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EXHIBIT 4.1
FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP
AND
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
RIGHTS AGENT
FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF JULY ___, 2000
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This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Foothill Independent
Bancorp, a California Corporation (the "Company") and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent"), dated as of February 25 1997 (the "Rights
Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and
a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of the Company. Under
certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be
evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of
the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge
promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by,
any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether
currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may
become null and void.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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Section 1. Certain Definitions..............................................................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent......................................................................4
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.....................................................................4
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates......................................................................5
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration................................................................6
Section 6 Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.........................................7
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights....................................7
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates..............................................9
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock....................................................9
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date........................................................................10
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights.....................10
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares......................................16
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power............................16
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.........................................................19
Section 15. Rights of Action................................................................................20
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders.....................................................................20
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder..............................................21
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.....................................................................21
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.......................................21
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent..........................................................................22
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent..........................................................................23
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.............................................................24
Section 23. Redemption......................................................................................24
Section 24. Exchange........................................................................................25
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events........................................................................26
Section 26. Notices.........................................................................................27
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments......................................................................27
Section 28. Successors......................................................................................28
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.......................................28
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement......................................................................28
Section 31. Severability....................................................................................28
Section 32. Governing Law...................................................................................28
Section 33. Counterparts....................................................................................29
Section 34. Descriptive Headings............................................................................29
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AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of July __, 2000 (the
"Agreement"), between Foothill Independent Bancorp, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, on February 25, 1997 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"),
the Board of Directors of the Foothill Independent Bancorp, a California
corporation ("Foothill California") authorized and declared a dividend
distribution of one Right for each share of Common Stock, no par value, of
Foothill California outstanding at the close of business on March 18, 1997 (the
"Record Date"), and authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may
hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for
each share of Common Stock of Foothill California issued between the Record Date
and the Distribution Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof), each Right initially
representing the right to purchase one share of Common Stock of Foothill
California, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth
(the "Rights");
WHEREAS, on _____________, the Board of Directors and the Shareholders
of Foothill California authorized and directed Foothill California to undertake
a merger with the Company for the purpose of changing the state of incorporation
of Foothill California from California to Delaware; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to such reincorporation, it is necessary that the
Company provide for the assumption of the Rights issuable pursuant to the Rights
Agreement first entered into between Foothill California and the Rights Agent on
February 25, 1997, and that the Company amend and restate the provisions of the
Rights Agreement to conform to the requirements of Delaware corporate law.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not
include (i) the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan, or (ii) any Person who shall become the Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock solely as a result of a
reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding due to an
acquisition by the Company of shares of Common Stock until such time thereafter
as such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner (other than by means of a stock
dividend or stock split) of any additional shares of Common Stock, at which time
such Person shall become and be an Acquiring Person; provided, however, that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring
Person if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a
person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" (but for the operation of
this proviso), has become such inadvertently, and such person divests as
promptly as possible a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such
person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person."
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
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(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made by such person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase
or exchange, or (B) securities which a Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates may be deemed to have the right to acquire
pursuant to any merger or other acquisition agreement between the
Company and such Person (or one or more of its Affiliates or
Associates) if such agreement has been approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company prior to there being an Acquiring Person, or
(C) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (D) securities issuable upon
exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event
which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to
Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant
to Section 11(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made with
respect to any Original Rights;
(iii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right or power to vote or
dispose, or direct the voting or disposition, of or has "beneficial
ownership" (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act) of, including pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial
Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security under this
subparagraph (iii) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or
understanding to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or
understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in
response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to,
and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then
reportable by such Person, or any Affiliate or Associate thereof, on
Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor
report); or
(iv) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which
such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing),
for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a
revocable proxy as described in the proviso in subparagraph (iii) of
this paragraph (c)) or disposing of any voting securities of the
Company; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (c) shall
cause a person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to
be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any securities
acquired through such person's participation in good faith in a firm
commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty (40) days after
the date of such acquisition; and provided further, however, that in no
case shall an officer or director of the Company be deemed (A) the
Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially owned by another
officer or director of the Company solely by reason of actions
undertaken by such persons in their capacity as officers or directors
of the Company, or (B) the Beneficial Owner of securities held of
record by the trustee of any employee benefit plan of the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of any employee of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company by reason of any influence
that such officer or director may have over the voting of the
securities held in the plan other than any such securities held in any
such plan for the benefit of such officer or director.
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(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of California are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
California time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., California time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, no par value, of the
Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other
than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with the greatest
voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having power to
control or direct the management, of such Person.
(g) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earliest of (i) the close of
business on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof, (iii) the time at which the Board of
Directors orders the exchange of the Rights as provided in Section 24 hereof, or
(iv) the consummation of a transaction contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof.
(h) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean February 25, 2007.
(i) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, limited
liability company, partnership or other entity, and shall include any successor
(by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(j) "Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender offer for all outstanding
Common Stock made in the manner prescribed by Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; provided, however, that a
majority of the Board of Directors then in office has determined that the offer
is both adequate and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders (taking into account all factors that the Board of Directors deem
relevant, including, without limitation, prices that could reasonably be
achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to
realize maximum value).
(k) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Clause (A) or Clause (B) of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(l) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in any of
Clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(m) "Stock 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 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(n) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect at least
a majority of the directors of such corporation is beneficially owned, directly
or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such person.
(o) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
(p) "Voting Power" shall mean, with respect to the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company or any other corporation, the voting power of all
securities of the Company, such Subsidiary or such other corporation (as the
case may be) generally entitled to vote for the election of directors thereof.
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SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also
be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.
SECTION 3. ISSUE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth
(10th) day (or such later date as may be determined by action of a majority of
the Board of Directors) after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth
(10th) day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the
close of business on the Record Date), or (ii) the close of business on the
tenth (10th) Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of
a majority of the Board of Directors, but in no event later than the Stock
Acquisition Date) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule
14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon
consummation thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more
of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding (irrespective of whether any
shares of Common Stock are purchased or acquired in such tender or exchange
offer) (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the
"Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section 3) by the certificates for the
Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which
certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for
Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the shares of Common Stock
that evidence such Rights (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by
first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common
Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more rights
certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights
Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held,
subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the
number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section
11(n) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the
Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in
accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing
only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates and may be transferred by the
transfer of the Rights Certificates as permitted hereby, separately and apart
from any transfer of one or more shares of Common Stock, and the holders of such
Rights Certificates as listed in the records of the Company or any transfer
agent or registrar for the Rights shall be the record holders thereof.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage
prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records
of the Company. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as
of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by
such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered holders of the Common
Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the
earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the transfer of any
certificates representing shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights have
been issued shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with
such shares of Common Stock.
(c) Unless the Board of Directors by resolution adopted at or before
the time of the issuance (including pursuant to the exercise of rights under the
Company's benefit plans) of any Common Stock specifies to the contrary, Rights
shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock which are
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issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date
or the Expiration Date; provided, however, that Rights also shall be issued
after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date in respect of
shares of Common Stock that are issued after the Distribution Date and prior to
the Expiration Date pursuant to (i) any employee stock option or other employee
benefit plan of the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company ("Employee Plan
Shares"), or (ii) any securities of the Company that were issued by the Company
prior to a Distribution Date and are convertible or exercisable into or are
exchangeable for Common Stock of the Company ("Convertible Securities");
provided, however, that in no event shall any Right, or any securities issuable
or issued on exercise of any Right, constitute or be deemed to constitute, for
purposes of this Section 3, a Convertible Security. Certificates representing
shares of Common Stock issued by the Company prior to the Distribution Date
shall be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following
legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Foothill
Independent Bancorp, a California Corporation (the "Company") and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent"), dated as
of February 25 1997 (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file
at the principal offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances,
as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by
separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a
copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing,
without charge promptly after receipt of a written request therefor.
Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights
issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of
such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void.
In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Stock after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date (or, in the case of any Employee
Plan Shares or shares issued on the conversion, exercise or exchange of any
Convertible Securities prior to the Expiration Date), any Rights associated with
such shares of Common Stock shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the
Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with shares of
Common Stock which are no longer outstanding.
SECTION 4. FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and may have such marks
of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be
dated as of the Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof
to purchase such number of shares of Common Stock as shall be set forth therein
at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per share, the "Purchase
Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of
each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as
provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a)
(including any Right Certificate issued in respect of any Employee Plan Shares
or shares of Common Stock issued on conversion, exercise or exchange of
Convertible Securities of the Company) or Section 22 hereof that represents
Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or
of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any
such Associate or
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Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring
Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of
equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such
Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights, or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and
any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon
transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate
referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the
following legend:
THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR
AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(E) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.
SECTION 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the
Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and
effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased
to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the
appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the Rights Certificates, the Rights Certificate number and the date
of each of the Rights Certificates.
SECTION 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHTS
CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section
14 and Section 24 hereof, at any time after the close of business on the
Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the Expiration
Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling
the registered holder to purchase a like number of shares of Common Stock (or
following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a
transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights
Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any
action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of
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any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the
reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or
Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section
14 and Section 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto
a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so
requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer,
split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
SECTION 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF
RIGHTS.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property, as
the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or
prior to the Expiration Date.
(b) The Purchase Price for each share of Common Stock pursuant to
the exercise of a Right shall initially be $48.00, and shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 hereof and shall be
payable in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 7.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase
Price per share of Common Stock (or other shares, securities or property, as the
case may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 7(e) and
Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer
agent of the shares of Common Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is
the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of shares
of Common Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes
its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall
have elected to deposit the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depository agent, requisition from the
depository agent depository receipts representing such number of shares of
Common Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares
of Common Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer
agent with the depository agent) and the Company will direct the depository
agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount
of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with
Section 11 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depository
receipts (as the case may be), cause the same to be delivered 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) after receipt
thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such
amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made (x) in
cash or by certified bank check or money order payable to the order of the
Company, or (y) by delivery of a certificate or certificates
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(with appropriate stock powers executed in blank attached thereto) evidencing a
number of shares of Common Stock equal to the then Purchase Price divided by the
closing market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share
of Common Stock on the Trading Date immediately preceding the date of such
exercise. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities
of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section
11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such
other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by
the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent and delivered 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, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights beneficially
owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such (a
"Post Transferee"), or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
the Acquiring Person had any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e) (a
"Prior Transferee"), or (iv) any subsequent transferee receiving transferred
Rights from a Post Transferee or a Prior Transferee, either directly or through
one or more intermediate transferees, shall become null and void without any
further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever
with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but
shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or other person as
a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring
Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for
such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
SECTION 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of
the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
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SECTION 9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL STOCK.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common
Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock (and, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in
this Agreement, including Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to
permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Common Stock issuable and deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities
exchange or the NASDAQ National Market System (the "NMS"), the Company shall use
its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become
exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange
or the NMS upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the
case may be, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Act"), with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights
on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of
which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and (B) the date
of the expiration of the Rights. The Company also will take such action as may
be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety
(90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this
Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such
registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification,
if any, in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until a registration
statement (if required) has been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Common Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of
the certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be
duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when
due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which
may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates
and of any certificates for shares of Common Stock (and/or other securities, as
the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer
or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or
delivery of a number of shares of Common Stock (and/or other securities, as the
case may be) in respect of a name other than that of, the registered holder of
the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue
or deliver any certificates for a number of shares of Common Stock (and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered
holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any
such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that
no such tax is due.
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SECTION 10. COMMON STOCK RECORD DATE. Each person in whose name any
certificate for a number of shares of Common Stock (and/or other securities, as
the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be
deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock
(and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Common Stock (and/or
other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are closed,
such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which
the Common Stock (and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of
the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the
holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a
shareholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be
exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other distributions or to exercise preemptive rights, if any, and
shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company,
except as provided herein.
SECTION 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER AND KIND OF SHARES OR
NUMBER OF RIGHTS. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (C) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any
shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock (including
any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise
provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7 hereof, the Purchase Price in
effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date
of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of
shares of Common Stock or other securities, as the case may be, issuable on such
date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right
exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the
Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Common
Stock or other securities, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been
exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Common Stock
transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such
exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision,
combination or reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the
adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and
shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof.
(ii) In the event:
(A) any Person shall become an Acquiring Person, other than
pursuant to any transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, or
(B) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there
shall be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse
stock split), or recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or
consolidation of the Company with any of its Subsidiaries or any other
transaction or series of transactions involving the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, other than a transaction or transactions to which the
provisions of Section 13(a) apply (whether or not with or into or
otherwise involving an Acquiring Person) which has the effect, directly
or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1% the proportionate share of
the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries which is directly or indirectly beneficially
owned by any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any
Acquiring Person,
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then, subject to Section 23 and Section 24, promptly after the occurrence of an
event described in Clause (A) or Clause (B) of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, proper
provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below
or in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as shall
equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by
the then number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and
dividing that product (which, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter
be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of
this Agreement) by (y) 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of such first
occurrence (such number of shares, the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock
which are authorized by the Company's charter but not outstanding or reserved
for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are not
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall: (A)
determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the
exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such
excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate
provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the
applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3)
other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares,
or units of shares, of preferred stock which the Board of Directors of the
Company has deemed to have the same value as shares of Common Stock (such shares
of other equity securities, "common stock equivalents")), (4) debt securities of
the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having
an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has
been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice
of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made
adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) hereinabove within
thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) the date on which the Company's right of redemption
pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to
herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then, the Company shall be
obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without
requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent
available) and then, if necessary, cash, which in the aggregate are equal to the
Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith
that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be
authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day
period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more
than ninety (90) days following the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek shareholder approval for the
authorization of such additional shares (such period, as it may be extended, the
"Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some
action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e)
hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and
(y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the
Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares
and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to
such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes
of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Stock shall be the current
market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the
Common Stock on the date of the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger
Date and the value of any "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have the
same value as the Common Stock on such date.
(iv) The right to buy Common Stock of the Company pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall not arise as a result of any Person becoming an
Acquiring Person through an acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to a Permitted
Offer.
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(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar
days after such record date) Common Stock at a price per share of Common Stock
less than the then current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Common Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be
in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on
such record date, plus the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate
offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock and/or equivalent
common stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of
the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current
market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional
shares of Common Stock and/or equivalent common stock to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon
the exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid by
delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than cash,
the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, 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 the Rights. Shares of Common Stock owned by or held for the
account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any
such computation. Subject to Section 11(e) hereof, such adjustment shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such
rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be
the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution
to all holders of Common Stock (including any such distribution made in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular periodic
cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets
(other than a dividend payable in Common Stock or a subdivision of the
outstanding Common Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than
Common Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in
Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date
shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share
of Common Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of
the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Common Stock and the
denominator of which shall be such current market price (as determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock; provided, however, that in
no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be
less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issuable upon the exercise of one Right. Subject to Section 11(e) hereof, such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and
in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current market
price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30)
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior
to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on any
date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of
such Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately
following such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current
market price per share of the Common Stock is determined during a period
following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend
or distribution on
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such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or securities
convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Common Stock, and prior to
the expiration of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day
period, as set forth above, after the dividend date for such dividend or
distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, then, and in each such case, the "current market price" shall
be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price
for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of
Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock
are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the
last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low
asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or
such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common
Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid
and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in
the Common Stock selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any
such date no market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value
of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day
on which the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of
Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not
publicly held or not so listed or traded, "current market price" per share shall
mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment
in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price;
provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e)
are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in
any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made
to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock
or other share, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this
Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later
than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which
mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised
shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Common
Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of
any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Common Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b),
(c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9,
10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Common Stock shall apply on like terms
to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of share of Common Stock
purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject
to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(i), below, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result
of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of shares of
Common Stock (calculated to the
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nearest one-ten-thousandth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of shares
covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price, and
(ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in
the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right.
Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights
shall be exercisable for the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right
was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record
prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of
Rights (calculated to the nearest one-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may
be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but,
if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days
later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been
issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase
Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price
or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue
to express the Purchase Price per share and the number of shares which were
expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par or stated value, if any, of the number of
shares of Common Stock, or other securities, if any, issuable upon exercise of
the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and nonassessable such number of shares of Common Stock
at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the number of shares of Common Stock and other capital stock or securities, if
any, that are issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of shares of
Common Stock and other capital stock or securities, if any, issuable upon such
exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment;
provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due xxxx or
other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such
additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of
the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the
Company shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or
subdivision of the Common Stock,
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(ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Common Stock at less than the
current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Common
Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of Common Stock, (iv) stock dividend or (v) issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the
Company to holders of its Common Stock shall not be taxableto such shareholders.
(n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in
the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on
the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each
share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but
prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the
number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following
any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of
Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such
event by a fraction the numerator which shall be the total number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and
the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
(o) The exercise of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) shall only result
in the loss of rights under Section 11(a)(ii) to the extent so exercised and
shall not otherwise affect the rights represented by the Rights under this
Rights Agreement, including the rights contained in Section 13.
SECTION 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF SHARES.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date,
to each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in
accordance with Section 26 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the
failure of the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not
affect the validity of such adjustment or the force or effect of the requirement
for such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any
such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.
SECTION 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR
EARNING POWER.
(a) In the event that, following the Distribution Date, directly or
indirectly,
(w) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into,
any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 13(h) hereof), and the Company
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger, or
(x) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 13(h) hereof) shall consolidate
with, or merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger
and, in connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or
any other property, or
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(y) any Subsidiary of the Company that is a commercial bank (a
"Subsidiary bank"), shall consolidate with or merge with and into any
other Person, or any Person shall consolidate with or merge with and
into any Subsidiary bank, or
(z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more
of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning
power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or
Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one
or more transactions each of which complies with Section 13(h) hereof),
then, subject to Section 13(d) below, in each such case, proper provision shall
be made so that: (i) following the Distribution Date each holder of a Right,
other than as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter be entitled to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, free and clear of any and all
liens, encumbrances, rights of call or of first refusal or other adverse claims,
such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and
freely tradable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is
hereinafter defined) as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying
the then current Purchase Price by the number of shares of Common Stock for
which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the
first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such shares
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such first occurrence), and (2) dividing that product (which, following the
first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase
Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the
current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of
the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such
Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and
shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties
of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically
intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply to such Principal
Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal
Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a
sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the
consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may
be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the
exercise of the Rights; provided, however, that upon the subsequent occurrence
of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all assets,
recapitalization, reclassification of shares, reorganization or other
extraordinary transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a
Right shall thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and
payment of the Purchase Price, such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other
property which such holder would have been entitled to receive had he, at the
time of such transaction, owned the shares of Common Stock of the Principal
Party purchasable upon the exercise of a Right, and such Principal Party shall
take such steps (including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock)
as may be necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in
accordance with the terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and
other property; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of
no effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (w) or
(x) of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of any securities
into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted in such
merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person
that is the other party to such merger or consolidation;
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (y) of
Section 13(a), the surviving or resulting Person in such merger or
consolidation; and
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(iii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is
a direct or indirect Subsidiary or an Affiliate of another Person the Common
Stock of which is and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to
such other Person; (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, or an Affiliate of more than one Person, the Common Stocks of two or
more of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to
whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest
aggregate market value; and (3) in the case such Person is owned, directly or
indirectly, by a joint venture or partnership formed by two or more Persons that
are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth
in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the chains of ownership having an
interest in such joint venture or partnership as if such party were a
"subsidiary" of both or all of such joint ventures or partners and the Principal
Parties in each such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section
13 in the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear
to the total of such interests.
(c) If, for any reason, the Rights cannot be exercised for Common
Stock of such Principal Party as provided in Section 13(a), then each holder of
Rights shall have the right to exchange its Rights for cash from such Principal
Party in an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that it would
otherwise be entitled to purchase times 50% of the current per share market
price, as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof, of such Common Stock of
such Principal Party. If, for any reason, the foregoing formulation cannot be
applied to determine the cash amount into which the Rights are exchangeable,
then the Board of Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally
recognized investment banking firms, and based upon the total value of the
Company, shall determine such amount reasonably and with good faith to the
holders of Rights. Any such determination shall be final and binding on the
Rights Agent.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in clauses (w),
(x) or (y) of Section 13(a) if: (i) such transaction is consummated with a
Person or Persons who acquired Common Stock pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a
wholly-owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons); (ii) the price per share
of Common Stock offered in such transaction is not less than the price per share
of Common Stock paid to all holders of Common Stock whose shares were purchased
pursuant to such Permitted Offer; and (iii) the form of consideration being
offered to the remaining holders of Common Stock pursuant to such transaction is
the same form as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted
Offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section
13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
(e) The Company shall not consummate, nor will it permit any
subsidiary bank to consummate, any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer
unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares
of its Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for issuance to
permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and
unless prior thereto the Company (or the Subsidiary bank, if appropriate) and
each Principal Party (and each other Person who will become a Principal Party as
a result of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer) shall have executed
and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the
terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further
providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation,
merger or sale or transfer of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section
13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act,
with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise
of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a
prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the
Expiration Date;
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(ii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which
comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form
10 under the Exchange Act;
(iii) use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the Principal
Party shall become listed on a national securities exchange, to list
(or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on such securities exchange and, if the
Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed on a national
securities exchange, to cause the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights to be reported by NASDAQ or such other
system then in use;
(iv) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights and
the securities purchasable on exercise thereof under the blue sky laws
of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate; and
(v) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive
rights in respect of the shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party
subject to purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
(f) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event
that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
(g) The provisions of this Section 13 are intended to provide to the
holders of Rights a significant continuing equity interest in the business of
the Company following the consummation of any transaction of the types described
in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, and any attempt by any Acquiring Person or
Principal Party to avoid the provisions of this Section 13 or to limit the
impact thereof shall not be given any effect.
(h) The Company covenants and agrees that:
(i) it shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date, (A)
consolidate with or merge with and into any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which would not violate or
breach Subsection 13(h)(ii) hereof), or (B) sell or transfer (or permit
any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of
related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50%
of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each
of which would not violate or breach Subsection 13(h)(ii) hereof), if
(x) at the time of or after such consolidation, merger or sale there
are any charter or bylaw provisions or any rights, warrants or other
instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect or any
other action taken which would diminish or otherwise eliminate the
benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to,
simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or
sale, the shareholders of the Person who constitutes, or would
constitute, the "Principal Party" for the purposes of Section 13(a)
hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(ii) except as permitted by Section 23, Section 24 or Section 27
hereof, after the Distribution Date, it will not take (or permit any
Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it
is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish or otherwise
eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
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SECTION 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights,
except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(n) hereof, or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such
fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market
value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading
Day immediately prior to date on which such fractional Rights would have been
otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares
of Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of
Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one share of
Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of
one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of one share of Common
Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise of a Right.
SECTION 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. 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 shall be entitled to specific performance,
and to injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations, of any of the
obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement. Holders of Rights
that bring an action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement shall be
entitled to recover the reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, incurred by them in any such action.
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SECTION 16. AGREEMENT OF RIGHTS HOLDERS. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly
endorsed or accompanied by proper instrument of transfer and with the
appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and
the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be required to be affected by any
notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any temporary restraining order,
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; provided,
however, the Company shall use its best efforts to have any such order, decree
or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as practicable.
SECTION 17. RIGHTS CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A SHAREHOLDER. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of shares of
Common Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of
the Company, including, without limitation, any right to vote for the election
of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting
thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or (except as otherwise provided in Section 25
hereof) to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders.
SECTION 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT.
(a) The Company 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
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, of
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
(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 Rights
Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction,
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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, or otherwise upon the advice of
counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
SECTION 19. MERGER 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 with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to
the stock transfer or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall 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, however, that such corporation
would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the
provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent
shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights
Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall 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 shall be
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.
SECTION 20. 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 Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall 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.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of "current market price") be proved or established by the Company
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 the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any
Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall 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 shall be liable hereunder only for its own
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights
Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
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(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the
validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any
covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate;
nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 11 or Section 13 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
evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment);
nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to
be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether
any shares of Common Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company 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 the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any
Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company,
and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken
by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for
any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniary interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(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 shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct; provided, however, reasonable care was exercised in the
selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the Company and
receiving instructions as provided in Section 20(g).
SECTION 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove
the Rights Agent or any
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successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the
Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders
of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign
or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall
appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing
business under the law of the United States or of the State of California (or of
any other state of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized
to do business as a banking institution in the State of California), in good
standing, having a principal office in the State of California, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer or corporate trust powers
and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and
which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and
surplus of at least $100,000,000, or (b) an Affiliate of a corporation described
in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent
shall 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 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 Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this
Section 21, 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.
SECTION 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a)
shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the
exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the
Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by
the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing
the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale;
provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and
to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance
would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the
Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii)
no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that
appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof.
SECTION 23. REDEMPTION.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the Stock
Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to
the Record Date, the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the
Record Date), or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of
Directors that has been publicly announced by the Company, redeem all but not
less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per
Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price");
provided, however, that if, following the occurrence of a Stock
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Acquisition Date and following the expiration of the right of redemption
hereunder, but prior to any event described in clause (B) of Section 11(a)(ii)
or any of clauses (w), (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof, (y) a person who
is an Acquiring Person shall have transferred or otherwise disposed of a number
of shares of Common Stock in one transaction or series of transactions, not
directly or indirectly involving the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries, which
did not result in the occurrence of a Triggering Event such that such Person is
thereafter a Beneficial Owner of less than 15% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, and (z) there is no other Person, immediately following the
occurrence of the event described in clause (y), who is an Acquiring Person,
then, the right of redemption herein shall be reinstated and thereafter be
subject to the provisions of this Section 23. Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Agreement to the contrary, a Distribution Date shall not occur and the
Rights shall not be exercisable until such time as the Company's right of
redemption hereunder has expired. The Company may, at its option, pay the
Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the "current market
price", as defined in Section 11(d) hereof, of the Common Stock at the time of
redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board
of Directors.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been
filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption
to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing
such notice to all such holders at each holder's last addresses it appears upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall 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.
SECTION 24. EXCHANGE.
(a) Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, and subject
to subsection 24(c) below, the Company may, at its option, by majority vote of
the Board of Directors, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights
(which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions
of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one (1) share
of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Ratio of Exchange").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to
effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such
Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24 and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such
Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such rights
shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of
such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Ratio of Exchange. The Company
shall give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the
failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of
such exchange. The Company shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of
the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange
of the Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial
exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange
shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights
which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held
by each holder of Rights.
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(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common
Stock authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated
in accordance with Section 24(a), the Company shall either take such action as
may be necessary to authorize additional Common Stock for issuance upon exchange
of the Rights or alternatively, at the option of a majority of the Board of
Directors, with respect to each Right (i) pay cash in an amount equal to the
Current Value (as hereinafter defined), in lieu of issuing Common Stock in
exchange therefor, or (ii) issue debt or equity securities or a combination
thereof, having a value equal to the Current Value (as defined below), in lieu
of issuing Common Stock in exchange for each such Right, where the value of such
securities shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking
firm selected by the Board of Directors by majority vote of the Board of
Directors, or (iii) deliver any combination of cash, property, Common Stock
and/or other securities having a value equal to the Current Value in exchange
for each Right. For purposes of this Section 24(c) only, the Current Value shall
mean the product of the current per share market price of Common Stock
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) on the date of the occurrence of the event
described above in subparagraph (a) of this Section 24) multiplied by the number
of shares of Common Stock for which the Right otherwise would be exchangeable if
there were sufficient shares available. To the extent that the Company
determines that some action need be taken pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii)
of this Section 24(c), the Board of Directors may temporarily suspend the
exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to sixty (60) days following the
date on which the event described in Section 24(a) shall have occurred, in order
to seek any authorization of additional shares of Common Stock and/or to decide
the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to the above provision
and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the
Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the
Rights has been temporarily suspended.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares
of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares
of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there shall
be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to
which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable, an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current per share market value
of a whole share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence
of Section 11(d) hereof).
(e) The Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the Board of
Directors, at any time before any Person has become an Acquiring Person,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights for rights of substantially
equivalent value, as determined reasonably and with good faith by the Board of
Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally recognized investment
banking firms. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the exchange of any Rights pursuant to this subsection (e) of this Section 24
and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise
such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of rights in exchange therefor as has
been determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the first sentence
of this subsection (e). The Company shall give public notice of any such
exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company shall mail a
notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the transfer agent for the
Common Stock of the Company. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.
Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the
Rights will be effected.
SECTION 25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS. In case the Company shall
propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of Common Stock or to make any
other distribution to the holders of Common Stock (other than a regular periodic
cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to
offer to the holders of Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to
purchase any additional shares of Common Stock or shares of stock of any class
or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Common Stock (other than
25
29
a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of
Common Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger of the Company or
any Subsidiary bank into or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction which does not violate either of subsections (i) or
(ii) of Section 13(h) hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to
permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in
one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions none of which violates either of
subsections (i) or (ii) of Section 13(h) hereof), or (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case,
the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent
feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed
action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock
dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock, if any such date is to be
fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by
clause (i) or (ii) above at least ten (10) days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the shares of Common Stock for purposes of such action,
and in the case of any such other action, at least ten (10) days prior to the
date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein
by the holders of the shares of Common Stock whichever shall be the earlier.
SECTION 26. NOTICES. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
Foothill Independent Bancorp
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
Mellon Bank Center
400 So. Hope Street, 4th Floor
Los Angeles, California
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Assistant Vice President
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
SECTION 27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. Prior to the Distribution Date,
the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend any provision of this Agreement in any manner which the Company may deem
to be necessary or desirable (and irrespective of whether such amendment or
supplement adversely affects the interests of the holders of the Rights) without
the approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock.
From and after the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if
the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval
of any holders of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii)
to correct or
26
30
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder, or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any
manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than
an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person);
provided, however, this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended (A) after
the Rights have ceased to be redeemable in order to then lengthen, pursuant to
clause (iii) of this sentence, a time period during which the Rights may be
redeemed, or (B) to lengthen any other time period specified in this Agreement
unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or
clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon
the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which
states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms
of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights (other
than any holder that is an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or associate
thereof) shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common
Stock.
SECTION 28. SUCCESSORS. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
SECTION 29. DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ETC.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement. The Board of
Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right
and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith,
shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to
any liability to the holders of the Rights.
SECTION 30. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
SECTION 31. SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the
tenth (10th) day following the date of such determination by the Board of
Directors.
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31
SECTION 32. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of California and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State.
SECTION 33. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each such counterparts shall for all purposes deemed to be
an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
SECTION 34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
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32
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
ATTEST: FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP,
a California corporation
/s/ By: /s/
--------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Name: Name:
------------------------------ -----------------------------
Title: Title:
------------------------------ -----------------------------
ATTEST: CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
/s/ By: /s/
--------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Name: Name:
------------------------------ -----------------------------
Title: Title:
------------------------------ -----------------------------
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33
EXHIBIT A
Form of Rights Certificate
Certificate No. R- ______ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER _________, ________ OR EARLIER IF TERMINATED BY
THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE
COMPANY, AT $.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN
ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON
(AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT
HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED
BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON
WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF
AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(E) OF SUCH RIGHTS AGREEMENT.](1)
Rights Certificate
This certifies that __________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of February 25, 1997 as such agreement may be amended from
time to time in accordance with its terms (the "Rights Agreement"), between
Foothill Independent Bancorp, a California corporation (the "Company"), and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from
the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in
the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., West Coast time, on February 25,
2007 at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the
office of its successor as Rights Agent, one fully paid non-assessable share of
Common Stock (the "Common Shares"), of the Company, at a purchase price of
$48.00 per Common Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender
of this Rights Certificate with the form of Election to Purchase and related
Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate (and the number of Common Shares which may be purchased upon
exercise hereof) set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of
February 25, 1997, based on the Common Shares as constituted at such date. As
provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and kind of
Common Shares or other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of
the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and
adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
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 hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of
the Company and the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent.
-------------------
(1) The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
A-1
34
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company, at its option, at
a redemption price of $.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged by the Company in
whole or in part for Common Shares, substantially equivalent rights or other
consideration as determined by the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose may
be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor
and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate
amount of securities as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this
Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
No fractional portion of a Common Share will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or 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 dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common
Shares or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable
on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or
herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights
of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of
directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof,
or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of
meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in the
Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise,
until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
The Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
A-2
35
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of _________, _____.
ATTEST: FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP
By:
----------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Countersigned:
[RIGHTS AGENT]
as Rights Agent
By:
------------------------------
Authorized Signature
A-3
36
Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ___________________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto ______________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ____________________________
____________________________Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate
on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ___________________, _____
------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
The signatures should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor
institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit
unions with members in an approved signature guarantee medallion program)
pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
A-4
37
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person,
or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: ___________________, ______
----------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
The signatures should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor
institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit
unions with members in an approved signature guarantee medallion program)
pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
A-5
38
Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate -- continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate)
To: ___________________________________________
The undersigned hereby irrevocable elects to exercise ________________
________________________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate
to purchase the number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of such
Rights and requests that certificates for such number of Common Shares be issued
in the name of:
Please insert social security or other identifying number ____________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number ____________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
Dated: ___________________, ____
-----------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
The signatures should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor
institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit
unions with members in an approved signature guarantee medallion program)
pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
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39
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person,
or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: ___________________, _____
----------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
The signatures should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor
institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit
unions with members in an approved signature guarantee medallion program)
pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
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40
Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate -- continued
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must
conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
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