, to redeem all, but not less than all, shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock held by such requesting shareholder at a price per share equal to the Series A Liquidation Preference (i.e., $25.00), plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the effective date of the Deemed Liquidation Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a redemption pursuant to the preceding sentence, if the Available Proceeds are not sufficient to redeem all shares of Series A and Parity Stock from all shareholders requesting such redemption, the Corporation shall ratably redeem each such shareholder’s shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock to the fullest extent of such Available Proceeds, and shall redeem the remaining shares held by such shareholders as soon as it may lawfully do so under New York law governing distributions to shareholders. Prior to the distribution or redemption provided for in this Section 7(B)(ii) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, the Corporation shall not expend or dissipate the consideration received for such Deemed Liquidation Event, except to discharge expenses incurred in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event or in the ordinary course of business.

(C) Allocation of Escrow and Contingent Consideration. In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event pursuant to Section 7(A)(i) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, if any portion of the consideration payable to the shareholders of the Corporation is payable only upon satisfaction of contingencies (the “Additional Consideration”), the Merger Agreement shall provide that (i) the portion of such consideration that is not Additional Consideration (such portion, the “Initial Consideration”) shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event; and (ii) any Additional Consideration which becomes payable to the shareholders of the Corporation upon satisfaction of such contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration as part of the same transaction. For the purposes of this Section 7(C) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, consideration placed into escrow or retained as holdback to be available for satisfaction of indemnification or similar obligations in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event shall be deemed to be Additional Consideration.

Section 8. Redemption. The shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be redeemable as provided for in this Section 8 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(A) Mandatory Redemption. On September 30, 2023 (the “Series A Mandatory Redemption Date”), the Corporation shall redeem, by payment in cash on such date, subject to the legal availability of funds under New York law, all, but not less than all, of the outstanding shares

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of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid dividends, if any, on such shares (whether or not declared) to and including the Series A Mandatory Redemption Date (the “Series A Mandatory Redemption Price”). The Corporation shall deliver a notice of redemption not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) business days prior to the Series A Mandatory Redemption Date, addressed to the holders of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock as they appear in the records of the Corporation as of the date of such notice. Each notice shall state the following: (i) the Series A Mandatory Redemption Date; (ii) the Series A Mandatory Redemption Price; (iii) the name of the redemption agent to whom, and the address of the place to where, the shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the Series A Mandatory Redemption Price; and (iv) that dividends on the shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such Series A Mandatory Redemption Date, provided that the Series A Mandatory Redemption Price and the dividends accrued through, and including, the day immediately preceding the Series A Mandatory Redemption Date, shall have been paid on the Series A Mandatory Redemption Date.

(B) Redemption upon a Fundamental Change. No later than ten (10) business days after the effective date of a Fundamental Change, the Corporation shall give notice of such occurrence (such notice, the “Fundamental Change Notice”) to each of the holders of record of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock as they appear in the records of the Corporation as of the date of the Fundamental Change. Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, any holder of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock may elect to require the Corporation to redeem, in whole or in part, the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock held by such holder for an amount equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the effective date of the Fundamental Change (the “Series A Fundamental Change Redemption Amount”), subject to the Corporation having funds legally available under New York law for such redemption, by delivering a notice of redemption to the Corporation not more than twenty (20) business days (subject to extension to comply with applicable law) following the delivery of the Fundamental Change Notice to such holder. Each Fundamental Change Notice shall state the following: (i) the events causing the Fundamental Change; (ii) the date of the Fundamental Change; (iii) the last date on which a holder may exercise the redemption right; (iv) the Series A Fundamental Change Redemption Amount; (v) the name of the redemption agent to whom, and the address of the place to where, the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the Series A Fundamental Change Redemption Amount; and (vi) that dividends on the shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the date of such redemption (the “Fundamental Change Redemption Date”), provided that the Series A Fundamental Change Redemption Amount and the dividends accrued through, and including, the day proceeding the Fundamental Change Redemption Date, shall have been paid on the Fundamental Change Redemption Date.

A “Fundamental Change” means the occurrence of a change of control, which will be deemed to have occurred if any of the following occurs after the initial issue date of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock:

(1) Any “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), other than the Corporation, its subsidiaries or any of its employee benefit plans, files any schedule, form or report

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under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of shares of the Corporation’s voting stock representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of the Corporation’s voting stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors, or has the power, directly or indirectly, to elect a majority of the members of the Corporation’s Board of Directors;

(2) The Corporation consolidates with, enters into a binding share exchange, merger or similar transaction with or into another person other than one or more of its subsidiaries, or the Corporation sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Corporation, in any such event, where the consideration consists, in full or in part, of rights, securities or property other than cash; or

(3) The holders of the Corporation’s capital stock approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation (whether or not otherwise in compliance with this Certificate of Incorporation).

Section 8. Ranking. The Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock will, with respect to both dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, rank: (i) senior to all classes or series of the Corporation’s Common Stock; (ii) senior to any other class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock issued in the future, unless the terms of that capital stock expressly provide that it ranks senior to, or on parity with, the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock; (iii) on parity with any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock, the terms of which expressly provide that it will rank on parity with the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, including without limitation, the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock; and (iv) junior to any other class of series of the Corporation’s capital stock, the terms of which expressly provide that it will rank senior to the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, none of which exists on the date hereof, and the issue of which would be subject to the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock voting as a class; and (v) subject to funds legally available and payment of or provision for the Corporation’s debts and other liabilities.

Section 9. Amendment. At any time when any shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock are outstanding, this Certificate of Incorporation shall not be amended in any manner that would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock so as to materially adversely affect the rights of the holders of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, liquidation, voting rights, including this Section 9 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, or redemption, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, provided, however, in no event shall the authorization, creation or issuance of any series or class of Series Parity Stock be deemed to be an event requiring the affirmative vote of such holders of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 9 of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

Section 10. Fractional Shares. Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock may not be issued in fractions of a share.

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(d)       Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be designated as the “Series B Convertible Preferred Stock”. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.01 per share, and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 244,500. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board; provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding, plus the number of shares reserved, if any, for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the exercise of any options, rights or warrants issuable upon conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be on parity for all purposes, including, without limitation, dividends, liquidation, voting rights, and redemption, other than date of redemption and redemption price, with the Corporation’s Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, and any other series of Preferred Stock by its terms on parity as to dividends, liquidation preference, voting rights and redemption, other than date of redemption and redemption price (“Series B Parity Stock”).

Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

(A) Subject to Section 1 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH and to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock at the close of business on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, as the case may be, (each such date being referred to herein as the “Series B Dividend Record Date”) immediately preceding the relevant Series B Quarterly Dividend Payment Date (as defined below), shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available for such purpose, cumulative cash dividends at the rate per annum of 4.8% per share of the Series B Liquidation Preference (as defined below) (equivalent to $0.996 per annum per share), payable on the 14th day of January, April, July and October in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Series B Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”) commencing on the first Series B Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon conversion of any shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, holders shall receive dividends accrued and unpaid as of the date of conversion in the form of Common Stock pursuant to Section 8(B) of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(A) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock from the date of issuance of such shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends declared and paid on the shares of Series B Convertible 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 and among all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on parity with the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise required by New York law, as may be amended from time to time:

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(A) Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or by law, the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and all other Preferred Stock of equal rank having similar voting rights, including without limitation any outstanding Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class (collectively, “Series B and Parity Stock”) is required for the Corporation to: (i) authorize or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any specific class or series of stock ranking senior to the Series B and Parity Stock; or (ii) consummate a binding share exchange or reclassification involving shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another entity unless the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock remains outstanding or is replaced by preference securities with terms not materially less favorable to holders. In addition, the holders of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall have the rights set forth in Section 11 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(B) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to eight (8) quarterly dividends thereon, then the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “Series B Default Period”) that shall extend until such time as all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment ending on the Dividend Payment Date following the date when all such accrued dividends have been paid. During each Series B Default Period, all holders of Series B and Parity Stock with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to eight (8) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect one (1) member to the Board in accordance with this Section 3(B) of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(ii) During any Series B Default Period, such voting right of the holders of Series B and Parity Stock to elect one member to the Board may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to Section 3(B)(iii) of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH or at any annual meeting of shareholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of shareholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends have been paid through the Dividend Payment date immediately preceding the record date for the next annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that such voting right shall not be exercised unless the holders of at least one-half in number of shares of Series B and Parity Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Series B and Parity Stock of such voting right. At any annual meeting of shareholders at which the holders of Series B and Parity Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing Series B Default Period, holders of Series B and Parity Stock entitled to vote shall have the right, voting together as a single class, to elect one (1) director. If such voting right is exercised at a special meeting of shareholders, holders of Series B and Parity Stock entitled to vote shall have the right to elect one (1) director to fill such vacancy in the Board as may then exist, if any, provided, however, if no vacancy then exists on the Board, the Board shall act to increase the size of the entire Board by one (1) director prior to such special meeting After the holders of Series B and Parity Stock shall have exercised their right to elect a director in any Series B Default Period and during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Series B and Parity Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to the Series B and Parity Stock.

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(iii) Unless the holders of Series B and Parity Stock shall, during an existing Series B Default Period, have previously exercised their right to elect directors, the Corporation shall, by action of the President or the Board in accordance with the Bylaws, promptly call a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock entitled to vote thereon for such purpose. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of such Series B and Parity Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this paragraph (B)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of such Series B and Parity Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to such holder at such holder’s last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (B)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the shareholders.

(iv) In any Series B Default Period, the holders of Common Stock shall continue to be entitled to elect the entire Board until the holders of Series B and Parity Stock shall have exercised their right to elect one (1) director, after the exercise of which right (x) the director so elected by the holders of Series B and Parity Stock shall continue in office until his or her successor shall have been elected by such holders of Series B and Parity Stock or until the expiration of the Series B Default Period, and (y) any vacancy in the position of director elected by the holders of Series B and Parity Stock, shall be filled as provided in Section 3(B)(ii) of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a Series B Default Period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect a director shall cease, (y) the term of any director elected by the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors constituting the entire Board shall be such number as may be provided for in the Charter or the Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(B)(ii) (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Charter or Bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.

Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

(A) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and for so long as any such shares are issued and outstanding, unless concurrently therewith it shall declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock as required by Section 2 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH and on any other series of Preferred Stock entitled to dividends on a parity stock basis with the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock including, without limitation, any outstanding shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock.

(B) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH are in arrears, until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

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(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, to the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock;

(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on parity, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, with the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on parity, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, with the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior, whether as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up), the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock; or

(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on parity with the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, except in accordance with Section 7(B)(ii) or Section 8 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH or pursuant to a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board, 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.

(C) 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, pursuant to Section 4(A) of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series B Convertible 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 to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise required by law.

 

Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. In the event of any liquidation, Deemed Liquidation Event, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, each holder of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders

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an amount equal to $20.75 per share (the “Series B Liquidation Preference”), plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon for any dividend period prior to the effective time of such event in preference of the holders of , and before any payment or distribution is made on, any stock ranking junior, including, without limitation, on any Common Stock. After the payment to the holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 6 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH, the holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation. In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series B Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any, that rank on parity with the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, any shares of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such Series B and Parity Stock in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.

Section 7. Deemed Liquidation Events.

(A) Effective a Deemed Liquidation Event.

(i) The Corporation shall not have the power to effect a Deemed Liquidation Event as defined in Section 7(A)(i) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH unless the Merger Agreement provides that the consideration payable to the shareholders of the Corporation shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(ii) In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event referred to in Section 7(A)(ii) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, if the Corporation does not effect a dissolution of the Corporation under the New York Business Corporation Law within ninety (90) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, then the Corporation shall send a written notice to each holder of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock no later than the ninetieth (90th) day after the Deemed Liquidation Event advising such holders of their right (and the requirements to be met to secure such right) to require the redemption of such shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. If any holder of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock so requests in a written instrument delivered to the Corporation not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, the Corporation shall use the Available Proceeds on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day after such Deemed Liquidation Event, to redeem all, but not less than all, shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock held by such requesting shareholder at a price per share equal to the Series B Liquidation Preference (i.e., $20.75), plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the effective date of the Deemed Liquidation Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a redemption pursuant to the preceding sentence, if the Available Proceeds are not sufficient to redeem all shares of Series B and Parity Stock from all shareholders requesting such redemption, the Corporation shall ratably redeem each such shareholder’s shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to the fullest extent of such Available Proceeds, and shall redeem the remaining shares held by such shareholders as soon as it may lawfully do so under New York law governing distributions to shareholders. Prior to the distribution or redemption provided for in this Section 7(A)(ii) of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH, the Corporation shall not expend or dissipate the consideration received for such Deemed Liquidation

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Event, except to discharge expenses incurred in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event or in the ordinary course of business.

(C) Allocation of Escrow and Contingent Consideration. In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event as defined in to Section 7(A)(i) of subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph FOURTH, if any Additional Consideration is or may be paid, the Merger Agreement shall provide that (i) the Initial Consideration shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event; and (ii) any Additional Consideration which becomes payable to the shareholders of the Corporation upon satisfaction of such contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration as part of the same transaction. For the purposes of this Section 7(C) of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH, consideration placed into escrow or retained as holdback to be available for satisfaction of indemnification or similar obligations in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event shall be deemed to be Additional Consideration.

Section 8. Conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall have conversion rights as follows:

(A) Conversion Right. At any time and from time to time after issuance, each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, shall be convertible, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder into a share of Common Stock at the rate of one (1) share of Common Stock for each one (1) share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 8(G) of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH (the “Conversion Rate”).

(B) Dividend upon Conversion. Holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock at the close of business on a Series B Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid dividends, if any, on such shares converted for any dividend period to and including the Conversion Date (as defined below). If the Corporation has not declared all or any portion of the accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the Conversion Rate will be adjusted so that converting holders receive an additional number of shares of Common Stock equal to the amount of accumulated and accrued but unpaid dividends, including any such dividends that have not been declared as of the Conversion Date (as defined below), divided by $20.75. Dividends on shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted will cease to accrue on such Conversion Date.

(C) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. If any conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock would result in the issuance of a fractional share of Common Stock, such fractional share shall be payable in cash based upon the average of the closing price of the Corporation’s Common Stock on the previous ten (10) days on which the stock traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market’s OTC Bulletin Board or such other market where the shares are traded, and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be the next lower whole number of shares. If the Corporation elects not to, or is unable to, make such a cash payment, the holder shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of the

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final fraction of a share, one (1) whole share of Common Stock if the fraction of a share is one-half or more, or no consideration in respect of such fractional share, which shall be deemed cancelled and returned to authorized and unissued Preferred Stock if the fractional share is less than one-half.

(D) Procedures for Conversion. In order to effectuate a conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 8 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH, a holder of record shall (i) submit a written notice to the Corporation stating that the holder elects to convert such shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the number of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted and (ii) if certificated, surrender, along with such written notice, to the Corporation the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Corporation (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto), or in the event the certificate or certificates are lost, stolen or missing, accompanied by an affidavit of loss executed by the holder together with such bond or indemnity as may be required by the Corporation. The conversion of such shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock hereunder, if certificated, shall be deemed effective as of the date of surrender of such Series B Convertible Preferred Stock certificate or certificates or delivery of such affidavit of loss, or if uncertificated, as of delivery of such written notice stating that the holder elects to convert such shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Conversion Date”). Upon receipt by the Corporation of a written notice and the surrender of such certificate(s) and accompanying materials, if applicable, the Corporation shall as promptly as practicable (but in any event within ten (10) days thereafter) deliver to the relevant holder (I) a certificate in such holder’s name (or the name of such holder’s designee as stated in the written notice) for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion, (II) payment for any fractional shares, if applicable, and (III) a certificate in such holder’s (or the name of such holder’s designee as stated in the written notice) for the number of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock represented by the certificate or certificates delivered to the Corporation for conversion but otherwise not elected to be converted pursuant to the written notice. The Corporation will not pay any cash to a holder in respect to such conversion or otherwise settle any such conversion in cash, other than the right of the holder to receive payment in lieu of any fraction of a share.

(E) Reservation of Stock. The Corporation shall at all times when any shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. If at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the Corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorization by unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose.

(F) Income Taxes. The converting holder shall pay any and all income and other non-income taxes that may be payable in respect of any issue or delivery of Common Stock on conversion of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

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(G) Adjustment to Conversion Rate. In order to prevent dilution of the conversion rights granted under this Section 8 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH, the Conversion Rate may be adjusted in the event of:

(i) The Corporation issues Common Stock to the holders of the Corporation’s Common Stock as a dividend or other distribution, in which event, the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date fixed for determination of the holders of record of the Corporation’s Common Stock entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution (the “Distribution Record Date”) will be divided by a fraction: the numerator of which is the number of shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock outstanding at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Distribution Record Date and the denominator of which is the sum of the number of shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock outstanding at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Distribution Record Date and the total number of shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock constituting such dividend or other distribution.

Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (G)(i) will become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Distribution Record Date. If any dividend or distribution described in this clause (G)(i) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted, effective as of the date the Board publicly announces its decision not to make such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. For the purposes of this clause (G)(i), the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Distribution Record Date shall not include shares held in treasury.

(ii) The Corporation subdivides or combine its Common Stock, in which event the Conversion Rate in effect at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the effective date of such subdivision or combination shall be multiplied by a fraction: the numerator of which is the number of shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock that would be outstanding immediately after, and solely as a result of, such subdivision or combination, and the denominator of which is the number of shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such subdivision or combination.

Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (G)(ii) shall become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the effective date of such subdivision or combination.

(iii) If, at any time after the issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the Corporation takes any action affecting the Common Stock that would be covered by this clause (G), but for the manner in which such action is taken or structured, which would in any way diminish the value of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in any material respect, then the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted in such manner as the Board shall in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances.

Section 9. Redemption. The shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be redeemable as provided for in this Section 9 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(A) Mandatory Redemption. On September 30, 2026 (the “Series B Mandatory Redemption Date”), the Corporation shall redeem, by payment in cash on such date, subject to the

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legal availability of funds under New York law, all, but not less than all, of the outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock at a redemption price equal to $20.75 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid dividends, if any, on such shares (whether or not declared) to and including the Series B Mandatory Redemption Date (the “Series B Mandatory Redemption Price”). The Corporation shall deliver a notice of redemption not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) business days prior to the Series B Mandatory Redemption Date, addressed to the holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock as they appear in the records of the Corporation as of the date of such notice. Each notice shall state the following: (i) the Series B Mandatory Redemption Date; (ii) the Series B Mandatory Redemption Price; (iii) the name of the redemption agent to whom, and the address of the place to where, the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the Series B Mandatory Redemption Price; and (iv) that dividends on the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such Series B Mandatory Redemption Date, provided that the Series B Mandatory Redemption Price and the dividends accrued through, and including, the day immediately preceding the Series B Mandatory Redemption Date, shall have been paid on the Series B Mandatory Redemption Date.

(B) Redemption upon a Fundamental Change. No later than ten (10) business days after the effective date of a Fundamental Change, the Corporation shall give a Fundamental Change Notice to each of the holders of record of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock as they appear in the records of the Corporation as of the date of the Fundamental Change Notice. Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, any holder of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock may elect to require the Corporation to redeem, in whole or in part, the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock held by such holder for an amount equal to $20.75 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the effective date of the Fundamental Change (the “Series B Fundamental Change Redemption Amount”), subject to the Corporation having funds legally available under New York law for such redemption, by delivering a notice of redemption to the Corporation not more than twenty (20) business days (subject to extension to comply with applicable law) following the delivery of the Fundamental Change Notice to such holder. Each Fundamental Change Notice shall state the following: (i) the events causing the Fundamental Change; (ii) the date of the Fundamental Change; (iii) the last date on which a holder may exercise the redemption right; (iv) the Series B Fundamental Change Redemption Amount; (v) the name of the redemption agent to whom, and the address of the place to where, the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the Series B Fundamental Change Redemption Amount; and (vi) that dividends on the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such Fundamental Change Redemption Date, provided that the Series B Fundamental Change Redemption Amount and the dividends accrued through, and including, the day proceeding the Fundamental Change Redemption Date, shall have been paid on the Fundamental Change Redemption Date.

Section 10. Ranking. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock will, with respect to both dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, rank: (i) senior to all classes or series of the Corporation’s Common Stock; (ii) senior to any other class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock issued in the future, unless the terms of that capital stock expressly provide that it ranks senior to, or on parity with, the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock; (iii) on parity with any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock, the terms of which expressly provide that it will rank on parity with the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock,

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including without limitation, the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock; and (iv) junior to any other class of series of the Corporation’s capital stock, the terms of which expressly provide that it will rank senior to the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, none of which exists on the date hereof, and the issue of which would be subject to the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock voting as a class; and (v) subject to funds legally available and payment of or provision for the Corporation’s debts and other liabilities.

Section 11. Amendment. At any time when any shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock are outstanding, this Certificate of Incorporation shall not be amended in any manner that would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock so as to materially adversely affect the rights of the holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, liquidation, voting rights, including this Section 9 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH, or redemption, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, provided, however, in no event shall the authorization, creation or issuance of any series or class of Series B Parity Stock be deemed to be an event requiring the affirmative vote of such holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 11 of subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

Section 12. Fractional Shares. Series B Convertible Preferred Stock may not be issued in fractions of a share.

(e) 6% Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock.

Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated as the “6% Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock” (the “Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock”). The Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.01 per share, and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 180,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board; providedhowever, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding, plus the number of shares reserved, if any, for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the exercise of any options, rights or warrants issuable upon conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock. The Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be on parity for all purposes, including, without limitation, dividends, liquidation, voting rights, and redemption, other than date of redemption and redemption price, with the Corporation’s Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, and any other series of Preferred Stock by its terms on parity as to dividends, liquidation preference, voting rights and redemption, other than date of redemption and redemption price (“Series C Parity Stock”).

Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

(A) Subject to Section 1 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH and to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders

of shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock at the close of business on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, as the case may be (each such date being referred to herein as a

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Series C Dividend Record Date”), immediately preceding the relevant Series C Quarterly Dividend Payment Date (as defined below), shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available for such purpose, cumulative cash dividends at the rate per annum of 6.0% per share of the Series C Liquidation Preference (as defined below) (equivalent to $1.50 per annum per share), payable on the 14th day of January, April, July and October in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Series C Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”) commencing on the first Series C Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock.

(B) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock from the date of issuance of such shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends declared and paid on the shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of 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 and among all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on parity with the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock.

Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise required by New York law, as may be amended from time to time:

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or by law, the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock and all other Preferred Stock of equal rank having similar voting rights, including without limitation any outstanding Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class (collectively, “Series C and Parity Stock”) is required for the Corporation to: (i) authorize or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any specific class or series of stock ranking senior to such Series C and Parity Stock; or (ii) consummate a binding share exchange or reclassification involving shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another entity unless the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock remains outstanding or is replaced by preference securities with terms not materially less favorable to holders. In addition, the holders of shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have the rights set forth in Section 9 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(B) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to eight (8) quarterly dividends thereon, then the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “Series C Default Period”) that shall extend until such time as all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment ending on the Dividend Payment Date following the date when all such accrued dividends have been paid. During each Series C Default Period, all holders of Series C and Parity Stock with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to eight (8) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect one (1) member to the Board in accordance with this Section 3(B) of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(ii) During any Series C Default Period, such voting right of the holders of Series C and Parity Stock to elect one member to the Board may be exercised initially at a special meeting called

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pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(B) of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH or at any annual meeting of shareholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of shareholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends have been paid through the Series C Quarterly Dividend Payment Date immediately preceding the record date for the next annual meeting of shareholders; providedhowever, that such voting right shall not be exercised unless the holders of at least one-half in number of shares of Series C and Parity Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Series C and Parity Stock of such voting right. At any annual meeting of shareholders at which the holders of Series C and Parity Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing Series C Default Period, holders of Series C and Parity Stock entitled to vote shall have the right, voting together as a single class, to elect one (1) director. If such voting right is exercised at a special meeting of shareholders, holders of Series C and Parity Stock entitled to vote shall have the right to elect one (1) director to fill such vacancy in the Board as may then exist, if any, provided, however, if no vacancy then exists on the Board, the Board shall act to increase the size of the entire Board by one (1) director prior to such special meeting. After the holders of Series C and Parity Stock shall have exercised their right to elect a director in any Series C Default Period and during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Series C and Parity Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to the Series C and Parity Stock.

(iii) Unless the holders of Series C and Parity Stock shall, during an existing Series C Default Period, have previously exercised their right to elect directors, the Corporation shall, by action of the President or the Board in accordance with the Bylaws, promptly call a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock entitled to vote thereon for such purpose. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Series C and Parity Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this paragraph (B)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of such Series C and Parity Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to such holder at such holder’s last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (B)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the shareholders.

(iv) In any Series C Default Period, the holders of Common Stock shall continue to be entitled to elect the entire Board until the holders of Series C and Parity Stock shall have exercised their right to elect one (1) director, after the exercise of which right (x) the director so elected by the holders of Series C and Parity Stock shall continue in office until his or her successor shall have been elected by such holders of Series C and Parity Stock or until the expiration of the Series C Default Period, and (y) any vacancy in the position of director elected by the holders of Series C and Parity Stock, shall be filled as provided in Section 3(B)(ii) of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a Series C Default Period, (x) the right of the holders of Series C and Parity Stock to elect a director shall cease, (y) the term of any director elected by the holders of Series C and Parity Stock shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors constituting the entire Board shall be such number as may be provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(B)(ii) of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation

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or Bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.

 

Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

(A) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock and for so long as any such shares are issued and outstanding, unless concurrently therewith it shall declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock as required by Section 2 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH and on any other series of Preferred Stock entitled to dividends on a parity stock basis with the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock including, without limitation, any outstanding shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

(B) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH are in arrears, until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, to the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock;

(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on parity, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, with the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on parity, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, with the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock; providedhowever, that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior, whether as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up), the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock; or

(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on parity with the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock, except in accordance with Section 7(B)(ii) of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH, or pursuant to a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and

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classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

 

(C) 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, pursuant Section 4(A) of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series C Cumulative 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 to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise required by law.

Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. In the event of any liquidation, Deemed Liquidation Event (as defined below), winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, each holder of shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders an amount equal to $25.00 per share (the “Series C Liquidation Preference”), plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon for any dividend period prior to the effective time of such event in preference of the holders of, and before any payment or distribution is made on, any stock ranking junior, including, without limitation, on any Common Stock. After the payment to the holders of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 6 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH, the holders of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation. In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series C Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any, that rank on parity with the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, any shares of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such Series C and Parity Stock in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.

Section 7. Deemed Liquidation Events.

(A) Definition. For the purposes of this subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH, each of the following events shall be considered a “Deemed Liquidation Event”:

(i) a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is a constituent party and in which the consideration consists solely of cash and/or the right to receive cash; except any such merger or consolidation involving the Corporation in which the shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to represent, or are converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock that represent, immediately following such merger or consolidation, at least a majority, by voting power, of the capital stock of (1) the surviving or resulting entity; or (2) if the surviving or resulting entity is a wholly owned subsidiary

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of another entity immediately following such merger or consolidation, the parent entity of such surviving or resulting corporation; or

(ii) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition in which the consideration consists solely of cash, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Corporation, or any subsidiary of the Corporation, of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the sale or disposition (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) of one or more subsidiaries of the Corporation if substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole are held by such subsidiary or subsidiaries, except where such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation or a parent entity owning all of the outstanding shares of the Corporation.

(B) Effecting a Deemed Liquidation Event.

(i) The Corporation shall not have the power to effect a Deemed Liquidation Event unless the agreement or plan of merger or consolidation for such transaction (a “Merger Agreement”) provides that the consideration payable to the shareholders of the Corporation shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(ii) In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event, if the Corporation does not effect a dissolution of the Corporation under the New York Business Corporation Law within ninety (90) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, then the Corporation shall send a written notice to each holder of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock no later than the ninetieth (90th) day after the Deemed Liquidation Event advising such holders of their right (and the requirements to be met to secure such right) to require the redemption of such shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock. If any holder of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock so requests in a written instrument delivered to the Corporation not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, the Corporation shall use the consideration received by the Corporation for such Deemed Liquidation Event (net of any retained liabilities associated with the assets sold, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation), together with any other assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders, all to the extent permitted by New York law governing distributions to shareholders (the “Available Proceeds”), on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day after such Deemed Liquidation Event, to redeem all, but not less than all, shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock held by such requesting shareholder at a price per share equal to the Series C Liquidation Preference (i.e., $25.00), plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the effective date of the Deemed Liquidation Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a redemption pursuant to the preceding sentence, if the Available Proceeds are not sufficient to redeem all shares of Series C and Parity Stock from all shareholders requesting such redemption, the Corporation shall ratably redeem each such shareholder’s shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock to the fullest extent of such Available Proceeds, and shall redeem the remaining shares held by such shareholders as soon as it may lawfully do so under New York law governing distributions to shareholders. Prior to the distribution or redemption provided for in this Section 7(B)(ii) of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH, the Corporation shall not expend or dissipate the consideration received for such Deemed Liquidation Event, except to discharge expenses incurred in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event or in the ordinary course of business. 

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(C) Allocation of Escrow and Contingent Consideration. In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event, if any portion of the consideration payable to the shareholders of the Corporation is payable only upon satisfaction of contingencies (the “Additional Consideration”), the Merger Agreement shall provide that (i) the portion of such consideration that is not Additional Consideration (such portion, the “Initial Consideration”) shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event; and (ii) any Additional Consideration which becomes payable to the shareholders of the Corporation upon satisfaction of such contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration as part of the same transaction. For the purposes of this Section 7(C) of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH, consideration placed into escrow or retained as holdback to be available for satisfaction of indemnification or similar obligations in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event shall be deemed to be Additional Consideration.

Section 8. Redemption. The shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be redeemable as provided for in this Section 8 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(A) Mandatory Redemption. On September 30, 2026 (the “Series C Mandatory Redemption Date”), the Corporation shall redeem, by payment in cash on such date, subject to the legal availability of funds under New York law, all, but not less than all, of the outstanding shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid dividends, if any, on such shares (whether or not declared) to and including the Series C Mandatory Redemption Date (the “Series C Mandatory Redemption Price”). The Corporation shall deliver a notice of redemption not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) business days prior to the Series C Mandatory Redemption Date, addressed to the holders of the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock as they appear in the records of the Corporation as of the date of such notice. Each notice shall state the following: (i) the Series C Mandatory Redemption Date; (ii) the Series C Mandatory Redemption Price; (iii) the name of the redemption agent to whom, and the address of the place to where, the shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the Series C Mandatory Redemption Price; and (iv) that dividends on the shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such Series C Mandatory Redemption Date, provided that the Series C Mandatory Redemption Price and the dividends accrued through, and including, the day immediately preceding the Series C Mandatory Redemption Date, shall have been paid on the Series C Mandatory Redemption Date.

(B) Redemption upon a Fundamental Change. No later than ten (10) business days after the effective date of a Fundamental Change, the Corporation shall give notice of such occurrence (such notice, the “Fundamental Change Notice”) to each of the holders of record of the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock as they appear in the records of the Corporation as of the date of the Fundamental Change. Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, any holder of the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock may elect to require the Corporation to redeem, in whole or in part, the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock held by such holder for an amount equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the effective date of the Fundamental Change (the “Series C Fundamental Change Redemption Amount”), subject to the Corporation having funds legally available under New York law for such

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redemption, by delivering a notice of redemption to the Corporation not more than twenty (20) business days (subject to extension to comply with applicable law) following the delivery of the Fundamental Change Notice to such holder. Each Fundamental Change Notice shall state the following: (i) the events causing the Fundamental Change; (ii) the date of the Fundamental Change; (iii) the last date on which a holder may exercise the redemption right; (iv) the Series C Fundamental Change Redemption Amount; (v) the name of the redemption agent to whom, and the address of the place to where, the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the Series C Fundamental Change Redemption Amount; and (vi) that dividends on the shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the date of such redemption (the “Fundamental Change Redemption Date”), provided that the Series C Fundamental Change Redemption Amount and the dividends accrued through, and including, the day proceeding the Fundamental Change Redemption Date, shall have been paid on the Fundamental Change Redemption Date.

A “Fundamental Change” means the occurrence of a change of control, which will be deemed to have occurred if any of the following occurs after the initial issue date of the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock:

  (1) Any “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), other than the Corporation, its subsidiaries or any of its employee benefit plans, files any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of shares of the Corporation’s voting stock representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of the Corporation’s voting stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors, or has the power, directly or indirectly, to elect a majority of the members of the Corporation’s Board of Directors;
  (2) The Corporation consolidates with, enters into a binding share exchange, merger or similar transaction with or into another person other than one or more of its subsidiaries, or the Corporation sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Corporation, in any such event, where the consideration consists, in full or in part, of rights, securities or property other than cash; or
  (3) The holders of the Corporation’s capital stock approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation (whether or not otherwise in compliance with this Certificate of Incorporation).

Section 8. Ranking. The Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock will, with respect to both dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, rank: (i) senior to all classes or series of the Corporation’s Common Stock; (ii) senior to any other class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock issued in the future, unless the terms of that capital stock expressly provide that it ranks senior to, or on parity with, the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock; (iii) on parity with any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock, the terms of which expressly provide that it will rank on parity with the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock, including without limitation, the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock and the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock; and (iv) junior to any other class of series of the Corporation’s capital stock, the

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terms of which expressly provide that it will rank senior to the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock, none of which exists on the date hereof, and the issue of which would be subject to the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock voting as a class; and (v) subject to funds legally available and payment of or provision for the Corporation’s debts and other liabilities.

Section 9. Amendment. At any time when any shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock are outstanding, this Certificate of Incorporation shall not be amended in any manner that would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock so as to materially adversely affect the rights of the holders of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, liquidation, voting rights, including this Section 9 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH, or redemption, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, provided, however, in no event shall the authorization, creation or issuance of any series or class of Series C Parity Stock be deemed to be an event requiring the affirmative vote of such holders of Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 9 of subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

Section 10. Fractional Shares. Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock may not be issued in fractions of a share.

(f) 1.5% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.

Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated as the “1.5% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock” (the “Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock”). The Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.01 per share, and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 5,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board; provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding, plus the number of shares reserved, if any, for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the exercise of any options, rights or warrants issuable upon conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. The Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock shall be on parity for all purposes, including, without limitation, dividends, liquidation, voting rights, and redemption, other than date of redemption and redemption price, with the Corporation’s Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock by its terms on parity as to dividends, liquidation preference, voting rights and redemption, other than date of redemption and redemption price (“Series D Parity Stock”).

Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

(A) Subject to Section 1 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH and to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at the close of business on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, as the case may be (each such

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date being referred to herein as a “Series D Dividend Record Date”), immediately preceding the relevant Series D Quarterly Dividend Payment Date (as defined below), shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available for such purpose, cumulative cash dividends at the rate per annum of 1.5% per share of the Series D Liquidation Preference (as defined below) (equivalent to $15.00 per annum per share), payable on the 14th day of January, April, July and October in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Series D Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”) commencing on the first Series D Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.

(B) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock from the date of issuance of such shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends declared and paid on the shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of 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 and among all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on parity with the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.

Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise required by New York law, as may be amended from time to time:

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or by law, the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and all other Preferred Stock of equal rank having similar voting rights, including without limitation any outstanding Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, and Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class (collectively, “Series D and Parity Stock”) is required for the Corporation to: (i) authorize or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any specific class or series of stock ranking senior to such Series D and Parity Stock; or (ii) consummate a binding share exchange or reclassification involving shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another entity unless the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock remains outstanding or is replaced by preference securities with terms not materially less favorable to holders. In addition, the holders of shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock shall have the rights set forth in Section 9 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(B) i) If at any time dividends on any Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to eight (8) quarterly dividends thereon, then the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “Series D Default Period”) that shall extend until such time as all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment ending on the Dividend Payment Date following the date when all such accrued dividends have been paid. During each Series D Default Period, all holders of Series D and Parity Stock with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to eight (8) quarterly dividends

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thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect one (1) member to the Board in accordance with this Section 3(B) of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(ii) During any Series D Default Period, such voting right of the holders of Series D and Parity Stock to elect one member to the Board may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(B) of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH or at any annual meeting of shareholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of shareholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends have been paid through the Series D Quarterly Dividend Payment Date immediately preceding the record date for the next annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that such voting right shall not be exercised unless the holders of at least one-half in number of shares of Series D and Parity Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Series D and Parity Stock of such voting right. At any annual meeting of shareholders at which the holders of Series D and Parity Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing Series D Default Period, holders of Series D and Parity Stock entitled to vote shall have the right, voting together as a single class, to elect one (1) director. If such voting right is exercised at a special meeting of shareholders, holders of Series D and Parity Stock entitled to vote shall have the right to elect one (1) director to fill such vacancy in the Board as may then exist, if any, provided, however, if no vacancy then exists on the Board, the Board shall act to increase the size of the entire Board by one (1) director prior to such special meeting. After the holders of Series D and Parity Stock shall have exercised their right to elect a director in any Series D Default Period and during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Series D and Parity Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to the Series D and Parity Stock.

(iii) Unless the holders of Series D and Parity Stock shall, during an existing Series D Default Period, have previously exercised their right to elect directors, the Corporation shall, by action of the President or the Board in accordance with the Bylaws, promptly call a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock entitled to vote thereon for such purpose. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Series D and Parity Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this paragraph (B)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of such Series D and Parity Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to such holder at such holder’s last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (B)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the shareholders.

(iv) In any Series D Default Period, the holders of Common Stock shall continue to be entitled to elect the entire Board until the holders of Series D and Parity Stock shall have exercised their right to elect one (1) director, after the exercise of which right (x) the director so elected by the holders of Series D and Parity Stock shall continue in office until his or her successor shall have been elected by such holders of Series D and Parity Stock or until the expiration of the Series D Default Period, and (y) any vacancy in the position of director elected by the holders of Series D and Parity Stock, shall be filled as provided in Section 3(B)(ii) of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

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(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a Series D Default Period, (x) the right of the holders of Series D and Parity Stock to elect a director shall cease, (y) the term of any director elected by the holders of Series D and Parity Stock shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors constituting the entire Board shall be such number as may be provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(B)(ii) of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.

Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

(A) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and for so long as any such shares are issued and outstanding, unless concurrently therewith it shall declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock as required by Section 2 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH and on any other series of Preferred Stock entitled to dividends on a parity stock basis with the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock including, without limitation, any outstanding shares of Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, and Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock.

(B) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH are in arrears, until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, to the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock;

(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on parity, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, with the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on parity, whether as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, with the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in

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exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior, whether as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock; or

(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on parity with the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, except in accordance with Section 7(B)(ii) of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH, or pursuant to a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board, 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.

(C) 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, pursuant Section 4(A) of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable 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 to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise required by law.

Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. In the event of any liquidation, Deemed Liquidation Event (as defined below), winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, each holder of shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders an amount equal to $1,000.00 per share (the “Series D Liquidation Preference”), plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon for any dividend period prior to the effective time of such event in preference of the holders of, and before any payment or distribution is made on, any stock ranking junior, including, without limitation, on any Common Stock. After the payment to the holders of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 6 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH, the holders of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation. In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series D Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any, that rank on parity with the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, any shares of the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, and Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such Series D and Parity Stock in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.

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Section 7. Deemed Liquidation Events.

(A) Definition. For the purposes of this subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH, each of the following events shall be considered a “Deemed Liquidation Event”:

(i) a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is a constituent party and in which the consideration consists solely of cash and/or the right to receive cash; except any such merger or consolidation involving the Corporation in which the shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to represent, or are converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock that represent, immediately following such merger or consolidation, at least a majority, by voting power, of the capital stock of (1) the surviving or resulting entity; or (2) if the surviving or resulting entity is a wholly owned subsidiary of another entity immediately following such merger or consolidation, the parent entity of such surviving or resulting corporation; or

(ii) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition in which the consideration consists solely of cash, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Corporation, or any subsidiary of the Corporation, of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the sale or disposition (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) of one or more subsidiaries of the Corporation if substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole are held by such subsidiary or subsidiaries, except where such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation or a parent entity owning all of the outstanding shares of the Corporation.

; provided that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the ACP Agreement (as defined below) shall not result in a Deemed Liquidation Event for purposes of this subparagraph (f).

(B) Effecting a Deemed Liquidation Event.

(i) The Corporation shall not have the power to effect a Deemed Liquidation Event unless the agreement or plan of merger or consolidation for such transaction (a “Merger Agreement”) provides that the consideration payable to the shareholders of the Corporation shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(ii) In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event, if the Corporation does not effect a dissolution of the Corporation under the New York Business Corporation Law within ninety (90) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, then the Corporation shall send a written notice to each holder of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock no later than the ninetieth (90th) day after the Deemed Liquidation Event advising such holders of their right (and the requirements to be met to secure such right) to require the redemption of such shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. If any holder of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock so requests in a written instrument delivered to the Corporation not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, the Corporation shall use the consideration received by the Corporation for such Deemed Liquidation Event (net of any retained liabilities associated with the assets sold, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of

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the Corporation), together with any other assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders, all to the extent permitted by New York law governing distributions to shareholders (the “Available Proceeds”), on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day after such Deemed Liquidation Event, to redeem all, but not less than all, shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock held by such requesting shareholder at a price per share equal to the Series D Liquidation Preference (i.e., $1,000.00), plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the effective date of the Deemed Liquidation Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a redemption pursuant to the preceding sentence, if the Available Proceeds are not sufficient to redeem all shares of Series D and Parity Stock from all shareholders requesting such redemption, the Corporation shall ratably redeem each such shareholder’s shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock to the fullest extent of such Available Proceeds, and shall redeem the remaining shares held by such shareholders as soon as it may lawfully do so under New York law governing distributions to shareholders. Prior to the distribution or redemption provided for in this Section 7(B)(ii) of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH, the Corporation shall not expend or dissipate the consideration received for such Deemed Liquidation Event, except to discharge expenses incurred in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event or in the ordinary course of business.

(C) Allocation of Escrow and Contingent Consideration. In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event, if any portion of the consideration payable to the shareholders of the Corporation is payable only upon satisfaction of contingencies (the “Additional Consideration”), the Merger Agreement shall provide that (i) the portion of such consideration that is not Additional Consideration (such portion, the “Initial Consideration”) shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event; and (ii) any Additional Consideration which becomes payable to the shareholders of the Corporation upon satisfaction of such contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration as part of the same transaction. For the purposes of this Section 7(C) of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH, consideration placed into escrow or retained as holdback to be available for satisfaction of indemnification or similar obligations in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event shall be deemed to be Additional Consideration.

Section 8. Redemption. The shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock shall be redeemable as provided for in this Section 8 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

(A) Mandatory Redemption. On December 6, 2026 (the “Series D Mandatory Redemption Date”), the Corporation shall redeem, by payment in cash on such date, subject to the legal availability of funds under New York law, all, but not less than all, of the outstanding shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a redemption price equal to $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid dividends, if any, on such shares (whether or not declared) to and including the Series D Mandatory Redemption Date (the “Series D Mandatory Redemption Price”). The Corporation shall deliver a notice of redemption not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) business days prior to the Series D Mandatory Redemption Date, addressed to the holders of the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock as they

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appear in the records of the Corporation as of the date of such notice. Each notice shall state the following: (i) the Series D Mandatory Redemption Date; (ii) the Series D Mandatory Redemption Price; (iii) the name of the redemption agent to whom, and the address of the place to where, the shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the Series D Mandatory Redemption Price; and (iv) that dividends on the shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such Series D Mandatory Redemption Date, provided that the Series D Mandatory Redemption Price and the dividends accrued through, and including, the day immediately preceding the Series D Mandatory Redemption Date, shall have been paid on the Series D Mandatory Redemption Date.

(B) Holder’s Redemption. Upon the earlier to occur of (i) termination of the merger agreement among ACP Crotona Corp., ACP Crotona Merger Sub Corp. and the Corporation dated as of January 12, 2021 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “ACP Agreement”) in accordance with its terms (the “Agreement Termination”) and (ii) December 31, 2022, and for one year thereafter (such time period, the “Holder Redemption Period”) any holder of the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock may elect to require the Corporation to redeem, all, but not less than all, of the shares of the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock held by such holder for an amount equal to $1,000.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends for any dividend period prior to the effective date of such redemption (the “Series D Fundamental Change Redemption Amount”), subject to the Corporation having funds legally available under New York law for such redemption, by delivering a notice of redemption to the Corporation during the Holder Redemption Period. The Corporation shall pay the electing holder of the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock the full amount of the Series D Fundamental Change Redemption Amount within ninety (90) days of the Corporation having received such holder’s notice of redemption.

(C) Redemption upon a Fundamental Change. No later than ten (10) business days after the effective date of a Fundamental Change, the Corporation shall give notice of such occurrence (such notice, the “Fundamental Change Notice”) to each of the holders of record of the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock as they appear in the records of the Corporation as of the date of the Fundamental Change. Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, any holder of the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock may elect to require the Corporation to redeem, in whole or in part, the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock held by such holder for an amount equal to the Series D Fundamental Change Redemption Amount, subject to the Corporation having funds legally available under New York law for such redemption, by delivering a notice of redemption to the Corporation not more than twenty (20) business days (subject to extension to comply with applicable law) following the delivery of the Fundamental Change Notice to such holder. Each Fundamental Change Notice shall state the following: (i) the events causing the Fundamental Change; (ii) the date of the Fundamental Change; (iii) the last date on which a holder may exercise the redemption right; (iv) the Series D Fundamental Change Redemption Amount; (v) the name of the redemption agent to whom, and the address of the place to where, the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the Series D Fundamental Change Redemption Amount; and (vi) that dividends on the shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the date of such redemption (the “Fundamental Change Redemption Date”), provided that the Series D Fundamental Change Redemption Amount and the dividends accrued

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through, and including, the day proceeding the Fundamental Change Redemption Date, shall have been paid on the Fundamental Change Redemption Date.

A “Fundamental Change” means the occurrence of a change of control, which will be deemed to have occurred if any of the following occurs after the initial issue date of the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock:

(1) Any “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), other than the Corporation, its subsidiaries or any of its employee benefit plans, files any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of shares of the Corporation’s voting stock representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of the Corporation’s voting stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors, or has the power, directly or indirectly, to elect a majority of the members of the Corporation’s Board of Directors;
(2) The Corporation consolidates with, enters into a binding share exchange, merger or similar transaction with or into another person other than one or more of its subsidiaries, or the Corporation sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Corporation, in any such event, where the consideration consists, in full or in part, of rights, securities or property other than cash; or
(3) The holders of the Corporation’s capital stock approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation (whether or not otherwise in compliance with this Certificate of Incorporation).

; provided that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the ACP Agreement shall not result in a Fundamental Change for purposes of this subparagraph (f).

Section 9. Ranking. The Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock will, with respect to both dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, rank: (i) senior to all classes or series of the Corporation’s Common Stock; (ii) senior to any other class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock issued in the future, unless the terms of that capital stock expressly provide that it ranks senior to, or on parity with, the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock; (iii) on parity with any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock, the terms of which expressly provide that it will rank on parity with the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, including without limitation, the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, and Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock; and (iv) junior to any other class of series of the Corporation’s capital stock, the terms of which expressly provide that it will rank senior to the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, none of which exists on the date hereof, and the issue of which would be subject to the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock voting as a class; and (v) subject to funds legally available and payment of or provision for the Corporation’s debts and other liabilities.

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Section 10. Amendment. At any time when any shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock are outstanding, this Certificate of Incorporation shall not be amended in any manner that would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock so as to materially adversely affect the rights of the holders of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, liquidation, voting rights, including this Section 10 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH, or redemption, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, provided, however, in no event shall the authorization, creation or issuance of any series or class of Series D Parity Stock be deemed to be an event requiring the affirmative vote of such holders of Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 10 of subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph FOURTH.

Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock may not be issued in fractions of a share.

FOURTH: No shares of the Corporation’s Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock have been issued or are outstanding as of the date hereof. The foregoing amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation were authorized pursuant to the authority granted in subparagraph (b) of Paragraph FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 502(d) of the New York Business Corporation Law, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation, in an action by written consent dated November 24, 2021.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed this Certificate of Amendment on December 3, 2021.

 

  /s/ Michael I. German
  Michael I. German
  President and Chief Executive Officer
   
   
   
   
   

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CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF
THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
CORNING NATURAL GAS HOLDING CORPORATION

Under Section 805 of the Business Corporation Law

 

Kohrman Jackson Krantz LLP

One Cleveland Center

1375 East 9th Street, 29th Floor

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

 

 

 

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Execution Copy
 
 
 

 

 

CORNING NATURAL GAS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND

ACP CROTONA CORP.

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Dated as of December 8, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Page
Section 1. Sale and Purchase 3
Section 2. Closing 3
  2.1 Purchase of Shares; Payment of Purchase Price 3
  2.2 Expenses 4
Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Company 4
  3.2 No Material Default 5
  3.3 Shares 5
  3.4 Obligations Binding 6
  3.5 Capitalization 6
  3.6 No Registration Under the Securities Act 6
  3.7 Financial Statements 6
  3.8 [Intentionally omitted.] 7
  3.9 Exchange Act Compliance 7
  3.10 No Material Adverse Changes 7
  3.11 Litigation 8
  3.12 Title to Properties; Leasehold Interests 8
  3.13 Environmental Compliance 9
  3.14 Taxes 9
  3.15 Insurance 10
  3.16 Employees, ERISA 10
  3.17 Governmental Consents 10
  3.18 Legal Compliance 11
Section 4. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser 11
  4.1 Agreement 11
  4.2 Governmental and Other Consents 11
  4.3 Investment Representation, Transfer Restrictions 11
  4.4 No Violation or Conflict 12
  4.5 Sophisticated Purchaser/Accredited Investor 12
  4.6 Disclosure; Access to Information 12
Section 5. Covenants of the Company 13
  5.1 No Sale of Security 13

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

 

      Page
  5.2 No General Solicitation 13
  5.3 Filing of Exchange Act Reports 13
Section 6. Survival of Representations and Warranties 13
Section 7. Notices 13
Section 8. Entire Agreement 14
Section 9. Successors and Assigns 14
Section 10. Headings 15
Section 11. Governing Law 15
Section 12. Counterparts 15
Section 13. No Delay, Waiver 15
Section 14. Severability 15

 

Exhibits  
Exhibit A Form of Certificate of Amendment Schedule of the Certificate of Incorporation of Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation
Schedules  
Schedule 3.1(b) Schedule of Owned Entities including Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.7 Material liabilities incurred or accrued since Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, Forms 10-Q for 2020 Year to Date, and Forms 8-K
Schedule 3.11 Litigation, Applications and Proceedings

 

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PURCHASE AGREEMENT

PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of December 8, 2021, between Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation, a New York corporation (the “Company”), and ACP Crotona Corp., a Delaware Corporation (the “Purchaser”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser desires to purchase from the Company, certain shares of the Company’s 1.5% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series D Preferred Stock”), at a price per share of $1,000, in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein. The shares of Series D Preferred Stock to be purchased under this Agreement are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Shares.”

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1.       Sale and Purchase.

In reliance upon the representations and warranties contained herein and the information provided and/or incorporated by reference herein, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, on the Closing Date, the Company agrees to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser agrees to purchase, the Shares.

Section 2.       Closing.

The closing of the sale and purchase of the Shares (the “Closing”) is taking place via the electronic exchange of documents on December 8, 2021 and upon receipt of the Purchase Price (as defined below) and this Agreement.

2.1       Purchase of Shares; Payment of Purchase Price.

At the Closing, the Purchaser is purchasing, and the Company is selling to the Purchaser, 5,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock at a per share cash price of $1,000 for an aggregate cash purchase price of $5,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”). At the Closing, the Purchaser is delivering cash in an amount equal to the Purchase Price by wire transfer in immediately available funds in full payment for the Shares to the account designated by the Company and the Company is delivering to the Purchaser certificates representing the Shares.

At the Closing:

(a)       the Company shall issue certificated Shares to Purchaser;

(b)       the Purchaser shall deliver the Purchase Price to the order of the Company; and

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(c)       the Purchaser shall deliver a Form W-9 or comparable substitute or appropriate alternative form to the Company, or the Purchaser has previously delivered such for and no changes have occurred since such delivery.

2.2       Expenses.

At Closing, the Company will reimburse the Purchaser for its expenses related to the sale and purchase of the Shares, including the fees and expenses of its legal counsel.

Section 3.       Representations and Warranties of the Company.

The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

(a)       The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of New York and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as now being conducted, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable) under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below).

(b)       The Company does not own any interest in any other entity other than the entities listed on Schedule 3.1(b). Schedule 3.1(b) lists the ownership of the outstanding equity interests in such entities, their jurisdiction of organization and indicates whether or not such entities are consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes. Each of the consolidated entities is referred to as a “Subsidiary” and collectively as the “Subsidiaries”. Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable) under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation and have full power and authority to own, lease and operate their properties and to conduct their businesses as now being conducted, and each Subsidiary is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be in good standing or to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)       As used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance or condition that has had or is reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or that would materially impair the Company’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(d)       The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein (including the sale and delivery of the Shares) will not conflict with or result in a breach by the Company of, or constitute a default by the Company under or result in the creation of any lien, security interest or encumbrance upon the stock or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries under: (i) the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the New York Secretary of State on July 19, 2013 (“Certificate of Incorporation”), as amended by the Certificates of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the New York Secretary of State on January 28, 2016, February 9, 2016, March 30,

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2016, June 27, 2017, April 30, 2018, March 18, 2020, June 29, 2020 and December 3, 2021, (the Certificate of Incorporation as so amended, the “Amended Certificate of Incorporation”), or the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (the “By-Laws”), (ii) any contract, agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which its properties are subject, or (iii) any existing applicable law, rule, published regulation, judgment, order or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court having jurisdiction over the Company, except in the cases of the foregoing clause (ii) and clause (iii) for such breaches, defaults, liens, security interests or encumbrances upon the stock or assets of the Company, or imposition of additional burdens which, in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e)       The Company has filed a Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Certificate”) with the Department of State of the State of New York, and the Certificate has been accepted for filing and is effective.

3.2       No Material Default.

None of the Company or the Subsidiaries: (a) is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any obligation, covenant or condition contained in any agreement, contract, commitment, instrument, plan, undertaking or regulatory requirement (including, without limitation, any and all leases, mortgages, and other contractual arrangements with respect to real property) material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole (collectively, the “Contracts”), and (b) no event has occurred which, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute or result in a default thereunder except, in the case of each of (a) and (b), for such defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Contracts is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and except for those failures of Contracts (or provisions thereof) to be valid or enforceable which would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.3       Shares.

The Company has all requisite corporate right, power and authority to issue, sell, and deliver the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement; and upon such issuance, sale and delivery, and payment of the Purchase Price therefor as contemplated by this Agreement, the Purchaser will receive good and valid title to the Shares, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, charge, claim, equity or encumbrance of any kind and such Shares will be fully paid and non-assessable, except as may be otherwise provided by Section 630 of the New York Business Corporation Law.

3.4       Obligations Binding.

This Agreement to has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,

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moratorium, and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) equitable principles of general applicability relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.

3.5       Capitalization.

(a)       The authorized capital stock of the Company as of the date of this Agreement consists of: 4,500,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 3,083,577 shares were issued and outstanding; 261,500 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 260,600 shares were issued and outstanding; 360,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, of which 244,263 shares were issued and outstanding; 180,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, of which 180,000 shares were issued and outstanding; 5,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock and 59,000 shares of preferred stock not designated to a class. A total of 750,000 preferred shares are authorized. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, except as may be provided by Section 630 of the New York Business Corporation Law, and are free from preemptive rights.

(b)       Except for the Series B Preferred Stock which is convertible into common stock at a 1 for 1.2 basis (as adjusted from time to time) and options to acquire 20,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights or other securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into equity securities of the Company.

3.6       No Registration Under the Securities Act.

Assuming (a) the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 4, and (b) the due performance by the Purchaser of its covenants and agreements contained herein (including, without limitation, compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legends on the certificate(s) evidencing the Shares), it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Shares in the manner contemplated by this Agreement to register the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

3.7       Financial Statements.

The financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Company’s periodic filings filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on Form 10-K for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, are complete and correct in all material respects and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the dates specified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in the case of unaudited interim financial statements) and the consolidated results of their operations for the periods specified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in the case of unaudited interim financial statements); such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, were prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States (“GAAP”) on a consistent basis during the periods involved, except as indicated therein or in the notes thereto. None of the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has any material liability

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(whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise, whether due or to become due) known to the Company, other than:

(i)        liabilities disclosed in any publicly available report filed by the Company under the Exchange Act since January 1, 2020, including Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and Forms 8-K filed prior to the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Exchange Act Reports”),

(ii)       liabilities which have arisen after the date of the last Exchange Act Report in the ordinary course of business,

(iii)       liabilities set forth on Schedule 3.7, and

(iv)       liabilities which would not have, in aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

3.8       [Intentionally Omitted.]

3.9       Exchange Act Compliance.

The Company has timely filed all Exchange Act Reports required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act. All such Exchange Act Reports, when so filed, complied in form and substance in all material respects with the Exchange Act and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

3.10       No Material Adverse Changes.

Since September 30, 2020 except as stated in any Exchange Act Report filed since such date or as disclosed herein pursuant to Section 3.7: (a) there has been no event, circumstance or condition relating to or affecting the business, assets, liabilities, results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the ability of the Company to continue to conduct business in the usual and ordinary course of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which would have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as set forth on Schedule 3.7, or as set forth in the Exchange Act Reports, there has been no material transaction entered into by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries other than (i) transactions in the ordinary course of business or (ii) transactions which would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) there have not been any changes in the capital stock of the Company. On the date hereof, no dividend or other distribution with respect to the Company’s Common Stock has been declared but not yet paid or distributed which has a record date prior to the date hereof, except as disclosed on Schedule 3.7.

3.11       Litigation.

Other than as disclosed in any Exchange Act Report, proceedings by Corning Natural Gas with the New York Public Service Commission and its staff, proceedings by Pike County with the

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Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, proceedings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, applications and proceedings with various municipal bodies with respect to permits, franchises, rights-of-way and similar actions in the ordinary course of business, of which the material applications and proceedings are listed on Schedule 3.11 hereof, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding (whether or not purportedly on behalf of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries) before or by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, which in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the Company’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

3.12       Title to Properties; Leasehold Interests.

(a)       Except as disclosed in any Exchange Act Report, or except to the extent that the inaccuracy of any of the following, in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Company or one or more of the Subsidiaries, has such title to real properties where its assets are located as provides reasonable assurance of the Company’s ability to use such assets in its business in the ordinary course, and has good title or an enforceable leasehold interest, license or other lawful right to use all assets that are used in the Company’s or one or more of the Subsidiaries’ business substantially in the manner in which they currently are operated, in each case, subject only to Permitted Exceptions (as herein defined); (ii) all leases under which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries leases any property that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole are in full force and effect, and none of the Company nor any such Subsidiary is in default in any material respect of any of the terms or provisions of any of such leases and to the Company’s knowledge no claim has been asserted by anyone adverse to any such entity’s rights as lessee under any of such leases, or affecting or questioning any such entity’s right to the continued possession or use of the properties under any such leases or asserting a default under any such leases, and (iii) all liens, charges or encumbrances on or affecting any of the property and assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries which are required to be disclosed in the Company’s Exchange Act Reports are disclosed therein.

(b)       As used in this Agreement, “Permitted Exceptions” means: (i) real estate taxes and assessments not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith; (ii) covenants, restrictions, easements and other similar agreements; (iii) zoning laws, ordinances and regulations, building codes, rules and other local governmental laws, regulations, rules and orders affecting any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s property, provided that the same are not violated by existing improvements or the current use and operation of such property; (iv) any imperfection of title which does not materially and adversely affect the current use, operation or enjoyment of any of the Company’s real property and does not render title to such real property unmarketable or uninsurable and does not materially impair the value of such property; and (v) liens securing financing by the Company.

3.13       Environmental Compliance.

(a)       Except as disclosed in any Exchange Act Report, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company and each of the Subsidiaries has complied and is in compliance

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with all Environmental Statutes (as hereinafter defined), except for such noncompliance as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)       The Company has no knowledge of any occurrence or circumstance that, with notice or passage of time or both, would give rise to a claim under or pursuant to any federal, state or local Environmental Statute pertaining to Hazardous Materials on or originating from any real property owned or occupied by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, including without limitation pursuant to any Environmental Statute, which claim would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)       As used herein, “Hazardous Materials” means (i) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (ii) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant or any other hazardous material as defined by any federal, state or local environmental law, ordinance, rule or regulation, relating to pollution or protection of the environment, health, safety or natural resources, including, without limitation, those relating to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials (individually, an “Environmental Statute”) or by any federal, state or local governmental authority having or claiming jurisdiction over the properties and assets described in the Company’s periodic reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act (a “Governmental Authority”).

3.14       Taxes.

The Company has timely filed or filed for extensions of the filing period and filed within such extended period all federal, state, local, foreign and other tax returns, reports, information returns and statements (except for returns, reports, information returns and statements the failure timely to file which will not result in any Material Adverse Effect) required to be filed by it. The Company has paid or caused to be paid all material taxes (including interest and penalties) that are due and payable by the Company and the Subsidiaries, except those taxes which are being contested by the Company and the Subsidiaries in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which adequate reserves are being maintained on the Company’s books in accordance with GAAP. The Company and the Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities for taxes other than those incurred in the ordinary course of business and in respect of which adequate reserves are being maintained by the Company in accordance with GAAP consistently applied. No deficiency or assessment with respect to, or proposed adjustment of, the Company’s federal, state, local, foreign or other tax returns is pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened. There is no tax lien, whether imposed by any federal, state, local or other tax authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or business of the Company or any Subsidiary. There are no applicable taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance to the Purchaser by the Company of the Shares.

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3.15       Insurance.

The Company and the Subsidiaries each carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonably sufficient under the circumstances or is customary in the industry and all such insurance is in full force and effect.

3.16       Employees, ERISA.

The Company and its Subsidiaries have good relationships with its employees and, since September 30, 2017, have not had any labor issues which have has a Material Adverse Effect on their business or operations. There is no strike or work stoppage existing or, to the knowledge of the Company threatened against the Company or the Subsidiaries. Other than as disclosed in any Exchange Act Report, the Company and the Subsidiaries have not established, sponsored, maintained, made any contributions to or been obligated by law to establish, maintain, sponsor or make any contributions to any “employee pension benefit plan” or any material “employee welfare benefit plan” (as such terms are defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)), including, without limitation, any “multi-employer plan,” except where the liabilities associated with such plan or plans would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws relating to the employment of labor, including bargaining and the payment of social security and other taxes, and with ERISA, except where the failure to so comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.17       Governmental Consents.

Other than such consents as have been obtained and filings under applicable federal and state securities laws, no consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, any governmental authority on the part of the Company is required for the valid execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the valid offer, issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares.

3.18       Legal Compliance.

Except as disclosed in any Exchange Act Report, the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, licenses, judgments, writs, injunctions or decrees, except to the extent that failure to comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Subsidiaries have all necessary permits, licenses and other authorizations required to conduct their businesses as currently conducted, and as proposed to be conducted, except where a failure to have such permits, licenses or other authorizations would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Exchange Act Reports, none of the Company nor any Subsidiary has violated any domestic or foreign law or any regulation or requirement, which violation has or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice of any such violation. There are no adverse orders, judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees or demands of any court or administrative body, domestic or foreign, or of any other governmental agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, outstanding against the Company or the Subsidiaries which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

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Section 4.       Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser.

The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

4.1       Agreement.

This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Purchaser, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

4.2       Governmental and Other Consents.

No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any governmental authority or any other person is required to be obtained by the Purchaser in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Purchaser or of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

4.3       Investment Representation, Transfer Restrictions.

The Purchaser is acquiring the Shares for its own account and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof. The Purchaser was not solicited by means of any general solicitation or advertising nor at any seminar or meeting whose attendees has been invited by any general solicitation of advertising. The Purchaser understand that the Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act, that the Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any applicable blue sky or state securities laws and that if it decides to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Shares, the Shares may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any applicable jurisdiction and the restrictions set forth in the legends on the certificates evidencing the Shares. As used herein, “Affiliates” means any entity controlling or under direct or common control with the Purchaser.

4.4       No Violation or Conflict.

The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein (including the purchase and acceptance of the Shares) will not conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of, or constitute a default by the Purchaser under: (i) organizational documents, (ii) any contract, agreement or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser is bound, or (iii) any existing applicable law, rule, published regulation, judgment, order or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court having jurisdiction over the Purchaser, except for such breach or default as would not adversely affect the ability of the Purchaser to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

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4.5       Sophisticated Purchaser/Accredited Investor.

The Purchaser has such knowledge of business and financial affairs to enable the Purchaser to evaluate the merits and risks of the investment, and the suitability of an investment in the Shares for the Purchaser. The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

4.6       Disclosure; Access to Information.

The Purchaser has had access to the Exchange Act Reports and the Exhibits thereto and has reviewed the Disclosure Letter. The Purchaser has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answer from, officers of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Shares and to obtain any additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary in Purchaser’s sole judgment for the Purchaser to verify the accuracy of the information provided by the Company in the Exchange Act Reports, in this Agreement, in the Disclosure Letter and otherwise. The Purchaser has conducted such diligence about the Shares, the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Purchaser believes in connection with its investment.

Section 5.       Covenants of the Company.

5.1       No Sale of Security.

Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities Act) which would be integrated with the sale of the Shares in a manner which would require registration under the Securities Act of the offer or sale of the Shares to the Purchaser.

5.2       No General Solicitation.

Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell the Shares by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act) or in any manner which would require registration of the offer or sale of the Shares to the Purchaser under the Securities Act.

5.3       Filing of Exchange Act Reports.

After the date of this Agreement, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to timely file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act except where the failure to so timely file would not have a Material Adverse Effect or cause the requirements of Rule 144(c) under the Securities Act not to be met.

Section 6.       Survival of Representations and Warranties.

The representations and warranties of the parties hereto contained in this Agreement or otherwise made in writing in connection with the transactions contemplated herein shall survive the making of this Agreement and sale of the Shares, through and until the earlier of the twelve

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month anniversary of the date of this Agreement or the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect thereto.

Section 7.       Notices.

All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given upon the earlier of actual receipt or (a) when delivered by hand (providing proof of delivery); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); or (c) on the date sent by email if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or to such other Persons or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a written notice given in accordance with this Section 7):

If to Purchaser:

 

ACP Crotona Corp.

c/o Argo Infrastructure Partners LP

650 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Richard Klapow

Email: AssetNotices@argoip.com

 

with a copy (which will not constitute notice to Parent or Merger Sub) to:

 

Mayer Brown LLP

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10020

Attention: Frederick J. Lark, Esq.

Elena V. Rubinov, Esq.

Email: flark@mayerbrown.com

            erubinov@mayerbrown.com

 

If to the Company, to:

 

Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation

330 West William Street

Corning NY 14830

Attention: Mike German

Email: mgerman@CORNINGGAS.COM

with a copy (which will not constitute notice to the Company) to:

 

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP

1375 East 9th Street, 29th Floor

Cleveland, OH 44114

Attention: Christopher Hubbert

Email: cjh@kjk.com

 

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Section 8.       Entire Agreement.

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, whether oral or written. This Agreement may be modified or terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto. Representations made by the Company in this Agreement are modified by any disclosures with respect thereto made in the schedules to this Agreement and are solely for the benefit of the Purchaser and may not be relied upon by any other person. Where a specific representation applies to any matter of fact or law, such representation shall be the exclusive representation with respect to the subject matter thereof and no other or general representation shall be deemed to apply to such matter of fact or law.

Section 9.       Successors and Assigns.

This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of the other party, provided, however, that Purchaser may assign all or any portion of this Agreement to any Affiliate. Any attempted assignment in contravention with the foregoing shall be void. This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the parties hereto and any permitted assignee and/or successor of the Purchaser shall succeed to (and have the right to enforce) all of the Purchaser’s rights hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 10.       Headings.

The headings of the sections of this Agreement are solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning of any of the provisions hereof.

Section 11.       Governing Law.

This Agreement, and all legal actions (whether based on contract, tort, or statute) arising out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement or the actions of any of the parties hereto in the negotiation, administration, performance, or enforcement hereof, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of New York. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by any other party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined exclusively in the State of New York. Each of the parties hereto agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such legal action in the manner provided in Section 7 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable laws, will be valid and sufficient service thereof. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such legal action for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal

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jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any legal action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court or tribunal other than the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim, or otherwise, in any legal action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder: (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 11; (b) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise); and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law, any claim that (i) the suit, action, or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action, or proceeding is improper, or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

Section 12.       Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in one or more separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 13.       No Delay, Waiver.

No delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any waiver on the part of any party of any such right, power or privilege, preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

Section 14.       Severability.

The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other persons, entities or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability.

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed this Agreement on the dates set forth below, to be effective as of the date first above-written.

 

 

  CORNING NATURAL GAS HOLDING CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Michael I. German
    Name: Michael I. German
    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  Date: December 8, 2021
     
     
  ACP CROTONA CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Richard Klapow
    Name: Richard Klapow
    Title: Authorized Signatory
     
  Date:  December 8, 2021

 

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