June 30
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 15, 2026 (
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (
Not Applicable
(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.
Written communication 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.☐
ITEM 3.03 – MATERIAL MODIFICATION TO RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS
On May 15, 2026, ArcBest Corporation (Nasdaq: ARCB) (the “Company”) filed (i) a certificate of conversion with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (ii) a certificate of conversion with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas with a plan of conversion (the “Plan of Conversion”), and (iii) a certificate of formation with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas (the “Texas Charter” and, collectively with the certificates of conversion described in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), the “Conversion Documents”).
Pursuant to the Conversion Documents, the Company converted from a Delaware corporation into a Texas corporation (the “Texas Reincorporation”) effective on May 15, 2026, at 9:35 a.m. Central Time (the “Effective Time”).
The following occurred at the Effective Time:
| ● | The Company’s domicile changed from the State of Delaware to the State of Texas. |
| ● | The Company continues in existence as a Texas corporation and continues to operate its business under the current name, “ArcBest Corporation”. The Texas Reincorporation did not result in any change in headquarters, business, jobs, management, properties, location of any of its offices or facilities, number of employees, obligations, assets, liabilities or net worth (other than as a result of the transaction costs related to the Texas Reincorporation and the cost of corporate franchise taxes). |
| ● | The affairs of the Company ceased to be governed by Delaware corporate law and the Company’s existing Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Ninth Amended and Restated Bylaws, and are now instead governed by Texas corporate law, the Texas Charter and the bylaws approved by the Company’s board of directors (the “Texas Bylaws”). |
| ● | Each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Delaware corporation automatically converted into one outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Texas corporation. |
| ● | The Company’s common stock continues to be traded on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the symbol “ARCB.” |
Certain rights of the Company’s stockholders were changed as a result of the Texas Reincorporation. A more detailed description of the Plan of Conversion, the Texas Charter, the Texas Bylaws and the effects of the Texas Reincorporation is set forth in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the Company’s 2026 annual meeting of stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2026 under “Proposal IV. To Approve the Reincorporation of the Company to the State of Texas by Conversion,” which description is incorporated herein by reference. Copies of the Plan of Conversion, the Texas Charter and the Texas Bylaws are filed as Exhibits 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 5.03 – AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR
The information set forth under Item 3.03 is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.
ITEM 9.01 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |
2.1 | ||
3.1 | ||
3.2 | ||
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File – The cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document |
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 hereunto duly authorized.
ARCBEST CORPORATION | |||
(Registrant) | |||
Date: | May 15, 2026 | /s/ J. Brent Hagy | |
J. Brent Hagy | |||
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | |||
Plan of Conversion
of
ArcBest Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
into
ArcBest Corporation, a Texas corporation
This PLAN OF CONVERSION (this “Plan”), dated as of April 24, 2026, is hereby adopted by ArcBest Corporation, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Converting Entity”), in order to set forth the terms, conditions and procedures governing its conversion into, and continued existence as, ArcBest Corporation, a Texas corporation (the “Converted Entity”), pursuant to Title 1, Chapter 10, Subchapter C of the Texas Business Organizations Code (the “TBOC”).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Converting Entity has approved this Plan and the conversion of the Converting Entity into the Converted Entity (the “Conversion”), has adopted such resolutions as required pursuant to the terms of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), and has submitted and recommended this Plan and the Conversion for approval by the stockholders of the Converting Entity, and the stockholders of the Converting Entity have validly approved this Plan and the Conversion in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL and the certificate of incorporation of the Converting Entity.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Converting Entity does hereby adopt this Plan, as set forth below:
| 1. | Plan of Conversion. |
| a. | The name of the Converting Entity is “ArcBest Corporation”, a Delaware corporation. The Converting Entity was originally incorporated under the name Best Holding Corporation, and its Certificate of Incorporation was originally filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 23, 1988. |
| b. | The name of the Converted Entity is “ArcBest Corporation”, a Texas corporation. |
| c. | The Converting Entity is continuing its existence, without lapse or interruption, in the organizational form of a Texas for-profit corporation under the name “ArcBest Corporation”; that is, in the organizational form of the Converted Entity. |
| d. | The Converted Entity is to be a corporation and its jurisdiction of formation is the State of Texas. |
| e. | As of the Effective Time (as defined in Section 2), automatically by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of any person, each share of common stock (including restricted stock, which shall remain restricted), par value $0.01 per share, of the Converting Entity shall convert into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Converted Entity, and any warrant, option, restricted stock unit, equity or equity-based award, or other right to acquire any, or of any instrument to convert into or |
| based on the value of, common stock or other equity security of the Converting Entity shall from and after the Effective Time, be a warrant, option, restricted stock unit, equity or equity-based award or other right to acquire any, or of any instrument to convert into or based on the value of, the same amount of common stock or other equity securities of the Converted Entity, respectively, and, if applicable, with the same exercise or purchase price per share. No shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Converting Entity are issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time. |
| f. | As of the Effective Time, automatically by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of any person, each employment letter or agreement, employee benefit plan or agreement, incentive compensation plan or agreement or other similar plan or agreement to which the Converting Entity is a party, or otherwise maintains, sponsors or contributes, shall continue to be a plan or agreement of the Converted Entity on the same terms and conditions and any references to the Converting Entity thereunder shall mean the Converted Entity on and after the Effective Time. To the extent that any such plan, letter or agreement provides for the issuance, or is otherwise based on the value, of common stock or other equity securities of the Converting Entity, as of the Effective Time, automatically by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of any person, such plan or agreement shall be deemed to provide for the issuance, or be based on the value, of common stock or other equity securities of the Converted Entity, respectively. |
| g. | All of the outstanding certificates representing shares of common stock of the Converting Entity immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed for all purposes to continue to evidence ownership of and to represent the same number of shares of common stock of the Converted Entity. |
| h. | As of the Effective Time, automatically by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of any person, each agreement to which the Converting Entity is a party, shall continue to be an agreement of the Converted Entity on the same terms and conditions and any references to the Converting Entity thereunder shall, on and after the Effective Time, mean the Converted Entity. |
| 2. | Effective Time. The Conversion will be consummated under the TBOC by filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas (a) a Certificate of Conversion in the form required by the TBOC (the “Texas Certificate”) and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the TBOC and (b) a Certificate of Formation in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Certificate of Formation”). The time on which such Texas Certificate is accepted by the Texas Secretary of State shall be the “Effective Time”. Simultaneously with the filing of the Texas Certificate, the Converting Entity is authorized and empowered to take any such actions as may be necessary or prudent in connection with the Conversion under the DGCL. |
| 3. | Effects of the Conversion. The Conversion will have the effects set forth in the TBOC and, to the extent necessary, the DGCL, including without limitation the effects set forth in |
2
| Section 1.c of this Plan. The Converted Entity will be responsible for the payment of all of the Converting Entity’s fees and franchise taxes and will be responsible for all of its debts and liabilities. |
| 4. | Governance of the Converted Entity. On and after the Effective Time, the affairs of the Converted Entity shall be governed in accordance with the TBOC and the Certificate of Formation, and the Bylaws of the Converted Entity in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. Immediately after the Effective Time, the directors and officers of the Converting Entity shall continue as the directors and officers of the Converted Entity. |
| 5. | Foreign Qualifications of the Converted Entity. For the purpose of authorizing the Converted Entity to do business in any state, territory, or dependency of the United States, including, but not limited to, Delaware, or of any foreign country in which it is necessary or expedient for the Converted Entity to transact business, the officers of the Converted Entity are hereby authorized and empowered to appoint and substitute all necessary agents or attorneys for service of process, to designate and to prepare, execute, and file, for and on behalf of the Converted Entity, all necessary certificates, reports, powers of attorney, and other instruments as may be required by the laws of such state, territory, dependency, or country to authorize the Converted Entity to transact business therein, and whenever it is expedient for the Converted Entity to cease doing business therein and withdraw therefrom, to revoke any appointment of agent or attorney for service of process, and to file such certificates, reports, revocation of appointment, or surrender of authority as may be necessary to terminate the authority of the Converted Entity to do business in any such state, territory, dependency, or country, and all actions taken by the officers of the Converted Entity prior to the Effective Time in furtherance of this Section 5 shall be, and each of them hereby is, approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects as the proper acts and deeds of the Converted Entity. |
| 6. | Third Party Beneficiaries. This Plan shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person or entity other than as expressly provided herein. It being understood that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, no provision of this Plan is intended to, or does, confer any rights or remedies on any current or former employee or other service provider of the Converting Entity (nor any other individual associated therewith) and none of such individuals shall be regarded for any purpose as a third party beneficiary to this Plan. |
| 7. | Severability. Whenever possible, each term and provision of this Plan will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any term or provision of this Plan is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law or in any jurisdiction, such term or provision will be ineffective only to the extent, of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Plan. Upon the determination that any term or provision of this Plan is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be deemed amended in such jurisdiction, without further action on the part of any person or entity, to the limited extent necessary to render the same valid, legal or enforceable. |
[Signature Page Follows]
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ArcBest Corporation, a Delaware corporation, has caused this Plan to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first stated above.
ArcBest Corporation a Delaware corporation | | | |
| | | |
| |||
By: | /s/ J. Brent Hagy | | |
Name: J. Brent Hagy | | ||
Title: Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | |||
Exhibit A
Certificate of Formation of the Converted Entity
[See attached]
Exhibit B
Bylaws of the Converted Entity
[See attached]
Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
OF
ARCBEST CORPORATION
ArcBest Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Texas (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:
| 1. | The Corporation was originally formed as a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Corporation”) under the name Best Holding Corporation on August 23, 1988. The Delaware Corporation changed its name to Arkansas Best Corporation on March 16, 1992, and changed its name to ArcBest Corporation effective as of May 1, 2014. The Delaware Corporation’s address is 8401 McClure Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916. |
| 2. | The Delaware Corporation was converted from a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware into a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas under the name “ArcBest Corporation” on May 15, 2026, pursuant to a plan of conversion adopted by the Company’s shareholders on April 24, 2026. |
The name of the Corporation is ArcBest Corporation. The Corporation is a for-profit corporation.
The name of the Corporation’s registered agent is Corporation Service Company, d/b/a CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company. The initial address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Texas is 211 East 7th Street, Suite 620, Austin, Travis County, TX 78701-3218. The initial mailing address of the Corporation is 8401 McClure Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas.
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Texas Business Organizations Code (the “TBOC”).
| A. | The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is eighty million (80,000,000) consisting of (1) ten million (10,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and (2) seventy million (70,000,000) shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share. |
| B. | Common Stock. |
| C. | Designations, etc. of Preferred Stock. |
2
In furtherance and not limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Texas, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation or to adopt new Bylaws.
To the fullest extent permitted by the TBOC, a director or officer of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for an act or omission in such person’s capacity as a director or officer, except for liability for (i) any breach of such person’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith that constitute a breach of duty to the Corporation or involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) any transaction from which such person derived any improper benefit, regardless of whether the benefit resulted from an action taken within the scope of such person’s duties or (iv) an act or omission for which the liability of such person is expressly provided for by an applicable statute, except as permitted by the TBOC. If the TBOC is amended after the filing of this Certificate of Formation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the TBOC, as so amended.
Any amendment, repeal or elimination of the foregoing paragraph by the shareholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director or officer of the Corporation for acts or omissions
3
occurring before such amendment, repeal or elimination unless the provision provides otherwise at the time of such act or omission.
The names of the initial Board of Directors shall be Salvatore A. Abbate, Thom S. Albrecht, Ann G. Bordelon, Eduardo F. Conrado, Bobby K. George, Michael P. Hogan, Judy R. McReynolds, Seth K. Runser, Janice E. Stipp, and Chris T. Sultemeier, and the addresses of such directors shall be P.O. Box 10048, Fort Smith, AR 72917-0048.
The initial number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be as set at 10 and subsequently shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action or omission in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the TBOC, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue with respect to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph 2 of this Article with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if required by the TBOC, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking
4
(hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article or otherwise.
If a claim under paragraph 1 of this Article is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation (except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty days), the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, the indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the TBOC.
Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the TBOC, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled under this Article or otherwise to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, shall be on the Corporation.
The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this Certificate of Incorporation or any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
| 6. | Insurance. |
The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any indemnitee against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would
5
have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the TBOC.
| 7. | Indemnity of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. |
The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article or as otherwise permitted under the TBOC with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.
The shareholders do not have statutory preemptive rights.
Cumulative voting for the election of Directors shall not be permitted.
The affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation shall be required for the approval or authorization of any (i) merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other corporation, (ii) sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to or with any other corporation, person or other entity, (iii) dissolution of the Corporation, (iv) amendment of this Certificate of Formation, or (v) any other “fundamental action” or “fundamental business transaction” as defined in the TBOC.
Special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose, may only be called by (i) the Chairman of the Board, (ii) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors then in office, (iii) the President, or (iv) the Secretary of the Corporation upon a timely request in proper written form of the holders of record, as of the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to request a special meeting be called that is fixed in accordance with the Bylaws of the Corporation, of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the special meeting. No special meeting shall be called pursuant to clause (iv) unless such request complies with the procedures for calling a special meeting of stockholders as set forth in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all holders of shares entitled to vote on such action. Any such action taken by written consent shall be delivered to the Corporation at its principal office.
6
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim for or based on a breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director or officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation of the Corporation's shareholders including a claim alleging the aiding and abetting of such a breach of fiduciary duty, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the TBOC or this Certificate of Formation or the Bylaws (in each case, as they may be amended from time to time), (d) any action asserting a claim related to or involving the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine or (e) any action asserting an “internal entity claim" as that term is defined in Section 2.115 of the TBOC shall be in the First Business Court Division ("Business Court") of the State of Texas (provided that if the Business Court determines that it lacks jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (the "Federal Court") or, if the Federal Court lacks jurisdiction, the state district court of Texas located in Tarrant County).
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to a jury trial, the Corporation and each shareholder, director, and officer of the Corporation hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any right that the Corporation or such person may have to a trial by jury in any legal action, proceeding, cause of action, counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party claim arising out of or relating to any “internal entity claim” as that term is defined in Section 2.115 of the TBOC. Each shareholder agrees that such shareholder’s holding or acquisition of shares of stock of the Corporation or, to the extent permitted by law, options or rights to acquire shares of stock of the Corporation following the adoption of this Certificate of Formation constitutes such shareholder’s intentional and knowing waiver of any right to trial by jury with respect to such claims.
A shareholder or group of shareholders shall not be required to comply with the requirements of Section 21.373 of the TBOC with respect to the submission of proposals to shareholders, and the Corporation hereby elects not to be governed by Section 21.373 of the TBOC, even if the Corporation at any time constitutes a “nationally listed corporation” as defined in the TBOC.
For purposes of Section 21.552(3) of the TBOC, the ownership threshold to institute a derivative proceeding in the right of the Corporation shall be a single share.
7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Formation has been signed this 24th day of April, 2026.
| ARCBEST CORPORATION | ||
| | ||
| By: | /s/ J. Brent Hagy | |
| Name: | J. Brent Hagy | |
| Title: | Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | |
[Signature Page to the Certificate of Formation]
Table of Contents
Page
i
ii
BYLAWS
OF
ARCBEST CORPORATION
AS OF MAY 15, 2026
1
record date for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to request that the Secretary call such special meeting (a “Requested Record Date”). Such written request shall include as to the Record Date Requesting Person, each Shareholder Associated Person (as defined below, but substituting “Record Date Requesting Person” in all places where “Proposing Person” appears in such definition), and the business desired to be brought before the special meeting, the information that would be set forth in a notice provided under Section 2.13 of these Bylaws as if such business were to be considered at an annual meeting of shareholders, except substituting “Record Date Requesting Person” in all places where “shareholder” appears in Section 2.13, as applicable.
2
mean a Shareholder that has provided a request to call a special meeting in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Act (as defined below).
3
4
to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting (unless the Board of Directors, after such adjournment, fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting), until a quorum shall be present, in person or by proxy. The chairman of the meeting may adjourn or recess any meeting of shareholders, annual or special, at any time and for any reason, whether or not a quorum is present, to reconvene at the same or some other place and notice need not be given of any such adjourned or recessed meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment or recess is taken. At the adjourned or recessed meeting, any business may be transacted which may have been transacted at the original meeting; provided that, if the adjournment or recess is for more than thirty (30) days or if after the adjournment or recess a new record date is fixed for the adjourned or recessed meeting, a notice of the adjourned or recessed meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned or recessed meeting.
The Board of Directors may, at any time prior to the holding of a meeting of shareholders (annual or special), and for any reason, cancel, postpone or reschedule such meeting upon public notice given prior to the time previously scheduled for such meeting of shareholders. The meeting may be postponed or rescheduled to such time and place as is specified in the notice of postponement or rescheduling of such meeting.
5
6
7
8
postponement of an annual meeting of the shareholders or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.
9
arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security) of such Proposing Person, (D) any rights to dividends on the shares of the corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the corporation, (E) any proportionate interest in shares of the corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such Proposing Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (F) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such Proposing Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such Proposing Person’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such Proposing not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date),
10
with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including Regulation 14A),
11
event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the Certificate of Formation or any policy of the corporation, the language of the proposed amendment),
12
and related party transaction and other information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to the federal and state securities laws as if each Proposing Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, and
“Shareholder Associated Person” of any Proposing Person means (1) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the corporation on whose behalf any proposal or nomination is made by such Proposing Person; (2) any Affiliates or Associates of such Proposing Person or any beneficial owner described in clause (1); and (3) each other person with whom any of the persons described in the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) either is acting in concert with respect to the corporation or has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy given to such person in response to a public proxy solicitation made generally by such person to all shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting) or disposing of any capital stock of the corporation or to cooperate in obtaining, changing or influencing the control of the corporation (except independent financial, legal and other advisors acting in the ordinary course of their respective businesses).
The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the corporation (a) to determine the character, fitness and eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the corporation, including with respect to qualifications established by any committee of the Board, (b) to determine whether such nominee qualifies as an “independent director” or “audit committee financial expert” under applicable law, securities exchange rule or regulation, or any publicly-disclosed corporate governance guideline or committee charter of the corporation, and (c) that could be material to a reasonable shareholder’s understanding of the independence and qualifications, or lack thereof, of such nominee. The nominee will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the corporation and its shareholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and have not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
13
(100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders, a shareholder’s notice required by Section 2.13 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the corporation’s principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the corporation.
14
may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting, if the shareholder’s notice required by Section 2.13(a)(ii) with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.13(d)) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 100th day prior to the date of such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such special meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment, recess or postponement of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.
15
nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to clause (z) of Section 2.13(a)(i) or Section 2.13(b). Nothing in Section 2.13 shall eliminate or limit any obligations of any shareholder pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or any other applicable federal or state securities law with respect to that shareholder’s request to include proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement.
16
on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the corporation, will comply with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the corporation, understands that any material breach of these by a director may constitute cause for removal from the Board of Directors, without limiting any other causes for removal under the corporation’s Certificate of Formation, these Bylaws or otherwise under law, agrees to abide by and adhere to his or her fiduciary duties under applicable law, and acknowledges that a material breach by a director of any of the foregoing may constitute cause for removal of such director by the Board of Directors.
17
recess the meeting, (iii) to silence or expel persons to ensure the orderly conduct of the meeting, (iv) to declare motions or persons out of order, (v) to impose reasonable time limits on questions and remarks by any shareholder, (vi) to limit the number of questions a shareholder may ask, (vii) to limit the nature of questions and comments to one subject matter at a time as dictated by any agenda for the meeting, (viii) to limit the number of speakers or persons addressing the chairman of the meeting or the meeting, (ix) to determine when the polls shall be closed, (x) to limit the attendance at the meeting to shareholders of record, beneficial owners of stock who present letters from the record holders confirming their status as beneficial owners, and the proxies of such record and beneficial holders, (xi) to restrict the use of audio or video recording devices at the meeting, and (xii) to prescribe any other rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present.
18
in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) if the Eligible Shareholder so elects, a Supporting Statement (as defined below). The Proxy Access Required Information must be provided with the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination. Nothing in this Section 2.15 shall limit the corporation’s ability to solicit against any Shareholder Nominee or include in its proxy materials the corporation’s own statements or other information relating to any Eligible Shareholder or Shareholder Nominee, including any information provided to the corporation pursuant to this Section 2.15.
Any Eligible Shareholder submitting more than one Shareholder Nominee for inclusion in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall rank such Shareholder Nominees based on the order in which the Eligible Shareholder desires such
19
Shareholder Nominees to be selected for inclusion in the corporation’s proxy materials. In the event that the number of Shareholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Shareholders pursuant to this Section 2.15 exceeds the maximum number of Shareholder Nominees provided for in this Section 2.15, the highest ranking Shareholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this Section 2.15 from each Eligible Shareholder will be selected for inclusion in the corporation’s proxy materials until the maximum number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of capital stock of the corporation each Eligible Shareholder disclosed as owned in its Notice of Proxy Access Nomination. If the maximum number is not reached after the highest ranking Shareholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this Section 2.15 from each Eligible Shareholder has been selected, then the next highest ranking Shareholder Nominee who meets the requirements of this Section 2.15 from each Eligible Shareholder will be selected for inclusion in the corporation’s proxy materials, and this process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the maximum number is reached.
20
shares, and/or (y) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree any gain or loss realized or realizable from maintaining the full economic ownership of such shares by such shareholder or Affiliate.
For purposes of this Section 2.15, a shareholder shall “own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the shareholder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares, and a person’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which (1) the shareholder has loaned such shares, provided that the person has the power to recall such loaned shares on five (5) business days’ notice or (2) the shareholder has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement which is revocable at any time by the shareholder. For purposes of this Section 2.15, the terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings, and whether outstanding shares of the stock of the corporation are “owned” for these purposes shall be determined by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.
21
such ownership shall be determined by aggregating the lowest number of shares continuously owned by each such shareholder during the Minimum Holding Period; and (B) the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination must indicate, for each such shareholder, such lowest number of shares continuously owned by such shareholder during the Minimum Holding Period.
22
23
applicable to solicitations and the use, if any, of soliciting material in connection with the annual meeting; (G) will file with the SEC any solicitation or other communication with the corporation’s shareholders relating to the meeting at which the Shareholder Nominee will be nominated, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act; and (H) has provided and will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the corporation and its shareholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make such information, in light of the circumstances under which it was or will be made or provided, not misleading;
24
arising as a result of his or her service as a director of the corporation, in connection with such Shareholder Nominee’s nomination with respect to the corporation or service or action as a director of the corporation that has not been disclosed to the corporation; (C) will, if elected as a director of the corporation, comply with all applicable laws and stock exchange listing standards, the Certificate of Formation, these Bylaws and the corporation’s policies, guidelines and principles applicable to directors, including, without limitation, the corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Conduct and confidentiality, stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines, and any other codes, policies and guidelines or any rules, regulations and listing standards, in each case as applicable to directors (which other codes, policies and guidelines will be provided to such Shareholder Nominee within ten (10) days after the Secretary receives any written request therefor from such Shareholder Nominee), and all applicable fiduciary duties under state law; and (D) will make such other acknowledgments, enter into such agreements and provide such information as the Board of Directors requires of all directors, including promptly submitting all completed and signed questionnaires required of the corporation’s directors.
25
26
8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914; (D) who is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in such a criminal proceeding within the past ten (10) years; (E) if such Shareholder Nominee is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; (F) if such Shareholder Nominee or the Eligible Shareholder who nominated such Shareholder Nominee provides any facts, statements or other information to the corporation or its shareholders required or requested pursuant to this Section 2.15 that is not true and correct in all material respects or that omits a material fact necessary to make such information, in light of the circumstances in which it is made or provided, not misleading; or (G) if such Shareholder Nominee or the Eligible Shareholder who nominated such Shareholder Nominee otherwise contravenes any of the agreements or representations made by such Shareholder Nominee or Eligible Shareholder or fails to comply with its obligations pursuant to this Section 2.15.
27
transmission of such a writing) must be produced at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting of shareholders) does not appear at the annual meeting to present any nomination pursuant to this Section 2.15, such nomination shall be disregarded as provided in the immediately preceding clause (3).
28
Officer; and (g) carry out such other duties as are requested by the Board of Directors or any of its committees from time to time.
29
to him. Such notice shall state the place, day and time of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.
30
any of its committees. All directors are entitled to reimbursement for fees and expenses incurred for attendance at each meeting. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefor.
31
Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation as may be provided in such resolution and as permitted by applicable law.
32
33
and see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The President shall have the power to appoint and remove subordinate officers, agents and employees, including Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, except that the President may not remove those elected or appointed by the Board of Directors.
In the event another executive officer has been designated Chief Executive Officer of the corporation by the Board of Directors, then (i) such other executive officer shall have all of the powers granted by these Bylaws to the President and such other responsibilities, duties and powers as may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors; and (ii) the President shall, subject to the powers of supervision and control thereby conferred upon the Chief Executive Officer, be the chief operating officer of the corporation and shall have all necessary powers to discharge such responsibility including general supervision of the affairs of the corporation and general and active control of all of its business.
The President or, if applicable, the Chief Executive Officer, shall perform all the duties and have all the powers of the Chairman of the Board in the absence, inability to act or refusal to act, of the Chairman of the Board. As between the corporation and third parties, any action taken by the President in the performance of the duties of the Chairman of the Board shall be conclusive evidence that there is no Chairman of the Board or that the Chairman of the Board is absent or unable or refuses to act.
He or she shall be authorized to execute bonds, mortgages, and other contracts on behalf of the corporation, except where required or permitted by law or these Bylaws to be otherwise executed and except where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the corporation.
As between the corporation and third parties, any action taken by a Vice President in the performance of the duties of the President shall be conclusive evidence of the absence or inability or refusal to act of the President at the time such action was taken.
34
disbursements in books belonging to the corporation. He or she shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the President, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements.
He shall record, or cause to be recorded, all the proceedings of the meetings of the corporation and of directors in a book to be kept for that purpose. He or she shall keep in safe custody the seal of the corporation, and when authorized by the Board of Directors, affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed, it shall be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of any Assistant Secretary.
35
certificate may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. Certificates for shares of stock of the corporation shall be consecutively numbered and shall be entered in the books of the corporation as they are issued and shall exhibit the holder’s name and the number of shares. If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of any certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock provided that, except as otherwise provided under the TBOC, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of any certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests the designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and rights.
36
adjournment or postponement of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned or postponed meeting.
37
personal notice shall not be required and any such notice may be given, (a) in writing, by mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such committee member, director or shareholder at his or her address as it appears on the books or (in the case of a shareholder) the stock transfer records of the corporation, (b) by electronic communication to the extent permitted under the TBOC, and (c) by any other method permitted by law (including but not limited to overnight courier service or telefax). Any notice required or permitted to be given by mail shall be deemed to be delivered and given at the time when the same is deposited in the United States mail as aforesaid.
Any notice required or permitted to be given by overnight courier service shall be deemed to be delivered and given at the time delivered to such service with all charges prepaid and addressed as aforesaid. Any notice required or permitted to be given by telegram, telex or telefax shall be deemed to be delivered and given at the time transmitted with all charges prepaid and addressed as aforesaid.
38
39
the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that a court of applicable jurisdiction shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which a court of applicable jurisdiction shall deem proper.
40
advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate of Formation, any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
41
corporation or begins serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new bylaws may be adopted at any annual meeting of the shareholders, or at any special meeting of the shareholders if notice thereof is contained in the notice of such special meeting, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, or by the affirmative vote of the Board of Directors at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or at any special meeting of the Board of Directors if notice thereof is contained in the notice of such special meeting.
42