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EXHIBIT 4.1
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF JANUARY __, 1999
BETWEEN
BOREALIS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
AND
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, LLC
AS RIGHTS AGENT
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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. Issuance of Right Certificates.......................................... 4
Section 4. Form of Right Certificate............................................... 5
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration....................................... 5
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificate.................. 6
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights........... 6
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates...................... 8
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares........................ 8
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date........................................... 9
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number
of Rights.............................................................. 9
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares............. 14
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power... 14
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares................................ 16
Section 15. Rights of Action....................................................... 17
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders............................................. 17
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder...................... 18
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent............................................ 18
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.............. 18
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent................................................. 18
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent................................................. 20
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates..................................... 21
Section 23. Redemption and Termination............................................. 21
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Section 24. Exchange............................................................... 22
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events............................................... 23
Section 26. Notices................................................................ 24
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments............................................. 24
Section 28. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc............... 25
Section 29. Successors............................................................. 25
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement............................................. 25
Section 31. Severability........................................................... 25
Section 32. Governing Law.......................................................... 25
Section 33. Counterparts........................................................... 25
Section 34. Descriptive Headings................................................... 25
DEFINED TERM CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
Acquiring Person.................................Section 1(a)
Act..............................................Section 1(b)
Adjustment Shares...........................Section 11(a)(ii)
Adjusted Number of Shares..................Section 11(a)(iii)
Adjusted Purchase Price....................Section 11(a)(iii)
Affiliate........................................Section 1(c)
Agreement.............................................Preface
Associate........................................Section 1(c)
Beneficial Owner.................................Section 1(d)
Beneficially Own.................................Section 1(d)
Business Day.....................................Section 1(e)
Capital Stock Equivalent....................Section 11(a)(ii)
Close of Business................................Section 1(f)
Common Shares....................................Section 1(g)
Continuing Director..............................Section 1(h)
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Corporation...........................................Preface
Current Per Share Market Price...............Section 11(d)(i)
Distribution Date................................Section 3(a)
Equivalent Preferred Shares.....................Section 11(b)
Exchange Act.....................................Section 1(c)
Exchange Ratio..................................Section 24(a)
Final Expiration Date............................Section 7(a)
Interested Stockholder...........................Section 1(k)
Permitted Offer..................................Section 1(l)
Person...........................................Section 1(m)
Preferred Shares.................................Section 1(n)
Principal Party.................................Section 13(b)
Proration Factor...........................Section 11(a)(iii)
Purchase Price...................................Section 4(a)
Record Date...........................................Preface
Redemption Date..................................Section 7(a)
Redemption Price...................................Section 23
Right.................................................Preface
Right Certificate................................Section 3(a)
Rights Agent..........................................Preface
Section 11(a)(ii) Event.....................Section 11(a)(ii)
Section 13 Event................................Section 13(a)
Security.....................................Section 11(d)(i)
Shares Acquisition Date..........................Section 1(r)
Subsidiary.......................................Section 1(s)
Summary of Rights................................Section 3(b)
Then Outstanding............................Section 1(d)(iii)
Trading Day..................................Section 11(d)(i)
Transaction......................................Section 1(t)
Transaction Person...............................Section 1(u)
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Triggering Event ...............................Section 1(v)
Voting Securities...............................Section 13(a)
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of January 25, 1999 (the "Agreement"),
between BOREALIS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the
"Corporation"), and CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, LLC, a New Jersey limited
liability company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Corporation has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share
(as defined herein) of the Corporation outstanding at the Close of Business (as
defined herein) on January 20, 1999 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing
the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (as defined
herein), upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has
further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each
Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the
earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration
Date (as such terms are defined herein); provided, however, that Rights may be
issued with respect to Common Shares that shall become outstanding after the
Distribution Date and before the earlier of the Redemption Date and the Final
Expiration Date in accordance with the provisions of Section 22 of this
Agreement.
Accordingly, 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 (as defined herein) who or
which, together with all Affiliates and Associates (as defined herein) of such
Person, shall acquire and as such, become the Beneficial Owner (as defined
herein) of 10% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares (other than as a
result of a Permitted Offer (as defined herein)) at any time after the date
hereof, whether or not such person continues to be the Beneficial Owner of 10%
or more of the then outstanding Common Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
(A) the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include (i) the Corporation, (ii) any
Subsidiary of the Corporation, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the
Corporation or of any Subsidiary of the Corporation, (iv) any Person organized,
appointed or established by the Corporation for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan, or (v) any Person, who or which together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the
then outstanding Common Shares as a result of the acquisition of Common Shares,
or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares, directly from
the Corporation, and (B) no Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person"
either (X) as a result of the acquisition of Common Shares by the Corporation
which, by reducing the number of Common Shares outstanding, increases the
proportional number of shares beneficially owned by such Person, together with
all Affiliates and Associates of such Person; except that if (i) a Person would
become an Acquiring Person (but for the operation of this subclause (X) as a
result of the acquisition of Common Shares by the Corporation, and (ii) after
such share acquisition by the Corporation, such Person, or an Affiliate or
Associate of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common
Shares, then such Person shall be deemed an Acquiring Person, or (Y) if the
Board of Directors of the Corporation determines in good faith that a Person who
would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this Section 1(a), has become such, and such Person divests as
promptly as practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person
would no longer be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this Section 1(a).
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and as in
effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date of
this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own" any
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securities:
(i) of which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates directly or indirectly, has "beneficial ownership" as determined in
accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement
or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided,
however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer
made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange;
or (B) the right to vote or dispose of pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security if the agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a
revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or
consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also
then reportable on Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(iii) 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 (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities) relating to the acquisition, holding, voting (except to
the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(d)(ii)(B)) or disposing of
any securities of the Corporation.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to
the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used herein with reference to
a Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Corporation, shall mean the
number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number
of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person
would be deemed to own beneficially hereunder.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday,
U.S. federal holiday, or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New
York or the state in which the office of the Rights Agent is located are
authorized or obligated to be closed by law or executive order.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New
York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business
Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Corporation shall
mean the shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value per share, of the Corporation
or, in the event of a subdivision, combination or consolidation with respect to
such shares of Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock resulting from such
subdivision, combination or consolidation. "Common Shares" when used with
reference to any Person other than the Corporation shall mean the capital stock
(or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if
such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which
ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(h) "Continuing Director" shall mean (i) any member of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation while such Person is a member the Board of
Directors, who is not an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such
Affiliate or Associate and was a member of the Board prior to the date of this
Agreement or (ii) any Person who subsequently becomes a member of the Board of
Directors, while such Person is a member of the Board of Directors who is rot an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a
representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate if
such Person's nomination for election or election to the Board of Directors is
recommended or approved by a majority of
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the Continuing Directors.
(i) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
(j) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(a) hereof.
(k) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean any Acquiring Person, or any
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or any other Person in which any
such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate has an interest, or any other
Person acting directly or indirectly on behalf of or in concert with any such
Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate.
(l) "Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender or exchange offer which is
for all outstanding Common Shares at a price and on terms determined, before the
purchase of shares under such tender or exchange offer, by at least a majority
of the members of the Board of Directors who are not officers of the Corporation
and who are not Acquiring Persons or Affiliates, Associates, nominees or
representatives of an Acquiring Person, to be adequate (taking into account all
factors that such members of the Board of Directors deem relevant including,
without limitation, prices that could reasonably be achieved if the Corporation
or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value)
and otherwise in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders
(other than the Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof on whose basis the
offer is being made) taking into account all factors that such directors may
deem relevant.
(m) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, corporation,
trust, association, joint venture or other entity, and shall include any
successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(n) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Corporation
having the relative rights, preferences and limitations set forth in the Form of
Certificate of Designation attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.
(o) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
(p) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(q) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause (x),
(y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(r) "Shares 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 the Exchange Act) by the Corporation or
an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such; provided, that, if
such Person is determined not to have become an Acquiring Person pursuant to
Section 1(a) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition Date shall be deemed to have
occurred.
(s) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
Person of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
(t) "Transaction" shall mean any merger, consolidation or sale of
assets described in Section 13(a) hereof or any acquisition of Common Shares of
the corporation which would result in a Person becoming a Transaction Person.
(u) "Transaction Person" with respect to a Transaction shall mean (x)
any Person who (i) is or will become an Acquiring Person if the Transaction were
to be consummated, and (ii) directly or indirectly proposed or nominated a
director of the Corporation which director is in office at the time of
consideration of the Transaction, or (y) an Affiliate or Associate of such a
Person.
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(v) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Corporation hereby appoints
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Corporation in accordance with the
terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. The Corporation may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents
as it may deem necessary or desirable. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to
supervise, and in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for, the acts or
omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issuance of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition
Date or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date
as may be determined by action of the Corporation's Board of Directors) after
the date on which any Person (other than the Corporation, any Subsidiary of the
Corporation, any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary
of the Corporation or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established
by the Corporation for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) commences or
first publicly announces the intent to commence (which intention to commence
remains in effect for five Business Days after such announcement), a tender or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an
Acquiring Person (including, in the case of both (i) and (ii), any such date
which is after the date of this Agreement and before the issuance of the
Rights), the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution
Date," (x) the Rights will be evidenced by (subject to the provisions of Section
3(b) hereof) the certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the
holders thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be Right
Certificates (as defined herein)) and not by separate Right Certificates, and
(y) the right to receive Right Certificates will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of the underlying Common Shares (including a
transfer to the Corporation); provided, however, that if a tender offer is
terminated before a Distribution Date occurs, then no Distribution Date shall
occur as a result of such tender offer. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, the Corporation will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent
will countersign, and the Corporation will send or cause to be sent by
first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of
the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder
shown on the records of the Corporation, a Right Certificate, substantially in
the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right for
each Common Share so held. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) As soon as practicable following the Record Date, the Corporation
will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in
substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), by
first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of
the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on
the records of the Corporation. With respect to certificates for Common Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will
be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the holders thereof
together with a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto. Until the
Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration
Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Shares
outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights
attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with such Common Shares.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares, which become outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last
sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but before the earliest of
the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, shall
be deemed also 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 a Rights Agreement between Borealis
Technology Corporation and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, LLC, dated
as of January 25, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file
at the principal executive offices of Borealis Technology Corporation.
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.
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Borealis Technology Corporation will mail to the holder of this
certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge 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 an Affiliate or Associate thereof
(as defined in the Rights Agreement) and certain related persons,
whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any
subsequent holder, may become null and void, and will no longer be
transferable.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In
the event that the Corporation purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the
Record Date but before the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such
Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Corporation shall
not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares that
are no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificate.
(a) The Right Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and
of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially in
the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification
or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as
the Corporation may deem appropriate and do not affect the duties or
responsibilities of the Rights Agent and as are consistent 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 Right Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number
of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the
price per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share set forth therein (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 Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22
hereof that represents Rights which are null and void pursuant to Section 7(e)
of this Agreement and any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or
Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Right Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the
extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Right 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 Right Certificate
and the Rights represented hereby are null and void.
The provisions of Section 7(e) of this Agreement shall be operative whether or
not the foregoing legend is contained on any such Right Certificate.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Right Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chairman of the Board, its
Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents, or its
Treasurer, either manually or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed thereto
the Corporation's seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, either manually or by
facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights
Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In the
event that any officer of the Corporation who signs any of the Right
Certificates ceases to be such officer of the Corporation before such
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the
Corporation, such Right Certificates may nevertheless be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Corporation with the same force and
effect as though the person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to
be such officer of the Corporation; and any Right Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Corporation by any person who, at the actual date of the execution
of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Corporation
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to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this
Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date and Receipt by the Rights Agent of all
necessary information, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its
principal office or offices designated as the appropriate place for surrender or
transfer of such Right Certificate, books for registration and transfer of the
Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of
Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the
certificate number and the date of each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificate. Subject to
the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, at any time
after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or before the Close
of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date,
any Right Certificate or Right Certificates may be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates,
entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, as the
case may be) as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then
entitle 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
Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such request in writing
delivered to the Rights Agent and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right
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 Corporation shall be obligated to take any action
whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Right
Certificate until the registered holder has completed and signed the certificate
contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Right
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 Corporation shall reasonably request. Subject to Section 4(b),
Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, the Rights Agent shall thereupon countersign
and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Corporation 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
Right Certificates. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation under this
section unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charges have
been paid.
Upon receipt by the Corporation and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security satisfactory to them, and, at the Corporation's request, reimbursement
to the Corporation and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental
thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right
Certificate if mutilated, the Corporation will make and deliver a new Right
Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery
to the registered holder in lieu of the Right 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 Right
Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise
provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date
upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase
and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly and properly 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 for the total number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (or other
securities, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are
exercised, at or before the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on January __,
2009 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the date on which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date"), or (iii) the
date on which the Rights are exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
pursuant to the exercise of a
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Right shall initially be $1.25, subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in the next sentence and in Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof, and shall be
payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, in the event that at any time after the date of this
Agreement and before the Distribution Date, the Corporation shall (i) declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (ii) effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares)
into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case, each
Common Share outstanding following such subdivision, combination or
consolidation shall continue to have a Right associated therewith, and the
Purchase Price following any such event shall be proportionately adjusted to
equal the result obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price immediately before
such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of
Common Shares outstanding immediately before the event occurs and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately after such event occurs. The adjustment provided for in the
preceding sentence shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is
declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is
effected.
(c) Upon receiving a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights,
with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly and properly
executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the Preferred Shares
(or other securities, as the case may be) to be purchased, and an amount equal
to any applicable tax or charge required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 6 hereof, by certified check, cashier's
check or money order payable to the order of the Corporation, the Rights Agent
shall thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the
Preferred Shares certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be
purchased, and the Corporation hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent
to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Corporation, in its sole
discretion, shall have elected to deposit the Preferred Shares issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder into a depositary, requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent), and the Corporation
will direct the depositary agent to comply with such requests, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Corporation the amount of cash to be paid in
lieu of issuance of fractional shares, in accordance with Section 14 hereof, and
(iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same,
together with any cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares, to be delivered
to, or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate,
registered in such name or names as may be designated by, such holder. In the
event that the Corporation is obligated to issue other securities (including
Common Shares) of the Corporation pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the
Corporation will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities
are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
In addition, in the case of an exercise of the Rights by a holder
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Rights Agent shall return such Right
Certificate to the registered holder thereof after imprinting, stamping or
otherwise indicating thereon that the rights represented by such Right
Certificate no longer include the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii) of the
Rights Agreement, and if less than all the Rights represented by such Right
Certificate were so exercised, the Rights Agent shall indicate on the Right
Certificate the number of Rights represented thereby which continue to include
the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii).
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his
duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, or the
Rights Agent shall place an appropriate notation on the Right Certificate with
respect to those Rights exercised.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Affiliate
or Associate thereof) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Affiliate
or Associate thereof) who becomes a transferee before 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
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holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
the Acquiring Person has a continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Corporation, in its sole discretion, has determined is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect the
avoidance of this Section 7(e), 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 Corporation 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 Right 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 Corporation 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 Right 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 Corporation or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Corporation or to 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
Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted
by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Corporation shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Corporation otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Corporation, or shall, at the
written request of the Corporation, destroy such canceled Right Certificates and
in such case, shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the
Corporation.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares. The
Corporation covenants and agrees that at all times before a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event occurs it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its
authorized and unissued Preferred Shares, or any authorized and issued Preferred
Shares held in its treasury, the number of Preferred Shares that will be
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights and after a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs, shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, so
reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Common Shares (and/or other
securities) which may be required to permit the exercise in full of the Rights
pursuant to this Agreement.
The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or
other securities, as the case may be) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall,
at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares or other securities
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and non-assessable shares or securities.
The Corporation further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the
issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any Preferred Shares (or
Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of
Rights. The Corporation shall not, however, be required to pay any tax or charge
which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right
Certificates to a person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates
or depository receipts for the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of, the registered
holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise, or
to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred
Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the
exercise of any Rights, until any such tax or charge shall have been paid (any
such tax or charge being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the
time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Corporation's
reasonable satisfaction that no such tax or charge is due.
The Corporation shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the Shares Acquisition Date, a registration statement
under the Act on an appropriate form, with respect to the securities purchasable
upon
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exercise of the Rights, (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 and the rules and regulations thereunder)
until the date of the expiration of the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii).
The Corporation will also take such action as may be appropriate or required
under the Blue Sky laws of the various states.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares 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 the Preferred Shares (or Common
Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and
such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and any applicable taxes or charges) was made; provided, however, that, if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares (or
Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Corporation 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 Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or
other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Corporation are
open.
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 Corporation shall at any time after the date
of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in
Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine
the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or
(D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) 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 capital stock issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such
time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of
capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately before such
date and at a time when the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Corporation
were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to
receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification; 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 Corporation issuable upon exercise of one
Right. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both Section
11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), the adjustment provided for in this Section
11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made before, any adjustment
required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) In the event any Person, alone or together with its
Affiliates and Associates, shall become an Acquiring Person, each holder of a
Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall, for a period
of 60 days after the later of the occurrence of the Distribution Date or the
effective date of an appropriate registration statement under the Act pursuant
to Section 9 hereof, have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price
equal to the then current Purchase Price, in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, such number of Common Shares (or, in the discretion of the Board of
Directors, one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) as shall equal the result
obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number
of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable
immediately before the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and
dividing that product by (y) 50% of the then current per share market price of
the Corporation's Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on
the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares being referred to as
the "Adjustment Shares"); provided, however, that if the transaction that would
otherwise give rise to the foregoing adjustment is also subject to the
provisions of Section 13 hereof, then only the provisions of Section 13 hereof
shall apply, and no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii);
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(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient treasury
shares or authorized but unissued (and unreserved) Common Shares to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph
(ii) and the Rights become so exercisable (and the Board has determined to make
the Rights exercisable into fractions of a Preferred Share), notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, to the extent necessary and permitted by
applicable law, each Right shall thereafter represent the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, (x) a number of (or fractions of) Common Shares (up to the
maximum number of Common Shares which may permissibly be issued) and (y) one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share or a number of, or fractions of other equity
securities of the Corporation (or, in the discretion of the Board of Directors,
debt) which the Board of Directors of the Corporation has determined to have the
same aggregate current market value (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) and
(ii) hereof, to the extent applicable,) as one Common Share (such number of, or
fractions of, Preferred Shares, debt, or other equity securities or debt of the
Corporation, being referred to as a "capital stock equivalent"), equal in the
aggregate to the number of Adjustment Shares; provided, however, if sufficient
Common Shares and/or capital stock equivalents are unavailable, then the
Corporation shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, take all such
action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares or capital
stock equivalents for issuance upon exercise of the Rights, including, if
necessary, the calling of a meeting of stockholders; and provided, further, that
if the Corporation is unable to cause sufficient Common Shares and/or capital
stock equivalents to be available for issuance upon exercise in full of the
Rights, then each Right shall thereafter represent the right to receive the
Adjusted Number of Shares upon exercise at the Adjusted Purchase Price (as such
terms are hereinafter defined). As used herein, the term "Adjusted Number of
Shares" shall be equal to that number of (or fractions of) Common Shares (and/or
capital stock equivalents) equal to the product of (x) the number of Adjustment
Shares and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares
(and/or capital stock equivalents) available for issuance upon exercise of the
Rights and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Adjustment Shares
otherwise issuable upon exercise in full of all Rights (assuming there were a
sufficient number of Common Shares available) (such fraction being referred to
as the "Proration Factor"). The "Adjusted Purchase Price" shall mean the product
of the Purchase Price and the Proration Factor. The Board of Directors may, but
shall not be required to, establish procedures to allocate the right to receive
Common Shares and capital stock equivalents upon exercise of the Rights among
holders of Rights.
(b) In case the Corporation shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights (other than the Rights), options or warrants to all holders of Preferred
Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such
record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the
same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent
preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or
equivalent preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share or equivalent
preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the
then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) 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 before such record date by a fraction, the numerator
of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the
total number of Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be
offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible
securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current per share market
price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional Preferred Shares
and/or equivalent preferred shares 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 Corporation issuable upon exercise of one Right.
In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of
which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall
be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Corporation shall not
be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the
event that such rights, options 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 Corporation shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the
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Preferred Shares (including any such distribution made in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Corporation is the continuing or surviving
corporation) of evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) 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 before such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the then current per
share market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the
Preferred Shares on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
binding on the Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences of
indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to one Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be such
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares; 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
Corporation to be issued upon exercise of one Right. 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 again be adjusted to
be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per
share market price" of any security (a "Security") for the purpose of this
Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive
Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately before, but not
including such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current per
share market price of the Security is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on
such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into
such shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Security and before the expiration of thirty (30) Trading Days after, but not
including, the ex-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 per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to
reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such Security. 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 on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading or, if the Security is 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
Quotations System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if on any
such date the Security is 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 Security selected by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation. If on any such date no such market maker is making market in the
Security, the fair value of the Security on such date as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be used. The term
"Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities
exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the
transaction of business or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in
accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred
Shares are not publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market
price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i),
(appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof), multiplied by one hundred. If
neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so
listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per
share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment in
the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase Price; provided, however,
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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 one one-millionth of a Preferred Share or one
ten-thousandth of any other share or security 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 Final 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 of the Corporation other
than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of other shares so receivable upon
exercise of any Right 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 Preferred Shares contained in Section 11(a) through (c),
inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to
the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Corporation subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Corporation shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i) hereof upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right
outstanding immediately before the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one
one-millionth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number
of one one-hundredths of a share covered by a Right immediately before this
adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately before 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 Corporation 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 one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the
exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately before such
adjustment. Each Right held of record before 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 before
the Purchase Price is adjusted by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after
such adjustment. The Corporation 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,
with prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent. This record date may be the date
on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the
date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon
each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Corporation shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right 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 Corporation, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders
before the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Corporation, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of
Right 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 one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise
of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may
continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued
hereunder.
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(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share or other securities issuable upon exercise
of the Rights, the Corporation shall take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Corporation may validly
and legally issue such number of fully paid and non-assessable one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share or other securities 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 Corporation may elect to defer with prompt notice to the
Rights Agent, until such event occurs the issuance to the holder of any Right
exercised after such record date the Preferred Shares, Common Shares or other
securities of the Corporation, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and
above the Preferred Shares, Common Shares or other securities of the
Corporation, if any, issuable upon exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price
in effect before such adjustment; provided, however, that the Corporation shall
deliver to such holder a due xxxx or other appropriate instrument evidencing
such holder's right to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the
event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11 to the contrary, the
Corporation 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 it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in
order that (i) any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii)
issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares at less than the current market
price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by
their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv)
stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in
this Section 11, hereafter made by the Corporation to holders of its Preferred
Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Corporation covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Corporation in a transaction that does not violate Section
11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary
of the Corporation in a transaction that does not violate Section 11(o) hereof)
or (iii) 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 Corporation and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than
the Corporation and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each
of which does not violate Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or
immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer there are any
charter or bylaw provisions or any rights, warrants or other instruments or
securities outstanding or agreements in effect or other actions taken, which
would materially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) before, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for 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. The Corporation shall not
consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto
the Corporation and such other Person shall have executed and delivered to the
Rights Agent a supplemental agreement evidencing compliance with this Section
11(n).
(o) The Corporation covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 27 hereof, take
(or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action the purpose of which is to, or if
at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that the effect of
such action is to, materially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) 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 Agreement,
including the rights represented by Section 13 hereof.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 13 hereof, the
Corporation shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment, and a brief statement of the facts and computations accounting for
such adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for
the Common Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary
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thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 26
hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such
certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and shall have no duty with
respect to and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless
and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, on or following the Shares Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Corporation shall consolidate with, or merge
with and into, any Interested Stockholder or, if in such merger or consolidation
all holders of Common Shares are not treated alike any other Person, (y) the
Corporation shall consolidate with, or merge with, any Interested Stockholder
or, if in such merger or consolidation all holders of Common Shares are not
treated alike, any other Person, and the Corporation shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger (other than, in a case of
any transaction described in (x) or (y), a merger or consolidation which would
result in all of the securities generally entitled to vote in the election of
directors ("voting securities") of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior
thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into securities of the surviving entity) all of the voting securities
of the Corporation or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such
merger or consolidation and the holders of such securities not having changed as
a result of such merger or consolidation), or (z) the Corporation 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
Corporation and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Interested
Stockholder or Stockholders or, if in such transaction all holders of Common
Stock are not treated alike, any other Person (other than the Corporation or any
Subsidiary of the Corporation in one or more transactions each of which does not
violate Section 11(n) hereof), then, and in each such case (except as provided
in Section 13(d) hereof), proper provision shall be made so that (i) each holder
of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current
Purchase Price, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of
Preferred Shares, such number of freely tradeable Common Shares of the Principal
Party (as hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights
of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall equal the result obtained by
(A) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable
(without taking into account any adjustment previously made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii)) and dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then current per share
market price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) 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
Corporation pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Corporation" shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically
intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such
Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; and (iv)
such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the
reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares) 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, to the Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean (i) in the case of any transaction
described in clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the
Person that is the issuer of any securities into which Common Shares of the
Corporation 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 (including, if applicable, the Corporation if it is the surviving
corporation); and (ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence 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 of the foregoing
cases, (1) if the Common Shares of such Person are not at such time and have 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 of another Person the Common Shares of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) in case such
Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the
Common Shares 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 Shares having the greatest aggregate market value; and (3) in case such
Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture 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
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apply to each of the chains of ownership having an interest in such joint
venture as if such party were a "Subsidiary" of both or all of such joint
venturers, 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) The Corporation shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of its authorized Common Shares 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 Corporation and such Principal
Party 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, sale or transfer mentioned in paragraph (a) of this
Section 13, the Principal Party at its own expense shall:
(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 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 Final Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights
and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the blue sky
laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. The rights under this
Section 13 shall be in addition to the rights to exercise Rights and adjustments
under Section 11(a)(ii) and shall survive any exercise thereof.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs
(x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if: (i) such transaction is consummated with a
Person or Persons who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a
wholly owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons); (ii) the price per
Common Share offered in such transaction is not less than the price per Common
Share paid to all holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant
to such Permitted Offer; and (iii) the form of consideration offered in such
transaction is the same 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.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights
or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Right 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 the 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 before the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price 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 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 Corporation. 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 Corporation shall be used.
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(b) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are one one-hundredth or integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights
or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other
than fractions which are one one-hundredth or integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the
Corporation, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate
agreement between the Corporation and a depositary selected by it; provided that
such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall
have the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as
beneficial owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary
receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not one one-hundredth
or integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, the Corporation
shall pay to the registered holders of Right 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 Preferred Share. For the purposes of
this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred Share shall be the
closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii)
hereof) for the Trading Day immediately before the date of such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of one of the transactions or events
specified in Section 11 giving rise to the right to receive Common Shares,
capital stock equivalents (other than Preferred Shares) or other securities upon
the exercise of a Right, the Corporation shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares or units of such Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or
other securities upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractions of such Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or other
securities. In lieu of fractional shares or units of such Common Shares, capital
stock equivalents or other securities, the Corporation may pay to the registered
holders of Right 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 a share or unit of such Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or
other securities. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value
shall be determined in the manner set forth in Section 11(d) hereof for the
Trading Day immediately before the date of such exercise and, if such capital
stock equivalent is not traded, each such capital stock equivalent shall have
the value of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional share upon
exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, before the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, before
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, before the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Corporation to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided
in such Right 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 will be entitled to specific performance of
the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations of any Person subject to, this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Corporation and the Rights
Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) before the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only
in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right 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 purpose, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the
appropriate form fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6 and Section 7(f) hereof, the Corporation and
the Rights Agent may deem and treat
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the person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, before the Distribution
Date, the associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute
owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations
of ownership or writing on the Right Certificate or the associated Common Shares
certificate made by anyone other than the Corporation or the Rights Agent) for
all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Corporation nor the Rights Agent,
subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be
affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Corporation nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a
Right or a beneficial interest in a Right or other Person as a result of its
inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of
any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued
by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or
executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority,
prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; provided,
however, the Corporation must use its best efforts to have any such order,
decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common Shares or any
other securities of the Corporation which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Corporation or
any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive or subscription rights, or
otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall
have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Corporation agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the
administration, preparation, delivery, amendment and execution of this Agreement
and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Corporation also
agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any
loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, reasonable
settlements, cost, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for any action taken,
suffered, or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the costs and
expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly
or indirectly. The indemnity provided for herein shall survive the expiration of
the Rights and the termination of this Agreement. The costs and expenses
incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the
Corporation. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the
Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or
incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to
lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of
such loss or damage. Any liability of the Rights Agent under this Rights
Agreement will be limited to the amount of fees paid by the Corporation to the
Rights Agent.
The Rights Agent shall be authorized and 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 Right
Certificate or certificate for Common Shares or for other securities of the
Corporation, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney,
endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate,
statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be
signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper
Person or Persons.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
Any person 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 person succeeding to the shareholder services
business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the
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successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto,
provided that such person 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 Right 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 Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case
at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned,
any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the
name of the predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all
such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the
Right Certificates and in this Agreement. In case at any time the name of the
Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates
shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not
have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such
cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right
Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes only
those duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement upon the
following terms and conditions, by all of which the Corporation and the holders
of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Corporation), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be
full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with
such advice or 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 an Acquiring Person and the
determination of the current market price per share of any Security) be proved
or established by the Corporation before taking, suffering or omitting 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 any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the
Secretary of the Corporation and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and
the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or with respect to, any action
taken, suffered or omitted 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 gross
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 Right
Certificates (except its countersignature on such Right Certificates) or be
required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall
be deemed to have been made by the Corporation only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any liability or 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 Right Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof), nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Corporation of any
covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate;
nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights
(including the Rights becoming null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) or
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 Right Certificates
after receipt of the certificate described in Section 12 hereof); nor shall it
by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares or Common Shares to be
issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any
Preferred Shares or Common Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
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(f) The Corporation agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge
and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all
such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be
required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights
Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the
Secretary of the Corporation, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and shall not be liable for any
action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with
instructions from any such officer, or lack of action in accordance with
instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for
those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions
from the Corporation may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in
writing any action proposed to be taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent
under this Agreement and the date on or after which such action shall be taken,
suffered, or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be
liable for any action taken or suffered by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in
accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date
specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business
Days after the date any officer of the Corporation actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, before taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written
instruction in response to such application specifying the action to be taken,
suffered or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, affiliate, officer
or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or
other securities of the Corporation or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Corporation may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Corporation 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 Corporation or for any other
person.
(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 Corporation resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, bad faith or wilful misconduct,
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
it believes 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 Rights 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 not been
completed to certify the Holder is not an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or
associate thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with
respect to such requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the
Corporation.
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 Corporation and to each
transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class
mail. The Corporation may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
upon sixty (60) 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
Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to holders of
the Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or
be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Corporation shall
appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Corporation shall fail to make
such appointment within a period of sixty (60) 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
Right Certificate
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(who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the
Corporation), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to
any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent.
Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Corporation or by such a
court, shall be a corporation organized, in good standing and doing business
under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, which
is authorized to do business under such laws and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority. 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
Corporation shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights
Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, and mail
a notice thereof in writing by first class mail to the registered holders of the
Right 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 Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Corporation may, at its option, issue new Right 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 Right Certificates
made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares
following the Distribution Date and before the earlier of the Redemption Date
and the Final Expiration Date, the Corporation (a) shall with respect to Common
Shares 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, notes or debentures issued by the Corporation, and (b) may, in any
other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of
Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) the
Corporation shall not be obligated to issue any such Right Certificates if, and
to the extent that, the Corporation shall be advised by counsel that such
issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to
the Corporation or the Person to whom such Right Certificate would be issued,
and (ii) no Right 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 and Termination.
(a) (i) The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, at its option,
redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption
price of $.0001 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"), at any time before the earlier of (x) the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, or (y) the Final Expiration Date. The Corporation may,
at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares (based on the
"current per share market price," as defined in Section 11(d) hereof, of the
Common Shares at the time of redemption) or cash; provided that if the
Corporation elects to pay the Redemption Price in Common Shares, the Corporation
shall not be required to issue any fractional Common Shares and the number of
Common Shares issuable to each holder of Rights shall be rounded down to the
next whole share.
(ii) In addition, the Board of Directors of the Corporation
may, at its option, at any time following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event and the expiration of any period during which the holder of Rights may
exercise the rights under Section 11(a)(ii) but before any Section 13 Event,
redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at the
Redemption Price (x) in connection with any merger, consolidation or sale or
other transfer (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) of
assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the earning power of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) in which all holders of
Common Shares are treated alike and not involving (other than as a holder of
Common Shares being treated like all other such holders) an
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Interested Stockholder or (y)(aa) if and for so long as the Acquiring Person is
not thereafter the Beneficial Owner of 10% of the Common Shares, and (bb) at the
time of redemption no other Persons are Acquiring Persons.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 23(a), in the event that
a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation is comprised of (i)
persons elected at a meeting of or by written consent of stockholders who were
not nominated by the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such
meeting or action by written consent, and/or (ii) successors of such persons
elected to the Board of Directors for the purpose of either facilitating a
Transaction with a Transaction Person or circumventing, directly or indirectly
the provisions of this Section 23(b), then (I) the Rights may not be redeemed
for a period of 180 days following the effectiveness of such election if such
redemption is reasonably likely to have the purpose or effect of facilitating a
Transaction with a Transaction Person and (II) the Rights may not be redeemed
following such 180-day period, if (x) such redemption is reasonably likely to
have the purpose or effect of facilitating a Transaction with a Transaction
Person and (y) during such 180-day period the Corporation enters into any
agreement, arrangement or understanding with any Transaction Person which is
reasonably likely to have the purpose or effect of facilitating a Transaction
with any Transaction Person. If the Board of Directors of the Corporation
authorizes redemption of the Rights in either of the circumstances set forth in
clauses 23(a)(i) or 23(a)(ii) above then there must he Continuing Directors then
in office and such authorization shall require only the concurrence of a
majority of such Continuing Directors if: (i) such authorization occurs on or
after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (ii) such authorization
occurs on or after the date of a change (resulting from a proxy or consent
solicitation) in a majority of the directors in office at the commencement of
such solicitation if any Person who is a participant in such solicitation has
stated (or if upon the commencement of such solicitation a majority of the Board
of Directors of the Corporation has determined in good faith) that such Person
(or any of its Affiliates or Associates) intends to take or may consider taking
any action which would result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person or
which would cause the occurrence of a Triggering Event.
(c) In the case of a redemption permitted under Section 23(a)(i),
immediately upon the date for redemption set forth (or determined in the manner
specified in) in a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation
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. In the case of a redemption permitted only under Section 23(a)(ii),
evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and represent only the right to receive the
Redemption Price upon the later of ten (10) Business Days following the giving
of such notice or the expiration of any period during which the rights under
Section 11(a)(ii) may be exercised. The Corporation shall promptly give public
notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the failure to give, or
any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption.
Within ten (10) days after such date for redemption set forth in a resolution of
the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Corporation
shall mail a notice of redemption to the Rights Agent and to all the holders of
the then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent or, before the Distribution Date, on the
registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. 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. Neither the
Corporation nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or
purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that
specifically set forth in this Section 23 and other than in connection with the
purchase of Common Shares before the Distribution Date.
(d) The Corporation may, at its option, discharge all of its
obligations with respect to the Rights by (i) issuing a press release announcing
the manner of redemption of the Rights in accordance with this Agreement and
(ii) mailing payment of the Redemption Price to the registered holders of the
Rights at their last addresses as they appear on the registry books of the
Rights Agent or, before the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
Transfer Agent of the Common Shares, and upon such action, all outstanding
Rights and Right Certificates shall be null and void without any further action
by the Corporation.
Section 24. Exchange.
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(a) The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, at its option, 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 null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof) for Common Shares of the Corporation at an exchange ratio of one Common
Share 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 "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such
exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Corporation, any
Subsidiary of the Corporation, any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or
any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the
terms of any such a plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation 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 the holders of such Rights shall be to receive that number of
Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied
by the Exchange Ratio. The Corporation shall promptly give public notice of any
such exchange, with prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent; provided,
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
affect the validity of such exchange. The Corporation shall promptly 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 Shares 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 null and void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Corporation, at
its option, may substitute Preferred Shares (or equivalent preferred shares, as
such term is defined in Section 11(b) hereof) for some or all of the Common
Shares exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share (or equivalent preferred share) for each Common Share, as
appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the
Preferred Shares pursuant to the terms thereof, so that the fraction of a
Preferred Share delivered in lieu of each Common Share shall have the same
voting rights as one Common Share.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of
Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Corporation shall
take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares
for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Corporation shall propose (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make
any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a
regularly quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its
Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any
additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other
securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its
Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision
of outstanding Preferred Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger
into or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Corporation in a
transaction which does not violate Section 11(n) 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 or more transactions, of 50% or more of the
assets or earning power of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Corporation and/or any of
its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which does not violate
Section 11(n) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation, then, in each such case, the Corporation shall give to
each holder of a Right Certificate and the Rights Agent, in accordance with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action and file a certificate with
the Rights Agent to that effect, which shall specify the record date for the
purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the
date on
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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 Preferred Shares, 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 twenty (20) days before the record date for
determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in
the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days before the date of
the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the
holders of the Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, then (i) the Corporation
shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of
such event, which notice shall describe such event and the consequences of such
event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all
references in the preceding paragraph (a) to Preferred Shares shall be deemed
thereafter to refer also to Common Shares and/or, if appropriate, other
securities of the Corporation.
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 Right Certificate
to or on the Corporation 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:
BOREALIS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Corporation or by the holder of any
Right 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 Corporation) as follows:
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxxxx
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Corporation or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate or, if
before the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing Common
Shares 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 Corporation.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Before the Distribution Date,
the Corporation and the Rights Agent shall, if the Corporation so directs,
supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of certificates representing Common Shares. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Corporation and the Rights Agent shall, if the
Corporation so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval
of any holders of Right Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to
correct or 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 Corporation may deem necessary or desirable and which
shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Right Certificates
(other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person); provided, however, that this Agreement may not be supplemented or
amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time
period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights
are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period 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 Corporation which states that the proposed supplement
or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, and such
supplement or amendment does not change or increase the Rights Agent's duties,
liabilities or obligations, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or
amendment, provided that such supplement or amendment does not adversely affect
the
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rights or obligations of the Rights Agent under Section 18 or Section 20 of this
Agreement. Before the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights
shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Shares.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Rights Agreement to the contrary, in
the event that a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation is
comprised of (i) persons elected at a meeting of or by written consent of
stockholders who were not nominated by the Board of Directors in office
immediately prior to such meeting or action by written consent, and/or (ii)
successors of such persons elected to the Board of Directors for the purpose of
either facilitating a Transaction with a Transaction Person or circumventing,
directly or indirectly the provisions of this Section 27, then for a period of
180 days following the effectiveness of such action, this Rights Agreement shall
not be amended or supplemented in any manner reasonably likely to have the
purpose or effect of facilitating a Transaction with a Transaction Person.
Section 28. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers
specifically granted to the Board, or the Corporation, 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, without limitation, a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement and
whether any proposed amendment adversely affects the interests of the holders of
Right Certificates). For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the
number of Common Shares or other securities outstanding at any particular time,
including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such
outstanding Common Shares or any other securities 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. 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 Corporation,
the Rights Agent, the holders of the Right Certificates and all other parties,
and (y) not subject the Board to any liability to the holders of the Right
Certificates.
Section 29. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Corporation or the Rights Agent shall
bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns
hereunder.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Corporation,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and,
before the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole
and exclusive benefit of the Corporation, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Right Certificates (and, before the Distribution Date, the Common
Shares).
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, for any reason, such
invalid or unenforceable provision shall not affect any other provision hereof
and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable
provision had never been contained herein.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Right
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Nevada and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such State; provided, however that all
provisions regarding the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York 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 of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
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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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and attested, all as of the date and year first above written.
BOREALIS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXX
_____________________________________
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
Attest:
/s/ XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX
_______________________________
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Chief Financial Officer
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, LLC
as Rights Agent
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
______________________________________
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
Attest:
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
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