AMENDED AND RESTATED UNITHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ENERPLUS RESOURCES FUND and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA as Rights Agent Dated as of May 9, 2008 (amending and restating the Amended and Restated Unitholder Rights Plan Agreement...
Exhibit
99.1
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
BETWEEN
and
COMPUTERSHARE
TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA
as Rights
Agent
Dated
as of May 9, 2008
(amending
and restating the Amended and Restated Unitholder Rights Plan
Agreement
dated
as of April 12, 2005)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
DEFINITIONS
1.1
|
Definitions
|
2
|
1.2
|
Currency
|
13
|
1.3
|
Acting
Jointly or in Concert
|
13
|
1.4
|
Control
|
13
|
1.5
|
Holder
of Rights and Trust Units
|
14
|
1.6
|
References
to this Agreement
|
14
|
ARTICLE
2
THE
RIGHTS
2.1
|
Legend
on Trust Unit Certificates
|
14
|
2.2
|
Initial
Exercise Price; Exercise of Rights; Detachment of Rights
|
15
|
2.3
|
Adjustments
to Exercise Price; Number of Rights
|
17
|
2.4
|
Date
on Which Exercise is Effective
|
20
|
2.5
|
Execution,
Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates
|
20
|
2.6
|
Registration,
Registration of Transfer and Exchange
|
21
|
2.7
|
Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates
|
21
|
2.8
|
Persons
Deemed Owners
|
22
|
2.9
|
Delivery
and Cancellation of Certificates
|
22
|
2.10
|
Agreement
of Rights Holders
|
22
|
ARTICLE
3
ADJUSTMENTS
TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.1
|
Flip-in
Event
|
23
|
ARTICLE
4
THE
RIGHTS AGENT
4.1
|
General
|
24
|
4.2
|
Merger,
Amalgamation or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
Agent
|
25
|
4.3
|
Duties
of Rights Agent
|
26
|
4.4
|
Change
of Rights Agent
|
27
|
4.5
|
Indemnity
|
28
|
ARTICLE
5
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1
|
Redemption
and Termination
|
28
|
- i
-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
5.2
|
Expiration
|
30
|
5.3
|
Issuance
of New Rights Certificates
|
30
|
5.4
|
Supplements
and Amendments
|
30
|
5.5
|
Fractional
Rights and Fractional Trust Units
|
32
|
5.6
|
Rights
of Action
|
32
|
5.7
|
Holder
of Rights Not Deemed a Unitholder
|
32
|
5.8
|
Notice
of Proposed Actions
|
33
|
5.9
|
Notices
|
33
|
5.10
|
Costs
of Enforcement
|
34
|
5.11
|
Successors
|
34
|
5.12
|
Benefits
of this Agreement
|
34
|
5.13
|
Descriptive
Headings
|
34
|
5.14
|
Governing
Law
|
34
|
5.15
|
Language
|
34
|
5.16
|
Counterparts
|
35
|
5.17
|
Severability
|
35
|
5.18
|
Effective
Date
|
35
|
5.19
|
Unitholder
Review
|
35
|
5.20
|
Regulatory
Approvals
|
35
|
5.21
|
Declaration
as to Non-Canadian and Non-U.S. Holders
|
36
|
5.22
|
Determinations
and Actions by the Board
|
36
|
- ii
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AMENDED
AND RESTATED
THIS
AMENDED AND RESTATED UNITHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT made as of the 9th day of
May, 2008 (amending and restating the Amended and Restated Unitholder Rights
Plan Agreement dated as of April 12, 2005).
BETWEEN:
ENERPLUS RESOURCES FUND, a
trust created under the laws of Alberta (hereinafter referred to as the "Fund")
OF
THE FIRST PART
-
and -
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY OF
CANADA, a trust company incorporated under the laws of Canada
(hereinafter referred to as the "Rights Agent")
OF
THE SECOND PART
WHEREAS
the Fund and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, the predecessor to the Rights Agent,
entered into an agreement dated March 5, 1999, as amended and restated on each
of April 25, 2002 and April 12, 2005, respecting a unitholder rights plan (the
"Original Plan") that
would be effective at the latest until the close of business on the date on
which the 2008 annual meeting of the unitholders of the Fund terminates unless a
resolution ratifying the continued existence of the Original Plan was approved
by the Independent Unitholders (as defined in the Original Plan);
AND
WHEREAS the Independent Unitholders passed such resolution at the annual general
and special meeting of unitholders of the Fund held on May 9, 2008;
AND
WHEREAS the Board of Directors (the "Board") of EnerMark Inc. (the
"Corporation") has
determined that it is advisable to continue the rights plan by adopting an
amended and restated unitholder rights plan to take effect immediately upon
receipt of approval of the Independent Unitholders, and to effect the continued
distribution of rights under the Original Plan as further amended and restated
herein (the "Rights
Plan") to ensure, to the extent possible, that all unitholders of the
Fund are treated fairly in connection with any take-over offer or bid for the
trust units of the Fund, and to ensure that the Board is provided with a
sufficient time to evaluate unsolicited take-over bids and to explore and
develop alternatives to maximize unitholder value;
AND
WHEREAS, in order to continue implementation of the Rights Plan, the Board
has:
|
(a)
|
confirmed
the distribution of one right (a "Right") in respect of
each Trust Unit (as hereinafter defined) outstanding at the close of
business on March 5, 1999 (the "Record Time"), such
distribution having been made to unitholders of record at the Record Time;
and
|
- 1
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|
(b)
|
confirmed
and authorized the issuance of one Right in respect of each Trust Unit
issued after the Record Time and prior to the earlier of the Separation
Time (as hereinafter defined) and the Expiration Time (as hereinafter
defined);
|
AND
WHEREAS each Right entitles the holder thereof after the Separation Time to
purchase securities of the Fund pursuant to the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein;
AND
WHEREAS the Fund desires to confirm its appointment of the Rights Agent to act
on behalf of the Fund, and the Rights Agent is willing to continue to so act, in
connection with the issuance, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights
Certificates (as hereinafter defined), the exercise of Rights and other matters
referred to herein;
NOW
THEREFORE in consideration of the premises and the respective agreements set
forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
1.1
|
Definitions
|
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings
indicated:
|
(a)
|
"Acquiring Person" shall
mean any Person who is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the
outstanding Trust Units of the Fund; provided, however, that the term
"Acquiring Person"
shall not include:
|
|
(i)
|
the
Fund or any Subsidiary of the Fund;
|
|
(ii)
|
any
Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding
Trust Units of the Fund as a result of any one or a combination
of:
|
|
(A)
|
an
acquisition or redemption by the Fund of Trust Units of the Fund which, by
reducing the number of Trust Units outstanding, increases the
proportionate number of Trust Units Beneficially Owned by such Person to
20% or more of the Trust Units of the Fund then
outstanding;
|
|
(B)
|
Trust
Unit acquisitions made pursuant to a Permitted Bid ("Permitted Bid
Acquisitions");
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|
(C)
|
acquisitions
of Trust Units (1) in respect of which the Board has waived the
application of Section 3.1 pursuant to subsections 5.1(b), 5.1(c) or
5.1(d); or (2) which are made as an intermediate step in a series of
related transactions in connection with an acquisition by the Fund or its
Subsidiaries of a Person or assets, provided that the acquiror of such
Trust Units distributes or is deemed to distribute such Trust Units to its
securityholders within 10 Business Days of the completion of such
acquisition, and following such distribution no Person has become the
Beneficial Owner of 20% of more of the Trust Units of the Fund then
outstanding; or (3) which were made on or prior to the Effective Date; or
(4) which were made pursuant to a distribution reinvestment plan of the
Fund; or (5) pursuant to the receipt or exercise of rights issued by the
Fund to all the holders of the Trust Units to subscribe for or purchase
Trust Units or Convertible Securities, provided that such rights are
acquired directly from the Fund and not from any other Person and provided
that the Person does not thereby acquire a greater percentage of Trust
Units or Convertible Securities so offered than the Person's percentage of
Trust Units or Convertible Securities beneficially owned immediately prior
to such acquisition; or (6) pursuant to a distribution by the Fund of
Trust Units or Convertible Securities made pursuant to a prospectus,
provided that the Person does not thereby acquire a greater percentage of
Trust Units or Convertible Securities so offered than the Person's
percentage of Trust Units or Convertible Securities beneficially owned
immediately prior to such acquisition; or (7) pursuant to a distribution
by the Fund of Trust Units or Convertible Securities by way of a private
placement by the Fund or a securities exchange take-over bid circular or
upon the exercise by an individual employee of trust unit options or
rights granted under a trust unit option or rights incentive plan of the
Fund or rights to purchase securities granted under a trust unit purchase
plan of the Fund, provided that (i) all necessary stock exchange approvals
for such private placement, take-over bid, trust unit option or rights
incentive plan or trust unit purchase plan have been obtained and such
private placement, take-over bid, trust unit option or rights incentive
plan or trust unit purchase plan complies with the terms and conditions of
such approvals and (ii) such Person does not become the Beneficial Owner
of more than 25% of the Trust Units outstanding immediately prior to the
distribution, and in making this determination the Trust Units to be
issued to such Person in the distribution shall be deemed to be held by
such Person but shall not be included in the aggregate number of
outstanding Trust Units immediately prior to the distribution; or (8)
pursuant to an amalgamation, merger, business combination or other similar
transaction (statutory or otherwise, but for greater certainty not
including a Take-over Bid) requiring approval by the Fund's unitholders
("Exempt
Acquisitions");
|
- 2
-
|
(D)
|
the
acquisition of Trust Units upon the exercise of Convertible Securities
received by such Person pursuant to a Permitted Bid Acquisition, Exempt
Acquisition or a Pro Rata Acquisition (as defined below) ("Convertible Security
Acquisitions"); or
|
|
(E)
|
acquisitions
as a result of a distribution of Trust Units or a Trust Unit split or
other event pursuant to which such Person receives or acquires Trust Units
or Convertible Securities on the same pro rata basis as all other holders
of Trust Units of the same class ("Pro Rata
Acquisitions");
|
|
provided,
however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more
of the Trust Units of the Fund then outstanding by reason of any one or a
combination of (i) Trust Unit acquisitions or redemptions by the Fund or
(ii) Permitted Bid Acquisitions or (iii) Exempt Acquisitions or (iv)
Convertible Security Acquisitions or (v) Pro Rata Acquisitions and, after
such Trust Unit acquisitions or redemptions by the Fund, Permitted Bid
Acquisitions, Exempt Acquisitions, Convertible Security Acquisitions or
Pro Rata Acquisitions, such Person subsequently becomes the Beneficial
Owner of more than an additional 1.00% of the number of Trust Units of the
Fund outstanding other than pursuant to any one or a combination of Trust
Unit acquisitions or redemptions of Trust Units by the Fund, Permitted Bid
Acquisitions, Exempt Acquisitions, Convertible Security Acquisitions or
Pro Rata Acquisitions, then as of the date of any such acquisition such
Person shall become an "Acquiring
Person";
|
- 3
-
|
(iii)
|
a
Grandfathered Person provided, however, that if such Person shall
thereafter become the Beneficial Owner of more than an additional 1.00% of
the number of Trust Units of the Fund outstanding other than pursuant to
trust unit acquisitions or redemptions of Trust Units by the Fund,
Permitted Bid Acquisitions, Exempt Acquisitions, Convertible Security
Acquisitions or Pro Rata Acquisitions, then as of the date of any such
acquisition such Person shall become an "Acquiring
Person";
|
|
(iv)
|
for
a period of 10 days after the Disqualification Date, any Person who
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding Trust Units
as a result of such Person becoming disqualified from relying on clause
1.1(e)(B) solely because such Person makes or announces an intention to
make a Take-over Bid, either alone, through such Person's Affiliates or
Associates or by acting jointly or in concert with any other
Person. For the purposes of this definition, "Disqualification Date"
means the first date of public announcement that any Person is making or
intends to make a Take-over Bid either alone, through such Person's
Affiliates or Associates or by acting jointly or in concert with any other
Person; or
|
|
(v)
|
an
underwriter or member of a banking or selling group that becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Trust Units in connection with a
distribution of securities by way of prospectus or private
placement.
|
|
(b)
|
"Affiliate", used to
indicate a relationship with a specified Person, shall mean a Person that
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or
is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified
Person.
|
|
(c)
|
"Amendment Date" means
May 9, 2008.
|
|
(d)
|
"Associate" of a
specified individual shall mean any individual to whom such specified
individual is married or with whom such specified individual is living in
a conjugal relationship, outside marriage, or any relative of such
specified individual or said spouse who has the same home as such
specified individual.
|
|
(e)
|
A
Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner", and
to have "Beneficial
Ownership", of, and to "Beneficially
Own":
|
|
(i)
|
any
securities as to which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates is the owner at law or in
equity;
|
|
(ii)
|
any
securities as to which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has the right to acquire (A) upon the exercise of any
Convertible Securities, or (B) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, in either case where such right is exercisable within a
period of 60 days and whether or not on condition or the happening of any
contingency (other than (1) customary agreements with and between
underwriters and banking group or selling group members with respect to a
distribution to the public or pursuant to a private placement of
securities, or (2) pursuant to a pledge of securities in the ordinary
course of business); and
|
- 4
-
|
(iii)
|
any
securities which are Beneficially Owned within the meaning of clauses
1.1(e)(i) or (ii) above by any other Person with which such Person is
acting jointly or in concert;
|
|
provided,
however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner", or to
have "Beneficial Ownership" of, or to "Beneficially Own", any
security:
|
|
(A)
|
where
(1) the holder of such security has agreed to deposit or tender such
security pursuant to a Permitted Lock-up Agreement to a Take-over Bid made
by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates or any
other Person referred to in clause 1.1(e)(iii), or (2) such security has
been deposited or tendered pursuant to a Take-over Bid made by such Person
or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates or any other Person
referred to in clause 1.1(e)(iii), in each case until the earliest time at
which any such tendered security is accepted unconditionally for payment
or exchange or is taken up and paid
for;
|
|
(B)
|
where
such Person, any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates or any other
Person referred to in clause 1.1(e)(iii), holds such security provided
that (1) the ordinary business of any such Person (the "Investment Manager")
includes the management of investment funds for others and such security
is held by the Investment Manager in the ordinary course of such business
in the performance of such Investment Manager's duties for the account of
any other Person, including the acquisition or holding of securities for
non-discretionary accounts held on behalf of a client by a broker or
dealer registered under applicable securities laws, or (2) such Person
(the "Trust
Company") is licensed to carry on the business of a trust company
under applicable laws and, as such, acts as trustee or administrator or in
a similar capacity in relation to the estates of deceased or incompetent
Persons or in relation to other accounts and holds such security in the
ordinary course of such duties for the estates of deceased or incompetent
Persons or for such other accounts, or (3) such Person (the "Plan Trustee") is the
administrator or trustee of one or more pension funds or plans (each a
"Plan") registered
under applicable laws and holds such security for the purposes of its
activity as such, or (4) such Person is a Plan or is a Person established
by statute (the "Statutory Body") for
purposes that include, and the ordinary business or activity of such
Person includes the management of investment funds for employee benefit
plans, pension plans, insurance plans (other than plans administered by
insurance companies) or various public bodies or (5) such Person is a
Crown agent or agency or (6) such Person (the "Manager") is the manager
or trustee of a mutual fund (a "Mutual Fund") that is
registered or qualified to issue its securities to investors under the
securities laws of any province of Canada or the laws of the United States
of America or such Person is a Mutual Fund; provided in any of the above
cases, that the Investment Manager, the Trust Company, the Plan Trustee,
the Plan, the Statutory Body, the Crown agent or agency, the Manager or
the Mutual Fund, as the case may be, is not then making a Take-over Bid or
has not announced a current intention to make a Take-over Bid, other than
an Offer to Acquire Trust Units or other securities pursuant to a
distribution by the Fund or by means of ordinary market transactions
(including pre-arranged trades entered into in the ordinary course of
business of such Person) executed through the facilities of a stock
exchange, securities quotation system or organized over-the-counter
market, alone, through its Affiliates or Associates or by acting jointly
or in concert with any other Person;
or
|
- 5
-
|
(C)
|
because
such Person is a client of or has an account with the same Investment
Manager as another Person on whose account the Investment Manager holds
such security, or where such Person is a client of or has an account with
the same Trust Company as another Person on whose account the Trust
Company holds such security, or where such Person is a Plan and has a Plan
Trustee who is also a Plan Trustee for another Plan on whose account the
Plan Trustee holds such security;
or
|
|
(D)
|
where
such Person is (i) a client of an Investment Manager and such security is
owned at law or in equity by the Investment Manager, or (ii) an account of
a Trust Company and such security is owned at law or in equity by the
Trust Company, or (iii) a Plan and such security is owned at law or in
equity by the Plan Trustee; or
|
|
(E)
|
where
such Person is the registered holder of securities as a result of carrying
on the business of or acting as a nominee of a securities
depositary.
|
|
For
purposes of this Agreement, the percentage of Trust Units Beneficially
Owned by any Person, shall be and be deemed to be the product determined
by the formula:
|
100 x A/B
Where:
|
A =
|
the
number of votes for the nomination of all directors of the Corporation to
be nominated by the unitholders generally attaching to the Trust Units
Beneficially Owned by such Person;
and
|
|
B =
|
the
number of votes for the nomination of all directors of the Corporation to
be nominated by the unitholders generally attaching to all outstanding
Trust Units.
|
|
For
the purposes of the foregoing formula, where any Person is deemed to
Beneficially Own unissued Trust Units which may be acquired pursuant to
Convertible Securities, such Trust Units shall be deemed to be outstanding
for the purpose of calculating the percentage of Trust Units Beneficially
Owned by such Person in both the numerator and the denominator, but no
other unissued Trust Units which may be acquired pursuant to any other
outstanding Convertible Securities shall, for the purposes of that
calculation, be deemed to be
outstanding.
|
- 6
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(f)
|
"Business Day" shall mean
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day that is treated as a
holiday at the Fund's principal executive offices in Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx.
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|
(g)
|
"Canadian-U.S. Exchange
Rate" shall mean on any date the inverse of the U.S. Canadian
Exchange Rate.
|
|
(h)
|
"Canadian Dollar
Equivalent" of any amount which is expressed in United States
dollars shall mean on any day the Canadian dollar equivalent of such
amount determined by reference to the Canadian-U.S. Exchange Rate on such
date.
|
|
(i)
|
"close of business" on
any given date shall mean the time on such date (or, if such date is not a
Business Day, the time on the next succeeding Business Day) at which the
office of the transfer agent for the Trust Units in the City of Calgary,
Alberta (or, after the Separation Time, the offices of the Rights Agent in
the City of Calgary, Alberta) becomes closed to the
public.
|
|
(j)
|
"Competing Permitted Bid"
means a Take-over Bid that:
|
|
(i)
|
is
made after a Permitted Bid has been made and prior to the expiry of the
Permitted Bid;
|
|
(ii)
|
satisfies
all components of the definition of a Permitted Bid other than the
requirements set out in clause (ii) of that definition;
and
|
|
(iii)
|
contains,
and the take-up and payment for securities tendered or deposited is
subject to, an irrevocable and unqualified provision that no Trust Units
will be taken up or paid for pursuant to the Take-over Bid prior to the
close of business on the date that is no earlier than the later of (1) the
earliest date on which Trust Units may be taken up or paid for under any
Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid that is then in existence and (2)
35 days after the date of the Take-over Bid constituting the Competing
Permitted Bid.
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|
(k)
|
"Convertible Securities"
means, at any time, any securities issued by the Fund from time to time
(other than the Rights) carrying any exercise, conversion or exchange
right pursuant to which the holder thereof may acquire Trust Units or
other securities which are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
for Trust Units.
|
|
(l)
|
"Convertible Security
Acquisitions" has the meaning set forth in the definition of
"Acquiring Person" herein.
|
|
(m)
|
"Co-Rights Agent" shall
have the meaning set forth in subsection 4.1(a)
hereof.
|
|
(n)
|
"Effective Date" shall
mean the close of business on March 5,
1999.
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(o)
|
"Exempt Acquisition" has
the meaning set forth in the definition of "Acquiring Person"
herein.
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|
(p)
|
"Exercise Price" shall
mean, as of any date after the Amendment Date, the price at which a holder
may purchase the securities issuable upon exercise of one whole Right in
accordance with the terms hereof and, subject to adjustment thereof in
accordance with the terms hereof , the Exercise Price shall equal Cdn.
$300.
|
- 7
-
|
(q)
|
"Expansion Factor" shall
have the meaning set forth in subsection 2.3(a)(x)
hereof;
|
|
(r)
|
"Expiration Time" shall
mean the earlier of:
|
|
(i)
|
the
Termination Time; and
|
|
(ii)
|
the
termination of the annual meeting of the unitholders of the Fund in the
year 2011;
|
provided,
however, that if the resolution referred to in Section 5.19 is approved by
Independent Unitholders in accordance with Section 5.19 at or prior to such
annual meeting, "Expiration
Time" means the earlier of (i) the Termination Time and (ii) the
termination of the annual meeting of the unitholders of the Fund in the year
that is three years after the year in which such approval occurs.
|
(s)
|
"Fiduciary" shall mean a
trust company registered under the trust company legislation of Canada or
any province thereof, a trust company organized under the laws of any
state of the United States, a portfolio manager registered under the
securities legislation of one or more provinces of Canada or an investment
adviser registered under the United States Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 or any other securities legislation of the
United States or any state of the United
States.
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|
(t)
|
A
"Flip-in Event"
shall mean a transaction occurring subsequent to the date of this
Agreement as a result of which any Person shall become an Acquiring Person
provided, however, that a Flip-in Event, shall be deemed to occur at the
close of business on the tenth day (or such later day as the Board may
determine) after the Trust Unit Acquisition
Date.
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|
(u)
|
"Grandfathered Person"
means any Person who was the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the
outstanding Trust Units of the Fund at the Record
Time.
|
|
(v)
|
"Independent Unitholders"
shall mean holders of Trust Units of the Fund excluding (i) any Acquiring
Person; or (ii) any Person (other than a Person referred to in clause
1.1(e)(B)) that is making or has announced a current intention to make a
Take-over Bid for Trust Units of the Fund (including a Permitted Bid or a
Competing Permitted Bid) but excluding any such Person if the Take-over
Bid so announced or made by such Person has been withdrawn, terminated or,
expired; or (iii) any Affiliate or Associate of such Acquiring Person or a
Person referred to in clause (ii); or (iv) any Person acting jointly or in
concert with such Acquiring Person or a Person referred to in clause (ii);
or (v) a Person who is a trustee of any employee benefit plan, Trust Unit
purchase plan, deferred profit sharing plan or any similar plan or trust
for the benefit of employees of the Fund or a Subsidiary of the Fund,
unless the beneficiaries of the plan or trust direct the manner in which
the Trust Units are to be voted or direct whether the Trust Units are to
be tendered to a Take-over Bid.
|
|
(w)
|
"Market Price" per
security of any securities on any date of determination shall mean the
average of the daily Closing Price Per Security of such securities
(determined as described below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days
through and including the Trading Day immediately preceding such date;
provided, however, that if an event of a type analogous to any of the
events described in Section 2.3 hereof shall have caused the price used to
determine the Closing Price Per Security on any Trading Day not to be
fully comparable with the price used to determine the Closing Price Per
Security on such date of determination or, if the date of determination is
not a Trading Day, on the immediately preceding Trading Day, each such
price so used shall be appropriately adjusted in a manner analogous to the
applicable adjustment provided for in Section 2.3 hereof in order to make
it fully comparable with the price per security used to determine the
Closing Price Per Security on such date of determination or, if the date
of determination is not a Trading Day, on the immediately preceding
Trading Day. The "Closing Price Per
Security" of any securities on any date shall
be:
|
- 8
-
|
(i)
|
the
closing board lot sale price or, if such price is not available, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, for such securities as
reported by the principal Canadian stock exchange on which such securities
are listed or admitted to trading, or if for any reason neither of such
prices is available on such day or the securities are not listed or
admitted to trading on a Canadian stock exchange, the closing board lot
sale price or, if such price is not available, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices, for such securities as reported by such other
securities exchange on which such securities are listed or admitted for
trading;
|
|
(ii)
|
if,
for any reason, none of such prices is available on such date or the
securities are not listed or admitted to trading on a Canadian stock
exchange or other securities exchange, the last sale price, or in case no
sale takes place on such date, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices for such securities in the over-the-counter market, as quoted by
any reporting system then in use (as selected by the Board);
or
|
|
(iii)
|
if
the securities are not listed or admitted to trading as contemplated in
clause 1.1(w)(i) or (ii), the average of the closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market
in the securities provided, however, that if on any such date the Closing
Price Per Security cannot be determined in accordance with the foregoing,
the Closing Price Per Security of such securities on such date shall mean
the fair value per security of such securities on such date as determined
in good faith by an internationally recognized investment dealer or
investment banker with respect to the fair value per security of such
securities.
|
The
Market Price shall be expressed in Canadian dollars and, if initially determined
in respect of any day forming part of the 20 consecutive Trading Day period in
question in United States dollars, such amount shall be translated into Canadian
dollars at the Canadian Dollar Equivalent thereof.
|
(x)
|
"1933
Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933
of the United States, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and any comparable or successor laws or regulations
thereto.
|
|
(y)
|
"1934
Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 of the United States, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and any comparable or successor laws or regulations
thereto.
|
|
(z)
|
"Offer to Acquire" shall
include:
|
- 9
-
|
(i)
|
an
offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell, Trust Units;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
an
acceptance of an offer to sell Trust Units, whether or not such offer to
sell has been solicited;
|
|
or
any combination thereof, and the Person accepting an offer to sell shall
be deemed to be making an Offer to Acquire to the Person that made the
offer to sell.
|
|
(aa)
|
"Offeror's Securities"
means Trust Units Beneficially Owned on the date of an Offer to Acquire by
any Person who is making a Take-over Bid and "Offeror" means a Person
who has announced a current intention to make or is making a Take-over
Bid.
|
|
(bb)
|
"Permitted Bid" means a
Take-over Bid made by a Person by means of a Take-over Bid circular and
which also complies with the following additional
provisions:
|
|
(i)
|
the
Take-over Bid is made to all holders of record of Trust Units, other than
the Offeror;
|
|
(ii)
|
the
Take-over Bid shall contain, and the provisions for the take-up and
payment for Trust Units tendered or deposited thereunder shall be subject
to, an irrevocable and unqualified condition that no Trust Units shall be
taken up or paid for pursuant to the Take-over Bid prior to the close of
business on a date which is not less than 45 days following the date of
the Take-over Bid;
|
|
(iii)
|
the
Take-over Bid shall contain irrevocable and unqualified provisions that,
unless the Take-over Bid is withdrawn, Trust Units may be deposited
pursuant to the Take-over Bid at any time prior to the close of business
on the date of first take-up or payment for Trust Units and that all Trust
Units deposited pursuant to the Take-over Bid may be withdrawn at any time
prior to the close of business on such
date;
|
|
(iv)
|
the
Take-over Bid shall contain an irrevocable and unqualified condition that
more than 50% of the outstanding Trust Units held by Independent
Unitholders, determined as at the date of first take-up or payment for
Trust Units under the Take-over Bid, must be deposited to the Take-over
Bid and not withdrawn at the close of business on the date of first
take-up or payment for Trust Units;
and
|
|
(v)
|
the
Take-over Bid shall contain an irrevocable and unqualified provision that
in the event that more than 50% of the then outstanding Trust Units held
by Independent Unitholders shall have been deposited to the Take-over Bid
and not withdrawn as at the date of first take-up or payment for Trust
Units under the Take-over Bid, the Offeror will make a public announcement
of that fact and the Take-over Bid will remain open for deposits and
tenders of Trust Units for not less than 10 Business Days from the date of
such public announcement;
|
|
provided
that if a Take-over Bid constitutes a Competing Permitted Bid, the term
"Permitted Bid" shall also mean the Competing Permitted
Bid.
|
|
(cc)
|
"Permitted Bid
Acquisitions" has the meaning set forth in the definition of
"Acquiring Person" herein.
|
|
(dd)
|
"Permitted Lock-up
Agreement" means an agreement (the "Lock-up Agreement")
between a Person and one or more holders of Trust Units (each such holder
herein referred to as a "Locked-up Person") (the
terms of which are publicly disclosed and a copy of which is made
available to the public (including the Fund) not later than the date of
the Lock-up Bid (as defined below) or, if the Lock-up Bid has been made
prior to the date of the Lock-up Agreement, not later than the first
Business Day following the date of the Lock-up Agreement) pursuant to
which each Locked-up Person agrees to deposit or tender the Trust Units
held by such holder to a Take-over Bid (the "Lock-up Bid") made by
the Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates or any other
Person referred to in clause 1.1(e)(iii) provided
that:
|
-
10 -
|
(i)
|
the
Lock-up Agreement permits the Locked-up Person to withdraw its Trust Units
from the Lock-up Agreement in order to deposit or tender the Trust Units
to another Take-over Bid or to support another transaction prior to the
Trust Units being taken up and paid for under the Lock-up
Bid:
|
|
(A)
|
at
a price or value per Trust Unit that exceeds the price or value per Trust
Unit offered under the Lock-up Bid;
or
|
|
(B)
|
at
an offer price for each Trust Unit that exceeds by as much as or more than
a specified amount (the "Specified Amount") the
offer price for each Trust Unit contained in or proposed to be contained
in the Lock-up Bid and that does not by its terms provide for a Specified
Amount that is greater than 7% of the offer price contained in
or proposed to be contained in the Lock-up
Bid;
|
|
and
for greater clarity, the agreement may contain a right of first refusal or
require a period of delay to give the Person who made the Lock-up Bid an
opportunity to match a higher price in another Take-over Bid or
transaction or other similar limitation on a Locked-up Person's right to
withdraw Trust Units from the agreement, so long as the limitation does
not preclude the exercise by the Locked-up Person of the right to withdraw
Trust Units during the period of the other Take-over Bid or transaction;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
no
"break-up" fees, "top-up" fees, penalties, expenses or other amounts that
exceed in aggregate the greater of:
|
|
(A)
|
2.5%
of the price or value of the consideration payable under the Lock-up Bid
to a Locked-up Person; and
|
|
(B)
|
50%
of the amount by which the price or value of the consideration received by
a Locked-up Person under another Take-over Bid or transaction exceeds the
price or value of the consideration that the Locked-up Person would have
received under the Lock-up Bid;
|
|
shall
be payable by such Locked-up Person if the Locked-up Person fails to
deposit or tender Trust Units to the Lock-up Bid, withdraws Trust Units
previously tendered thereto in order to deposit or tender such Trust Units
into another Take-over Bid or supports another
transaction.
|
|
(ee)
|
"Person" shall mean any
individual, firm, partnership, association, trust, trustee, personal
representative, body corporate, corporation, unincorporated organization,
syndicate or other entity.
|
-
11 -
|
(ff)
|
"Pro Rata Acquisition"
has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Acquiring Person"
herein.
|
|
(gg)
|
"Record Time" shall mean
the close of business on March 5,
1999.
|
|
(hh)
|
"Redemption Price" has
the meaning set forth in subsection
5.1(a).
|
|
(ii)
|
"Rights Certificate"
shall mean, after the Separation Time, the certificate representing the
Rights substantially in the form of Exhibit "A"
hereto;
|
|
(jj)
|
"Securities
Act" shall mean the Securities Act
(Alberta), R.S.A. 2000, c. S-4, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, each as may be amended from time to time, and any comparable
or successor laws, rules or regulations
thereto.
|
|
(kk)
|
"Separation Time" shall
mean the close of business on the tenth Business Day after the earlier
of:
|
|
(i)
|
the
Trust Unit Acquisition Date;
|
|
(ii)
|
the
date of the commencement of, or first public announcement of the intent of
any Person (other than the Fund or any Subsidiary of the Fund) to commence
a Take-over Bid (other than a Take-over Bid which is a Permitted Bid so
long as such Take-over Bid continues to satisfy the requirements of a
Permitted Bid), provided that, if any Take-over Bid referred to in this
clause (ii) expires, is cancelled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior
to the Separation Time, such Take-over Bid shall be deemed, for purposes
of this subsection 1.1(kk), never to have been made;
and
|
|
(iii)
|
the
date upon which a Permitted Bid ceases to be a Permitted
Bid;
|
|
or
such later date as may be determined by the Board acting in good faith
provided that, if the Board determines pursuant to Section 5.1 to waive
the application of Section 3.1 to a Flip-in Event, the Separation Time in
respect of such Flip-in Event shall be deemed never to have
occurred.
|
|
(ll)
|
"Subsidiary" of any
specified Person shall mean any corporation or other entity controlled by
such specified Person.
|
|
(mm)
|
"Take-over Bid" means an
Offer to Acquire Trust Units or securities convertible into Trust Units,
where the Trust Units subject to the Offer to Acquire, together with the
Trust Units into which the securities subject to the Offer to Acquire are
convertible, and the Offeror's Securities, constitute in the aggregate 20%
or more of the outstanding Trust Units at the date of the Offer to
Acquire.
|
|
(nn)
|
"Termination Time" shall
mean the time at which the right to exercise Rights shall terminate
pursuant to Section 5.1, 5.18 or 5.19
hereof.
|
|
(oo)
|
"Trading Day", when used
with respect to any securities, shall mean a day on which the principal
securities exchange on which such securities are listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the securities are
not listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange, a Business
Day.
|
-
12 -
|
(pp)
|
"Trust Indenture" shall
mean the Amended and Restated Trust Indenture dated November 8, 2007
pursuant to which the Fund is organized, as may be amended, restated or
supplemented from time to time.
|
|
(qq)
|
"Trust Unit Acquisition
Date" shall mean the first date of public announcement (which, for
purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report
filed pursuant to Section 176 of the Securities Act or
Section 13(d) under the 1934 Exchange Act) by
the Fund or an Acquiring Person that a Person has become an Acquiring
Person.
|
|
(rr)
|
"Trust Units" and "Trust Units of the Fund"
means the trust units of the Fund, as constituted on the Amendment Date
and any other security of the Fund into which such trust units may be
subdivided, reclassified or changed from time to
time.
|
|
(ss)
|
"U.S. Canadian Exchange
Rate" shall mean on any
date:
|
|
(i)
|
if
on such date the Bank of Canada sets an average noon spot rate of exchange
with a conversion of one United States dollar into Canadian dollars, such
rate;
|
|
(ii)
|
in
any other case, the rate for such date for the conversion of one United
States dollar into Canadian dollars which is calculated in the manner
which shall be determined by the Board from time to time acting in good
faith.
|
|
(tt)
|
"U.S. Dollar Equivalent"
of any amount which is expressed in Canadian dollars shall mean on any day
the United States dollar equivalent of such amount determined by reference
to the U.S.-Canadian Exchange Rate on such
date.
|
1.2
|
Currency
|
All
sums of money which are referred to in this Agreement are expressed in lawful
money of Canada.
1.3
|
Acting Jointly or in
Concert
|
For
purposes of this Agreement, a Person is acting jointly or in concert with
another Person if such Person has any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether formal or informal and whether or not in writing) with such other
Person to acquire, or Offer to Acquire, any Trust Units of the Fund (other than
(A) customary agreements with and between underwriters and banking group or
selling group members with respect to a distribution of securities by way of
prospectus or private placement, or (B) pursuant to a pledge of securities in
the ordinary course of business).
1.4
|
Control
|
A
Person is "controlled"
by another Person or two or more other Persons acting jointly or in concert
if:
|
(a)
|
in
the case of a body corporate, securities entitled to vote in the election
of directors of such body corporate carrying more than 50% of the votes
for the election of directors are held, directly or indirectly, by or for
the benefit of the other Person or Persons acting jointly or in concert
and the votes carried by such securities are entitled, if exercised, to
elect a majority of the board of directors of such body corporate;
or
|
-
13 -
|
(b)
|
in
the case of a Person which is not a body corporate, more than 50% of the
voting or equity interests of such entity are held, directly or
indirectly, by or for the benefit of the other Person or Persons acting
jointly or in concert,
|
and
"controls", "controlling" and "under common control with"
shall be interpreted accordingly.
1.5
|
Holder of Rights and Trust
Units
|
As used in this Agreement, unless the
context otherwise requires, the term "holder" of any Rights shall
mean the registered holder of such Rights (or, prior to the Separation Time, the
associated Trust Units).
1.6
|
References to this
Agreement
|
In
this Agreement, unless otherwise provided herein and unless the context
otherwise requires, references to "this Agreement", "herein", "hereby" and "hereunder" mean this Amended
and Restated Unitholder Rights Plan Agreement dated May 9, 2008 between the Fund
and the Rights Agent as amended and supplemented from time to time.
ARTICLE
2
THE RIGHTS
2.1
|
Legend on Trust Unit
Certificates
|
Certificates
for the Trust Units, including without limitation Trust Units issued upon the
conversion of Convertible Securities, issued after the Record Time but prior to
the earlier of the Separation Time and the Expiration Time shall evidence one
Right for each Trust Unit represented thereby and, commencing as soon as
reasonably practicable after the Record Time, shall have impressed on, printed
on, written on or otherwise affixed to them (i) the legend set forth in Section
2.1 of the Unitholder Rights Plan Agreement dated March 5, 1999, or the legend
set forth in Section 2.1 of the Amended and Restated Unitholder Rights Plan
Agreement dated April 25, 2002, or the legend set forth in Section 2.1 of the
Amended and Restated Unitholder Rights Plan Agreement dated April 12, 2005,
which legends shall be deemed to be amended for all purposes to read the same as
the following legend, or (ii) the following legend:
|
Until
the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement referred to
below), this certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in an Amended and Restated Unitholder Rights
Plan Agreement dated as of May 9, 2008 (amending and restating the Amended
and Restated Unitholder Rights Plan Agreement dated April 12, 2005, as
such may from time to time be amended, restated, varied or replaced, (the
"Rights Agreement"), between Enerplus Resources Fund (the "Fund") and
Computershare Trust Company of Canada as Rights Agent, the terms of which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference and, a copy of which is on
file at the registered office of the Fund. In certain
circumstances, as set forth, in the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be
amended, redeemed, may expire, may become void (if, in certain cases, they
are "Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring Person", as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement, or a transferee thereof) or may be
evidenced by separate certificates and may no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. The Fund will mail or arrange for the mailing of a
copy of the Rights Agreement to the holder of this certificate without
charge within five days, after the receipt of a written request
therefor.
|
-
14 -
Certificates
representing Trust Units that are issued and outstanding at and after
the Record Time shall evidence one Right for each Trust Unit evidenced thereby
notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend, until the earlier of the
Separation Time and the Expiration Time.
2.2
|
Initial Exercise Price; Exercise
of Rights; Detachment of
Rights
|
|
(a)
|
Subject
to adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will entitle the holder
thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase, for the Exercise Price,
or its U.S. Dollar Equivalent as at the Business Day immediately preceding
the day of exercise of the Right, one Trust Unit. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, any Rights held by the Fund or any of
its Subsidiaries shall be void.
|
|
(b)
|
Until
the Separation Time,
|
|
(i)
|
no
Right may be exercised; and
|
|
(ii)
|
each
Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated Trust Unit
and will be transferable only together with, and will be transferred by a
transfer of, such associated Trust
Unit.
|
|
(c)
|
After
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, the Rights (i) may
be exercised; and (ii) will be transferable independent of Trust
Units. Promptly following the Separation Time the Rights Agent
will mail to each holder of record of Trust Units as of the Separation
Time and, in respect of each Convertible Security converted into Trust
Units after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time promptly
after such conversion to the holder so converting, (other than an
Acquiring Person and, in respect of any Rights Beneficially Owned by such
Acquiring Person which are not held of record by such Acquiring Person,
the holder of record of such Rights) at such holder's address as shown by
the records of the Fund (the Fund hereby agreeing to furnish copies of
such records to the Rights Agent for this purpose), (x) a Rights
Certificate with registration particulars appropriately completed,
representing the number of Rights held by such holder at the Separation
Time and having such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Fund may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule
or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any
stock exchange or securities quotation system on which the Rights may from
time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and (y) a
disclosure statement describing the
Rights.
|
|
(d)
|
Rights
may be exercised in whole or in part on any Business Day (or on any other
day which, in the city at which an Election to Exercise (as hereinafter
defined) is duly submitted to the Rights Agent in accordance with this
Agreement, is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day that is treated as a holiday
in such city) after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time
by submitting to the Rights Agent (at its office in the City of Calgary,
Alberta, Canada or at any other office of the Rights Agent in the cities
designated from time to time for that purpose by the Fund), the Rights
Certificate evidencing such Rights together with an Election to Exercise
(an "Election to
Exercise") substantially in the form attached to the Rights
Certificate duly completed, accompanied by payment by certified cheque,
banker's draft or money order payable to the order of the Rights Agent, of
a sum equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Rights being
exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or charge which
may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer or
delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of
certificates for Trust Units in a name other than that of the holder of
the Rights being exercised.
|
-
15 -
|
(e)
|
Upon
receipt of a Rights Certificate, with a duly completed Election to
Exercise (which does not indicate that the holder so exercising is an
Acquiring Person) accompanied by payment as set forth in subsection 2.2(d)
above, the Rights Agent will thereupon
promptly:
|
|
(i)
|
requisition
from the transfer agent or any co-transfer agent of the Trust Units
certificates for the number of Trust Units to be purchased (the Fund
hereby irrevocably authorizing its transfer agent to comply with all such
requisitions);
|
|
(ii)
|
when
appropriate, requisition from the Fund the amount of cash to be paid in
lieu of issuing fractional Trust Units and after receipt, deliver such
cash to or to the order of the registered holder of the Rights
Certificate;
|
|
(iii)
|
after
receipt of the Trust Unit certificates, deliver the same to or upon the
order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in
such name or names as may be designated by such holder;
and
|
|
(iv)
|
tender
to the Fund all payments received upon exercise of the
Rights.
|
|
(f)
|
In
case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the Rights
evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights
Agent to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized
assigns.
|
|
(g)
|
The
Fund covenants and agrees that it
will:
|
|
(i)
|
take
all such action as may be necessary and within its power to ensure that
all Trust Units delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of
delivery of the certificates for such Trust Units (subject to payment of
the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized, executed, issued and
delivered and fully paid and
non-assessable;
|
|
(ii)
|
take
all such action as may be necessary and within its power to comply with
any applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture, the Securities Act, the
securities acts or comparable legislation of each of the other provinces
of Canada, the 1933
Securities Act and the 1934 Exchange Act, and
the rules and regulations thereunder or any other applicable law, rule or
regulation, in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Rights
Certificates and the issuance of any Trust Units upon exercise of
Rights;
|
|
(iii)
|
use
reasonable efforts to cause all Trust Units issued upon exercise of Rights
to be listed on the principal exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter
markets on which the Trust Units were traded immediately prior to the
Trust Unit Acquisition Date;
|
-
16 -
|
(iv)
|
cause
to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Trust
Units the number of Trust Units that, as provided in this Agreement, will
from time to time be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights; and
|
|
(v)
|
pay
when due and payable any and all Canadian and United States federal,
provincial, and state transfer taxes (for greater certainty not including
any income or capital gains taxes of the holder or exercising holder or
any liability of the Fund to withhold tax) and charges which may be
payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates or certificates for Trust Units, provided that the Fund shall
not be required to pay any transfer tax or charge which may be payable in
respect of any transfer involved in the transfer or delivery of Rights
Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates for Trust Units
in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights being transferred or
exercised.
|
2.3
|
Adjustments to Exercise Price;
Number of Rights
|
The
Exercise Price, the number and kind of securities subject to purchase upon
exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 2.3.
|
(a)
|
In
the event the Fund shall at any time after the Amendment Date and prior to
the Expiration Time:
|
|
(i)
|
declare
or pay a distribution on the Trust Units payable in Trust Units (or other
securities or securities exchangeable for or convertible into or giving a
right to acquire Trust Units or other securities of the Fund) other than
pursuant to any optional Trust Unit distribution program, distribution
reinvestment plan or a distribution payable in Trust Units in lieu of a
regular periodic cash distribution;
|
|
(ii)
|
subdivide
or change the then outstanding Trust Units into a greater number of Trust
Units;
|
|
(iii)
|
consolidate,
combine or change the then outstanding Trust Units into a smaller number
of Trust Units; or
|
|
(iv)
|
issue
any Trust Units (or other securities or securities exchangeable for or
convertible into or giving a right to acquire Trust Units or other
securities of the Fund) in respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for
existing Trust Units in a reclassification, amalgamation, merger,
statutory arrangement or
consolidation,
|
|
the
Exercise Price and the number of Rights outstanding, or, if the payment or
effective date therefor shall occur after the Separation Time, the
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights shall be adjusted in the
manner set forth below. If the Exercise Price and number of
Rights outstanding are to be adjusted (x) the Exercise Price in effect
after such adjustment shall be equal to the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment divided by the number of Trust Units
(or other securities) (the "Expansion Factor") that
a holder of one Trust Unit immediately prior to such distribution,
subdivision, change, combination or issuance would hold thereafter as a
result thereof and (y) each Right held prior to such adjustment shall
become that number of Rights equal to the Expansion Factor, and the
adjusted number of Rights will be deemed to be allocated among the Trust
Units with respect to which the original Rights were associated (if they
remain outstanding) and the Trust Units issued in respect of such
distribution, subdivision, change, combination or issuance, so that each
such Trust Unit (or other securities) will have exactly one Right
associated with it. If the securities purchasable upon exercise
of Rights are to be adjusted, the securities purchasable upon exercise of
each Right after such adjustment will be the number of securities that a
holder of the securities purchasable upon exercise of one Right
immediately prior to such distribution subdivision, change, combination or
issuance would hold thereafter as a result thereof. If after
the Amendment Date and prior to the Expiration Time the Fund shall issue
securities other than Trust Units in a transaction of a type described in
clause 2.3(a)(i) or (iv), such securities shall be treated herein as
nearly equivalent to Trust Units as may be practicable and appropriate
under the circumstances and the Fund and the Rights Agent agree to amend
this Agreement in order to effect such treatment. If an event
occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 2.3 and
Section 3.1 hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 2.3 shall
be in addition to and shall be made prior to any adjustment required
pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof. Adjustments pursuant to this
subsection 2.3(a) shall be made successively, whenever an event referred
to in this subsection 2.3(a)
occurs.
|
-
17 -
|
In
the event the Fund shall at any time after the Amendment Date and prior to
the Separation Time issue any Trust Units otherwise than in a transaction
referred to in the preceding paragraph, each such Trust Unit so issued
shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which Right
shall be evidenced by the certificate representing such Trust
Unit.
|
|
(b)
|
In
the event the Fund shall at any time after the Amendment Date and prior to
the Expiration Time fix a record date for the making of a distribution to
all holders of Trust Units of rights or warrants entitling them (for a
period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Trust Units (or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for or carrying a right to purchase or subscribe for Trust
Units) at a price per Trust Unit (or, if a security convertible into or
exchangeable for or carrying a right to purchase or subscribe for Trust
Units, having a conversion, exchange or exercise price (including the
price required to be paid to purchase such convertible or exchangeable
security or right per Trust Unit)) less than 90% of the Market Price per
Trust Unit on such record date, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted in
the manner set forth below. The Exercise Price in effect after
such record date shall equal the Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date multiplied by a fraction, of which the numerator
shall be the number of Trust Units outstanding on such record date plus
the number of Trust Units which the aggregate offer price of the total
number of Trust Units so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion, exchange or exercise price of the convertible or exchangeable
securities or rights so to be offered (including the price required to be
paid to purchase such convertible or exchangeable securities or rights))
would purchase at such Market Price and of which the denominator shall be
the number of Trust Units outstanding on such record date plus the number
of additional Trust Units to be offered for subscription or purchase (or
into which the convertible or exchangeable securities or rights so to be
offered are initially convertible, exchangeable or
exercisable). In case such subscription price is satisfied in
whole or in part by consideration in a form other than cash the value of
such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of
Rights.
|
-
18 -
|
Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is
fixed. For purposes of this paragraph (b), the granting of the
right to purchase Trust Units pursuant to any distribution or interest
reinvestment plan and/or any Trust Unit purchase plan providing for the
reinvestment of distributions or interest payable on securities of the
Fund and/or the investment of periodic optional payments and/or employee
benefit or similar plans (so long as such right to purchase is in no case
evidenced by the delivery of rights or warrants) shall not be deemed to
constitute an issue of rights or warrants by the Fund; provided, however,
that in the case of any distribution or interest reinvestment plan, the
right to purchase Trust Units is at a price per Trust Unit of not less
than 90% of the current market price per Trust Unit (determined as
provided in such plans) of the Trust
Units.
|
|
(c)
|
In
the event the Fund shall at any time after the Amendment Date and prior to
the Expiration Time fix a record date for the making of a distribution to
all holders of Trust Units of evidences of indebtedness or assets (other
than a regular periodic cash distribution or a distribution paid in Trust
Units) or rights or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or purchase
Trust Units (or securities convertible into, exchangeable for or carrying
a right to subscribe for or purchase Trust Units) at a price per Trust
Unit (or in the case of a security convertible into, exchangeable for or
carrying a right to subscribe for or purchase Trust Units, having a
conversion, exchange, exercise, subscription or purchase price) less than
90% of the Market Price per Trust Unit on such record date, (excluding
those referred to in subsection 2.3(b)), the Exercise Price shall be
adjusted in the manner set forth below. The Exercise Price in
effect after such record date shall equal the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board) of the portion of the assets,
evidences of indebtedness, rights or warrants so to be distributed
applicable to each of the securities purchasable upon exercise of one
Right (such determination to be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights). Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is
fixed.
|
|
(d)
|
Each
adjustment made pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be made as
of:
|
|
(i)
|
the
payment or effective date for the applicable distribution, subdivision,
consolidation, change, combination or issuance, in the case of an
adjustment made pursuant to paragraph (a) above;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
the
record date for the applicable distribution, in the case of an adjustment
made pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) above, subject to readjustment to
reverse the same if such distribution shall not be
made.
|
|
(e)
|
In
the event the Fund shall at any time after the Amendment Date and prior to
the Expiration Time issue any securities of the Fund (other than Trust
Units), or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any such
securities, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such
securities, in a transaction referred to in clause (a)(i) or (a)(iv)
above, or if the Fund shall take any other action (other than the issue of
Trust Units) which might have a negative effect on the holders of Rights,
if the Board acting in good faith determines that the adjustments
contemplated by paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above are not applicable or
will not appropriately protect the interests of the holders of Rights, the
Fund may determine what other adjustments to the Exercise Price, number of
Rights and/or securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights would be
appropriate and, if the adjustments contemplated by paragraphs (a), (b)
and (c) above are applicable, notwithstanding such paragraphs, the
adjustments so determined by the Fund, rather than adjustments
contemplated by paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above, shall be
made. The Fund and the Rights Agent shall amend this Agreement
in accordance with subsection 5.4(b) and 5.4(c), as the case may be, to
provide for such adjustments.
|
-
19 -
|
(f)
|
Each
adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall
be calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment to
the Exercise Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.3, the Fund
shall:
|
|
(i)
|
promptly
prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement
of the facts accounting for such adjustment;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
promptly
file with the Rights Agent and with the transfer agent for the Trust Units
a copy of such certificate and mail a brief summary thereof to each holder
of Rights.
|
|
(g)
|
Subject
to Section 5.3, irrespective of any adjustment or change in the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates
theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the securities
so purchasable which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates
issued hereunder.
|
2.4
|
Date on Which Exercise is
Effective
|
Each
person in whose name any certificate for Trust Units is issued upon the exercise
of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record
of the Trust Units represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated,
the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered (together with a duly completed Election to Exercise) and payment of
the Exercise Price for such Rights (and any applicable transfer taxes and other
governmental charges payable by the exercising holder hereunder) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the Trust Unit transfer books of the Fund are closed, such person shall be
deemed to have become the record holder of such Trust Units on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Trust
Unit transfer books of the Fund are open.
2.5
|
Execution, Authentication,
Delivery and Dating of Rights
Certificates
|
|
(a)
|
The
Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Fund by the
Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer, any Vice President, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of
the Corporation. The signature of any of these officers on the
Rights Certificates may be manual or facsimile. Rights
Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who
were at any time the proper officers of the Corporation shall bind the
Fund, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of such
Rights Certificates. Promptly after the Fund learns of the
Separation Time, the Fund will notify the Rights Agent of such Separation
Time and will deliver copies of a disclosure statement describing the
Rights and Rights Certificates executed by the Fund to the Rights Agent
for countersignature, and the Rights Agent shall countersign (manually or
by facsimile signature in a manner satisfactory to the Fund) and mail such
Rights Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to subsection
2.2(c) hereof. No Rights Certificate shall be valid for any
purpose until countersigned by the Rights Agent as
aforesaid.
|
-
20 -
|
(b)
|
Each
Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature
thereof.
|
2.6
|
Registration, Registration of
Transfer and Exchange
|
|
(a)
|
After
the Separation Time, the Fund will cause to be kept a register (the "Rights Register") in
which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the
Fund will provide for the registration and transfer of
Rights. The Rights Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar" for
the purpose of maintaining the Rights Register for the Fund and
registering Rights and transfers of Rights as herein
provided. In the event that the Rights Agent shall cease to be
the Rights Registrar, the Rights Agent will have the right to examine the
Rights Register at all reasonable
times.
|
|
(b)
|
After
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon surrender for
registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate, and
subject to the provisions of subsection 2.6(d) below, the Fund will
execute, and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver, in the name of
the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required
pursuant to the holder's instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates
evidencing the same aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights
Certificates so surrendered.
|
|
(c)
|
All
Rights issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights
Certificates shall be the valid obligations of the Fund, and such Rights
shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or
exchange.
|
|
(d)
|
Every
Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange
shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Fund or the Rights Agent, as the case
may be, duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any
new Rights Certificate under this Section 2.6, the Fund may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
that may be imposed in relation
thereto.
|
2.7
|
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and
Stolen Rights Certificates
|
|
(a)
|
If
any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior
to the Expiration Time, the Fund shall execute and the Rights Agent shall
countersign and deliver in exchange therefor a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so
surrendered.
|
|
(b)
|
If
there shall be delivered to the Fund and the Rights Agent prior to the
Expiration Time (i) evidence of ownership of any Rights Certificate, (ii)
evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any
Rights Certificate and (iii) such security or indemnity as may be required
by them in their sole discretion to save each of them and any of their
agents harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Fund or the Rights
Agent that such Rights Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Fund shall execute and upon its request the Rights Agent
shall countersign and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or
stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same
number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so destroyed, lost or
stolen.
|
-
21 -
|
(c)
|
As
a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this
Section 2.7, the Fund may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the
Rights Agent) connected therewith.
|
|
(d)
|
Every
new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.7 in lieu of any
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an original
additional contractual obligation of the Fund, whether or not the
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time
enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this
Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Rights, duly
issued hereunder.
|
2.8
|
Persons Deemed
Owners
|
The
Fund, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Fund or the Rights Agent may deem
and treat the Person, in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Trust Unit certificate) is registered as the
absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for all purposes
whatsoever.
2.9
|
Delivery and Cancellation of
Certificates
|
All
Rights Certificates surrendered upon exercise or for redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Rights
Agent, be delivered to the Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly
cancelled by the Rights Agent. The Fund may at any time deliver to
the Rights Agent for cancellation any Rights Certificates previously
countersigned and delivered hereunder which the Fund may have acquired in any
manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates so delivered shall be promptly
cancelled by the Rights Agent. No Rights Certificate shall be
countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights Certificates cancelled as
provided in this Section 2.9, except as expressly permitted by this
Agreement. The Rights Agent shall, subject to applicable law and in
accordance with its ordinary business practice, destroy all cancelled Rights
Certificates and deliver a certificate of destruction to the Fund.
2.10
|
Agreement of Rights
Holders
|
Every
holder of Rights by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Fund and the
Rights Agent and with every other holder of Rights that:
|
(a)
|
he
will be bound by and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as
amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, in respect
of all Rights held;
|
|
(b)
|
prior
to the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable only together
with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated Trust
Unit;
|
|
(c)
|
after
the Separation Time, the Rights Certificates will be transferable only on
the Rights Register as provided
herein;
|
|
(d)
|
prior
to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation
Time, the associated Trust Unit certificate) for registration of transfer,
the Fund, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Fund or the Rights Agent
may deem and treat the Person in whose name the Rights Certificate (or,
prior to the Separation Time, the associated Trust Unit certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced
thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on such
Rights Certificate or the associated Trust Unit certificate made by anyone
other than the Fund or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Fund nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to
the contrary;
|
-
22 -
|
(e)
|
such
holder of Rights has waived his right to receive any fractional Rights or
any fractional Trust Units upon exercise of a Right (except as provided
herein);
|
|
(f)
|
subject
to the provisions of Section 5.4, without the approval of any holder of
Rights and upon the sole authority of the Board acting in good faith this
Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time as provided
herein; and
|
|
(g)
|
notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Fund nor the
Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or any
other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order
promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or
otherwise restraining performance of such
obligation.
|
ARTICLE
3
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS
IN
THE EVENT OF CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS
3.1
|
Flip-in
Event
|
|
(a)
|
Subject
to subsections 3.1(b), 5.1(b), 5.1(c) and 5.1(d) hereof, in the event that
prior to the Expiration Time a Flip-in Event shall occur, the Fund shall
take such action as shall be necessary to ensure and provide, within 10
Business Days thereafter or such longer period as may be required to
satisfy the requirements of the applicable securities acts or comparable
legislation so that, except as provided below, each Right shall thereafter
constitute the right to purchase from the Fund, upon exercise thereof in
accordance with the terms hereof, that number of Trust Units of the Fund
having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or occurrence
of such Flip-in Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in
cash equal to the Exercise Price, (such right to be appropriately adjusted
in a manner analogous to the applicable adjustment provided for in Section
2.3 in the event that after such date of consummation or occurrence an
event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.3
shall have occurred with respect to such Trust
Units).
|
|
(b)
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing or any other provisions of this Agreement, upon the
occurrence of any Flip-in Event, any Rights that are or were Beneficially
Owned on or after the earlier of the Separation Time or the Trust Unit
Acquisition Date by:
|
|
(i)
|
an
Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or
any Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person or any
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person);
or
|
|
(ii)
|
a
transferee, direct or indirect, of an Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any Person acting jointly or in
concert with, an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person) in a transfer made after the date hereof, whether or not
for consideration, that the Board acting in good faith has determined is
part of a plan, arrangement or scheme of an Acquiring Person, (or any
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any Person acting jointly
or in concert with any Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of
such Person) that has the purpose or effect of avoiding clause (i) of this
subsection 3.1(b),
|
-
23 -
|
shall
become void and any holder of such Rights (including transferees) shall
thereafter have no right, to exercise such Rights under any provision of
this Agreement and shall not have any other rights whatsoever in respect
of such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise.
|
|
(c)
|
Any
Rights Certificate that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by a Person
described in either clauses (i) or (ii) of subsection 3.1(b) or
transferred to any nominee of any such Person, and any Rights Certificate
issued upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other
Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain the
following legend:
|
"The
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate were Beneficially Owned by a
Person who was an Acquiring Person or who was an Affiliate or an Associate of an
Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) or was
acting jointly or in concert with any of them. This Rights
Certificate and the Rights represented hereby shall become void in the
circumstances specified in subsection 3.1(b) of the Rights
Agreement.",
|
provided
that the Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility to ascertain
the existence of facts that would require the imposition of such legend
but shall be required to impose such legend only if instructed to do so by
the Fund or if a holder fails to certify upon transfer or exchange in the
space provided on the Rights Certificate that such holder is not an
Acquiring Person, an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a Person acting
jointly or in concert with any of
them.
|
ARTICLE
4
THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.1
|
General
|
|
(a)
|
The
Fund hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Fund and the
holders of Rights in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and
the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Fund may
from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary
or desirable, subject to the prior approval of the Rights
Agent. In the event the Fund appoints one or more Co-Rights
Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and Co-Rights Agents
shall be as the Fund may determine with the approval of the Rights Agent
and the Co-Rights Agents. The Fund agrees to pay to the Rights
Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder
and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the
execution and administration of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder (including the reasonable fees and
other disbursements of any expert retained by the Rights Agent with the
approval of the Fund, such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld). The Fund also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent
and its directors, officers, employees and agents for, and to hold them
harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or wilful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent
or its directors, officers, employees and agents, for anything done,
suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance,
execution and administration of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability, which right to indemnification
will survive the termination of this Agreement and the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent.
|
-
24 -
|
(b)
|
The
Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with
its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any certificate for
Trust Units, Rights Certificate, certificate for other securities of the
Fund, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney,
endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate,
statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to
be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the
proper person or persons.
|
|
(c)
|
The
Fund shall inform the Rights Agent in a reasonable and timely manner of
events which may materially affect the administration of this Agreement by
the Rights Agent.
|
4.2
|
Merger, Amalgamation or
Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
Agent
|
|
(a)
|
Any
corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may
be merged or amalgamated or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger, amalgamation or consolidation to
which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent is a party or any
corporation succeeding to the shareholder or stockholder services business
of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, will be the successor
to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing
of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto,
provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a
successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 4.4
hereof. In case, at the time such successor Rights Agent
succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights
Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights
Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case
at that time any of the Rights Certificates have not been countersigned,
any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the
successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates
will have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this
Agreement.
|
|
(b)
|
In
case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at such time
any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior
name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates
and in this Agreement.
|
-
25 -
4.3
|
Duties of Rights
Agent
|
The
Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement
upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Fund and the
holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be
bound:
|
(a)
|
The
Rights Agent may retain and consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Fund), and the opinion of such counsel will be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion;
the Rights Agent may also, with the approval of the Fund (such approval
not to be unreasonably withheld) and at the expense of the Fund, consult
with such other experts as the Rights Agent shall consider necessary or
appropriate to properly carry out the duties and obligations imposed under
this Agreement and the Rights Agent shall be entitled to rely in good
faith on the advice of any such
expert.
|
|
(b)
|
Whenever
in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent
deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or
established by the Fund prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by a person believed by the Rights
Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the
President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, any
Vice President, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the
Corporation and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate will
be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered
in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance
upon such certificate.
|
|
(c)
|
The
Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own negligence, bad
faith or wilful misconduct.
|
|
(d)
|
The
Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements
of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the certificates for
Trust Units or the Rights Certificates (except its countersignature
thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and
recitals are and will be deemed to have been made by the Fund
only.
|
|
(e)
|
The
Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect of the
validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent)
or in respect of the validity or execution of any Trust Unit certificate
or Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor will it
be responsible for any breach by the Fund of any covenant or condition
contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor will it be
responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including
the Rights becoming void pursuant to subsection 3.1(b) hereof) or any
adjustment required under the provisions of Section 2.3 hereof or
responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights after receipt of
the certificate contemplated by Section 2.3 describing any such
adjustment); nor will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization of any Trust Units to
be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights or as to whether any
Trust Units will, when issued, be duly and validly authorized, executed,
issued and delivered and fully paid and
non-assessable.
|
-
26 -
|
(f)
|
The
Fund agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or
cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be
required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the
Rights Agent of the provisions of this
Agreement.
|
|
(g)
|
The
Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with
respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any person
believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the Vice
Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the
Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, and to apply to such persons for
advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be
liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in reliance
upon instructions of any such person; it is understood that instructions
to the Rights Agent shall, except where circumstances make it
impracticable or the Rights Agent otherwise agrees, be given in writing
and, where not in writing, such instructions shall be confirmed in writing
as soon as reasonably possible after the giving of such
instructions.
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|
(h)
|
The
Rights Agent and any shareholder or stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Trust Units, Rights
or other securities of the Fund or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Fund may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Fund or otherwise act as fully and freely as though the
Rights Agent were not Rights Agent under this
Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from
acting in any other capacity for the Fund or for any other legal
entity.
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|
(i)
|
The
Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby
vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through
its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent will not be answerable or
accountable for any act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Fund resulting from any
such act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable
care was exercised in the selection and continued employment
thereof.
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4.4
|
Change of Rights
Agent
|
The
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 days' notice (or such lesser notice as is acceptable to the Fund) in
writing mailed to the Fund and to each transfer agent of Trust Units by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights in accordance
with Section 5.9. The Fund may remove the Rights Agent upon 30 days'
notice in writing given to the Rights Agent and to the transfer agent of the
Trust Units (by personal delivery, or registered or certified
mail). If the Rights Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise
become incapable of acting, the Fund will appoint a successor to the Rights
Agent. If the Fund fails to make such appointment within a period of
30 days after such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent, then
the resigning Rights Agent or any holder of any Rights may apply to any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent at the Fund's
expense. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Fund or
by such a court, shall be a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or
a province thereof authorized to carry on the business of a trust company in the
Province of Alberta. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent
will be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if
it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but
the predecessor Rights Agent shall, upon payment of all of its outstanding fees
and expenses, deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at
the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the
effective date of any such appointment, the Fund will file notice thereof in
writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Trust
Units, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the holders of the
Rights. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.
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27 -
4.5
|
Indemnity
|
The
Fund hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Rights Agent against all
liability, loss, claim, action, cost and expense (collectively, the "Liabilities") which may be
asserted against the Rights Agent arising out of this Agreement, provided that
the Fund shall not be required to indemnify the Rights Agent in the event that
such Liabilities are a result of the negligence or wilful misconduct of the
Rights Agent. This indemnity shall survive the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent or the termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
5
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1
|
Redemption and
Termination
|
|
(a)
|
The
Board may, with the prior consent of holders of Trust Units or of the
holders of Rights given in accordance with subsection 5.1(f) or 5.1(g) as
the case may be, at any time prior to the occurrence of a Flip-in Event as
to which the application of Section 3.1 has not been waived pursuant to
the provisions of this Section 5.1, elect to redeem all but not less than
all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.0001 per
Right appropriately adjusted in a manner analogous to the applicable
adjustment provided for in Section 2.3 in the event that an event of the
type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.3 shall have
occurred (such redemption price being herein referred to as the "Redemption
Price").
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|
(b)
|
The
Board may, with the prior consent of the holders of Trust Units given in
accordance with subsection 5.1(f), determine, at any time prior to the
occurrence of a Flip-in Event as to which the application of Section 3.1
has not been waived pursuant to this Section 5.1, if such Flip-in Event
would occur by reason of an acquisition of Trust Units otherwise than
pursuant to a Take-over Bid made by means of a Take-over Bid circular to
all holders of record of Trust Units and otherwise than in the
circumstances set forth in subsection 5.1(d), to waive the application of
Section 3.1 to such Flip-in Event. In the event that the Board
proposes such a waiver, the Board shall extend the Separation Time to a
date subsequent to and not more than ten Business Days following the
meeting of unitholders called to approve such
waiver.
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|
(c)
|
The
Board may, prior to the occurrence of a Flip-in Event as to which the
application of Section 3.1 has not been waived under this clause,
determine, upon prior written notice to the Rights Agent, to waive the
application of Section 3.1 to that Flip-in Event provided that the Flip-in
Event would occur by reason of a Take-over Bid made by means of a
Take-over Bid circular sent to all holders of record of Trust Units;
further provided that if the Board waives the application of Section 3.1
to such a Flip-in Event, the Board shall be deemed to have waived the
application of Section 3.1 to any other Flip-in Event occurring by reason
of any Take-over Bid made by means of a Take-over Bid circular to all
holders of record of Trust Units which is made prior to the expiry of any
Take-over Bid in respect of which a waiver is, or is deemed to have been,
granted under this subsection
5.1(c).
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28 -
|
(d)
|
The
Board may, in respect of any Flip-in Event, waive the application of
Section 3.1 to that Flip-in Event, provided that both of the following
conditions are satisfied:
|
|
(i)
|
the
Board has determined that the Acquiring Person became an Acquiring Person
by inadvertence and without any intent or knowledge that it would become
an Acquiring Person; and
|
|
(ii)
|
such
Acquiring Person has reduced its Beneficial Ownership of Trust Units
such that at the time of waiver pursuant to this subsection
5.1(d) it is no longer an Acquiring
Person.
|
|
(e)
|
Where,
pursuant to a Permitted Bid or a Take-over Bid in respect of which the
Board has waived, or is deemed to have waived, pursuant to subsection
5.1(c), the application of Section 3.1, a Person acquires outstanding
Trust Units, then the Board shall, immediately upon the consummation of
such acquisition and without further formality and any approval under
subsection 5.4(b) or 5.4(c), be deemed to have elected to redeem the
Rights at the Redemption Price.
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|
(f)
|
If
a redemption of Rights pursuant to subsection 5.1(a) or a waiver of a
Flip-in Event pursuant to subsection 5.1(b) is proposed at any time prior
to the Separation Time, such redemption or waiver shall be submitted for
approval to the holders of Trust Units. Such approval shall be
deemed to have been given if the redemption or waiver is approved by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by Independent
Unitholders represented in person or by proxy at a meeting of such holders
duly held in accordance with applicable laws and the Trust
Indenture.
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|
(g)
|
If
a redemption of Rights pursuant to subsection 5.1(a) is proposed at any
time after the Separation Time, such redemption shall be submitted for
approval to the holders of Rights. Such approval shall be
deemed to have been given if the redemption is approved by holders of
Rights by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Rights
represented in person or by proxy at and entitled to vote at a meeting of
such holders. For the purposes hereof, each outstanding Right
(other than Rights which are Beneficially Owned by any Person referred to
in clauses (i) to (v) inclusive of the definition of Independent
Unitholders) shall be entitled to one vote, and the procedures for the
calling, holding and conduct of the meeting shall be those, as nearly as
may be, which are provided in the Trust Indenture with respect to meetings
of unitholders of the Fund.
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|
(h)
|
Where
a Take-over Bid that is not a Permitted Bid is withdrawn or otherwise
terminated after the Separation Time has occurred and prior to the
occurrence of a Flip-in Event, the Board may elect to redeem all the
outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price. Upon such
redemption, all of the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to
apply as if the Separation Time had not occurred and the Fund shall be
deemed to have issued replacement Rights to the holders of its then
outstanding Trust Units, subject to and in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement.
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|
(i)
|
If
the Board elects or is deemed to have elected to redeem the Rights, and,
in circumstances where subsection 5.1(a) is applicable, such redemption is
approved by the holders of Trust Units or the holders of Rights in
accordance with subsection 5.1(f) or 5.1(g), as the case may be, the right
to exercise the Rights will thereupon, without further action and without
notice, terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights
will be to receive the Redemption
Price.
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29 -
|
(j)
|
Within
10 Business Days after the Board electing or having been deemed to have
elected to redeem the Rights or, if subsection 5.1(a) is applicable within
10 Business Days after the holders of Trust Units or the holders of Rights
have approved a redemption of Rights in accordance with subsection 5.1(f)
or 5.1(g), as the case may be, the Fund shall give notice of redemption to
the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to each
such holder at its last address as it appears upon the register of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation Time, on the register of the
Transfer Agent for the Trust Units. Any notice which is mailed
in the manner herein provided will be deemed given, whether or not the
holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will
state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be
made. The Fund may not redeem, acquire or purchase for value
any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set
forth in this Section 5.1 or in connection with the purchase of Trust
Units prior to the Separation Time.
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|
(k)
|
The
Fund shall give prompt written notice to the Rights Agent of any waiver of
the application of Section 3.1 made by the Board under this Section
5.1.
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5.2
|
Expiration
|
No
Person shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement or in respect of any
Right after the Expiration Time, except the Rights Agent as specified in
subsection 4.1(a) of this Agreement.
5.3
|
Issuance of New Rights
Certificates
|
Notwithstanding
any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Fund may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such
form as may be approved by its Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the
number of or kind or class of securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights
made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
5.4
|
Supplements and
Amendments
|
|
(a)
|
The
Fund may make amendments to this Agreement to correct any clerical or
typographical error or which are required to maintain the validity of this
Agreement as a result of any change in any applicable legislation, rules
or regulations thereunder. The Fund may, prior to the date of
the unitholders' meeting referred to in Section 5.18, supplement, amend,
vary, rescind or delete any of the provisions of this Agreement without
the approval of any holders of Rights or Trust Units (provided that such
action would not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders
of Rights generally) where the Board acting in good xxxxx xxxxx such
action necessary or desirable. Notwithstanding anything in this
Section 5.4 to the contrary, no such supplement or amendment shall be made
to the provisions of Article 4 except with the written concurrence of the
Rights Agent to such supplement or
amendment.
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|
(b)
|
Subject
to subsection 5.4(a) the Fund may, with the prior consent of the holders
of Trust Units, obtained as set forth below, at any time prior to the
Separation Time, supplement, amend, vary, rescind or delete any of the
provisions of this Agreement and the Rights (whether or not such action
would materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights
generally). Such consent shall be deemed to have been given if
the action requiring such approval is authorized by the affirmative vote
of a majority of the votes cast by Independent Unitholders present or
represented at and entitled to be voted at a meeting of the holders of
Trust Units duly called and held in compliance with applicable laws and
the articles and by-laws of the
Fund.
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30 -
|
(c)
|
The
Fund may, with the prior consent of the holders of Rights, at any time on
or after the Separation Time, supplement, amend, vary, rescind or delete
any of the provisions of this Agreement and the Rights (whether or not
such action would materially adversely affect the interests of the holders
of Rights generally), provided that no such amendment, variation or
deletion shall be made to the provisions of Article 4 except with the
written concurrence of the Rights Agent thereto. Such consent
shall be deemed to have been given if such amendment, variation or
deletion is authorized by the affirmative votes of the holders of Rights
present or represented at and entitled to be voted at a meeting of the
holders held in accordance with subsection 5.4(d) and representing 50%
plus one of the votes cast in respect
thereof.
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|
(d)
|
Any
approval of the holders of Rights shall be deemed to have been given if
the action requiring such approval is authorized by the affirmative votes
of the holders of Rights present or represented at and entitled to be
voted at a meeting of the holders of Rights and representing a majority of
the votes cast in respect thereof. For the purposes hereof,
each outstanding Right (other than Rights which are void pursuant to the
provisions hereof) shall be entitled to one vote, and the procedures for
the calling, holding and conduct of the meeting shall be those, as nearly
as may be, which are provided in the Trust Indenture with respect to
meetings of unitholders of the
Fund.
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|
(e)
|
Any
amendment made by the Fund to this Agreement pursuant to subsection 5.4(a)
other than any amendment to correct any clerical or typographical error
shall:
|
|
(i)
|
if
made before the Separation Time, be submitted to the unitholders of the
Fund at the next meeting of unitholders and the unitholders may, by the
majority referred to in subsection 5.4(b), confirm or reject such
amendment; and
|
|
(ii)
|
if
made after the Separation Time, be submitted to the holders of Rights at a
meeting to be called for on a date not later than immediately following
the next meeting of unitholders of the Fund and the holders of Rights may,
by resolution passed by the majority referred to in subsection 5.4(d),
confirm or reject such amendment.
|
|
Any
such amendment shall be effective from the date of the resolution of the
Board adopting such amendment, until it is confirmed or rejected or until
it ceases to be effective (as described in the next sentence) and, where
such amendment is confirmed, it continues in effect in the form so
confirmed. If such amendment is rejected by the unitholders or
the holder of Rights or is not submitted to the unitholders or holders of
Rights as required, then such amendment shall cease to be effective from
and after the termination of the meeting at which it was rejected or to
which it should have been but was not submitted or from and after the date
of the meeting of holders of Rights that should have been but was not
held, and no subsequent resolution of the Board to amend this Agreement to
substantially the same effect shall be effective until confirmed by the
unitholders or holders of Rights as the case may
be.
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31 -
|
(f)
|
The
Fund shall provide the Rights Agent with notice in writing of any such
amendment, variation or deletion to this Agreement as referred to in
Section 5.4 within five days of effecting such amendment, variation or
deletion.
|
5.5
|
Fractional Rights and Fractional
Trust Units
|
|
(a)
|
The
Fund shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute
Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. After the
Separation Time there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates with regard to which fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Market
Price of a whole Right in lieu of such fractional Rights as of the date
such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable. The Rights
Agent shall have no obligation to make any payments in lieu of fractional
Rights unless the Fund shall have provided the Rights Agent with the
necessary funds to pay in full all amounts payable in accordance with
subsection 2.2(e).
|
|
(b)
|
The
Fund shall not be required to issue fractional Trust Units upon exercise
of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
Trust Units. In lieu of issuing fractional Trust Units, the
Fund shall pay to the registered holder of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided, an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the Market Price of one Trust Unit at the date of
such exercise. The Rights Agent shall have no obligation to
make any payments in lieu of fractional Trust Units unless the Fund shall
have provided the Rights Agent with the necessary funds to pay in full all
amounts payable in accordance with subsection
2.2(e).
|
5.6
|
Rights of
Action
|
Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, rights of action in respect of this Agreement,
other than rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the
respective holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the
consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights, may, on such
holder's own behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the benefit of other
holders of Rights, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against the Fund to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such
holder's right to exercise such holder's Rights, or Rights to which he is
entitled, in the manner provided in this Agreement and in such holder's Rights
Certificate. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available
to the holders of Rights it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of
Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement
and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations of
any Person subject to this Agreement.
5.7
|
Holder of Rights Not Deemed a
Unitholder
|
No
holder, as such, of any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive distributions
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Trust Units or any other securities
which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of Rights, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Rights, as such, any of the rights of a unitholder of the Fund or
any right to vote for the election of directors of the Corporation or upon any
matter submitted to unitholders at any meeting of the Fund, or to give or
withhold consent to any action of the Fund, or to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting Unitholders (except as provided in Section 5.8 hereof),
or to receive distributions or subscription rights or otherwise, until such
Rights, or Rights to which such holder is entitled, shall have been exercised in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
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32 -
5.8
|
Notice of Proposed
Actions
|
In
case the Fund shall propose after the Separation Time and prior to the
Expiration Time:
|
(a)
|
to
effect or permit (in cases where the Fund's permission is required) any
Flip-in Event; or
|
|
(b)
|
to
effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund or the sale
of all or substantially all of the Fund's
assets,
|
then,
in each such case, the Fund shall give to each holder of a Right, in accordance
with Section 5.9 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify
the date on which such Flip-in Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is
to take place, and such notice shall be so given at least 10 Business Days prior
to the date of taking of such proposed action by the Fund.
5.9
|
Notices
|
Notices
or demands to be given or made in connection with this Agreement by the Rights
Agent or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Fund shall be sufficiently
given or made if delivered or sent by mail, postage prepaid or by fax (with, in
the case of fax, an original copy of the notice or demand sent by first class
mail, postage prepaid, to the Fund following the giving of the notice or demand
by fax), addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights
Agent) as follows:
Suite
3000, The Dome Tower
000
- 0xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention:
President
Fax: (000)
000-0000
Notices
or demands to be given or made in connection with this Agreement by the Fund or
by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently
given or made if delivered or sent by mail, postage prepaid, or by fax (with, in
the case of fax, an original copy of the notice or demand sent by first class
mail, postage prepaid, to the Rights Agent following the giving of the notice or
demand by fax), addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Fund) as follows:
Computershare
Trust Company of Canada
Xxxxx
000, 000 - 0xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx
X0X
0X0
Attention: Manager,
Corporate Trust
Fax: (000)
000-0000
Notices
or demands to be given or made in connection with this Agreement by the Fund or
the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights shall be sufficiently given
or made if delivered or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, or by fax
(with, in the case of fax, an original copy of the notice or demand sent by
first class mail, postage prepaid, to such holder following the giving of the
notice or demand by fax), addressed to such holder at the address of such holder
as it appears upon the register of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation
Time, on the register of the Fund for the Trust Units.
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33 -
Any
notice given or made in accordance with this Section 5.9 shall be deemed to have
been given and to have been received on the day of delivery, if so delivered, on
the third Business Day (excluding each day during which there exists any general
interruption of postal service due to strike, lockout or other cause) following
the mailing thereof, if so mailed, and on the day of faxing (provided such
sending is during the normal business hours of the addressee on a Business Day
and if not, on the first Business Day thereafter). Each of the Fund
and the Rights Agent may from time to time change its address for notice by
notice to the other given in the manner aforesaid.
If
mail service is or is threatened to be interrupted at a time when the Fund or
the Rights Agent wishes to give a notice or demand hereunder to or on the
holders of the Rights, the Fund or the Rights Agent may, notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 5.9, give such notice by means, of
publication once in each of two successive weeks in the business section of the
National Post or the Globe and Mail and, so long as the Fund has a transfer
agent in the United States, in a daily publication in the United States
designated by the Fund, or in such other publication or publications as may be
designated by the Fund and notice so published shall be deemed to have been
given on the date on which the first publication of such notice in any such
publication has taken place.
5.10
|
Costs of
Enforcement
|
The
Fund agrees that if the Fund fails to fulfil any of its obligations pursuant to
this Agreement, then the Fund will reimburse the holder of any Rights for the
costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by such holder in actions to
enforce his rights pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement.
5.11
|
Successors
|
All
the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Fund
or the Rights Agent shall bind and enure to the benefit of their respective
successors and assigns hereunder.
5.12
|
Benefits of this
Agreement
|
Nothing
in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Fund,
the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole
and exclusive benefit of the Fund, the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights.
5.13
|
Descriptive
Headings
|
Descriptive
headings appear herein for convenience only and shall not control or affect the
meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
5.14
|
Governing
Law
|
This
Agreement and each Right issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the laws of the Province of Alberta and for all purposes shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of such Province applicable to
contracts to be made and performed entirely within such Province.
5.15
|
Language
|
Les
parties aux présentes ont exigé que la présente convention ainsi que tous les
documents et avis qui s'y rattachent et/ou qui en découleront soient rédigés en
langue anglaise. The parties hereto have required that this Agreement
and all documents and notices related thereto and/or resulting therefrom be
drawn up in the English language.
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34 -
5.16
|
Counterparts
|
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such
counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.
5.17
|
Severability
|
If
any term or provision hereof or the application thereof to any circumstance is,
in any jurisdiction and to any extent, invalid or unenforceable, such term or
provision shall be ineffective as to such jurisdiction to the extent of such
invalidity or unenforceability without invalidating or rendering unenforceable
the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the application of such term or
provision to circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or
unenforceable.
5.18
|
Effective
Date
|
Notwithstanding
its amendment and restatement as of the date hereof, this Agreement (subject to
receipt of the approval of the Independent Unitholders as set forth below) is
effective from the Effective Date and replaces and supersedes the Original
Plan. If this Agreement is not approved by resolution passed by a
majority of the votes cast by (i) Independent Unitholders; and (ii) if required
by the rules and regulations of any stock exchange on which the Trust Units are
then listed, all holders of Trust Units, who vote in respect of reconfirmation
of the Original Plan as amended and restated herein at a meeting of unitholders
to be held not later than the date on which the 2008 annual meeting of
unitholders of the Fund terminates, then the Original Plan, this Agreement and
all outstanding Rights shall terminate and be void and of no further force and
effect on and from that date which is the earlier of (a) the date of termination
of the meeting called to consider the confirmation of the Original Plan as
amended and restated herein under this Section 5.18, and (b) the date of
termination of the 2008 annual meeting of unitholders of the Fund.
5.19
|
Unitholder
Review
|
At
or prior to the annual meeting of the unitholders of the Fund in 2011, provided
that a Flip-in Event has not occurred prior to such time, the Board shall submit
a resolution ratifying the continued existence of this Agreement to (i) the
Independent Unitholders; and (ii) if required by the rules and regulations of
any stock exchange on which the Trust Units are then listed, all holders of
Trust Units, for their consideration and, if thought advisable, approval. Unless
the majority of the votes cast by (i) Independent Unitholders; and (ii) if
required by the rules and regulations of any stock exchange on which the Trust
Units are listed, all holders of Trust Units, who vote in respect of such
resolution are voted in favour of the continued existence of this Agreement, the
Board shall, immediately upon the confirmation by the Chairman of such
unitholders' meeting of the results of the votes on such resolution and without
further formality, be deemed to elect to redeem the Rights at the Redemption
Price.
5.20
|
Regulatory
Approvals
|
Any
obligation of the Fund or action or event contemplated by this Agreement shall
be subject to the receipt of any requisite approval or consent from any
governmental or regulatory authority. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, any issuance or delivery of debt or equity securities (other
than non-convertible debt securities) of the Fund upon the exercise of Rights
and any amendment or supplement to this Agreement shall be subject to the prior
consent of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange and any other
exchange upon which the Trust Units may not be listed.
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35 -
5.21
|
Declaration as to Non-Canadian and
Non-U.S. Holders
|
If
in the opinion of the Board (who may rely upon the advice of counsel), any
action or event contemplated by this Agreement would require compliance with the
securities laws or comparable legislation of a jurisdiction outside Canada and
the United States of America, its territories and possessions, the Board acting
in good faith may take such actions as it may deem appropriate to ensure that
such compliance is not required, including without limitation establishing
procedures for the issuance to a Canadian resident Fiduciary of Rights or
securities issuable on exercise of Rights, the holding thereof in trust for the
Persons entitled thereto (but reserving to the Fiduciary or to the Fiduciary and
the Fund, as the Fund may determine, absolute discretion with respect thereto)
and the sale thereof and remittance of the proceeds of such sale, if any, to the
Persons entitled thereto. In no event shall the Fund or the Rights
Agent be required to issue or deliver Rights or securities issuable on exercise
of Rights to Persons who are citizens, residents or nationals of any
jurisdiction other than Canada and a province or territory thereof and the
United States of America and any state thereof in which such issue or delivery
would be unlawful without registration of the relevant Persons or securities for
such purposes.
5.22
|
Determinations and Actions by the
Board
|
All
actions and determinations (including all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Board pursuant to this Agreement, in
good faith, shall not subject any member of the Board to any liability
whatsoever to the holders of the Rights.
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36 -
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first above written.
ENERPLUS RESOURCES FUND | |
by EnerMark Inc. | |
Per: |
"Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx"
|
Name: |
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
Title: |
Senior
Vice President and Chief FinancialOfficer
|
Per: |
"Xxxxx X.
XxXxx"
|
Name: |
Xxxxx
X. XxXxx
|
Title: |
VP
General Counsel & Corporate
Secretary
|
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA | |
Per: |
"Xxx
Xxxxxx"
|
Name: |
Xxx
Xxxxxx
|
Title: |
Professional,
Corporate Trust
|
Per: |
"Xxxxx
Xxxxx"
|
Name: |
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
|
Title: |
Professional,
Corporate Trust
|
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37 -
EXHIBIT
A
FORM OF RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. _________ |
__________
Rights
|
THE
RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE FUND, ON THE TERMS SET
FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES (SPECIFIED IN
SUBSECTION 3.1(b) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN
ACQUIRING PERSON OR TRANSFEREE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ITS AFFILIATES OR
ASSOCIATES (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY PERSON
ACTING JOINTLY OR IN CONCERT WITH ANY OF THEM MAY BECOME VOID .
Rights
Certificate
This certifies that
_________________________________________________ is the registered holder of
the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the registered
holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Amended
and Restated Unitholder Rights Plan Agreement dated as of May 9, 2008 (amending
and restating the Amended and Restated Unitholder Rights Plan Agreement dated
April 25, 2002) as such may from time to time be amended, restated, varied or
replaced, (the "Rights
Agreement") between Enerplus Resources Fund, a trust organized under the
laws of Alberta (the "Fund"), and Computershare
Trust Company of Canada, a trust company incorporated under the laws of Canada,
as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent"), which term shall include any successor Rights Agent under the
Rights Agreement, to purchase from the Fund at any time after the Separation
Time (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to the
Expiration Time (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), one fully
paid Trust Unit of the Fund (a "Trust Unit") at the Exercise
Price referred to below, upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate together with the Form of Election to Exercise duly executed to the
Rights Agent at its principal office in the City of Calgary or in such other
cities as may be designated by the Fund from time to time. The
Exercise Price shall initially be CDN $300 per Right and shall be
subject to adjustment in certain events as provided in the Rights
Agreement.
In certain circumstances described in
the Rights Agreement, the number of Trust Units which each Right entitles the
registered holder thereof to purchase shall be adjusted as provided in the
Rights Agreement.
This Rights 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 thereunder of the Rights Agent, the Fund and the holders of the
Rights Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at
the registered office of the Fund and are available upon written
request.
This Rights Certificate, with or
without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at any of the offices of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing an
aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of Rights evidenced by
the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered. If this
Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder shall be
entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate or Rights
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 Fund
at a redemption price of $0.0001 per Right, subject to adjustment in certain
events, under certain circumstances at its option.
No fractional Trust Units will be
issued upon the exercise of any Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof a
cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate,
as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive distributions or be deemed for any
purpose the holder of Trust Units or of any other securities which may at any
time be issuable upon 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 unitholder of the Fund or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to unitholders at any meeting
thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive
notice of meetings or other actions affecting unitholders (except as provided in
the Rights Agreement), or to receive distributions or subscription rights, or
otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights 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 Fund and its corporate seal.
Date:
ENERPLUS RESOURCES FUND | ||
by EnerMark Inc. | ||
By: |
|
|
Authorized
Officer
|
||
Countersigned:
|
||
COMPUTERSHARE
TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA
|
||
By: |
|
|
Authorized
Signature
|
- 2
-
FORM
OF ASSIGNMENT
(To
be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED
____________________________________hereby sells, assigns
and
transfers
to __________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of
transferee)
the
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title
and interest therein, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints
____________________________________as attorney, to transfer the within Rights
on the books of the Fund, with full power of substitution.
Dated:
Signature Guarantee | ||
Signature |
|
(Signature
must correspond to name as written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any
change whatsoever.)
|
Signature
must be guaranteed by a Canadian Schedule 1 chartered bank, a major Canadian
trust company, a member of a recognized stock exchange or a member of a
recognized Medallion Program (STAMP, MSP or SEMP).
(To
be completed if true)
The
undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
Trust Units, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not, and,
to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially Owned by an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any Person acting
jointly or in concert with any of the foregoing (all capitalized terms, and the
phrase "acting jointly or in concert", are used as defined in the Rights
Agreement).
Dated: __________________________________________________ Signature:
______________________________________________________
NOTICE
In
the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Election to Exercise
is not completed upon exercise of the Right(s) evidenced hereby or in the event
that the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment is not
completed upon the assignment of the Right(s) evidenced hereby, the Fund will
deem the Beneficial Owner of the Right(s) evidenced by this Rights Certificate
to be an Acquiring Person, an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a Person acting
jointly or in concert with any of them (each as defined in the Rights Agreement)
and, in the case of an assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any
Rights Certificates issued in exchange for this Rights Certificate.
(To
be attached to each Rights Certificate)
FORM
OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
The
undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ______________________ whole
Rights represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the Trust
Units (or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of such
Rights and requests that certificates for such Trust Units (or other securities
or title to such property) be issued in the name of:
___________________________________________
|
(Name)
|
___________________________________________
|
(Street)
|
___________________________________________
|
(City
and State or Province)
|
___________________________________________
|
(Country,
Postal Code or Zip Code)
|
___________________________________________
|
SOCIAL
INSURANCE, SOCIAL SECURITY OR
|
OTHER
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
|
If
such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be
registered in the name of and delivered to:
______________________________________
|
||
(Name)
|
||
______________________________________
|
||
(Street)
|
||
______________________________________
|
||
(City
and State or Province)
|
||
______________________________________
|
||
(Country,
Postal Code or Zip Code)
|
||
______________________________________
|
||
SOCIAL
INSURANCE, SOCIAL SECURITY OR
|
||
OTHER
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
|
||
Dated:
|
||
Signature Guaranteed: |
|
|
Signature | ||
(Signature
must correspond to name as written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any
change whatsoever.)
|
||
|
Signature
must be guaranteed by a Canadian Schedule 1 chartered bank, a major Canadian
trust company, a member of a recognized stock exchange or a member of a
recognized Medallion Program (STAMP, MSP or SEMP).
(To
be completed if true)
The
undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
Trust Units, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not, and,
to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially Owned by an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any Person acting
jointly or in concert with any of the foregoing (all capitalized terms, and the
phrase "acting jointly or in concert", are used as defined in the Rights
Agreement).
Dated:
________________________________________
|
Signature:
_________________________________________________________
|
NOTICE
In
the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Election to Exercise
is not completed upon exercise of the Right(s) evidenced hereby or in the event
that the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment is not
completed upon the assignment of the Right(s) evidenced hereby, the Fund will
deem the Beneficial Owner of the Right(s) evidenced by this Rights Certificate
to be an Acquiring Person, an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a Person acting
jointly or in concert with any of them (each as defined in the Rights Agreement)
and, in the case of an assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any
Rights Certificates issued in exchange for this Rights Certificate.
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