EXHIBIT 4.1
VIGNETTE CORPORATION
and
MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC, as Rights Agent
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 25, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Section 1. Certain Definitions ...............................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent .......................................5
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates .......................................5
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates ........................................7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration .................................8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right
Certificates ......................................................8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights, Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights .....9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates ...............10
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock ........................10
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date ......................................11
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of
Shares and Number of Rights ......................................12
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares .......19
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power ....................................................19
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares ..........................22
Section 15. Rights of Action .................................................24
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders .......................................24
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder ................25
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent ......................................25
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent ........26
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent ...........................................26
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent ...........................................28
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates ...............................29
Section 23. Redemption .......................................................29
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Section 24. Exchange .........................................................30
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events .........................................31
Section 26. Notices ..........................................................32
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments .......................................32
Section 28. Successors .......................................................33
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement .......................................33
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors .............33
Section 31. Severability .....................................................34
Section 32. Governing Law ....................................................34
Section 33. Counterparts .....................................................34
Section 34. Descriptive Headings .............................................34
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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Rights Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2002 ("Agreement"), between
Vignette Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Mellon
Investor Services LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each share of
Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close
of Business (as defined below) on May 6, 2002 (the "Record Date"), each Right
representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth (subject to adjustment) of
a share of Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject
to the conditions herein set forth, and has further authorized and directed the
issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) with respect to
each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding between the Record Date
and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms
are hereinafter defined); provided, however, that Rights may be issued with
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respect to shares of Common Stock that shall become outstanding after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with Section
22.
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
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following terms have the meaning indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include an Exempt Person (as such term is hereinafter
defined); provided, however, that (i) if the Board of Directors of the Company
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determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person" became the Beneficial Owner of a number of shares of Common Stock such
that the Person would otherwise qualify as an "Acquiring Person" inadvertently
(including, without limitation, because (A) such Person was unaware that it
beneficially owned a percentage of Common Stock that would otherwise cause such
Person to be an "Acquiring Person" or (B) such Person was aware of the extent of
its Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the
consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement) and without any
intention of changing or influencing control of the Company, then such Person
shall not be deemed to be or to have become an "Acquiring Person" for any
purposes of this Agreement unless and until such Person shall have failed to
divest itself, as soon as practicable (as determined, in good faith, by the
Board of Directors of the Company), of Beneficial Ownership of a sufficient
number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer otherwise
qualify as an "Acquiring Person"; (ii) if, as of the date hereof or prior to the
first public announcement of the adoption of this Agreement, any Person is or
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock
outstanding, such Person shall not be deemed to be or to become an "Acquiring
Person" unless and until such time as such Person shall, after the first public
announcement of the adoption of this Agreement, become the
Beneficial Owner of additional shares of Common Stock (other than pursuant
to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding
Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common
Stock), unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of
Common Stock, such Person is not then the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding; and (iii) no Person shall become an
"Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of shares of Common Stock by
the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the
proportionate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person
to 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, provided,
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however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
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the shares of Common Stock then outstanding by reason of such share acquisitions
by the Company and shall thereafter become the Beneficial Owner of any
additional shares of Common Stock (other than pursuant to a dividend or
distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Stock or
pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock), then such
Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" unless upon becoming the
Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of Common Stock such Person does not
beneficially own 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. For
all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as
in effect on the date hereof.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, shall be
deemed to have "Beneficial Ownership" of and shall be deemed to "beneficially
own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates is deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, within the
meaning of Rule l3d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange
Act as in effect on the date hereof;
(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 only after the passage of time) pursuant to 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), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a
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Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (x)
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, (y) securities which such Person
has a right to acquire upon the exercise of Rights at any time prior to the time
that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (z) securities issuable upon the
exercise of Rights from and after the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person if such Rights were acquired by
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such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the
Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof ("Original
Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) or Section 11(n) with respect to an
adjustment to Original Rights; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall
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not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security by
reason of such agreement, arrangement or understanding 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 under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person and with respect to 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) for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the
proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of such securities of the Company;
provided, however, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
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Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned" (as defined in this Section l(c)), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director
or employee of an Exempt Person.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the States of Texas or New Jersey are
located are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
Dallas, Texas time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
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Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Dallas, Texas time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
the Common Stock, presently par value $.01 per share, of the Company. "Common
Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean
the common stock (or, in the case of an unincorporated entity, the equivalent
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.
(g) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(h) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(i) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
(j) "Equivalent Preferred Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b) hereof.
(k) "Exempt Person" shall mean the Company or any Subsidiary (as such
term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, in each case including, without
limitation, in its fiduciary capacity, or any employee benefit plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity or trustee holding
Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or for the purpose of
funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits for employees of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company.
(l) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24
hereof.
(m) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
(n) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7 hereof.
(o) "Flip-In Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(p) "NASDAQ" shall mean The Nasdaq Stock Market.
(q) "New York Stock Exchange" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc.
(r) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity, and shall include
any successor (by merger or otherwise) to such entity.
(s) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company having the rights and
preferences set forth in the Form of Certificate of Designation attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit A.
(t) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(b) hereof.
(u) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b)
hereof.
(v) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
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(w) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23
hereof.
(x) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
(y) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(z) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(aa) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof.
(bb) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the
Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such, or such
earlier date as a majority of the Board of Directors shall become aware of the
existence of an Acquiring Person.
(cc) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons
performing similar functions are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person, and any corporation or other entity that is otherwise controlled by
such Person.
(dd) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ee) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
(ff) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) hereof.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
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Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and
shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omission of any co-rights agent.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
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(a) Until the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day
after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth Business Day (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time
as any Person becomes an
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Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement by any Person (other
than an Exempt Person) of, or of the first public announcement of the intention
of such Person (other than an Exempt Person) to commence, a tender or exchange
offer the consummation of which would result in any Person (other than an Exempt
Person) becoming the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 15%
or more of the Common Stock then outstanding (the earlier of such dates being
herein referred to as the "Distribution Date", provided, however, that if either
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of such dates occurs after the date of this Agreement and on or prior to the
Record Date, then the Distribution Date shall be the Record Date), (x) the
Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by
the certificates for Common Stock registered in the names of the holders thereof
and not by separate Right Certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock. As soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date, the Company shall notify the Rights Agent thereof
and will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign and the Company
will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested and
provided with a shareholder list and all necessary information, send) by
first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common
Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date (other than any
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person), at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate,
in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"),
evidencing one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each share
of Common Stock so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Preferred
Stock, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"),
by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Stock as
of the Close of Business on the Record Date (other than any Acquiring Person or
any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person), at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for
Common Stock 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 the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date
(or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a
copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented thereby.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock
issued or disposed of (including, without limitation, upon disposition of Common
Stock out of treasury stock or issuance or reissuance of Common Stock out of
authorized but unissued shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier
of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, or in certain circumstances
provided in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates issued
for Common Stock (including, without limitation, upon transfer of outstanding
Common Stock, disposition of Common Stock out of treasury stock or issuance or
reissuance of Common Stock out of authorized but unissued shares) after the
Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration
Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to
them the following legend:
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This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between
Vignette Corporation (the "Company") and Mellon Investor Services
LLC, as Rights Agent, dated as of April 25, 2002, and as amended
from time to time (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 the Company.
Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates
and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company
will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights
Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request
therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
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Agreement, Rights owned by or transferred to any Person who is or
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becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
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and certain transferees thereof will become null and void and
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will no longer be transferable.
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With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate, except as otherwise provided
herein, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or
otherwise acquires any Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the
Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Stock shall be deemed
canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any
Rights associated with the Common Stock which are no longer outstanding.
Notwithstanding this paragraph (c), the omission of a legend shall not
affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any
holder of the Rights.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
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forms of election to purchase shares 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 Company may deem
appropriate (and which do not affect the rights, duties, liabilities or
obligations of the Rights Agent) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or
with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation
of any stock exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Rights may
from time to time be listed or quoted, or to conform to usage. Subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock as shall be set forth therein at the Purchase Price, but the number of
such one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and the Purchase Price
shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
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(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by the President of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature,
shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof and shall
be attested by the Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Right Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights
Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any
officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall
cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights
Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates,
nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered
by the Company with the same force and effect as though the Person who signed
such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and
any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any Person who,
at the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of
the execution of this Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.
(b) 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
an office or agency designated for such purpose, 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
date of each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
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Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
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(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at any time after
the Distribution Date and prior to the 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-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such
holder 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 office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person
entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be,
as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates. The Rights
Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any action under any Section of
this Agreement which requires the payment by a Rights holder of applicable taxes
and governmental charges unless and until the Rights Agent is satisfied that all
such taxes and/or charges have been paid.
(b) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at any time after
the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, upon receipt by the
Company 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
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them, and, at the Company's request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights
Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the
Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company
will make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent
for 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.
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(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall become
exercisable on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the registered holder of
any Right Certificate may, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and except as
otherwise provided herein, exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in
part upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to
purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the
office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as to which the Rights are exercised, at any
time which is both after the Distribution Date and prior to the time (the
"Expiration Date") that is the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on April
25, 2012 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date") or (iii) the
time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price shall be initially $30.00 for each one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. The Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock or other securities or property to be acquired upon exercise of
a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections
11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of
America in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 7.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, upon receipt of a Right
Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to
purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the aggregate Purchase Price
for the shares of Preferred Stock 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 9 hereof, in cash or by certified check,
cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights
Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of
the Preferred Stock, or make available if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent
for the Preferred Stock, certificates for the number of shares of Preferred
Stock to be purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its
transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from a
depositary agent appointed by the Company depositary receipts representing
interests in such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as
are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Stock
represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the
depositary agent), and the Company hereby directs any such depositary agent to
comply with such request, (ii) when necessary to comply with this Agreement,
requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance
of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) promptly after
receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be
delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right
Certificate, registered in
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such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when necessary
to comply with this Agreement, after receipt, promptly deliver such cash to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) Except as otherwise provided herein, in case the registered
holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all of the Rights
evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the
exercisable 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 Sections 6 and 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder of Rights upon the occurrence of any
purported transfer or exercise of Rights pursuant to Section 6 hereof or this
Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) duly and properly
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment or form
of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such transfer or exercise and (ii) provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner)
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All Right
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Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company 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 Company 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 Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
canceled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of
the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock.
-----------------------------------------
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock or any shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury, the
number of shares of Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the
exercise of Rights may be listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ, the Company shall use its best efforts
to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares
reserved for such issuance to be listed or admitted to trading on such exchange,
or quoted on NASDAQ, upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) From and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, the
Company shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to permit the issuance of
shares of Preferred
10
Stock upon the exercise of Rights, to register and qualify such shares of
Preferred Stock under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities or
"Blue Sky" laws (to the extent exemptions therefrom are not available), cause
such registration statement and qualifications to become effective as soon as
possible after such filing and keep such registration and qualifications
effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act) until the earlier of the date as of which the Rights are no
longer exercisable for such securities and the Expiration Date. The Company may
temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 90 days, the
exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file a registration
statement under the Securities Act and permit it to become effective. Upon any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification
in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until a registration statement
under the Securities Act shall have been declared effective, unless an exemption
therefrom is available.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock
delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the
certificates therefor (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and
validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when
due and payable any and all taxes and governmental charges which may be payable
in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any
shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights. The Company 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 depositary receipts for the Preferred
Stock in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right
Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver
any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Stock upon the exercise of
any Rights until any such tax or charge shall have been paid (any such tax or
charge being payable by that holder of such Right Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's reasonable
satisfaction that no such tax or charge is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
---------------------------
certificate for Preferred Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares of
Preferred Stock 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 and
charges) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
-------- -------
payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company
are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such
shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day
on which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to
the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate
shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Stock for which the
Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote or
to receive dividends or other
11
distributions, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any
proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares and
-----------------------------------------------------------
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred Stock or
----------------
other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of each Right and the
number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date
of this Agreement (A) declare and pay a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable
in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C)
combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares of
Preferred Stock or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a),
the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of a Right
as of the record date for such dividend or the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification 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 prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, the holder would have
owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person (the first occurrence of such event being
referred to hereinafter as the "Flip-In Event"), then (A) the Purchase Price
shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the
Flip-In Event multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
Flip-In Event, whether or not such Right was then exercisable, and (B) each
holder of a Right, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a)(ii) and
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price equal to the Purchase Price (as so adjusted), in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred
Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained
by dividing the Purchase Price (as so adjusted) by 50% of the current per share
market price of the Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
on the date of such Flip-In Event; provided, however, that the Purchase Price
-------- -------
(as so adjusted) and the number of shares of Common Stock so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall, following the Flip-In Event, be subject to further
adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, however, from and
after the Flip-In Event, any Rights that are beneficially owned by (x) any
Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person), (y) a
transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who
becomes a transferee after the Flip-In Event or (z) a transferee of any
Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who became a transferee
prior to or concurrently with the Flip-In Event pursuant to either (I) a
transfer from the Acquiring Person to holders of its equity securities or to any
Person with whom it has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (II) a transfer which the Board of Directors
has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has the
purpose or effect of
12
avoiding the provisions of this paragraph, and subsequent transferees of such
Persons, shall be void without any further action and any holder of such Rights
shall thereafter have no rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights under any
provision of this Agreement. The Company shall notify the Rights Agent when this
Section 11(a)(ii) applies and shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that
the provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii) are complied with, but neither the
Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any 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. From and after the Flip-In Event, no Right Certificate
shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 6 hereof that represents Rights
that are or have become void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, and
any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent that represents Rights that
are or have become void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall be
canceled. From and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section 13(a)
hereof, any Rights that theretofore have not been exercised pursuant to this
Section 11(a)(ii) shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with
Section 13 and not pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii).
(iii) The Company may at its option substitute for a share of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii) a number of shares of Preferred Stock or fraction
thereof such that the current per share market price of one share of Preferred
Stock multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current per share
market price of one share of Common Stock. In the event that there shall not be
sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but
unissued to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Board of Directors shall, with respect to such
deficiency, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any material
agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party, (A) determine the
excess (such excess, the "Spread") of (1) the value of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii) (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (as adjusted
in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii)), and (B) with respect to
each Right (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the foregoing
subparagraph (ii)), make adequate provision to substitute for the shares of
Common Stock issuable in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) upon
exercise of the Right and payment of the Purchase Price (as adjusted in
accordance therewith), (1) cash, (2) a reduction in such Purchase Price, (3)
shares of Preferred Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, shares or fractions of shares of preferred stock which, by
virtue of having dividend, voting and liquidation rights substantially
comparable to those of the shares of Common Stock, are deemed in good faith by
the Board of Directors to have substantially the same value as the shares of
Common Stock (such shares of Preferred Stock and shares or fractions of shares
of preferred stock are hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock Equivalents")),
(4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of
the foregoing, having a value which, when added to the value of the shares of
Common Stock issued upon exercise of such Right, shall have an aggregate value
equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in such Purchase
Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors
upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected in
good faith by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that if the Company
-------- -------
shall not make adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above
within thirty (30) days following the Flip-In Event (the date of the Flip-In
Event being the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be
13
obligated to deliver, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any material
agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party, upon the surrender
for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of such Purchase Price,
shares of Common Stock (to the extent available), and then, if necessary, such
number or fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and
then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal
to the Spread. If, upon the occurrence of the Flip-In Event, the Board of
Directors shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient
additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise
in full of the Rights, then, if the Board of Directors so elects, the thirty
(30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not
more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order
that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such
additional shares (such thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended, is herein
called the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines
that some action need be taken pursuant to the second and/or third sentence of
this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section
11(a)(ii) hereof and the last sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, that
such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend
the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period
in order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such second sentence and
to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company
shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights
has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as
the suspension is no longer in effect (with prompt written notice of each such
announcement to the Rights Agent). For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the
value of the shares of Common Stock shall be the current per share market price
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)) on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger
Date and the per share or fractional value of any "Common Stock Equivalent"
shall be deemed to equal the current per share market price of the Common Stock.
The Board of Directors of the Company may, but shall not be required to,
establish procedures to allocate the right to receive shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of the Rights among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(a)(iii).
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them
(for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights,
privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock ("Equivalent Preferred
Shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred
Shares at a price per share of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Shares
(or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into shares
of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Shares) less than the then current
per share market price of the Preferred Stock (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 prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock and
Equivalent Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total
number of shares of Preferred Stock 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 market price, and
the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock and
Equivalent Preferred Shares outstanding on
14
such record date plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock 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 Company 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 as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
Shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Shares owned by or held for
the account of the Company 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 Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the Preferred Stock (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company 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 Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to
in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
then current per share market price of the Preferred Stock (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of
the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or
of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one share of Preferred
Stock, and the denominator of which shall be such current per share market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the Preferred Stock; provided,
--------
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise
-------
of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock
of the Company 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) Except as otherwise provided herein, 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 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined)
immediately prior to 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 prior to the expiration of 30 Trading
Days after 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
15
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 by the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the 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 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 Company. 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, if the
Preferred Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Stock shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in
Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred Stock is not publicly traded but the Common
Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred
Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market price of
the Common Stock as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) multiplied by the
then applicable Adjustment Number (as defined in and determined in accordance
with the Certificate of Designation for the Preferred Stock). If neither the
Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly 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 Company, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(e) 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, 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 hundred-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock or one-hundredth of a share of Common Stock or 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 years from the date of the transaction which
requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than the Preferred
Stock, thereafter the Purchase Price and the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of a 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 Stock contained in Sections 11(a),
11(b), 11(c), 11(e),
16
11(h), 11(i) and 11(m) hereof, as applicable, and the provisions of Sections 7,
9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like
terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise
of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Sections 11(b) and 11(c), each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one
hundred-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) obtained by (i) multiplying
(x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share purchasable upon the exercise
of a Right immediately prior to such adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such adjustment and (ii) dividing the product so
obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price pursuant to Sections 11(b) or 11(c) hereof to adjust the
number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock 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-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
one-hundredth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a
public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating
the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made, and shall promptly give the Rights Agent a copy of such
announcement. Such 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 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 Company may, 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 Company, shall cause to be distributed
to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Right
Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon
surrender thereof, if required by the Company, 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.
17
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon
the exercise of a Right, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock which were expressed in the
initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the fraction of
Preferred Stock or other shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of a
Right, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of
its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally
issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock or other such
shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer (and shall give prompt written
notice of such election to the Rights Agent) until the occurrence of such event
issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the
Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Stock and other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the
basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
--------
however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due xxxx or other
-------
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional
shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such adjustments 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 any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, issuance
wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current market
price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Stock or securities which by their
terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Stock, dividends on
Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock or issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter made by
the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such
stockholders.
(n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in
the event that at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare and pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in Common Stock or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination
or consolidation of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend payable in Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then, in each such case, the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or
delivered thereafter, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of
Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such
event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a
fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the
18
denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
(o) The Company agrees that, after the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Stock Acquisition Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections
23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at
the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will
diminish substantially or eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
----------------------------------------------------------
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and/or 13 hereof, the
Company 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 Stock and the Preferred Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a
brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with
Section 25 hereof (if so required under Section 25 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 any 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, directly or indirectly, at any time after the
Flip-In Event (i) the Company shall consolidate with or shall merge into any
other Person, (ii) any Person shall merge with and into the Company and the
Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in
connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Stock shall be changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or of the
Company) or cash or any other property, or (iii) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50%
or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any other Person (other than the Company or one or more
wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company), then upon the first occurrence of
such event, proper provision shall be made so that: (A) each holder of a Right
(other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof)
shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the
Purchase Price (as theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of
Preferred Stock or Common Stock of the Company, such number of validly
authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of
Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not
subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse
claims, as shall equal the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price (as
theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) by 50% of the
current per share market price of the Common Stock of such Principal Party
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of
such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; provided, however, that the
-------- -------
Purchase Price (as theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof) and the number of shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party so
receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to further
19
adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof to reflect any
events occurring in respect of the Common Stock of such Principal Party after
the occurrence of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (B) such
Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of
such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of
the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term "Company" shall thereafter
be deemed to refer to such Principal Party; and (D) such Principal Party shall
take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient
number of its shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in
connection with such consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to
assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as
reasonably may be, in relation to the shares of its Common Stock thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; provided that, upon the subsequent
occurrence of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets or other
extraordinary transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a
Right shall thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and
payment of the Purchase Price as provided in this Section 13(a), such cash,
shares, rights, warrants and other property which such holder would have been
entitled to receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the
Common Stock of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of a Right
pursuant to this Section 13(a), and such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be
necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the
terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (i) or (ii)
of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the issuer
of the securities into which the shares of Common Stock are converted in such
merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer
the shares of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of
shares outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that
is the other party to the merger, if such Person survives said merger, or, if
there is more than one such Person, the Person the shares of Common Stock of
which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding or (y) if
the Person that is the other party to the merger does not survive the merger,
the Person that does survive the merger (including the Company if it survives)
or (z) the Person resulting from the consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (iii) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving
the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such
transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning
power so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the
assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding;
provided, however, that in any such case described in the foregoing clause
-------- -------
(b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time or has
not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and
20
has been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such other
Person, or (2) if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more
than one Person, the Common Stock of all of which is and has been so registered,
the term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding, or (3) if 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 clauses (1) and (2) above
shall apply to each of the owners having an interest in the venture as if the
Person owned by the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint
venturers, and the Principal Party in each such case shall bear the obligations
set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as its interest in such Person
bears to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any consolidation, merger, sale
or transfer referred to in Section 13(a) hereof unless prior thereto the Company
and the Principal Party involved therein shall have executed and delivered to
the Rights Agent an agreement confirming that the requirements of Sections 13(a)
and (b) hereof shall promptly be performed in accordance with their terms and
that such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets shall not result in
a default by the Principal Party under this Agreement as the same shall have
been assumed by the Principal Party pursuant to Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof
and providing that, as soon as practicable after executing such agreement
pursuant to this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date and
similarly comply with applicable state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the
Principal Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or on another national securities exchange, to list or admit to trading
(or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities
exchange, or, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities
exchange, to cause the Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of the
Rights to be authorized for quotation on NASDAQ or on such other system then in
use;
(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 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act; and
(iv) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or
preemptive rights in respect of the Common Stock of the Principal Party subject
to purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
21
(d) In case the Principal Party has a provision in any of its
authorized securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other
instrument governing its affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i)
causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant
to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the
consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common
Stock or Common Stock Equivalents of such Principal Party at less than the then
current market price per share thereof (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock or
Common Stock Equivalents of such Principal Party at less than such then current
market price, or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar
provision in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such Principal
Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13, then, in such event, the Company
hereby agrees with each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate any such
transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing
that the provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled,
waived or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that
the applicable provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a
consequence of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Flip-In Event, enter into any transaction of the type described in
clauses (i) through (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof if (i) at the time of or
immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other
transaction there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities
outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii)
prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer or other transaction, the stockholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section
13(b) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature
of organization of the Principal Party would preclude or limit the
exercisability of the Rights.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
---------------------------------------
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights
(except prior to the Distribution Date in accordance with Section 11(n) hereof)
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 prior to 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 or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on
22
any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market,
as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such date
the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market
in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such
date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of
the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock) or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon the exercise
or exchange of Rights. Interests in fractions of Preferred Stock in integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock may, at the
election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an
appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it;
provided, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary
--------
receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are
entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Stock represented by such
depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are
not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the
Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised or exchanged as herein provided an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of
Preferred Stock (as determined in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
(c) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. In lieu of such fractional
shares of Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock
would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole share of Common Stock (as determined in
accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date of such exercise or exchange.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise or exchange of a Right (except as provided above).
(e) Whenever a payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares is
to be made by the Rights Agent, the Corporation shall (i) promptly prepare and
deliver to the Rights Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the
facts related to such payments and the prices and/or formulas utilized in
calculating such payments, and (ii) provide sufficient monies to the Rights
Agent in the form of fully collected funds to make such payments. The Rights
Agent shall be fully protected in relying upon such a certificate and shall have
no duty with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares under any Section of this
Agreement relating to the payment of fractional
23
Rights or fractional shares unless and until the Rights Agent shall have
received such a certificate and sufficient monies.
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
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), on his own behalf and for his own
benefit, may enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his
right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, such Common Stock) in the manner provided therein 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 Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of the Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in
whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Right Certificates or the Common Stock certificate made by anyone other than the
Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the
Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, shall be affected
by any notice to the contrary.
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 Preferred Stock or any other
securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise or
exchange 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 Company 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
24
or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in this Agreement),
or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights
evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
---------------------------
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
other disbursements incurred in the preparation, administration, delivery,
execution and amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of
its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for,
and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine,
penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense, incurred without gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent
(each as determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling
of a court of competent jurisdiction) 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
costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be
paid by the Company unless it is determined by a final, non-appealable order,
judgment, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction that the Rights
Agent is not entitled to indemnification due to the Rights Agent's gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The provisions of this Section 18
and Section 20 below shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the
exercise or expiration of the Rights and the resignation or removal of the
Rights Agent.
(b) 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 acceptance and administration of this Agreement in
reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Stock or
Common Stock or for other securities of the Company, 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, or otherwise upon the advice of
counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof. The Rights Agent shall not be deemed
to have knowledge of any event of which it was supposed to receive notice
thereof hereunder, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur
no liability for failing to take any action in connection therewith unless and
until it has received such notice in writing.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
---------------------------------------------------------
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person
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 stock
transfer or corporate trust powers of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without
the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of
the parties hereto; provided, that such Person would be eligible for appointment
--------
as a successor
25
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 the
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 Rights Agent 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.
(b) 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 the
----------------------
duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement (and no implied
duties and obligations) upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which
the Company 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 Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be
full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and the
Rights Agent shall incur no liability for, or in respect of, any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it 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 be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting to
take any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect
thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively
proved and established by a certificate signed by the President and the
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate
shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent for any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement in
reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct
(each as determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling
of a court of competent jurisdiction). 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 $100,000.
26
(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 thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility or have
any liability 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
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right
Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of
the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights provided for in Sections 3,
11, 13, 23 and 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of
Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after receipt of a certificate furnished
pursuant to Section 12, describing such change or adjustment); nor shall it by
any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Preferred Stock or other
securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or
as to whether any shares of Preferred Stock or other securities will, when
issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be one of the President or the
Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and such instructions shall be full
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall not
be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted by it 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 Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing
any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this
Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such
omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action
taken 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 Company actually receives such application unless any such
officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to
taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the
Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such
application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, Affiliate, director,
officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the
Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in
any transaction in which the Company may be
27
interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as
fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement.
Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity
for the Company or for any other 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 Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct
(each as determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling
of a court of competent jurisdiction) in the selection and continued employment
thereof.
(j) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate contained in the form of
assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse thereof,
as the case may be, has not been completed to certify the holder is not an
Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate thereof) or a transferee thereof,
the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
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 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and,
following the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the
Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and, following
the Distribution Date, to the 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 Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.
If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days
after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), 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 Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a Person organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or the laws of any state of the
United States or the District of Columbia, in good standing, having an office in
the State of Texas or the State of New York, which is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50
million, or (b) an Affiliate or a Person described in clause (a). After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers,
rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights
Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall
deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held
by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act
or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common
28
Stock or Preferred Stock, and, following the Distribution Date, mail a notice
thereof in writing 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 Company may,
at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such forms 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 Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date, the Company may with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold
pursuant to (i) the exercise of stock options, (ii) under any employee plan or
arrangement, (iii) upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities,
notes or debentures issued by the Company or (iv) a contractual obligation of
the Company, in each case existing prior to the Distribution Date, issue Rights
Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with
such issuance or sale.
Section 23. Redemption.
----------
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at any time prior to
the Flip-In Event, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights
at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring in respect of the
Common Stock after the date hereof (the redemption price being hereinafter
referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made
effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion may establish. The Redemption Price shall be
payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock, or such
other form of consideration as the Board of Directors shall determine.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 23 (or at
such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the effectiveness of
such redemption), 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. The Company shall
promptly give public notice of any such redemption, and shall give prompt
written notice to the Rights Agent thereof; provided, however, that the failure
-------- -------
to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such
redemption. Within 10 days after such action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights (or such later time as the Board of Directors may
establish for the effectiveness of such redemption), the Company shall mail a
notice of redemption 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,
prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for
the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall
be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.
29
Each such notice of redemption shall state the method by which the payment
of the Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Exchange.
--------
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after the Flip-In Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring in
respect of the Common Stock after the date hereof (such amount per Right 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 an Acquiring Person shall have become the Beneficial Owner of shares
of Common Stock aggregating 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding. From and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section
13(a) hereof, any Rights that theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to
this Section 24(a) shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with
Section 13 and may not be exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a). The exchange
of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on
such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
paragraph (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right
thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice
of any such exchange (with prompt written 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 Company shall promptly mail a
notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of the Rights so exchanged 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 shares of Common Stock for Rights
will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights
which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based
on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to
the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) The Company may at its option substitute, and, in the event that
there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding
or authorized but unissued to permit an exchange of Rights for Common Stock as
contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall substitute to
the extent of such insufficiency, for each share of Common Stock that would
otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of Preferred
Stock or fraction thereof (or Equivalent Preferred Shares, as such term is
defined in Section 11(b)) such that the current per share market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of one share of Preferred Stock
(or Equivalent Preferred Share) multiplied
30
by such number or fraction is equal to the current per share market price of
one share of Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) as of
the date of such exchange.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
------------------------
(a) In case the Company shall at any time after the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date propose (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Stock or to make
any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Stock (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock
(other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision or combination of
outstanding Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, or (v) to pay any dividend on the Common Stock
payable in Common Stock or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation
of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
dividends in Common Stock), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to
the Rights Agent and to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the
record date for the purposes of such dividend or distribution or offering of
rights or warrants, or the date on which such liquidation, dissolution, winding
up, reclassification, subdivision, combination or consolidation is to take place
and the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or
Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so
given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10
days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Stock for
purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 10
days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock,
whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13
shall occur then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to the
Rights Agent and to each holder of a Right Certificate (or if occurring prior to
the Distribution Date, the holders of the Common Stock) 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) and Section 13 hereof.
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 Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) or by facsimile transmission as follows:
31
Vignette Corporation
0000 Xxxxx XxXxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile No.:
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company 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 Company) or by facsimile transmission as follows:
Mellon Investor Services LLC
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Relationship Manager
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Mellon Investor Services LLC
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Except as provided in the
--------------------------
penultimate sentence of this Section 27, for so long as the Rights are then
redeemable, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights
Agent shall if the Company so directs, but subject to the other provisions of
this Section, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in any respect
without the approval of any holders of the Rights. At any time when the Rights
are no longer redeemable, except as provided in the penultimate sentence of this
Section 27, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders
of Rights, provided that no such supplement or amendment may (a) adversely
--------
affect the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person), (b) cause this
Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence
or (c) cause the Rights again to become redeemable. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be
made which changes the Redemption Price. Upon the delivery of a certificate from
an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the terms of
32
this Section 27, and provided that such supplement or amendment does
not change the Rights Agent's rights, duties, liabilities or obligations, the
Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment, provided that any
--------
supplement or amendment that does not change or increase the Rights Agent's
rights, duties, liabilities or obligations shall become effective immediately
upon execution by the Company, whether or not also executed by the Rights Agent.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement
----------
by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
--------------------------
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock).
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors. The Board
----------------------------------------------------
of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise the rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board of Directors of the Company or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination
to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend or not amend this Agreement). All
such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations that are done or
made by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith shall be final,
conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the
Rights, as such, and all other parties. The Rights Agent shall always be
entitled to assume that the Company's Board of Directors acted in good faith and
shall be fully protected and incur no liability in reliance thereon.
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
------------
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued
-------------
hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of
Delaware 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, liabilities 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.
33
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.
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.
34
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
VIGNETTE CORPORATION
By: /s/ X.X. Xxxxx
----------------------------------------------
Xxx X. Xxxxx, Chief Operating Officer
MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC,
as Rights Agent
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Client Management Services
Exhibit A
---------
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
VIGNETTE CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
Vignette Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), in
accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors in
accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the said
Corporation, the said Board of Directors on April 25, 2002 adopted the following
resolution creating a series of 300,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as
"Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock":
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in
the Board of Directors of this Corporation in accordance
with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation,
a series of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of
the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the
designation and number of shares thereof and the voting
and other powers, preferences and relative, participating,
optional or other rights of the shares of such series and
the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are
as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preferred Stock that
shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock," and the
number of shares constituting such series shall be 300,000. Such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock to less than the number of shares then
issued and outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding
securities issued by the Corporation.
E-1
2. Dividends and Distribution.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking prior and
superior to the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with
respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series
of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock in respect thereof, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and
if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last business day of March,
June, September and December, in each year (each such date being referred to
herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction
of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per
share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) the
Adjustment Number (as defined below) times the aggregate per share amount of all
cash dividends, and the Adjustment Number times the aggregate per share amount
(payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock")
since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with
respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance
of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock. The "Adjustment Number" shall initially be 1000. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time after May 6, 2002 (i) declare and pay any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect
immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment
Number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares
is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in
which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue
of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly
dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which
events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear
interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock
E-2
in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time
accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more
than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to a number of votes equal to the Adjustment Number
on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.
(B) Except as required by law, by Section 3(C) and by Section 10
hereof, holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no
special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the
extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth
herein) for taking any corporate action.
(C) If, at the time of any annual meeting of stockholders for the
election of directors, the equivalent of six quarterly dividends (whether or not
consecutive) payable on any share or shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock are in default, the number of directors constituting the Board
of Directors of the Corporation shall be increased by two. In addition to voting
together with the holders of Common Stock for the election of other directors of
the Corporation, the holders of record of the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class to the exclusion of the holders of
Common Stock, shall be entitled at said meeting of stockholders (and at each
subsequent annual meeting of stockholders), unless all dividends in arrears on
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock have been paid or declared and
set apart for payment prior thereto, to vote for the election of two directors
of the Corporation, the holders of any Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock being entitled to cast a number of votes per share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock as is specified in paragraph (A) of this Section
3. Each such additional director shall not be a member of Class I, Class II or
Class III of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but shall serve until
the next annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors, or until
his successor shall be elected and shall qualify, or until his right to hold
such office terminates pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3(C). Until
the default in payments of all dividends which permitted the election of said
directors shall cease to exist, any director who shall have been so elected
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3(C) may be removed at any time,
without cause, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of the shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at the time entitled to cast a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast for the election of any such director
at a special meeting of such holders called for that purpose, and any vacancy
thereby created may be filled by the vote of such holders. If and when such
default shall cease to exist, the holders of the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall be divested of the foregoing special voting rights,
subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent like default in
payments of dividends. Upon the termination of the foregoing special voting
rights, the terms of office of all persons who may have been elected directors
pursuant to said special voting rights shall forthwith terminate, and the number
of directors constituting the Board
E-3
of Directors shall be reduced by two. The voting rights granted by this
Section 3(C) shall be in addition to any other voting rights granted to the
holders of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock in this Section 3.
4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in
Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends
and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on,
or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions
on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of
all such shares are then entitled; or
(iii) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking
on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except in
accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, or to such holders and holders of any such shares
ranking on a parity therewith, upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after
consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights
and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good
faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation
to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 4,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their retirement become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to
any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
E-4
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, voluntary or otherwise, no distribution shall be made to the
holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have received an amount per share (the
"Series A Liquidation Preference") equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 plus an
amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether
or not declared, to the date of such payment, or (ii) the Adjustment Number
times the per share amount of all cash and other property to be distributed in
respect of the Common Stock upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the
Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for
such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or
with another entity nor the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or
with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 6.
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into any
consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the outstanding
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to the Adjustment
Number times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other
property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each
share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.
8. No Redemption. Shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall not be subject to redemption by the Corporation.
9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall rank
junior to all other series of the Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends
and as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and shall rank
senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely
E-5
without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a
class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be
issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to
such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate this ____
day of _________, 2002.
VIGNETTE CORPORATION
By:
------------------------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------------
E-6
Exhibit B
---------
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. R-______
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 25, 2012 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION
OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT
$.01 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY
PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL
BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
VIGNETTE CORPORATION
This certifies that ____________________________ or registered assigns, is
the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2002, as the same may be amended
from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between Vignette Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Mellon Investor Services LLC, a New
Jersey limited liability company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to
purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term
is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., Dallas, Texas time,
on April 25, 2012 at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, or of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully
paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Company at a purchase price
of $30.00 per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase
Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form
of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate (and the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above,
and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of
April 25, 2002, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. As
provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price, the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities or property)
which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights and the number of Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment
upon the happening of certain events.
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This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company and the above-mentioned office or agency of the Rights Agent. The
Company will mail to the holder of this Right Certificate a copy of the Rights
Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of
like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the
Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such
holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the
holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right
Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of
$.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of the
Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, or shares of Preferred Stock.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock will be issued upon
the exercise or exchange of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than
fractions of Preferred Stock which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depository receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Stock
or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on
the exercise or exchange hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement) or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in the Rights
Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
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WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal. Dated as of ___________, 2002.
VIGNETTE CORPORATION
By:
-----------------------------------------
[Title]
ATTEST:
-----------------------------------------------------
[Title]
Countersigned:
MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC, as Rights Agent
By
---------------------------------------------------
[Title]
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto _______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
_______ Rights represented by this Right Certificate, together with all right,
title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
___________________________ Attorney, to transfer said Rights on the books of
the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ____________________________
______________________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer or
other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.
__________________________________________________
(To be completed)
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not beneficially owned by, were not acquired by the undersigned
from, and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
______________________________________________
Signature
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
----------------------------
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate)
To VIGNETTE CORPORATION:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
(or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock (or such other
securities) be issued in the name of:
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
Dated:________________________
_____________________________________________
Signature
(Signature must conform to holder
specified on Right Certificate)
Signature Guaranteed:
Signature must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer or
other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
________________________________________________________________________________
(To be completed)
The undersigned certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not beneficially owned by, and were not acquired by the
undersigned from, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
defined in the Rights Agreement).
________________________________________
Signature
________________________________________________________________________________
NOTICE
------
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to Purchase, as
the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or
the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, such
Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
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Exhibit C
---------
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS
OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL
AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK OF
VIGNETTE CORPORATION
On April 25, 2002, the Board of Directors of Vignette Corporation (the
"Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right")
for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock"). The dividend is payable on May 6, 2002 (the
"Record Date") to the stockholders of record on May 6, 2002. Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of
the Company (the "Preferred Stock") at a price of $30.00 per one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as
of April 25, 2002, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights
Agreement"), between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (with certain
exceptions, an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days (or such
later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to
such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring
Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make,
a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the
beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution
Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Stock
certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Stock certificate
together with this Summary of Rights.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier
expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the
Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the Rights),
new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new
issuances of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of
the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common
Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of
this Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate. As
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date,
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separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be
mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on
the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence
the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire on April 25, 2012 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is advanced or extended or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price, less than
the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights is subject to adjustment in the event of a
stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or
subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in
any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not
be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as and if
declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of the greater of
(a) $1.00 per share, and (b) an amount equal to 1000 times the dividend declared
per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a
minimum preferential payment of the greater of (a) $1.00 per share (plus any
accrued but unpaid dividends), and (b) an amount equal to 1000 times the payment
made per share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 1000
votes, voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of any
merger, consolidation or other transaction in which outstanding shares of Common
Stock are converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled
to receive 1000 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These
rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation and
voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a share of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one share of Common Stock.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated persons
becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void),
will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right that number
of shares of Common Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price
of the Right.
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In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person,
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or
50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper
provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void) will
thereafter have the right to receive upon the exercise of a Right that number of
shares of common stock of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the
foregoing transaction (or its parent) that at the time of such transaction have
a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraph or the
acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights
(other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which will have become void),
in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or a series
of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and
privileges), at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or a fractional
share of Preferred Stock (or other preferred stock) equivalent in value thereto,
per Right.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock
will be issued (other than fractions of Preferred Stock which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the
election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu
thereof an adjustment in cash will be made based on the current market price of
the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock.
At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the Board
of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at
a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price") payable, at the option of the
Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock or such other form of consideration as
the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine. The redemption of the
Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive
the Redemption Price.
For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may, except with
respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner. After
the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the
Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not
adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. A
copy of the Rights
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Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary description
of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the Rights Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to
time, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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