RIGHTS AGREEMENT AMENDMENT
EXHIBIT
4.1
This
Rights Agreement Amendment, dated as of September 20, 2006 (this “Amendment”),
amends the Rights Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2000 (the “Rights
Agreement”),
between IRIS International, Inc., formerly known as International Remote Imaging
Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”)
and
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the
“Rights
Agent”).
The
Company and the Rights Agent have heretofore executed and delivered the Rights
Agreement. Pursuant to Section 25.2 of the Rights Agreement, the Company and
the
Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend the Rights Agreement
in
accordance with the provisions of Section 25.2 thereof.
In
consideration of the foregoing premises and mutual agreements set forth in
the
Rights Agreement, as amended, and this Amendment, the parties hereto agree
as
follows:
1. Amendment
to Section 7.2.
Section
7.2 of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its
entirety as follows:
“7.2. The
Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth (1/1000th) of a share of Preferred
Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $100, shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in the next sentence and
in
Sections 11 and 13.1
hereof
and shall be payable in accordance
with paragraph 7.3 below. In lieu of the payment referred to in the immediately
preceding sentence, following the occurrence of a Distribution Date, the
registered holder of a Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced
thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part upon surrender
of the Right Certificate together with an election to exercise such Rights
without payment of cash on the reverse side thereof duly completed. With respect
to any such Rights as to which such an election is made, the holder shall
receive a number of one one-thousandths (1/1000ths) of a share of Preferred
Stock, Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be, having a value
equal to the difference between (i) the value of the Preferred Stock, Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be, that would have been issuable
upon payment of the Purchase Price and (ii) the Purchase Price. For purposes
of
this Section 7.2, the value of any securities shall be the Current Per Share
Market Price thereof (or of the security to which such security is deemed for
purposes of this Agreement to be an equivalent) on the Trading Day immediately
preceding the Distribution Date.
Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that at any
time
after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the
Corporation shall (i) declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable
in
Common Stock or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of
the
Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends
in
shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then, in any such case, each share of Common Stock outstanding following
such subdivision, combination or consolidation shall continue to have a Right
associated therewith and the Purchase Price following any such event shall
be
proportionately adjusted to equal the result obtained by multiplying the
Purchase Price immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator
of
which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
following the occurrence of such event. The adjustment provided for in the
preceding sentence shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is
declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is
effected.”
2. Amendment
to Section 7.3.
Section
7.3 of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its
entirety as follows:
“7.3. Upon
receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form
of
election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly
executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the Preferred Stock
(or other securities, as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount equal
to
any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 6 hereof by certified check, cashier's
check or money order payable to the order of the Corporation or a duly completed
election to exercise without payment of cash, the Rights Agent shall thereupon
promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Stock
certificates for the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased, and
the Corporation hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply
with
all such requests, or (B) if the Corporation, in its sole discretion, shall
have
elected to deposit the Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights
hereunder into a depositary, requisition from the depositary agent depositary
receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths (1/1000ths) of a share
of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer
agent with the depositary agent) and the Corporation will direct the depositary
agent to comply with such requests, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from
the
Corporation the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional
shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such
certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in
such
name or names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) when appropriate,
after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Right Certificate. In the event that the Corporation is obligated
to issue other securities (including shares of Common Stock) of the Corporation
pursuant to Section 11.1 hereof, the Corporation will make all arrangements
necessary so that such other securities are available for distribution by the
Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.”
3. Amendment
to Exhibit B.
Exhibit
B attached to the Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in
its
entirety as provided on Exhibit
B
attached
hereto.
4. This
Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such
counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed an original, and all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
5. Except
as
expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not by implication or otherwise
alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions,
obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Rights Agreement, all
of
which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full
force
and effect.
2
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the
date
first set forth above.
IRIS
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
|
CONTINENTAL
STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
|
||
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
|
|||
Chief
Executive Officer
|
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
3
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
Certificate
No. R-
|
_____Rights
|
NOT
EXERCISABLE AFTER DECEMBER 22, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE CORPORATION.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH
IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
RIGHT
CERTIFICATE
IRIS
INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
(formerly
known as INTERNATIONAL REMOTE IMAGING SYSTEMS, INC.)
This
certifies that __________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner of
the
number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof,
subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated
as of January 21, 2000, as amended on September 20, 2006 (the "RIGHTS
AGREEMENT"), between IRIS
INTERNATIONAL, INC., (formerly
known as International Remote Imaging Systems, Inc.) (the "CORPORATION"), and
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the "RIGHTS AGENT") to purchase
from the Corporation at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term
is
defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., California time, on
December 22, 2009, unless the Rights evidenced hereby shall have been previously
redeemed by the Corporation, at the principal office or offices of the Rights
Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as Rights
Agent, one one-thousandth (1/1000th) of a fully paid non-assessable share of
Series C Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "PREFERRED STOCK"),
of
the Corporation, at a purchase price of $100 per one one-thousandth (1/1000th)
of a share of Preferred Stock (the "PURCHASE PRICE"), upon presentation and
surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly
executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the
number of one one-thousandths (1/1000ths) of a share of Preferred Stock that
may
be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price
set
forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of December 22, 1999 and
as
amended on September 20, 2006, based on the Preferred Stock as approved on
such
date.
Upon
the
occurrence of a Section 11.1.2 Event (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are beneficially
owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such
Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii)
a
transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate who becomes
a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of any such
Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate who becomes a transferee prior to
or
concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such, such Rights shall become
null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such
Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11.1.2 Event.
4
As
provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-thousandths (1/1000ths) of a share of Preferred Stock or other securities
that may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of
certain events, including Triggering Events (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement).
This
Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions
of
the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights
Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Corporation and the holders of the Right Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability
of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices
of
the Corporation and the principal office or offices of the Rights
Agent.
This
Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender
at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for another Right
Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights
entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Preferred
Stock or other securities as the Rights evidenced by the
Right
Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder
to
purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder
shall
be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject
to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this
Certificate may be redeemed by the Corporation at a redemption price of $.01
per
Right (subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement) payable in
cash.
No
fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions that are one
one-thousandth (1/1000th) or integral multiples of one one-thousandth (1/1000th)
of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Corporation,
be
evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will
be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No
holder
of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or
be
deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of the Preferred Stock or of any
other securities of the Corporation that may at any time be issuable on the
exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein
be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of
a
stockholder of the Corporation or any right to vote for the election of
directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof,
or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice
of
meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the
Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise
any preemptive or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in
the
Rights Agreement.
5
This
Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it
shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS
the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Corporation and its
corporate seal.
Dated:
___________________, _______.
[SEAL]
ATTEST:
|
||||
By:
|
By:
|
|||
Name:
|
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
Title:
|
Countersigned:
Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
a
New
York banking corporation
By:
|
||
Authorized
Officer
|
6
Form
of
Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM
OF
ASSIGNMENT
(To
be
executed by the registered holder if such holder desires
to
transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR
VALUE RECEIVED
|
|
hereby
sells, assigns and transfers unto
|
|
(Please
print name and address of transferee)
|
|
this
Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does
hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _______________________
Attorney-in-Fact, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of
the
within-named Corporation, with full power of
substitution.
The
undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf of
a
Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof
(as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (2) this Right Certificate
is not being sold, assigned or transferred to or on behalf of any such Acquiring
Person, Affiliate or Associate, and (3) after due inquiry and to the best
knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire the Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the
Rights Agreement).
Dated:
|
||||
Signature
|
Signature
Guaranteed:
|
|
7
Form
of
Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued
FORM
OF
ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To
be
executed by the registered holder if such holder desires
to
exercise Rights represented by the Right Certificate)
To
the
Rights Agent:
The
undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ______________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock,
shares of Common Stock or other securities issuable upon the exercise of such
Rights and requests that certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock, shares
of Common Stock or other securities be issued in the name of:
Please
insert social security number or other identifying number:
|
|
(Please
print name and address)
|
|
If
such
number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please
insert social security number or other identifying number:
|
|
(Please
print name and address)
|
|
OPTIONAL
ELECTION TO EXERCISE WITHOUT PAYMENT OF CASH:
With
respect to the exercise of ______________ of the Rights specified above, the
undersigned hereby elects to exercise such Rights without payment of cash and
to
receive a number of one one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of Preferred Stock
or
other securities having a value (as determined pursuant to the Rights Agreement)
equal to the difference between (i) the value of the Preferred Stock or other
securities that would have been issuable upon exercise thereof upon payment
of
the Purchase Price as provided in the Rights Agreement, and (ii) the amount
of
such Purchase Price.
8
The
undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was
an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement), (2) this Right Certificate is not being sold, assigned
or transferred by or on behalf of any such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or
Associate, and (3) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate from any Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or
Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement).
Dated:
|
||||
Signature
|
Signature
Guaranteed:
|
|
Notice
Signatures
must be guaranteed by an "Eligible Guarantor Institution" as defined in Rule
17Ad-15 (or any successor rule or regulation) promulgated pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (this term means, in general, banks,
stock brokers, savings and loan associations, and credit unions, in each case
with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion
program).
The
signature on the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election and certificates
must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate
in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
In
the
event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form
of
Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, the Corporation
and
the Rights Agent will deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by
this
Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof
(as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement)
and such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
9