8-K
OH false 0000946647 --12-31 0000946647 2020-06-19 2020-06-19

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 19, 2020

 

PREMIER FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Ohio

 

0-26850

 

34-1803915

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File No.)

 

(IRS Employer

I.D. No.)

601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (419) 782-5015

First Defiance Financial Corp.

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share

 

PFC

 

The NASDAQ Stock Market

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.  

 

 


Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

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

Certificate of Amendment; Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation

On and effective June 19, 2020, Premier Financial Corp. (formerly known as First Defiance Financial Corp.) (the “Company”) changed its name to “Premier Financial Corp.” (the “Name Change”) by filing a certificate of amendment (the “Certificate of Amendment”) amending and restating the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Second Amended and Restated Articles”), with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio. The Certificate of Amendment was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 1701.70(B)(6). The foregoing descriptions of the Certificate of Amendment and the Second Amended and Restated Articles are qualified in their entirety by reference to copies of the full text of the Certificate of Amendment and Second Amended and Restated Articles, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Trading Symbol and Website

In connection with its name change, at the opening of trading on June 22, 2020, the Company’s common shares began trading on The NASDAQ Stock Market under its new ticker symbol “PFC” and ceased trading under the ticker symbol “FDEF.” Also in connection with the name change, effective as of June 22, 2020, the corporate website of the Company can be found at www.PremierFinCorp.com.

Second Amended and Restated Code of Regulations

In connection with the Name Change, the Company’s Board of Directors also approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated Code of Regulations, as amended (the “Second Amended and Restated Code of Regulations”) to reflect the Name Change. The foregoing description of the Second Amended and Restated Code is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Second Amended and Restated Code of Regulations, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.3 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number

   

Description

         
 

3.1

   

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Premier Financial Corp. (formerly known as First Defiance Financial Corp.), effective June 19, 2020 (filed herewith)

         
 

3.2

   

Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Premier Financial Corp., effective June 19, 2020 (filed herewith)

         
 

3.3

   

Second Amended and Restated Code of Regulations of Premier Financial Corp., effective June 19, 2020 (filed herewith)

         
 

104

   

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

2


SIGNATURES

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.

PREMIER FINANCIAL CORP.

     

By:

 

/s/ Donald P. Hileman

 

Donald P. Hileman

 

Chief Executive Officer

Date: June 22, 2020

3

EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

 

LOGO


LOGO


LOGO


ATTACHMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

RE

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

On June 1, 2020, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of First Defiance Financial Corp. (the “Corporation”), in accordance with Section 1701.70(B)(8) of the Ohio Revised Code and the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, adopted the following resolution by unanimous written consent:

WHEREAS, the board of directors (the “Board”) of First Defiance Financial Corp. (the “Company”) has received and had the opportunity to review the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles”) of the Company and an Amended and Restated Code of Regulations (the “Code”); and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Articles and Code, substantially in the form set forth herein as Exhibits A and B, respectively, are hereby authorized, approved and adopted, effective upon the approval of the Ohio Secretary of State.

EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

PREMIER FINANCIAL CORP.

ARTICLE I

Name

The name of the corporation is Premier Financial Corp. (herein the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

Principal Office

The principal office of the Corporation in Ohio is located at 601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Defiance County, Ohio 43512.

ARTICLE III

Purpose

The purpose for which the Corporation is formed is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be formed under Chapter 1701 of the Revised Code of Ohio.

ARTICLE IV

Number of Directors

The number of members of the Board of Directors may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors, provided that the number of directors shall be within the range specified in Article XI hereof.

ARTICLE V

Capital Stock

The aggregate number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation has authority to issue is 80,000,000 shares, of which 75,000,000 shares are to be shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and of which 5,000,000 are to be shares of serial preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. The shares may be issued by the Corporation from time to time as approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation without the approval of the stockholders except as otherwise provided in these Articles of Incorporation or the rules of a national securities exchange, if applicable. The consideration for the issuance of the shares shall be paid to or received by the Corporation in full before their issuance and shall not be less than the par value per share. The consideration for the issuance of the shares may be paid in whole or in part, in real property, in tangible or, intangible personal property, in labor or services actually performed for the Corporation or in its formation, or as otherwise permitted by Ohio law. In the absence of actual fraud in the transaction, the judgment of the Board of Directors or the stockholders as the case may be as to the value of such consideration shall be conclusive. Upon payment of such consideration such shares shall be deemed to be fully paid and nonassessable. In the case of a stock dividend, the part of the surplus of the Corporation which is transferred to stated capital upon the issuance of shares as a stock dividend shall be deemed to be the consideration for their issuance.


A description of the different classes and series (if any) of the Corporation’s capital stock, and a statement of the relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each class and series (if any) of capital stock, are as follows:

A. Common Stock. Except as provided in these Articles of Incorporation, the holders of the common stock shall exclusively possess all voting power. Each holder of shares of common stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder. Holders of shares of common stock shall not be permitted to cumulate votes in the election of directors or for any other purpose.

Whenever there shall have been paid, or declared and set aside for payment, to the holders of the outstanding shares of any class of stock having preference over the common stock as to the payment of dividends, the full amount of dividends and sinking fund or retirement fund or other retirement payments, if any, to which such holders are respectively entitled in preference to the common stock, then dividends may be paid on the common stock and on any class or series of stock entitled to participate therewith as to dividends, out of any assets legally available for the payment of dividends, but only when and as declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after there shall have been paid, or declared and set aside for payment, to the holders of the outstanding shares of any class having preference over the common stock in any such event, the full preferential amounts to which they are respectively entitled, the holders of the common stock and of any class or series of stock entitled to participate therewith, in whole or in part, as to distributions of assets shall be entitled, after payment or provision for payment of all debts and liabilities of the Corporation, including the payment of all fees, taxes and other expenses incidental thereto, to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution, in cash or in kind.

Each share of common stock shall have the same relative rights, preferences and limitations as, and shall be identical in all respects with, all the other shares of common stock of the Corporation.

B. Serial Preferred Stock. Except as provided in these Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized, by resolution or resolutions from time to time adopted, to further amend these Articles to provide for the specific terms of serial preferred stock to be issued in series and to fix and state the rights, preferences, limitations and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of each such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The terms of shares of different series shall be identical except as to the following rights and preferences, as to which there may be variations between different series:

1. the distinctive serial designation and the number of shares constituting such series;

2. the voting rights, full, conditional or limited, of shares of such series;

3. the dividend rates or the amount of dividends to be paid on the shares of such series, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates, the payment date or dates for dividends, and the participating or other special rights, if any, with respect to dividends;

4. whether the shares of such series shall be redeemable and, if so, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which such shares may be redeemed;

5. the amount or amounts payable upon the shares of such series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation;

6. whether the shares of such series shall be entitled to the benefits of a sinking or retirement fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares, and, if so entitled, the amount of such fund and the manner of its application, including the price or prices at which such shares may be redeemed or purchased through the application of such funds;


7. whether the shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation and, if so convertible or exchangeable, the conversion price or prices, or the rates or rates of exchange, and the adjustments thereof, if any, at which such conversion or exchange may be made, and any other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;

8. the price or other consideration for which the shares of such series shall be issued;

9. restrictions, if any, on the issuance of shares of the same series or any other class or series; and

10. any other designations, preferences, limitations or rights that are now or hereafter permitted by the laws of the State of Ohio and are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Paragraph B.

Each share of each series of serial preferred stock shall have the same relative rights, preferences and limitations as, and shall be identical in all respects with, all the other shares of capital stock of the Corporation of the same series.

C. Express Terms of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A

Part 1. Designation and Number of Shares. There is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation a series of preferred stock designated as the “Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A” (the “Designated Preferred Stock”). The authorized number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be 37,000.

Part 2. Standard Provisions. The Standard Provisions contained in Annex A attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part hereof to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.

Part. 3. Definitions. The following terms are used in this Part C (including the Standard Provisions in Annex A hereto) as defined below:

(a) “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Corporation.

(b) “Dividend Payment Date” means February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.

(c) “Junior Stock” means the Common Stock, and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

(d) “Liquidation Amount” means $1,000 per share of Designated Preferred Stock.

(e) “Minimum Amount” means $9,250,000.

(f) “Parity Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Corporation (other than Designated Preferred Stock) the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior or junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (in each case without regard to whether dividends accrue cumulatively or non-cumulatively).

(g) “Signing Date” means December 5, 2008.

Part. 4. Certain Voting Matters. Holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share on any matter on which holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, including any action by written consent.


ARTICLE VI

Incorporation

The name and mailing address of the sole incorporator is as follows:

 

Name

 

  

Address

 

First Federal Savings and Loan   

601 Clinton Street

 

Defiance, Ohio 43512

ARTICLE VII

Indemnification

The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, including actions by or in the right of the Corporation, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorney’s fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding to the full extent permissible under Ohio law.

ARTICLE VIII

Preemptive Rights

No stockholder of the Corporation shall have, as a matter of right, the preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for shares of any class, now or hereafter authorized, or to purchase or subscribe for securities or other obligations convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or which by warrants or otherwise entitle the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase any such shares.

ARTICLE IX

Repurchase of Shares

The Corporation may from time to time, pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and without action by the stockholders, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any class of capital stock, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip, warrants, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, or other securities of the Corporation in such manner, upon such terms, and in such amounts as the Board of Directors shall determine.

ARTICLE X

Shareholder Meetings; Director Nominations

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation, any action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting by signed written consent by all stockholders entitled to vote.


B. Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by (i) the chairman of the board, the president, or, in the case of the president’s absence, death or disability, a vice-president authorized to exercise the authority of the president, (ii) the Board of Directors by action at a meeting or a majority of the Board of Directors acting without a meeting, and (iii) the holders of 50% or more of all the shares outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting.

C. Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Ohio, as the Code of Regulations may provide.

D. In addition to any provision in the Code of Regulations of the Corporation, nominations for the election of directors and proposals for any new business to be taken up at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be made by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. In order for a stockholder of the corporation to make any such nominations and/or proposals, he or she shall give notice thereof in writing, delivered or mailed by first class United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Corporation not less than 60 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that with respect to the first scheduled annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered or received no later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the scheduled annual meeting was mailed, provided further that the notice by the stockholder must be delivered or received no later than the close of business on the fifth day preceding the date of the meeting.

E. Each such notice given by a stockholder with respect to nominations for the election of directors shall set forth (i) the name, age, business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee, and (iii) the number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by each such nominee. In addition, the stockholder making such nomination shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Corporation.

F. Each such notice given by a stockholder to the Secretary with respect to business proposals to bring before a meeting shall set forth in writing as to each matter: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business; (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholder; and (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything in the Articles of Incorporation or Code of Regulations to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at the meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article X.

G. The Chairman of the annual or special meeting of stockholders may, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to such meeting that a nomination or proposal was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure, and, if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination or proposal shall be disregarded and laid over for action at the next succeeding adjourned, special or annual meeting of the stockholders taking place thirty days or more thereafter. This provision shall not require the holding of any adjourned or special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of considering such defective nomination or proposal.

ARTICLE XI

Board of Directors

The number of directors of the Corporation shall be such number, not less than five nor more than 15 (exclusive of directors, if any, to be elected by holders of preferred stock of the Corporation, voting separately as a class), as shall be provided from time to time pursuant to these Articles, provided that no decrease in the number of


directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director, and provided further that no action shall be taken to decrease or increase the number of directors from time to time unless at least two-thirds of the directors then in office shall concur in said action. Vacancies in the Board of Directors of the Corporation and newly created directorships shall be filled by a vote of two-thirds of the directors then in office, whether or not a quorum, and any director so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of the class to which the director has been chosen expires and when the director’s successor is elected and qualified. Directors shall not be required to own any shares of the Corporation’s common stock and need not be residents of any particular state, country or other jurisdiction.

The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be divided into two classes if the Board of Directors consists of six, seven or eight members, or into three classes if the Board of Directors consists of nine or more members. Such classes shall consist of no fewer than three members each.

In the event the Board of Directors consists of nine or more members, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three classes, which shall be designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The members of each class shall be elected for a term of three years and until their successors are elected and qualified. Such classes shall be as nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall permit, with the terms of office of all members of one class expiring each year. Should the number of directors not be equally divisible by three, the excess director or directors shall be assigned to Classes II or III as follows: (i) if there shall be an excess of one directorship over a number equally divisible by three, such extra directorship shall be classified in Class III; and (ii) if there be an excess of two directorships over a number equally divisible by three, one shall be classified in Class II and the other in Class III.

In the event the Board of Directors consists of six, seven, or eight members, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be divided into two classes of directors, consisting of not less than three directors each, which shall be designated Class I and Class II. The members of each class shall be elected for a term of two years and until their successors are elected and qualified. Such classes shall be as nearly equal in number as the then total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall permit, with the terms of office of all members of one class expiring each year. Should the number of directors not be equally divisible by three, the excess director or directors shall be assigned to Classes I or II as follows: (i) if there shall be an excess of one directorship over a number equally divisible by three, such extra directorship shall be classified in Class II; and (ii) if there be an excess of two directorships over a number equally divisible by three, one shall be classified in Class I and the other in Class II.

At the first annual meeting of stockholders, directors of Class I shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the second or third succeeding annual meeting thereafter depending on whether there are two or three classes, as described in this Article XI. At the second annual meeting of stockholders, directors of Class II shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the second or third succeeding annual meeting thereafter, depending on whether there are two or three classes, as described in this Article XI. In the event the Board of Directors consists of nine or more members, at the third annual meeting of stockholders the directors of Class III shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting thereafter. Thereafter, at each succeeding annual meeting, directors of each class shall be elected for two or three year terms depending on whether there are two or three classes, as described in this Article XI. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any director whose term shall expire at any annual meeting shall continue to serve until such time as his successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified unless his position on the Board of Directors shall have been abolished by action taken to reduce the size of the Board of Directors prior to said meeting.

Should the number of directors of the Corporation be reduced, the directorship(s) eliminated shall be allocated among classes as appropriate so that the number of directors in each class is as specified above. The Board of Directors shall designate, by the name of the incumbent(s), the position(s) to be abolished. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no decrease in the number of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. Should the number of directors of the Corporation be increased, the additional directorships shall be allocated among classes as appropriate so that the number of directors in each class is as specified above.


ARTICLE XII

Removal of Directors

Any director (including persons elected by directors to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors) may be removed from office without cause by an affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the total votes eligible to be cast by stockholders at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders called expressly for such purpose and may be removed from office with cause by an affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the total votes eligible to be cast by stockholders. Cause for removal shall exist only if the director whose removal is proposed has been either declared incompetent by an order of a court, convicted of a felony or of an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than one year by a court of competent jurisdiction, or deemed liable by a court of competent jurisdiction for gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of such director’s duties to the Corporation.

In the case of a removal of a director by the stockholders, a new director may be elected at the same meeting of stockholders to hold office for the remainder of the term of the removed director. Failure by the stockholders to fill the unexpired term of a removed director at such meeting of stockholders shall be deemed to create a vacancy in the Board of Directors, which shall be filled by the Board of Directors as provided in Article XI.

ARTICLE XIII

Duties of Directors; Limitation of Liability

A director shall perform his duties as a director, including his duties as a member of any committee of the directors upon which he may serve, in good faith, in a manner he reasonably believes to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. In performing his duties, a director is entitled to rely on, among other things, information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, that are prepared or presented by one or more directors, offices, or employees of the Corporation, counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters that the director reasonably believes are within the person’s professional or expert competence, or a committee of the directors upon which he does not serve.

A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable for monetary damages for any action taken, or for any failure to take any action, as a director except to the extent that by law a director’s liability for monetary damages may not be limited.

ARTICLE XIV

Business Combinations

The shareholder vote required to approve a Business Combination (as hereinafter defined) shall be as set forth in this Article XIV, in addition to any other requirements under applicable law.

A. (1) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article XIV, the affirmative vote of the holders of (i) at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon (and, if any class or series of shares is entitled to vote thereon separately, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of each such class or series) and (ii) a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon not including shares deemed beneficially owned by a Related Person (as hereinafter defined) shall be required in order to authorize any of the following:

(a) any merger, share exchange or consolidation of the Corporation with or into a Related Person;


(b) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition, including without limitation, a mortgage, or any other security device, of all or any Substantial Part (as hereinafter defined) of the assets of the Corporation (including, without limitation, any voting securities of a subsidiary) or of a subsidiary to a Related Person;

(c) any merger or consolidation of a Related Person with or into the Corporation or a subsidiary;

(d) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition, including without limitation, a mortgage, or any other capital device, of all or any Substantial Part of the assets of a Related Person to the Corporation or a subsidiary;

(e) the issuance of any securities of the Corporation or a subsidiary to a Related Person;

(f) the acquisition by the Corporation or a subsidiary of any securities of a Related Person;

(g) any reclassification of the common stock of the Corporation, or any recapitalization involving the common stock of the Corporation; and

(h) any agreement, contract or other arrangement providing for any of the transactions described in this Paragraph A.

(2) Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, any provision of law, or any agreement with any national securities exchange or automated quotation system which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote.

(3) The term “Business Combination” as used in this Article XIV shall mean any transaction which is referred to in any one or more of Paragraphs (l)(a) through (1)(h) of this Article XIV.

B. The provisions of Paragraph (A) of this Article shall not be applicable to any particular Business Combination, and such Business Combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is required by any other provisions of these Articles, any provisions of law or any agreement with any federal regulatory agency, national securities exchange or automated quotation system, if the Business Combination shall have been approved by at least two-thirds of the Continuing Directors (as hereinafter defined); provided, however, that such approval shall be effective only if obtained at a meeting at which a Continuing Director Quorum (as hereinafter defined) is present.

C. For the purpose of this Article XIV the following definitions apply:

(1) The term “Related Person” shall mean (a) any individual, corporation, partnership or other person or entity which together with its “affiliates” (as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) “beneficially owns” (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) in the aggregate 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the common stock of the Corporation; and (b) any “affiliate” (as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of any such individual, corporation, partnership or other person or entity. Without limitation, any shares of the common stock of the Corporation which any Related Person has the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement, upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or otherwise shall be deemed “beneficially owned” by such Related Person.


(2) The term “Substantial Part” shall mean more than 25 percent of the total assets of the Corporation, as of the end of its most recent fiscal year ending prior to the time the determination is made.

(3) The term “Continuing Director” shall mean any member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation who is unaffiliated with a Related Person and was a member of the Board of Directors prior to the time that the Related Person became a Related Person, and any successor of a Continuing Director who is recommended to succeed a Continuing Directors by a majority of Continuing Directors than on the Board of Directors.

(4) The term “Continuing Director Quorum” shall mean at least two-thirds of the Continuing Directors capable of exercising the powers conferred on them.

D. In addition to Paragraphs (A) through (C) of this Article XIV, the provisions of the Ohio General Corporation Law regarding (i) transactions with interested shareholders and (ii) proposed control share acquisitions, as in effect on the date hereof (Chapter 1704 and Section 1701.831 of the Revised Code of Ohio, respectively), shall apply to the Corporation.

ARTICLE XV

Amendment of Code of Regulations

The Code of Regulation may be made, repealed, altered, amended or rescinded by the stockholders of the Corporation by the vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the voting power of the Corporation entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders called for that purpose. In addition, the Code of Regulations may be repealed, altered, amended or rescinded by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors, subject to any exceptions provided in the Code of Regulations.

ARTICLE XVI

Amendment of Article of Incorporation

The Corporation reserves the right to repeal, alter, amend or rescind any provision contained in these Articles in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law, including upon the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the Corporation, and all rights conferred on stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of Articles IV, VII, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV and this Article XVI may not be repealed, replaced, altered, amended or rescinded in any respect unless the same is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the voting power of the Corporation entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders called for that purpose (provided that notice of such proposed adoption, repeal, replacement, alteration, amendment or rescission is included in the notice of such meeting).


ANNEX A

STANDARD PROVISIONS

Section 1. General Matters. Each share of Designated Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Designated Preferred Stock. The Designated Preferred Stock shall be perpetual, subject to the provisions of Section 5 of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations. The Designated Preferred Stock shall rank equally with Parity Stock and shall rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation.

Section 2. Standard Definitions. As used herein with respect to Designated Preferred Stock:

(a) “Applicable Dividend Rate” means (i) during the period from the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing on or after the fifth anniversary of the Original Issue Date, 5% per annum and (ii) from and after the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing on or after the fifth anniversary of the Original Issue Date, 9% per annum.

(b) “Appropriate Federal Banking Agency” means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to the Corporation as defined in Section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)), or any successor provision.

(c) “Business Combination” means a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar transaction that requires the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders.

(d) “Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.

(e) “Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations or comparable instrument relating to the Designated Preferred Stock, of which these Standard Provisions form a part, as it may be amended from time to time.

(f) “Charter” means the Corporation’s certificate or articles of incorporation, articles of association, or similar organizational document.

(g) “Dividend Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

(h) “Dividend Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

(i) “Liquidation Preference” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

(j) “Original Issue Date” means the date on which shares of Designated Preferred Stock are first issued.

(k) “Preferred Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

(l) “Preferred Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock of the Corporation, including the Designated Preferred Stock.

(m) “Qualified Equity Offering” means the sale and issuance for cash by the Corporation to persons other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries after the Original Issue Date of shares of perpetual Preferred Stock,


Common Stock or any combination of such stock, that, in each case, qualify as and may be included in Tier 1 capital of the Corporation at the time of issuance under the applicable risk-based capital guidelines of the Corporation’s Appropriate Federal Banking Agency (other than any such sales and issuances made pursuant to agreements or arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans which were publicly announced, on or prior to October 13, 2008).

(n) “Regulations” means the regulations of the Corporation, as they may be amended from time to time.

(o) “Share Dilution Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).

(p) “Standard Provisions” mean these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations relating to the Designated Preferred Stock.

(q) “Successor Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

(r) “Voting Parity Stock” means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as specified in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations, any and all series of Parity Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter.

Section 3. Dividends.

(a) Rate. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on each share of Designated Preferred Stock if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, but only out of assets legally available therefor, cumulative cash dividends with respect to each Dividend Period (as defined below) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Dividend Rate on (i) the Liquidation Amount per share of Designated Preferred Stock and (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend Period on such share of Designated Preferred Stock, if any. Such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from the Original Issue Date, shall compound on each subsequent Dividend Payment Date (i.e., no dividends shall accrue on other dividends unless and until the first Dividend Payment Date for such other dividends has passed without such other dividends having been paid on such date) and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date, commencing with the first such Dividend Payment Date to occur at least 20 calendar days after the Original Issue Date. In the event that any Dividend Payment Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, the dividend payment due on that date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of that postponement. The period from and including any Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date is a “Dividend Period”, provided that the initial Dividend Period shall be the period from and including the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date.

Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The amount of dividends payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any date prior to the end of a Dividend Period, and for the initial Dividend Period, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, and actual days elapsed over a 30-day month.

Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to holders of record of Designated Preferred Stock as they appear on the stock register of the Corporation on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date or such other record date fixed by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors


that is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any such day that is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day.

Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if any) declared and payable on Designated Preferred Stock as specified in this Section 3 (subject to the other provisions of the Certificate of Designations).

(b) Priority of Dividends. So long as any share of Designated Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock (other than dividends payable solely in shares of Common Stock) or Parity Stock, subject to the immediately following paragraph in the case of Parity Stock, and no Common Stock, Junior Stock or Parity Stock shall be, directly or indirectly, purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid in full (or have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside for the benefit of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock on the applicable record date). The foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business (including purchases to offset the Share Dilution Amount (as defined below) pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase plan) and consistent with past practice, provided that any purchases to offset the Share Dilution Amount shall in no event exceed the Share Dilution Amount; (ii) purchases or other acquisitions by a broker-dealer subsidiary of the Corporation solely for the purpose of market-making, stabilization or customer facilitation transactions in Junior Stock or Parity Stock in the ordinary course of its business; (iii) purchases by a broker- dealer subsidiary of the Corporation of capital stock of the Corporation for resale pursuant to an offering by the Corporation of such capital stock underwritten by such broker-dealer subsidiary; (iv) any dividends or distributions of rights or Junior Stock in connection with a stockholders’ rights plan or any redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant to any stockholders’ rights plan; (v) the acquisition by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries of record ownership in Junior Stock or Parity Stock for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries), including as trustees or custodians; and (vi) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock, in each case, solely to the extent required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to the Signing Date or any subsequent agreement for the accelerated exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for Common Stock. “Share Dilution Amount” means the increase in the number of diluted shares outstanding (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, and as measured from the date of the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements most recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the Original Issue Date) resulting from the grant, vesting or exercise of equity-based compensation to employees and equitably adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar transaction.

When dividends are not paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for payment thereof set aside for the benefit of the holders thereof on the applicable record date) on any Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within a Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) in full upon Designated Preferred Stock and any shares of Parity Stock, all dividends declared on Designated Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock and payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) shall be declared pro rata so that the respective amounts of such dividends declared shall bear the same ratio to each other as all accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock


(including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) and all Parity Stock payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) (subject to their having been declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors out of legally available funds and including, in the case of Parity Stock that bears cumulative dividends, all accrued but unpaid dividends) bear to each other. If the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors determines not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation will provide written notice to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock prior to such Dividend Payment Date.

Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, securities or other property) as may be determined by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors may be declared and paid on any securities, including Common Stock and other Junior Stock, from time to time out of any funds legally available for such payment, and holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.

Section 4. Liquidation Rights.

(a) Voluntary or Involuntary Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive for each share of Designated Preferred Stock, out of the assets of the Corporation or proceeds thereof (whether capital or surplus) available for distribution to stockholders of the Corporation, subject to the rights of any creditors of the Corporation, before any distribution of such assets or proceeds is made to or set aside for the holders of Common Stock and any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, payment in full in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), whether or not declared, to the date of payment (such amounts collectively, the “Liquidation Preference”).

(b) Partial Payment. If in any distribution described in Section 4(a) above the assets of the Corporation or proceeds thereof are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts payable with respect to all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Corporation ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the holders of such other stock shall share ratably in any such distribution in proportion to the full respective distributions to which they are entitled.

(c) Residual Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Corporation ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution has been paid in full, the holders of other stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation (or proceeds thereof) according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d) Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 4, the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation or other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or other property) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.


Section 5. Redemption.

(a) Optional Redemption. Except as provided below, the Designated Preferred Stock may not be redeemed prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date. On or after the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Corporation, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, out of funds legally available therefor, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Corporation, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption; provided that (x) the Corporation (or any successor by Business Combination) has received aggregate gross proceeds of not less than the Minimum Amount (plus the “Minimum Amount” as defined in the relevant certificate of designations for each other outstanding series of preferred stock of such successor that was originally issued to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Successor Preferred Stock”) in connection with the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program) from one or more Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor), and (y) the aggregate redemption price of the Designated Preferred Stock (and any Successor Preferred Stock) redeemed pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Corporation (or any successor by Business Combination) from such Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor).

The redemption price for any shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be payable on the redemption date to the holder of such shares against surrender of the certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Corporation or its agent. Any declared but unpaid dividends payable on a redemption date that occurs subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not be paid to the holder entitled to receive the redemption price on the redemption date, but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares on such Dividend Record Date relating to the Dividend Payment Date as provided in Section 3 above.

(b) No Sinking Fund. The Designated Preferred Stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock will have no right to require redemption or repurchase of any shares of Designated Preferred Stock.

(c) Notice of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation. Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Designated Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Designated Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Corporation or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility. Each notice of redemption given to a holder shall state: (1) the redemption date; (2) the number of


shares of Designated Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the redemption price; and (4) the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price.

(d) Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of part of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or in such other manner as the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time. If fewer than all the shares represented by any certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares without charge to the holder thereof.

(e) Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been deposited by the Corporation, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, with a bank or trust company doing business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and having a capital and surplus of at least $500 million and selected by the Board of Directors, so as to be and continue to be available solely therefor, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date dividends shall cease to accrue on all shares so called for redemption, all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company, without interest. Any funds unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

(f) Status of Redeemed Shares. Shares of Designated Preferred Stock that are redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock (provided that any such cancelled shares of Designated Preferred Stock may be reissued only as shares of any series of Preferred Stock other than Designated Preferred Stock).

Section 6. Conversion. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shares shall have no right to exchange or convert such shares into any other securities.

Section 7. Voting Rights.

(a) General. The holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law.

(b) Preferred Stock Directors. Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly Dividend Periods or more, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have the right, with holders of shares of any one or more other classes or series of Voting Parity Stock outstanding at the time, voting together as a class, to elect two directors (hereinafter the “Preferred Directors” and each a “Preferred Director) to fill such newly created directorships at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders (or at a special meeting called for that purpose prior to such next annual meeting) and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated


Preferred Stock have been declared and paid in full at which time such right shall terminate with respect to the Designated Preferred Stock, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned; provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any Preferred Director that the election of such Preferred Director shall not cause the Corporation to violate any corporate governance requirements of any securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Corporation may then be listed or traded that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock as a class to vote for directors as provided above, the Preferred Directors shall cease to be qualified as directors, the term of office of all Preferred Directors then in office shall terminate immediately and the authorized number of directors shall be reduced by the number of Preferred Directors elected pursuant hereto. Any Preferred Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, and any vacancy created thereby may be filled, only by the affirmative vote of the holders a majority of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding voting separately as a class together with the holders of shares of Voting Parity Stock, to the extent the voting rights of such holders described above are then exercisable. If the office of any Preferred Director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal from office as aforesaid, the remaining Preferred Director may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) Class Voting Rights as to Particular Matters. So long as any shares of Designated Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of stockholders required by law or by the Charter, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:

(i) Authorization of Senior Stock. Any amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter to authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking senior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to either or both the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation;

(ii) Amendment of Designated Preferred Stock. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter (including, unless no vote on such merger or consolidation is required by Section 7(c)(iii) below, any amendment, alteration or repeal by means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Designated Preferred Stock; or

(iii) Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations. Any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Designated Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Designated Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Designated Preferred Stock immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole;

provided, however, that for all purposes of this Section 7(c), any increase in the amount of the authorized Preferred Stock, including any increase in the authorized amount of Designated Preferred Stock necessary to satisfy


preemptive or similar rights granted by the Corporation to other persons prior to the Signing Date, or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, whether pursuant to preemptive or similar rights or otherwise, of any other series of Preferred Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any other series of Preferred Stock, ranking equally with and/or junior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers, and shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of, the holders of outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock.

(d) Changes after Provision for Redemption. No vote or consent of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 5 above.

(e) Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Charter, the Regulations, and applicable law and the rules of any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which Designated Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

Section 8. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation and the transfer agent for Designated Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Designated Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 9. Notices. All notices or communications in respect of Designated Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Certificate of Designations, in the Charter or Regulations or by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Corporation or any similar facility, such notices may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock in any manner permitted by such facility.

Section 10. No Preemptive Rights. No share of Designated Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any securities of the Corporation, or any warrants, rights or options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities, or such warrants, rights or options, may be designated, issued or granted.

Section 11. Replacement Certificates. The Corporation shall replace any mutilated certificate at the holder’s expense upon surrender of that certificate to the Corporation. The Corporation shall replace certificates that become destroyed, stolen or lost at the holder’s expense upon delivery to the Corporation of reasonably satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, stolen or lost, together with any indemnity that may be reasonably required by the Corporation.


Section 12. Other Rights. The shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Charter or as provided by applicable law.

EX-3.3

Exhibit 3.3

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CODE OF REGULATIONS

OF

PREMIER FINANCIAL CORP.

ARTICLE I

Principal Office

The principal office of Premier Financial Corp. (herein the “Corporation”) in Ohio is located at 601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places within or without the State of Ohio as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.

ARTICLE II

Stockholders

SECTION 1. Place of Meetings. All annual and special meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place within or without the State in which the principal executive office of the Corporation is located as the Board of Directors may determine and as designated in the notice of such meeting.

SECTION 2. Annual Meeting. A meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation for the election of directors and for the transaction of any other business of the Corporation shall be held annually at such date and time as the Board of Directors may determine.

SECTION 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the president or the Board of Directors in accordance with the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.

SECTION 4. Conduct of Meetings. Annual and special meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall designate, when present, either the Chairman of the Board or president to preside at such meetings.

SECTION 5. Notice of Meeting. Written notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be mailed by the secretary or the officer performing his duties, not less than seven days nor more than sixty days before the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books or records of the Corporation as of the record date prescribed in Section 6 of this Article II, with postage thereon prepaid. If a stockholder is present at a meeting, or in writing waives notice thereof before or after the meeting, notice of the meeting to such stockholder shall be unnecessary. When any stockholders’ meeting, either annual or special, is adjourned, notice of adjournment need not be given if the time and place to which such meeting is adjourned are fixed and announced at such meeting.

Upon request in writing delivered either in person or by registered mail to the president or the secretary by any persons entitled to call a meeting of stockholders, the president or the secretary shall give written notice of the meeting to be held on a date not less than seven nor more than sixty days following the provision of such notice. If such notice is not given within fifteen days after the delivery or mailing of such request, the persons calling the meeting may fix the time of the meeting and give notice thereof as provided in the preceding paragraph, or cause notice to be given by any designated representative.

SECTION 6. Fixing of Record Date. For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors shall fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of stockholders. Such date in any case shall not be a date earlier than the date on which the record date is fixed and shall not be more than sixty days and, in case


of a meeting of stockholders, not less than twenty days prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of stockholders, is to be taken. When a determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.

SECTION 7. Voting Lists. The Corporation shall make available upon the request of any stockholder at any meeting of stockholders, a complete record of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number of shares held by each. The original stock transfer books shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine such record or transfer books or to vote at any meeting of stockholders.

SECTION 8. Quorum. A majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders. If less than a majority of the outstanding voting shares are represented at a meeting, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

SECTION 9. Proxies. At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may vote by proxy executed in writing by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney in fact. Proxies solicited on behalf of the management shall be voted as directed by the stockholder or, in the absence of such direction, as determined by a majority of the Board of Directors. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from the date of its execution unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every appointment of a proxy shall be revocable unless such appointment is coupled with an interest.

SECTION 10. Voting. Every stockholder entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him. Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, by applicable law, or by this Code of Regulations, a majority of those votes cast by stockholders at a lawful meeting shall be sufficient to pass on a transaction or matter.

SECTION 11. Voting of Shares in the Name of Two or More Persons. When ownership of stock stands in the name of two or more persons, in the absence of written directions to the Corporation to the contrary, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation any one or more of such stockholders may cast, in person or by proxy, all votes to which such ownership is entitled. In the event an attempt is made to cast conflicting votes, in person or by proxy, by the several persons in whose name shares of stock stand, the vote or votes to which these persons are entitled shall be cast as directed by a majority of those holding such stock and present in person or by proxy at such meeting and, an equal number of votes shall be cast for and against any proposal if a majority cannot agree.

SECTION 12. Voting of Shares by Certain Holders. Shares standing in the name of another corporation may be voted by any officer, agent or proxy as the bylaws of such corporation may prescribe, or, in the absence of such provision, and except to the extent inconsistent with applicable law, as the Board of Directors of such corporation may determine. Shares held by an administrator, executor, guardian, conservator or a trustee in bankruptcy may be voted by him, either in person or by proxy, without a transfer of such shares into his name. Shares standing in the name of a trustee may be voted by him, either in person or by proxy, but no trustee, other than a trustee in bankruptcy, shall be entitled to vote shares held by him without a transfer of such shares into his name. Shares standing in the name of a receiver may be voted by such receiver, and shares held by or under the control of a receiver may be voted by such receiver without the transfer thereof into his name if authority to do so is contained in an appropriate order of the court or other public authority by which such receiver was appointed.

A stockholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such shares until the shares have been transferred into the name of the pledgee and thereafter the pledgee shall be entitled to vote the shares so transferred.

Neither treasury shares of its own stock held by the Corporation, nor shares held by another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote for the election of directors of such other corporation are held by the Corporation, shall be voted at any meeting or counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time for purposes of any meeting.

SECTION 13. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors may appoint any persons, other than nominees for office, as inspectors of election to act at such meeting or any

 

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adjournment thereof. The number of inspectors shall be either one or three. If the Board of Directors so appoints either one or three inspectors, that appointment shall not be altered at the meeting. If inspectors of election are not so appointed, the Chairman of the Board or the president may, and on the request of not less than ten percent of the votes represented at the meeting shall, make such appointment at the meeting. In case any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the Chairman of the Board or the president.

Unless otherwise prescribed by applicable law, the duties of such inspectors shall include: determining the number of shares of stock and the voting power of each share, the shares of stock represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies; receiving votes, ballots or consents; hearing and determining all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote; counting and tabulating all votes or consents; determining the result; and such acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders.

ARTICLE III

Officers

SECTION 1. Positions. The officers of the Corporation shall be a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary and a treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also designate the Chairman of the Board as an officer. The president shall be the chief executive officer, unless the Board of Directors designates another person as the chief executive officer. The offices of the secretary and treasurer may be held by the same person and a vice president may also be either the secretary or the treasurer. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president or senior vice president. The Board of Directors may also elect or authorize the appointment of such other officers as the business of the Corporation may require. The officers shall have such authority and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time authorize or determine. In the absence of action by the Board of Directors, the officers shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices.

SECTION 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of the stockholders or at such other meeting of the Board of Directors as is determined by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Election or appointment of an officer, employee or agent shall not of itself create contract rights. The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to enter into an employment contract with any officer in accordance with state law, but no such contract shall impair the right of the Board of Directors to remove any officer at any time in accordance with Section 3 of this Article III.

SECTION 3. Removal. Any officer may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever, in its judgment, the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such removal, other than for cause, shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.

SECTION 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.

ARTICLE IV

Contracts, Loans, Checks and Deposits

SECTION 1. Contracts. To the extent permitted by applicable law, and except as otherwise prescribed by the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or this Code of Regulations with respect to certificates for shares, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation. Such authorization may be general or confined to specific instances.

 

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SECTION 2. Loans. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by the Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

SECTION 3. Checks, Drafts. Etc. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by one or more officers, employees or agents of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4. Deposits. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in any of its duly authorized depositories as the Board of Directors may select.

ARTICLE V

Certificates for Shares and Their Transfer

SECTION 1. Uncertificated Shares of Stock; Stock Certificates. To the extent permitted by applicable law and unless otherwise provided by the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may provide by resolution that some or all of any or all classes and series of shares of capital stock in the Corporation shall be issued in uncertificated form pursuant to customary arrangements for issuing shares in such uncertificated form. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares then represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation, nor shall such a resolution apply to a certificated share issued in exchange for an uncertificated share. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner of the shares a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to applicable law. In case any such officer who has signed any such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is delivered by the Corporation, it may nevertheless be issued and delivered by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer had not ceased to be such at the date of its delivery. Any certificate representing the stock of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors and shall conform to the requirements of the laws of the State of Ohio.

SECTION 2. Form of Share Certificates. All certificates representing shares issued by the Corporation shall set forth upon the face or back that the Corporation will furnish to any stockholder upon request and without charge within five days after receipt of written request therefor a full statement of the designations, preferences, limitations, and relative rights of the shares of each class authorized to be issued, the variations in the relative rights and preferences between the shares of each such series so far as the same have been fixed and determined and the authority of the Board of Directors to fix and determine the relative rights and preferences of subsequent series.

Each certificate representing shares shall state upon the face thereof: that the Corporation is organized under the laws of the State of Ohio; the name of the person to whom issued; the number of shares represented by such certificate; the date of issue; the designation of the series or class, if any, which such certificate represents. Other matters in regard to the form of the certificates shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. Payment of Shares. No certificate shall be issued for any shares until such share is fully paid.

SECTION 4. Form of Payment for Shares. The consideration for the issuance of shares shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.

SECTION 5. Transfer of Shares. Transfers of uncertificated shares of the Corporation shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the holder thereof in person or by attorney upon presentment of proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer in accordance with customary procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form. Transfers of certificated shares of the Corporation shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate, or by an attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and upon surrender and cancellation of a certificate or certificates for a like number of shares of the same class or series of stock, with duly executed assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, and with such proof of the authenticity of the signatures as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require. No transfer of shares of the Corporation shall be valid until such transfer shall have been made upon the books of the Corporation.

 

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SECTION 6. Stock Ledger. The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 7 of Article II or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

SECTION 7. Lost Certificates. In case any certificate of shares of the Corporation shall be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, or any officer or officers thereunto duly authorized by the Board of Directors, may authorize the issue of a substitute certificate or substitute stock in uncertificated form in the place of the certificate so lost, stolen or destroyed; provided, however, that in each such case, the applicant for a substitute certificate or substitute share of the Corporation in uncertificated form shall furnish to the Corporation evidence to the Corporation, which determines in its discretion is satisfactory, of the loss, theft, or destruction of such certificate and of the ownership thereof, and also such security or indemnity as may be required.

SECTION 8. Record Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.

ARTICLE VI

Fiscal Year; Annual Audit

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The Corporation shall be subject to an annual audit as of the end of its fiscal year by independent public accountants appointed by and responsible to the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII

Dividends

Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and applicable law, the Board of Directors may, at any regular or special meeting, declare dividends on the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in the Corporation’s own stock.

ARTICLE VIII

Corporate Seal

The corporate seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

ARTICLE IX

Amendments

In accordance with the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, this Code of Regulations may be repealed, altered, amended or rescinded by the stockholders of the Corporation by vote of not less than a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Corporation entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose. In addition, this Code of Regulations may be repealed, altered, amended or rescinded by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors.

ARTICLE X

Board of Directors

SECTION 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall annually elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members.

 

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SECTION 2. Number and Classification. The number of members of the Board of Directors (such number referred to herein as the “authorized number of directors”) may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors within the range set forth in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation. The Board of Directors shall be divided into classes in accordance with the provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.

SECTION 3. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this Section immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.

SECTION 4. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, or by one-third of the directors. The persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by such persons.

Members of the Board of Directors may participate in special meetings by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Such participation shall constitute presence in person.

SECTION 5. Notice. Written notice of any special meeting shall be given to each director at least two days previous thereto if delivered personally or by email, or at least five days previous thereto if delivered by mail at the address of the director on the records of the Corporation. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid if mailed, or when sent if by email. Any director may waive notice of any meeting by a writing filed with the secretary. The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, unless, prior to or at the commencement of such meeting, such director objects to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

SECTION 6. Quorum. A majority of the number of directors fixed by Section 2 of this Article X shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, but if less than such majority is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time. Notice of any adjourned meeting shall be given in the same manner as prescribed by Section 5 of this Article X.

SECTION 7. Manner of Acting. The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless a greater number is prescribed by this Code of Regulations, the Articles of Incorporation, or the laws of Ohio.

SECTION 8. Action Without a Meeting. Anything contained in these Code of Regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, except as provided in Article IX and Section 5 of Article XII hereof, any action that may be authorized or taken at a meeting of the stockholders or of the directors or of a committee of the directors, as the case may be, may be authorized or taken without a meeting with the affirmative vote or approval of, and in a writing or writings signed by, all the stockholders who would be entitled to notice of a meeting of the stockholders held for such purpose, or all the directors, or all the members of such committee of the directors, respectively, which writings shall be filed with or entered upon the records of the corporation.

SECTION 9. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by sending a written notice of such resignation to the home office of the Corporation addressed to the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. Unless otherwise specified therein such resignation shall take effect upon the acceptance thereof by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 10. Vacancies. Vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of the class to which the director has been chosen expires.

 

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SECTION 11. Presumption of Assent. Unless Ohio law provides otherwise, a director of the Corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any Corporation matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless (i) he objects at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon his arrival) to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting; (ii) his dissent or abstention from the action taken is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or (iii) he delivers written notice of his dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the meeting before its adjournment or to the Corporation immediately after adjournment of the meeting. The right of dissent or abstention is not available to a director who votes in favor of the action taken.

SECTION 12. Compensation. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time establish the compensation to be paid to directors for their service as such. Members of either standing or special committees may be allowed such compensation for actual attendance at committee meetings as the Board of Directors may determine.

ARTICLE XI

Committees of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate one or more committees, as they may determine to be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Corporation, and may prescribe the duties, constitution and procedures thereof. Each committee shall consist of not less than three directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.

The Board of Directors shall have power, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the number of directors fixed by Article X, Section 2, at any time to change the members of, to fill vacancies in, and to discharge any committee of the Board. Any member of any such committee may resign at any time by giving notice to the Corporation; provided, however, that notice to the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of such committee, or the Secretary shall be deemed to constitute notice to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect upon receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any member of any such committee may be removed at any time, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors at any meeting of the Board called for that purpose.

ARTICLE XII

Certain Governance Matters

SECTION 1. Interpretation. The provisions of this Article XII shall apply notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Code of Regulations. In the event of any inconsistency between any provision of this Article XII and any other provision of this Code of Regulations, such provision of this Article XII shall control.

SECTION 2. Office of the Bank. The main office of the Corporation’s subsidiary Premier Bank (formerly known as First Federal Bank of the Midwest, herein the “Bank”) will be located in Youngstown, Ohio.

 

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SECTION 3. Officers of the Corporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code of Regulations, the Board of Directors shall, subject to the next succeeding paragraph in this Section 3, elect the following individuals to the following officer positions for the periods of time set forth opposite their names, pursuant to Section 7.14(d) of the Agreement and Plan of Merger between the Corporation and United Community Financial Corp. (“United Community”), dated September 9, 2019 (the “Agreement”) (terms capitalized but not otherwise defined in this Code of Regulations shall have the meaning given to them in the Agreement):

 

Name    Position    Term
Donald Hileman    Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors   

Beginning on a date during the period commencing January 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2021, as determined by the Board of Directors, or any such earlier date as of which Donald Hileman ceases for any reason to serve as Chief Executive Officer (the “Succession Date”).

 

Ending upon the date on which his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in accordance with this Code of Regulations.

Donald Hileman    Chief Executive Officer   

Beginning at the Effective Time.

 

Ending on the Succession Date.

Gary Small    Chief Executive Officer   

Beginning on the Succession Date.

 

Ending upon the date on which his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in accordance with this Code of Regulations.

Gary Small    President   

Beginning at the Effective Time.

 

Continuing at and following the Succession Date and ending upon the date on which his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in accordance with this Code of Regulations.

The removal of any of these individuals from, or the failure to appoint or re-elect the individuals to, the positions listed above or set forth in any of their respective employment agreements with the Corporation, any modification to any of their respective duties, authority or reporting relationships and any amendment to or termination of any employment agreements entered into by the Corporation with the foregoing individuals shall require the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors until the second anniversary of the Succession Date. Until the second anniversary of the Succession Date, upon the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cessation of service by any of the individuals serving in the capacities set forth above (or any of such individuals’ successors selected and appointed pursuant to this subsection), the Corporation shall not appoint any individual to serve in such capacity, except with the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors.

 

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SECTION 4. Officers of the Bank. The Corporation shall, subject to the next succeeding paragraph in this Section 4, cause the Bank to elect the following individuals to the following officer positions at the Bank for the periods of time set forth opposite their names, pursuant to Section 7.14(d) of the Agreement:

 

Name    Position    Term
Donald Hileman    Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank   

Beginning on the Succession Date.

 

Ending upon the date on which his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in accordance with this Code of Regulations and the organizational documents of the Bank.

Donald Hileman    Chief Executive Officer   

Beginning at the Effective Time.

 

Ending on the Succession Date.

Gary Small    Chief Executive Officer   

Beginning on the Succession Date.

 

Ending upon the date on which his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in accordance with this Code of Regulations and the organizational documents of the Bank.

Gary Small    President   

Beginning at the Effective Time.

 

Continuing at and following the Succession Date and ending upon the date on which his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in accordance with this Code of Regulations and the organizational documents of the Bank.

The Corporation shall cause the Bank not to remove any of these individuals from, or fail to appoint or re-elect the individuals to, the positions listed above or set forth in any of their respective employment agreements with the Bank, or modify any of their respective duties, authority or reporting relationships or amend or terminate any employment agreements entered into by the Bank with the foregoing individuals, in each case, without the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors of the Corporation until the second anniversary of the Succession Date. Until the second anniversary of the Succession Date, upon the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cessation of service by any of the individuals serving in the capacities set forth above (or any of such individuals’ successors selected and appointed pursuant to this subsection), the Corporation shall cause the Bank not to appoint any individual to serve in such capacity, except with the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors of the Corporation.

SECTION 5. Amendments to this Code of Regulations. Prior to the second anniversary of the Succession Date, any repeal, alteration, amendment or rescindment of Article I or this Article XII of this Code of Regulations by the Board of Directors shall require (and any such repeal, alteration, amendment or rescindment may be proposed or recommended by the Board of Directors for adoption by the stockholders of the Corporation only by) the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors. Prior to the second anniversary of the Succession Date, the Corporation may not exercise its authority, in its capacity as sole stockholder of the Bank, to (and the Corporation shall cause the Bank not to) modify, amend or repeal any of the provisions of the organizational documents of the Bank implementing the provisions of this Article XII, or implement or adopt any provisions of the organizational documents of the Bank inconsistent with the foregoing, in each case, without the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors of the Corporation.

 

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SECTION 6. Board of Directors of the Corporation. In accordance with Section 7.14(c) of the Agreement, the following provisions shall govern directors to the exclusion of any provision in this Code of Regulations to the contrary. At the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, as the Surviving Entity, shall consist of thirteen directors who shall consist of: (i) Donald Hileman, John Bookmyer, and five other persons who served as directors of the Corporation or the Bank immediately prior to the Effective Time and are designated by the Corporation (each, a “Corporation-Related Director,” which term shall include any directors who are subsequently appointed or nominated and elected to fill a vacancy created by the cessation of service of a Corporation-Related Director, as applicable, in accordance with this Article XII, Section 6); and (ii) Gary Small, Richard Schiraldi, and four other persons who served as directors of United Community or Home Savings Bank immediately prior to the Effective Time and are designated by United Community (each, a “United Community-Related Director,” which term shall include any directors who are subsequently appointed or nominated and elected to fill a vacancy created by the cessation of service of a United Community-Related Director in accordance with this Article XII, Section 6).

The directors shall be divided into three classes. Immediately following the Effective Time, the Class I directors shall consist of two Corporation-Related Directors and two United Community-Related Directors. The initial Class I directors shall hold office for an initial term expiring at the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, and Class I directors shall thereafter be elected to three-year terms. Upon the expiration of their initial term, the initial Class I directors shall be nominated by the Board of Directors, provided that such nomination is reasonably agreeable to the Governance and Nominating Committee in accordance with the good faith execution of its duties, for an additional term to expire at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders. If, prior to the second anniversary of the Succession Date, any of the initial Class I directors shall for any reason cease to serve as a director or shall not stand for reelection as a director, the resultant vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Directors with an individual selected by the United Community-Related Directors (if such director was a United Community-Related Director) or the Corporation-Related Directors (if such director was a Corporation-Related Director) in good faith in a manner intended to preserve the principles of representation in this Code of Regulations, provided that such individual is reasonably agreeable to the Governance and Nominating Committee in accordance with the good faith execution of its duties, which such individual, if appointed to the Board of Directors prior to the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, will be nominated by the Board of Directors for reelection at such annual meeting for an additional term to expire at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, provided again that such nomination is reasonably agreeable to the Governance and Nominating Committee in accordance with the good faith execution of its duties.

Immediately following the Effective Time, the Class II directors shall consist of two Corporation-Related Directors and two United Community-Related Directors. The initial Class II directors shall hold office for an initial term expiring at the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, and Class II directors shall thereafter be elected to three-year terms. Upon the expiration of their initial terms, the initial Class II directors shall be nominated by the Board of Directors, provided that such nominations are reasonably agreeable to the Governance and Nominating Committee in accordance with the good faith execution of its duties, for an additional term to expire at the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders. If, prior to the second anniversary of the Succession Date, any of the initial Class II directors shall for any reason cease to serve as a director or shall not stand for reelection as a director, the resultant vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Directors with an individual selected by the United Community-Related Directors (if such director was a United Community-Related Director) or the Corporation-Related Directors (if such director was a Corporation-Related Director) in good faith in a manner intended to preserve the principles of representation in this Code of Regulations, provided that such individual is reasonably agreeable to the Governance and Nominating Committee in accordance with the good faith execution of its duties, which such individual, if appointed to the Board of Directors prior to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, will be nominated by the Board of Directors for reelection at such annual meeting for an additional term to expire at the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, provided again that such nomination is reasonably agreeable to the Governance and Nominating Committee in accordance with the good faith execution of its duties.

Immediately following the Effective Time, the Class III directors shall consist of three Corporation-Related Directors and two United Community-Related Director. The initial Class III directors shall hold office for an initial term expiring at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, and Class III directors shall thereafter be elected to three-year terms. Upon the expiration of their initial term, the initial Class III directors shall be nominated by the Board of Directors, provided that such nomination is reasonably agreeable to the Governance and Nominating Committee in accordance with the good faith execution of its duties, for an additional term to expire at the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders. If, prior to the second anniversary of the Succession Date, any of the initial Class

 

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III directors shall for any reason cease to serve as a director or shall not stand for reelection as a director, the resultant vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Directors with an individual selected by the United Community-Related Directors (if such director was a United Community-Related Director) or the Corporation-Related Directors (if such director was a Corporation-Related Director) in good faith in a manner intended to preserve the principles of representation in this Code of Regulations, provided that such individual is reasonably agreeable to the Governance and Nominating Committee in accordance with the good faith execution of its duties, which such individual, if appointed to the Board of Directors prior to the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, will be nominated by the Board of Directors for reelection at such annual meeting for an additional term to expire at the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, provided again that such nomination is reasonably agreeable to the Governance and Nominating Committee in accordance with the good faith execution of its duties.

In addition, John Bookmyer shall serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors for a term beginning at the Effective Time and until the Succession Date and Richard Schiraldi shall serve as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for a term beginning at the Effective Time and continuing on and following the Succession Date until the date on which his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in accordance with this Code of Regulations. The removal of any of these individuals from, or the failure to appoint or re-elect the individuals to, the positions listed in the foregoing sentence shall require the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors until the second anniversary of the Succession Date. Until the second anniversary of the Succession Date, upon the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cessation of service by any of the individuals serving in the capacities set forth above (or any of such individuals’ successors selected and appointed pursuant to this subsection), the Corporation shall not appoint any individual to serve in such capacity, except with the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, prior to the second anniversary of the Succession Date, the Corporation may not increase or decrease the authorized number of directors or increase, decrease or change the classification of any class of directors, in each case, without the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors.

SECTION 7. Board of Directors of the Bank. At the Effective Time, the Corporation shall cause the Board of Directors of the Bank, as the surviving bank, to consist of thirteen directors who shall consist of: (i) Donald Hileman, John Bookmyer, and five other persons who served as directors of the Corporation or the Bank immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a “Corporation-Related Bank Director,” which term shall include any directors who were subsequently appointed or nominated and elected to fill a vacancy created by the cessation of service of a Corporation-Related Bank Director in accordance with this Article XII, Section 7); and (ii) Gary Small, Richard Schiraldi, and four other persons who served as directors of United Community or Home Savings Bank immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a “United Community-Related Bank Director,” which term shall include any directors who were subsequently appointed or nominated and elected to fill a vacancy created by the cessation of service of a United Community-Related Bank Director in accordance with this Article XII, Section 7). If, prior to the second anniversary of the Succession Date, any of the directors of the Bank shall for any reason cease to serve as a director or shall not stand for reelection as a director, the resultant vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Directors of the Bank with an individual selected by the United Community-Related Bank Directors (if such director was a United Community-Related Bank Director) or the Corporation-Related Bank Directors (if such director was a Corporation-Related Bank Director), in each case, in good faith in a manner intended to preserve the principles of representation in this Code of Regulations. Prior to the second anniversary of the Succession Date, the Corporation shall cause the Board of Directors of the Bank not to (a) fail to re-elect any of the United Community-Related Bank Directors or Corporation-Related Bank Directors or (b) increase or decrease the number of directors of the Board of Directors of the Bank, in each case, without the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors of the Corporation.

In addition, the Corporation shall cause the Bank to appoint John Bookmyer as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank for a term beginning at the Effective Time and until the Succession Date and Richard Schiraldi as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank for a term beginning at the Effective Time and continuing on and following the Succession Date until the date on which his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in accordance with this Code of Regulations. The removal of any of these individuals from, or the failure to appoint or re-elect the individuals to, the positions listed in the foregoing sentence shall require the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors of the

 

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Corporation until the second anniversary of the Succession Date. Until the second anniversary of the Succession Date, upon the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cessation of service by any of the individuals serving in the capacities set forth above (or any of such individuals’ successors selected and appointed pursuant to this subsection), the Corporation shall cause the Bank not to appoint any individual to serve in such capacity, except with the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the authorized number of directors of the Corporation.

SECTION 8. Committees of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. At the Effective Time, the Corporation shall have an Audit Committee, a Governance and Nominating Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Risk Committee. The Chairman of each of the Audit Committee and the Risk Committee shall be a Corporation-Related Director. The Chairman of each of the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Compensation Committee shall be a United Community-Related Director.

 

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v3.20.1
Document and Entity Information
Jun. 19, 2020
Cover [Abstract]  
Entity Address, State or Province OH
Amendment Flag false
Entity Central Index Key 0000946647
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Jun. 19, 2020
Entity Registrant Name PREMIER FINANCIAL CORP.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code OH
Entity File Number 0-26850
Entity Tax Identification Number 34-1803915
Entity Address, Address Line One 601 Clinton Street
Entity Address, City or Town Defiance
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 43512
City Area Code (419)
Local Phone Number 782-5015
Entity Information, Former Legal or Registered Name First Defiance Financial Corp.
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Security 12b Title Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share
Trading Symbol PFC
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company false