EXHIBIT 4.1
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WAUSAU-MOSINEE PAPER CORPORATION
and
XXXXXX TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
as Rights Agent
AGREEMENT
Dated as of October 21, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Number
Section 1. Definitions................................................ 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent................................ 7
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates................................ 8
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates................................. 10
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.......................... 11
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Right Certificates......................................... 12
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights..................................................... 13
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates......... 15
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares........................... 15
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date............................... 16
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number
of Rights.................................................. 17
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. 28
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.............................................. 28
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.................... 30
Section 15. Rights of Action........................................... 32
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders................................. 32
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.......... 33
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent................................ 34
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.. 35
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Page
Number
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent..................................... 36
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent..................................... 40
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates......................... 41
Section 23. Redemption................................................. 41
Section 24. Exchange................................................... 42
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events................................... 45
Section 26. Notices.................................................... 46
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments................................. 47
Section 28. Successors................................................. 48
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement................................. 48
Section 30. Severability............................................... 48
Section 31. Governing Law.............................................. 48
Section 32. Counterparts............................................... 49
Section 33. Descriptive Headings....................................... 49
Signatures............................................................... 50
Exhibit A - Form of Restated Articles of Incorporation
Exhibit B - Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares
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Agreement, dated as of October 21, 1998, between
Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), and
Xxxxxx Trust and Savings Bank, 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
Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding on November 6,
1998 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (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 with respect to each Common Share that shall
become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution
Date, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are
hereinafter defined).
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the
Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan, (iv) Aytchmonde X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
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Yawkey, members of their respective families and their respective descendants
(the "Xxxxxxx Family"), heirs or legatees of any of the Xxxxxxx Family members,
transferees by will, laws of descent or distribution or by operation of law of
any of the foregoing (including of any such transferees) (including any executor
or administrator of any estate of any of the foregoing), any trust established
by any of Aytchmonde X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx or Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Yawkey
whether pursuant to last will or otherwise, any partnership, trust or other
entity established primarily for the benefit of, or any other Person the
beneficial owners of which consist primarily of, any of the foregoing or any
Affiliates or Associates of any of the foregoing or any charitable trust or
foundation to which any of the foregoing transfers or may transfer securities of
the Company (including any beneficiary or trustee, partner, manager or director
of any of the foregoing or any other Person serving any such entity in a similar
capacity) (collectively, the "Xxxxxxx Entities"), (v) Xxxxx X. Xxxxx and
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, members of their respective families and their respective
descendants (the "Xxxxx Family"), heirs or legatees of any of the Xxxxx Family
members, transferees by will, laws of descent or distribution or by operation of
law of any of the foregoing (including of any such transferees) (including any
executor or administrator of any estate of any of the foregoing), any trust
established by either of Xxxxx X. Xxxxx or Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx whether pursuant
to last will or otherwise, any partnership, trust or other entity established
primarily for the benefit of, or any other Person the beneficial owners of which
consist primarily of, any of the foregoing or any Affiliates or Associates of
any of the foregoing or any charitable trust or foundation to which any of the
foregoing transfers or may transfer securities of the Company (including any
beneficiary or trustee, partner, manager or director of any of the foregoing or
any other Person serving any such entity in a similar capacity) (collectively,
the "Xxxxx Entities") or (vi) any Person that inadvertently (as determined in
good faith by the Board
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of Directors of the Company whose determination shall be final and binding)
became an Acquiring Person as a result of the beneficial ownership of any
securities beneficially owned at any time by any Xxxxxxx Entity or Xxxxx Entity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as
the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing
the number of Common Shares of the Company outstanding, increases the
proportionate number of Common Shares of the Company beneficially owned by such
Person to 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding;
provided, however, that, if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or
more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding by reason of share
purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company,
become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company, then
such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person." Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith
that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant
to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such
inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient
number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring
Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a),
then such Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for any
purposes of this Agreement.
(b) "Affiliate" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term
in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in
effect on the date of this Agreement.
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(c) "Associate" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term
in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in
effect on the date of this Agreement.
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates 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 (other than
these Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted
for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially
own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to
vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent
given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent
solicita-
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tion 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 with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding,
voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section
1(c)(ii)(B) hereof) or disposing of any securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial
Ownership to the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with
reference to a Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall
mean the number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the
number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such
Person would be deemed to own beneficially hereunder.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a
Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in Illinois are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., Chicago time, on such date; provided, however, that, if such date is not a
Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Chicago time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
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(g) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company
shall mean the shares of common stock, without par value, of the Company.
"Common Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company
shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power
of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person,
the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(h) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(i) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(j) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 24(a) hereof.
(k) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7(a) hereof.
(l) "NASDAQ" shall mean the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System.
(m) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or
other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.
(n) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company having the
rights and preferences set forth in the Form of Restated Articles of
Incorporation attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.
(o) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4 hereof.
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(p) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
second paragraph hereof.
(q) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(r) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) hereof.
(s) "Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the second
paragraph hereof.
(t) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(u) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring
Person has become such.
(v) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity
securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
(w) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) hereof.
(x) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d) hereof.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the
Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall, prior to the
Distribution Date, also be the holders of the Common
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Shares of 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.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates. (a) Until the earlier
of (i) the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth
Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of
Directors of the Company prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person) after the date of the commencement by any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares of the
Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) of, or of the first
public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares of the Company for
or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to commence, a tender or exchange
offer the consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring
Person (including any such date which is after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the issuance of the Rights; the earlier of such dates being herein
referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for
Common Shares of the Company registered in the names of the holders thereof
(which certificates shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by
separate Right Certificates, and (y) the right to receive Right Certificates
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares of
the Company. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company
will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company
will
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send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested, at the
expense of the Company, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to
each record holder of Common Shares of the Company as of the Close of Business
on the Distribution Date, 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 for each Common Share 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 Preferred
Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"),
by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as
of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown
on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for Common Shares of
the Company outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof together with a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto.
Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final
Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common
Shares of the Company outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of
the Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Shares of the Company represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last
sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest
of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date
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or the Final Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or
otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in an Agreement between Wausau-Mosinee
Paper Corporation and Xxxxxx Trust and Savings Bank, dated as of
October 21, 1998, as it may be amended from time to time (the
"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 Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation. Under certain
circumstances, as set forth in the Agreement, such Rights (as defined
in the Agreement) will be evidenced by separate certificates and will
no longer be evidenced by this certificate. Wausau-Mosinee Paper
Corporation will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the
Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.
As set forth in the Agreement, Rights beneficially owned by any Person
(as defined in the Agreement) who becomes an Acquiring Person (as
defined in the Agreement) become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares of the Company
represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone,
and the surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares of the Company
represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any
Common Shares of the Company after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution
Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares of the Company shall be
deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to
exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares of the Company which are
no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates
(and the forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be
printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B
hereto, and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may
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deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any
applicable rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any applicable rule
or regulation of any stock exchange or the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11,
13 and 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to
purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as shall be set
forth therein at the price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share set forth
therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the number of such one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as
provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Right
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or
its Treasurer, either manually or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed
thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by the
Secretary or an Assistant 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 individual 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 individual who, at the actual date of the execution of such
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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
individual was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office, 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 Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
Subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of
Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on
the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right
Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right Certificates representing
Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof or that have
been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) 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 Preferred Share 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 principal office of the
Rights Agent. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the
Person entitled thereto a Right Certifi-
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cate 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.
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 reasonably satisfactory to 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. (a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the
Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein), in whole or in
part, at any time after the Distribution Date, upon surrender of the Right
Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof
duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the principal office of the Rights Agent,
together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the
earliest of (i) the Close of Business on October 31, 2008 (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.
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(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share purchasable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially
be $60, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Section 11 or 13 hereof, and shall be payable in lawful money of the United
States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed,
accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be purchased and
an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder
of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof 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 Shares certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to
be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes any such transfer
agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from the depositary
agent depositary receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer
agent of the Preferred Shares with such depositary agent) and the Company hereby
directs such depositary agent to comply with such request; (ii) when
appropriate, 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 such name or names as may be designated by such
holder; and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt, promptly deliver such cash to
or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
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(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent to registered holder of such Right
Certificate or to such holder's duly authorized assigns, subject to the
provisions of Section 14 hereof.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates.
All Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split
up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of
its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled
form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled 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 cancelled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written
request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Right Certificates, and, in such
case, shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares. The Company
covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of
its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares or any Preferred Shares held in its
treasury the number of Preferred Shares that will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with Section 7 hereof.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be
necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares delivered upon exercise of Rights
shall, at the time of delivery
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of the certificates for such Preferred Shares (subject to payment of the
Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable shares.
The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when
due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which
may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates
or of any Preferred Shares upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of
any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred
Shares in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right
Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver
any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares upon the exercise
of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being
payable by the 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 is due.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each Person in whose
name any certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights
shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the
Preferred Shares 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 transfer
taxes) was made; provided, however, that, if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares 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 Shares transfer books of the Company are open.
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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 Shares
for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the
right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any
preemptive rights, 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 of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in
Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine
the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or
(D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect
at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of
such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of
shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted
so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to
receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such
Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have
owned upon such exercise and been entitled to re-
-17-
ceive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification;
provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the
exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of
capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 hereof, in the event any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right shall thereafter have a
right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current
Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of
the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
for which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (B) 50% of
the then current per share market price of the Common Shares of the Company
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of the occurrence of
such event. In the event that any Person shall become an Acquiring Person and
the Rights shall then be outstanding, the Company shall not take any action
which would eliminate or diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
From and after the occurrence of such event, any Rights that
are or were acquired or beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person (or any
Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) shall be void, and any holder
of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any
provision of this Agreement. No Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to
Section 3 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any
Associate or Affiliate thereof; no
-18-
Right Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to
an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding
sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof or to any nominee of such
Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate; and any Right Certificate delivered to
the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void
pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be cancelled.
(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common
Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with subparagraph (ii) above, the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional
Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of the Rights. In the event the Company
shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be
necessary to authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall
substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise
of a Right, a number of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the
current per share market price of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number
or fraction is equal to the current per share market price of one Common Share
as of the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares
entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record
date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same
rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent
preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or
equivalent preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share or equivalent
preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the
then current
-19-
per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in Section 11(d)) 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 Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of
Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of
Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such current market price and the denominator of
which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred
shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible
securities so to be offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that
in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be
less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the 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 and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and holders
of the Rights. 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.
-20-
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making
of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (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 Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred
to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such
record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such
record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent
and holders of the Rights) of the portion of the assets or evidences of
indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to one Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be such
then-current per share market price of the Preferred Shares; provided, however,
that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one
Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the
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) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of any security (a "Security") shall be
determined in accordance with the method set forth in this Section 11(d)(i)) and
shall be deemed on any date to be the average of the daily
-21-
closing prices per share of such Security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days
immediately prior to 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 share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to
reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such Security. The
closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in
case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, in either case, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed 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
-22-
Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business, or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in
accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred
Shares are not publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market
price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof
(appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof), multiplied by one thousand. If
neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so
listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per
share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the 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 one-millionth
of a Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of any other share or security as the
case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier
of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which requires such
adjustment or (ii) the date of the expiration of the right to exercise any
Rights.
-23-
(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 Preferred
Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise
of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on
terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the
Preferred Shares contained in Section 11(a) through (c) hereof, inclusive, and
the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 hereof with respect to the Preferred
Shares 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
Preferred Share 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) hereof, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as
a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right
outstanding immediately 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 Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one
one-millionth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (A) multiplying (x) the number
of one one-thousandths of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this
adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price and (B) dividing the product so obtained by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
-24-
(i) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price, to adjust the number of Rights in substitution
for any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after
such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of
one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights
(calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The
Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of
Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the
time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date
on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the 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
shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record
of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject
to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the 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
-25-
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein, and shall be registered in
the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or in the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share 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 one one-thousandth of the then par value, if
any, of the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company
shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be
necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable Preferred 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 until the occurrence of such
event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of
the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Shares 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.
-26-
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that it, in its sole discretion, shall
determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision of the
Preferred Shares, issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than
the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or
securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for
Preferred Shares, dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or
issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in Section 11(b) hereof,
hereafter made by the Company to holders of the Preferred Shares shall not be
taxable to such stockholders.
(n) In the event that, at any time after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, or (ii) effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares)
into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then, in any such case, (A)
the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such
event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the
number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately
prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
Common Shares outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of
which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event,
and (B) each Common Share outstanding immediately after such event shall have
issued with respect to it that number of Rights which each Common Share
outstanding immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The
adjustments provided for in this Section 11(n) shall
-27-
be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a
subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number
of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 13
hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common
Shares or the Preferred Shares and the Securities and Exchange Commission a copy
of such certificate and (c) if such adjustment occurs at any time after the
Distribution Date, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be
fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained and shall not be obligated or responsible for calculating any
adjustment nor shall it be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless
and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
Assets or Earning Power. In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after
a Person has become an Acquiring Person, (a) the Company shall consolidate with,
or merge with and into, any other Person, (b) any Person shall consolidate with
the Company, or 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 Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for
stock or other securities of any other Person (or the Company) or cash or any
other property, or (c) 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
-28-
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 of its
wholly-owned Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall
be made so that (i) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided herein)
shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at a price
equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares,
such number of Common Shares of such other Person (including the Company as
successor thereto or as the surviving corporation) as shall equal the result
obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable and
dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then current per share market price of
the Common Shares of such other Person (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer; (ii) the issuer of such Common Shares 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; (iii) the
term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such issuer; and (iv) such
issuer shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of
a sufficient number of its Common Shares in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in
connection with such consummation as may be necessary to assure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may
be, in relation to the Common Shares of the Company thereafter deliverable upon
the exercise of the Rights. The Company shall not consummate any such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless, prior thereto, the Company and
such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement so providing. The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the
-29-
kind referred to in this Section 13 if at the time of such transaction there are
any rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or
arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would
eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights. The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) The
Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute
Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional
Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates
with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole
Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a
whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day
immediately 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 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
-30-
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 Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share 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 Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of
fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of one Preferred Share. For the purposes of this Section 14(b), the
current market value of a Preferred Share shall be the closing price of a
Preferred Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section
11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise.
-31-
(c) The holder of a Right, by the acceptance of the Right,
expressly waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect
of this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent
under 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 Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or,
prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), 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 Shares), may, in such holder's own behalf
and for such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any
suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in
respect of, such holder's right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right
Certificate in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement, and
will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations of
any Person subject to, this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a
Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the
Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
-32-
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, 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 associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on the Right Certificate or the associated Common Shares
certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all
purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent 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 Shares or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any 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 or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or sub-
-33-
scription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such
Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The 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 administration
and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises. The costs and expenses
of enforcing this right of indemnification shall also be paid by the Company.
The indemnification provided for hereunder shall survive the expiration of the
Rights and the termination of this Agreement.
The Rights Agent may conclusively rely upon and shall be
protected and shall incur no liability for, or in respect of any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it in connection with, its administration of this
Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for the
Preferred Shares or Common Shares 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.
Notwithstanding anything
-34-
in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable
for special, indirect or consequential 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 and regardless of the form of
the action.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of
Rights Agent. Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to
the stock transfer or corporate trust 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 corporation would be
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed
to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the 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.
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
-35-
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 the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement 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, and no implied
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may
be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any
action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof
be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate
shall be full authorization to the
-36-
Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the
provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company
and any other Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
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 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 (including the manner, method or amount
thereof) provided for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24 hereof, 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 actual notice that such change or adjustment is required); nor shall it by
any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares to be issued
-37-
pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any
Preferred Shares 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 one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, any Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company,
and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in
good faith 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 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 ten 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 re-
-38-
ceived written instructions in response to such application subject to the
proposed action or omission and/or specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, 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 interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself
or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such
act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided that reasonable care was exercised
in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability
in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such
funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
(k) The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or
be deemed to have notice of any fact, event or determination (including, without
limitation, any dates or events de-
-39-
fined in this Agreement or the designation of any Person as an Acquiring Person,
Affiliate or Associate) under this Agreement unless and until the Rights Agent
shall be specifically notified in writing by the Company of such fact, event or
determination.
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 Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or
certified mail, and 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 Shares or
Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and (at the expense of the
Company) 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 (which holder shall, with such notice, submit
such holder's 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
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
any state thereof, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision
or examination by
-40-
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. 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 Shares or
Preferred Shares, and 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 form as may be approved by the Board of Directors of
the Company 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.
Section 23. Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the
Company may, at its option, at any time prior to such time as any Person becomes
an Acquiring Person, 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 after
-41-
the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the
"Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors of
the Company may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole discretion, may
establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of
this Section 23, 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; 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
of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, 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 Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the
Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or
Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in
any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in
Section 24 hereof, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common
Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. Exchange. (a) The Board of Directors of the
Company may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, exchange all or part of the
-42-
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 Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any adjustment in the number of Rights pursuant to Section
11(i) (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company
shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
Common Shares then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon 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 Common Shares 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; provided,
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice
of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the
method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected,
and, in the event of any partial ex-
-43-
change, 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) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common
Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any
exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional
Common Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company
shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be
necessary to authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall
substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange
of a Right, a number of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the
current per share market price of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number
or fraction is equal to the current per share market price of one Common Share
as of the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common
Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common Share. For the
purposes of this paragraph (d), the current market value of a whole Common Share
shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
-44-
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. (a) In case the Company
shall, at any time after the Distribution Date, propose (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of the Preferred Shares or to make
any other distribution to the holders of the Preferred Shares (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of the Preferred
Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional
Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights
or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of the Preferred Shares (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred
Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect
any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to
effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or more
of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of dividends in Common Shares), then, in each such case, the Company
shall give 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 stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants,
or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date
of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred
Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in
the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 days
prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares for
purposes of such action, and, in the case of any such other action, at least 10
days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed
-45-
action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares
and/or Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall occur, then the Company shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give to
each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event
and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof.
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) as follows:
Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Corporate Secretary
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 certified or registered mail and shall be deemed given upon receipt,
addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as
follows:
-00-
Xxxxxx Xxxxx and Savings Bank
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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. The Company may from
time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Right Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions with respect
to the Rights which the Company may deem necessary or desirable, any such
supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and
the Rights Agent; provided, however, that, from and after such time as any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall not be amended in any
manner which would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Company may at any time prior to such time
as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person amend this Agreement to lower the
thresholds set forth in Sections 1(a) and 3(a) hereof to not less than the
greater of (a) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding
Common Shares then known by the Company to be beneficially owned by any Person
(other than the Xxxxxxx Entities, the Xxxxx Entities, the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pur-
-47-
suant to the terms of any such plan) and (b) 10%. Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment that changes the
rights and duties of the Rights Agent under this Agreement will be effective
against the Rights Agent without the execution of such supplement or amendment
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 Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
Section 30. 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 31. 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 Wisconsin
-48-
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.
Section 32. 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 33. 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.
-49-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first
above written.
Attest: WAUSAU-MOSINEE CORPORATION
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx By /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Administrative Assistant Title: Senior Vice President-Finance,
Secretary and Treasurer
Attest: XXXXXX TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK,
as Rights Agent
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
-50-
Exhibit A
FORM OF
RESTATED
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
WAUSAU-MOSINEE PAPER CORPORATION
The following Restated Articles of Incorporation of
Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation, duly adopted pursuant to the authority and
provisions of Chapter 180 of the Wisconsin Statutes, supersede and take the
place of the existing articles of incorporation and any amendments thereto:
ARTICLE 1
The name of the corporation shall be WAUSAU-MOSINEE PAPER
CORPORATION (the "Corporation").
ARTICLE 2
The period of its existence shall be perpetual.
ARTICLE 3
The purpose shall be to engage in any lawful activity within
the purposes for which corporations may be organized under the Wisconsin
Business Corporation Law, Chapter 180 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
ARTICLE 4
PART I
The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is 100,500,000. Of these (1)
100,000,000 shares shall be common stock without par value (hereinafter
sometimes referred to as "Common Stock"); and (2) 500,000 shares shall be shares
of preferred stock without par value (hereinafter sometimes referred to as
"Preferred Stock").
The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, from
time to time, a resolution or resolutions providing for the establishment and
issuance of Preferred Stock without par value in one or more series; to fix the
number of shares in each such series and to fix the designations and all the
powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special
rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each such series;
and to determine that
A-1
shares of each such series shall have more than one vote, or one vote, or less
than one vote, or shall have no voting rights.
The holder of each outstanding share of Common Stock shall
have one vote per share with respect to all matters submitted to a vote of
shareholders.
PART II
(SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK)
(a) Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A
Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be 75,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by
resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce
the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the
number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation
convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.
(b) Dividends and Distributions.
(i) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any
series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to
the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock without
par value (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other junior
stock, 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 first 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 Preferred Stock, in an
amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $10
or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1000 times
the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1000 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 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 Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare
or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend
in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b)
of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding imme-
A-2
diately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(ii) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in clause (i) of this paragraph (b)
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the
event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock
during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $10 per share on the
Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(iii) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, 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 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 Preferred Stock 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 Preferred
Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared
thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date
fixed for the payment thereof.
(c) Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(i) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof
to 1000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such 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.
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(ii) Except as otherwise provided herein, or by law, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of
Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general
voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a
vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(iii) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by
law, holders of Series A 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.
(d) Certain Restrictions.
(i) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph
(b) are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(A) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions,
on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;
(B) declare or pay dividends, 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 Preferred Stock,
except dividends paid ratably on the Series A 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;
(C) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the
Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any
such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up)
to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(D) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a
parity with the Series A 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 such shares 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.
(ii) 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 clause (i) of this
paragraph (d), purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
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(e) Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
(f) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall
be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have received $1000 per share, plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared,
to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share,
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1000
times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of
Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount 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.
(g) Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the 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 Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 1000 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.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on
the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the
exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of
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which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.
(h) No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall not be redeemable.
(i) Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with
respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to
all series of any other class of the Corporation's Preferred Stock.
(j) Amendment. The Articles 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 Preferred Stock
so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting
together as a single class.
ARTICLE 5
No holder of shares of this corporation shall be entitled to
preemptive rights or to any right to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part
of any new or additional issue of stock of any class, whether now or hereafter
authorized, or of any bonds, debentures, or other securities convertible into
stock of any class, and all such additional shares of stock, bonds, debentures
or other securities convertible into stock may be issued and disposed of by the
Board of Directors to such person or persons and on such terms and for such
consideration (so far as may be permitted by law) as the Board of Directors, in
its absolute discretion, may deem advisable.
ARTICLE 6
The Board of Directors of this Corporation shall consist of
such number of members as the By-laws may provide, but not less than three (3)
members nor more than nine (9) members. Members of the Board of Directors shall
have such qualifications as may from time to time be provided by the By-laws of
this Corporation. Directors shall be divided into three (3) classes to be as
nearly equal as possible. The term of office of Directors of the first class
shall expire at the first annual meeting of shareholders after their election,
the second class shall expire at the second annual meeting after their election,
and the third class shall expire at the third annual meeting after their
election. At each annual meeting after such classification, the number of
Directors equal to the number of the class whose term expires at the time of
such meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual
meeting. Each Director shall hold office for the term for which he is elected
and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified. No change in the
number of Directors will affect the term of office of a Director. The
affirmative vote for four-fifths of the outstanding shares entitled to vote for
the election of a Director shall be required to remove such Director from
office. Amendment of this Article of Incorporation (Article 6) shall require the
affirmative vote of four-fifths of all classes of stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote thereon.
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ARTICLE 7
The address of the registered office is One Xxxxx'x Island,
X.X. Xxx 0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000, and the name of the
registered agent at such address is Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx.
ARTICLE 8
PART I
These Articles of Incorporation may be amended in the manner
authorized by the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law at the time of amendment
unless a specific article of incorporation (including this article) requires a
different proportion of the shares of stock of all classes of stock of the
Corporation.
PART II
(a) Except as set forth in paragraph (d) of this Part II, the
affirmative vote or consent of the holders of four-fifths of all classes of
stock of this Corporation entitled to vote in elections of directors, considered
for the purposes of this Part II as one class, shall be required (i) for the
adoption of any agreement for the merger or consolidation of this Corporation
with or into any other corporation, or (ii) to authorize any sale, lease,
exchange, mortgage, pledge or other disposition of all or any substantial part
of the assets of this Corporation to, or any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage,
pledge or other disposition to this Corporation or any subsidiary thereof in
exchange for securities of this Corporation of any assets of, any other
corporation, person or other entity, if, in either case, as of the record date
for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice thereof and to vote
thereon or consent thereto such other corporation, person or entity is the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than ten per cent of the
outstanding shares of stock of this Corporation entitled to vote in elections of
directors considered for the purposes of this Part II as one class. Such
affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the
holders of the stock of this Corporation otherwise required by law, these
Articles of Incorporation or any agreement between this Corporation and any
national securities exchange.
(b) For the purposes of this Part II, (i) any corporation,
person or other entity shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any shares
of stock of this Corporation (A) which it has the right to acquire pursuant to
any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise or (B) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including
shares deemed owned through application of subclause (A), above), by any other
corporation, person or entity with which it or its "affiliate" or "associate"
(as defined below) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of stock of this Corporation,
or which is its "affiliate" or "associate" as those terms are defined in Rule
12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 as in effect on January 1, 1969, and (iii) the outstanding shares of any
class of stock of this Corporation shall include shares deemed owned through
application of subclauses (A) and
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(B) above but shall not include any other shares which may be issuable pursuant
to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise.
(c) The Board of Directors shall have the power and duty to
determine for the purposes of this Part II on the basis of information known to
such Board, whether (i) such other corporation, person or other entity
beneficially owns more than ten per cent of the outstanding shares of stock of
this Corporation entitled to vote in elections of directors, (ii) a corporation,
person or entity is an "affiliate" or "associate" (as defined above) of another,
and (iii) the memorandum of understanding referred to below is substantially
consistent with the transaction covered thereby. Any such determination shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Part II.
(d) The provisions of this Part II shall not be applicable to
(i) any merger or consolidation of this Corporation, with or into any other
corporation, or any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge or other disposition
of all or any substantial part of the assets of this Corporation to, or any
sale, lease, mortgage, pledge or other disposition to this Corporation or any
subsidiary thereof in exchange for securities of this Corporation of any assets
of, any other corporation, person or other entity, if such transaction is
approved by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, provided
that a majority of the members of the Board of Directors voting for the approval
of such transaction were duly elected and acting members of the Board of
Directors prior to the time any such other corporation, person or other entity
shall have become a beneficial owner of more than ten per cent (10%) of the
shares of stock of this corporation entitled to vote in an election of
directors; or (ii) any merger or consolidation of this Corporation with, or any
sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge or other disposition to this Corporation
or any subsidiary thereof of any assets of any corporation of which a majority
of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled to vote in elections
of directors is owned of record or beneficially by this Corporation and its
subsidiaries.
(e) No amendment to these Articles of Incorporation shall
amend, alter, change or repeal any of the provisions of this Part II, unless the
amendment effecting such amendment, alteration, change or repeal shall receive
the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of four-fifths of all classes of
stock of this corporation entitled to vote in elections of directors, considered
for the purposes of this Part II as one class.
ARTICLE 9
PART I
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in Part II of this
Article 9 and in addition to any other provision of law and as may otherwise be
set forth in these Articles, the consummation of any Business Combination shall
require that all of the following conditions shall have been met:
(i) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value
as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration
other than cash to be re-
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ceived per share by holders of Common Stock in such Business Combination shall
be at least equal to the highest of the following:
(A) (if applicable) the highest per share price (including any
brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees) paid by the
Interested Shareholder for any shares of Common Stock acquired by it (1) within
the two-year period immediately prior to the first public announcement of the
proposal of the Business Combination (the "Announcement Date") or (2) in the
transaction in which it became an Interested Shareholder, whichever is higher;
(B) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
Announcement Date or on the date on which the Interested Shareholder became an
Interested Shareholder (such latter date is referred to in this Article 9 as the
"Determination Date"), whichever is higher; and
(C) (if applicable) the price per share equal to the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock determined pursuant to paragraph
(a)(i)(B) above, multiplied by the ratio of (1) the highest per share price
(including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers'
fees) paid by the Interested Shareholder for any shares of Common Stock acquired
by it within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date to
(2) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the first day in such
two-year period upon which the Interested Shareholder acquired any shares of
Common Stock.
(ii) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market
Value as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of
consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of shares of
any class of outstanding Voting Stock other than Common Stock (and other than
Institutional Voting Stock), shall be at least equal to the highest of the
following (it being intended that the requirements of this paragraph (a)(ii)
shall be required to be met with respect to every class of outstanding Voting
Stock [other than Institutional Voting Stock], whether or not the Interested
Shareholder has previously acquired any shares of a particular class of Voting
Stock):
(A) (if applicable) the highest per share price (including any
brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees) paid by the
Interested Shareholder for any shares of such class of Voting Stock acquired by
it (1) within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date or
(2) in the transaction in which it became an Interested Shareholder, whichever
is higher;
(B) (if applicable) the highest preferential amount per share
to which the holders of shares of such class of Voting Stock are entitled in the
event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation;
(C) the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting
Stock on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is
higher; and
(D) (if applicable) the price per share equal to the Fair
Market Value per share of such class of Voting Stock determined pursuant to
paragraph (a)(ii)(C) above, multiplied by
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the ratio of (1) the highest per share price (including any brokerage
commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers' fees) paid by the Interested
Shareholder for any shares of such class of Voting Stock acquired by it within
the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date to (2) the Fair
Market Value per share of such class of Voting Stock on the first day in such
two-year period upon which the Interested Shareholder acquired any shares of
such class of Voting Stock.
(iii) The consideration to be received by holders of a
particular class of outstanding Voting Stock (including Common Stock) shall be
in cash or in the same form as the Interested Shareholder has previously paid
for shares of such class of Voting Stock. If the Interested Shareholder has paid
for shares of any class of Voting Stock with varying forms of consideration, the
form of consideration for such class of Voting Stock shall be either cash or the
form used to acquire the largest number of shares of such class of Voting Stock
previously acquired by it.
(iv) After such Interested Shareholder has become an
Interested Shareholder and prior to the consummation of such Business
Combination: (A) except as approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors,
there shall have been no failure to declare and pay at the regular date therefor
any full quarterly dividends (whether or not cumulative) on the outstanding
Preferred Stock; (B) there shall have been (1) no reduction in the annual rate
of dividends paid on the Common Stock (except as necessary to reflect any
subdivision of the Common Stock), except as approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors, and (2) an increase in such annual rate of dividends as
necessary to reflect any reclassification (including any reverse stock split),
recapitalization, reorganization or any similar transaction which has the effect
of reducing the number of outstanding shares of the Common Stock, unless the
failure so to increase such annual rate is approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors; and (C) such Interested Shareholder shall have not become
the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting Stock except as part of
the transaction which results in such Interested Shareholder becoming an
Interested Shareholder.
(v) After such Interested Shareholder has become an Interested
Shareholder, such Interested Shareholder shall not have received the benefit,
directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder), of any loans,
advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits
or other tax advantages provided by the Corporation, whether in anticipation of
or in connection with such Business Combination or otherwise.
(vi) A proxy or information statement describing the proposed
Business Combination and containing the information specified for proxy or
information statements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules
and regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provisions replacing such Act,
rules or regulations) shall be mailed by or on behalf of and at the expense of
the Interested Shareholder seeking to effect such Business Combination, to
Shareholders of the Corporation at least 30 days prior to the consummation of
such Business Combination (whether or not such proxy or information statement is
required to be mailed pursuant to such Act or subsequent provisions).
(b) The term "Business Combination", as used in this Article
9, shall mean:
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(i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary with (A) any Interested Shareholder or (B) any other corporation
(whether or not itself an Interested Shareholder) which is, or after such merger
or consolidation would be, an Affiliate of an Interested Shareholder; and
(ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with
any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder of any
assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market
Value of $1,000,000 or more; and
(iii) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any
Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any securities of
the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate
of any Interested Shareholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property
(or a combination thereof) having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $1,000,000
or more; and
(iv) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation
or dissolution of the Corporation proposed by or on behalf of an Interested
Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder; and
(v) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse
stock split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any other
transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Interested
Shareholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the
proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or
convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or
indirectly owned by any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any
Interested Shareholder.
PART II
The provisions of Part I of this Article 9 shall be applicable
to each particular Business Combination unless (a) such Business Combination
shall have been approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the
voting power of all shares of Voting Stock (considered for purposes of this
Article 9 as one class, it being understood that for purposes of this Article 9,
each share of Voting Stock shall have the number of votes granted to it pursuant
to Article 4 of these Articles of Incorporation) which are then held by
Independent Shareholders or (b) a majority of the Continuing Directors shall by
resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding with such Interested
Shareholder with respect to and substantially consistent with such Business
Combination.
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PART III
For the purposes of this Article 9, the following terms shall
have the meaning hereinafter set forth:
(a) "Affiliate" or "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on November
19, 1984.
(b) A person shall be a "beneficial owner" of any Voting
Stock:
(i) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates
(as herein defined) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; or
(ii) which such person or any of its 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 or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
warrants or options, or otherwise, or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other person with which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates
has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting or disposing of any shares of Voting Stock.
(c) "Continuing Director" shall mean any member of the Board
of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board") who is unaffiliated with the
Interested Shareholder referred to in the definition of "Business Combination"
in paragraph (b) of Part I of this Article 9 and was a member of the Board prior
to the time that the Interested Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder and
any successor of a Continuing Director who is unaffiliated with the Interested
Shareholder and is recommended to succeed a Continuing Director by a majority of
Continuing Directors then on the Board.
(d) "Fair Market Value" means: (i) in the case of stock, the
highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding the
date in question of a share of such stock on the Composite Tape for the New York
Stock Exchange-Listed Stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite
Tape for the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such stock is not listed on such
Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on which such stock is listed, or, if such
stock is not listed on any such Exchange, the highest closing bid quotation with
respect to a share of such stock during the 30-day period preceding the date in
question on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotations System ("NASDAQ") or, if NASDAQ is not then in use, any other system
then in use, or, if no such quotations are available, the Fair Market Value on
the date in question of a share of such stock as determined by the Board in good
faith; and (ii) in the
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case of property other than cash or stock, the Fair Market Value of such
property on the date in question as determined by the Board in good faith.
(e) "Independent Shareholder" shall mean any person who or
which:
(i) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of one or
more shares of Voting Stock, and
(ii) is not the Interested Shareholder, an Affiliate or an
Associate of the Interested Shareholder or a party to or subject to any
agreement or understanding with the Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of
an Associate thereof for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing
of any shares of Voting Stock; which Interested Shareholder or Affiliate or
Associate of the Interested Shareholder is referred to in the definition of
"Business Combination" in paragraph (b) of Part I of this Article 9.
(f) "Institutional Voting Stock" shall mean any class of
Voting Stock which was issued to and continues to be held solely by one or more
insurance companies, pension funds, commercial banks, savings banks and/or
similar financial institutions or institutional investors.
(g) "Interested Shareholder" shall mean any person (other than
the Corporation or any Subsidiary) who or which:
(i) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more
than 10% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock; or
(ii) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within
the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question, became the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of
the then outstanding Voting Stock; or
(iii) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any
shares of Voting Stock which were at any time within the two-year period
immediately prior to the date in question beneficially owned by any Interested
Shareholder, if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course
of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering
within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.
For the purposes of determining whether a person is an
Interested Shareholder pursuant to this paragraph (g), the number of shares of
Voting Stock deemed to be outstanding shall include shares deemed owned through
application of paragraph (b) of this Part III but shall not include any other
shares of Voting Stock which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or
options, or otherwise.
(h) In the event of any Business Combination in which the
Corporation survives, the phrase "consideration other than cash to be received"
as used in paragraphs (a)(i) and
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(ii) of Part I of this Article 9 shall include the shares of Common Stock and/or
the shares of any other class of outstanding Voting Stock retained by the
holders of such shares.
(i) A "person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or
other entity.
(j) "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which a majority of
any class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of
Interested Shareholder set forth in paragraph (g) of this Part III, the term
"Subsidiary" shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each class of
equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.
(k) "Voting Stock" shall mean each share of stock of the
Corporation generally entitled to vote in elections of Directors.
The directors of the Corporation shall have the power and duty
to determine, for the purposes of this Article 9, on the basis of information
known to them after reasonable inquiry, (a) whether a person is an Interested
Shareholder, (b) whether a person is an Independent Shareholder, (c) the number
of shares of Voting Stock beneficially owned by any person, (d) whether a person
is an Affiliate or Associate of another, (e) whether a class of Voting Stock is
Institutional Voting Stock and (f) whether the assets which are the subject of
any Business Combination have, or the consideration to be received for the
issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation or any Subsidiary in any
Business Combination has, an aggregate Fair Market Value of $1,000,000 or more.
Any such determination made in good faith shall be binding and conclusive on all
parties.
PART IV
Nothing contained in this Article 9 shall be construed to
relieve any Interested Shareholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.
PART V
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles of
Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the fact
that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, these Articles of
Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation), the affirmative vote of the
holders of four-fifths of all classes of stock of this Corporation entitled to
vote in elections of directors, considered for the purposes of this Part V as
one class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provisions
inconsistent with, this Article 9 of these Articles of Incorporation.
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ARTICLE 10
PART I
Subject to the provisions of Part II hereof, the act of the
majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the act of a greater number
is required by law.
PART II
Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors, including a
vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled only
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, though
less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. A director elected to fill a
vacancy, other than a vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors,
shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor. A director elected
to fill a vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors shall be
elected for a term of office continuing only until the next succeeding annual
election of directors of any class.
PART III
Despite any other provisions of these Articles of
Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation (and despite the fact that a
lesser percentage may be specified by law, these Articles of Incorporation or
the Bylaws of the Corporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of
four-fifths of all classes of stock of this Corporation entitled to vote in
elections of directors, considered for the purpose of this Part III as one
class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provisions
inconsistent with, this Article 10 of these Articles of Incorporation.
ARTICLE 11
These articles shall supersede and take the place of the
heretofore existing Articles of Incorporation and all amendments thereto.
A-15
Exhibit B
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. R- ____________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER OCTOBER 31, 2008 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 AGREEMENT.
Right Certificate
WAUSAU-MOSINEE PAPER 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 Agreement, dated as of October 21, 1998 (the "Agreement"), between
Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), and
Xxxxxx Trust and Savings Bank (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company
at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the
Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., Chicago time, on October 31, 2008 at the
principal office of the Rights Agent, or at the office of its successor as
Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company (the
"Preferred Shares"), at a purchase price of $60 per one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this
Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share 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 October 21, 1998, based on the Preferred Shares as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Agreement, the Purchase Price and
the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject
to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Agreement, which terms, provisions and
conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof
and to which 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 Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company
and the offices of the Rights Agent.
B-1
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right
Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be
exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and
date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number
of Preferred Shares 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 Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Right 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 Preferred Shares or shares of the Company's Common Stock, without par value.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the
election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but, in lieu
thereof, a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the 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
Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until
the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for
any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
B-2
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal. Dated as of ___________, ____.
ATTEST: WAUSAU-MOSINEE PAPER CORPORATON
By__________________________________ By_____________________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
XXXXXX TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
By__________________________________
Name:
Title:
B-3
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
________________________________________________________________________________
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________ Attorney, to transfer
the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full
power of substitution.
Dated:_________________________________ ___________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Agreement).
___________________________________
Signature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-4
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 Right Certificate.)
To: Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares
issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for
such Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this 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
B-5
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the 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, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of
the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Agreement) and such Assignment
or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
B-6
Exhibit C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
Introduction
------------
On October 21, 1998, the Board of Directors of Wausau-Mosinee
Paper Corporation (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, without
par value, of the Company (the "Common Shares"). The dividend is payable on
November 6, 1998 (the "Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date.
The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in an Agreement (the
"Agreement") between the Company and Xxxxxx Trust and Savings Bank, as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Purchase Price
--------------
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock of the Company, without par value (the "Preferred Shares"), at a price of
$60 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject
to adjustment.
Flip-In
-------
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (with certain exceptions as noted below) acquires beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (an "Acquiring
Person"), each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the
Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right
to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares having a market value of
two times the exercise price of the Right.
Flip-Over
---------
If 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 after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, each
holder of a Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by Acquiring Person,
which will be void) will thereafter have the right to receive that number of
shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such
transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the
Right.
C-1
Certain Exceptions
------------------
In light of their substantial current ownership positions, the
Rights Plan contains provisions excluding members of the Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx
families and certain of their affiliates and other related persons from the
operation of the adverse terms of the Rights Plan.
Distribution Date
-----------------
The distribution date is the earlier of
(i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons has become an Acquiring Person; or
(ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined
by action of the Board of Directors of the Company 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 any Person becoming an
Acquiring Person.
Transfer and Detachment
-----------------------
Until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced,
with respect to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the
Record Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy of this Summary of
Rights attached thereto. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the
Common Shares, and transfer of those certificates will also constitute transfer
of these Rights.
As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date,
separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be
mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on
the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will thereafter
evidence the Rights.
Exercisability
--------------
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire on October 31, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless
the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed
or exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.
Adjustments
-----------
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of
stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, or certain distributions with
respect to the Preferred Shares. The number of outstanding Rights and the number
of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right
are also subject
C-2
to adjustment if, prior to the Distribution Date, there is a stock split of the
Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares
or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares. 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 Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, 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 market price of the
Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
Preferred Shares
----------------
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will
not be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum
preferential quarterly dividend payment of $10 per share but will be entitled to
an aggregate dividend of 1000 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In
the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled
to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $1000 per share but will be
entitled to an aggregate payment of 1000 times the payment made per Common
Share. Each Preferred Share will have 1000 votes, voting together with the
Common Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other
transaction in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be
entitled to receive 1000 times the amount received per Common Share. These
rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
The value of the one one-thousandth interest in a Preferred
Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should, because of the nature of
the Preferred Shares' dividend, liquidation and voting rights, approximate the
value of one Common Share.
Exchange
--------
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring
Person, and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person, which will
have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common
Share, or one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (subject to adjustment).
Redemption
----------
At any time prior to any person or group becoming an Acquiring
Person, 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"). The
redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time on such basis 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.
C-3
Amendments
----------
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of
Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights,
including an amendment to lower certain thresholds described above to not less
than the greater of (i) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the
outstanding Common Shares then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by
any person or group of affiliated or associated persons (with certain
exceptions) and (ii) 10%, except that from and after such time as any person or
group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person no such
amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.
Rights and Holders
------------------
Until a Right is exercised, 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.
Further Information
-------------------
A copy of the Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
October 28, 1998. A copy of the 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 Agreement, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
C-4
