Exhibit 4.2
COTELLIGENT GROUP, INC.
and
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
as Rights Agent
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of September 24, 1997
Table of Contents
Page
Section 1. Certain Definitions........................................... 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent................................... 6
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.................................. 6
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates................................... 8
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration............................. 9
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Rights Certificates........................................... 10
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights........................................................ 11
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates........... 13
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock; Registration
of Securities................................................. 14
Section 10. Capital Stock Record Date..................................... 15
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights.............................................. 16
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.... 27
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power................................................. 28
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares....................... 31
Section 15. Rights of Action.............................................. 32
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders................................... 33
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder............ 34
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent................................... 34
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent..... 35
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent........................................ 35
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent........................................ 38
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates........................... 39
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.................................... 40
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events...................................... 42
Section 25. Notices....................................................... 43
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments.................................... 43
Section 27. Successors.................................................... 44
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc..... 44
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement.................................... 45
Section 30. Severability.................................................. 45
Section 31. Governing Law................................................. 46
Section 32. Counterparts.................................................. 46
Section 33. Descriptive Headings.......................................... 46
Exhibit A -- Resolution of the Board of Directors with respect to Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock
Exhibit B -- Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C -- Form of Summary of Rights
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of September 24, 1997 (the "Agreement"),
between Cotelligent Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
BankBoston, a national banking association (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on September 9, 1997 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend
distribution of one Right for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the
Company outstanding at the close of business on September 24, 1997, (the "Record
Date") (which for these purposes shall include all Common Shares presently
entitled to receive dividends) and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as
such number may hereafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section
11(p) hereof) for each Common Share of the Company issued between the Record
Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) and
the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined), each Right initially
representing the right to purchase one one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share
(as hereinafter defined) of the Company having the rights, powers and
preferences set forth in the form of the Resolution of the Board of Directors
attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth (the "Rights"); and
WHEREAS, the Rights will be held by the Rights Agent under this
Agreement as trustee for the stockholders of the Company until the Distribution
Date; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has considered whether
approval of this Agreement and the distribution of the Rights is in the best
interests of the Company and all other pertinent factors; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but shall
not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan. 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 outstanding, increases the proportionate
number of Common Shares beneficially owned by such Person to 20% or more of the
Common Shares then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become
the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares by
reason of Common Shares purchased by the Company and shall, after such share
purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common
Shares, then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person."
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a majority of the Continuing Directors then in
office 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 purposes of this Agreement.
(b) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii).
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether such
right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time)
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person
shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own,"
(A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered
securities are accepted for payment, purchase or exchange, or (B)
securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities issuable upon exercise
of Rights from and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event which Rights
were acquired by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section
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11(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made with respect to any
Original Rights;
(ii) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of or
has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), including without
limitation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether
or not in writing; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security under this
subparagraph (ii) as a result of an oral or written agreement, arrangement
or understanding to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or
understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in response
to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in
accordance with, the applicable provisions of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then reportable by
such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report); or
(iii) that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such
Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for
the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable
proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph
(c)) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company,
provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (c) shall cause a person
engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner"
of, or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such person's
participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the
expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of California are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(f) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
San Francisco, California time, on such date; provided, however, that if such
date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., San Francisco, California,
time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
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(g) "Common Share" shall mean a share of Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Company and, to the extent that there are not a
sufficient number of Common Shares authorized to permit the full exercise of the
Rights, shares of any other class or series of the Company designated for such
purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the Common
Shares, except that "Common Share" when used with reference to any Person other
than the Company shall mean the shares of capital stock of such Person with the
greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having
power to control or direct the management, of such Person.
(h) "Continuing Director" shall mean (i) any member of the Board
of Directors of the Company, while such Person is a member of the Board, who is
not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or
a representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate,
and was a member of the Board prior to the date of this Agreement, or (ii) any
Person who subsequently becomes a member of the Board, while such Person is a
member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person or
of any such Affiliate or Associate, if such Person's nomination for election or
election to the Board is recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing
Directors.
(i) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(j) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(k) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a).
(l) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity.
(m) "Preferred Share" shall mean a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company and, to
the extent that there are not a sufficient number of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of the
Rights, shares of any other series of Preferred Stock of the Company designated
for such purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
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(n) "Preferred Share Fraction" shall mean one one-ten thousandth
of a Preferred Share.
(o) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4(a).
(p) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) (A), (B) or (C) hereof.
(q) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause
(x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(r) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(s) "Subsidiary" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(t) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) hereof.
(u) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a) (ii) Event
or any Section 13 Event.
Unless otherwise specified, where reference is made in this
Agreement to sections of, and the General Rules and Regulations under, the
Exchange Act, such reference shall mean such sections and rules as amended from
time to time and any successor provisions thereto.
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Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent.
(a) The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent
for the Company and trustee for the beneficial owners of the Rights (who, in
accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be
the holders of the Common Shares) 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 upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights Agent. The
Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable
for, the acts or omissions of any such Co-Rights Agent.
(b) On the Record Date, the Company will deliver a Rights
Certificate to the Rights Agent, registered in the name of the Rights Agent as
trustee for the beneficial owners of the Rights represented thereby, for that
number of Rights equal to the number of Common Shares issued and outstanding on
the Record Date, and the Rights Agent shall hold the Rights represented thereby
in trust for the beneficial owners in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth
day after a Stock Acquisition Date involving an Acquiring Person that has become
such in a transaction as to which the Board of Directors has not made the
determination referred to in Section 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof or (ii) the close of
business on such date as may be fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company
by notice to the Rights Agent and publicly announced by the Company, which date
shall not be later than 65 days after the date that a tender or exchange offer
by any person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any
employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any
Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given
within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person would be the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (the
earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"),
(x) beneficial interests in the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for the
Common Shares registered in the names of the holders of the Common Shares (which
certificates for Common Shares shall be deemed also to be certificates for
beneficial interests in the Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y)
the Rights and beneficial interests therein will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of the underlying Common Shares (including a
transfer to the Company). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date,
the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to
each record holder of the Common Shares as of the close of business
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on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of
the Company, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the form of
Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each
Common Share so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event
that an adjustment in the number of Rights per Common Share has been made
pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights
Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding
adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights
Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash
is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date,
the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates. Upon the
distribution of the Rights Certificates as provided in this subsection (a), the
trust created hereby shall cease.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form of
Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage prepaid
mail, to each record holder of the 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 the Common Shares outstanding as of
the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, beneficial interests in the Rights
will be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Shares and the registered
holders of the Common Shares shall also be the registered holders of the
beneficial interests in the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such term is defined in Section 7
hereof), the transfer of any certificates representing Common Shares in respect
of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of the
Rights associated with such Common Shares. Certificates issued after the Record
Date upon the transfer of Common Shares outstanding on the Record Date shall
bear the legend set forth in subsection (c).
(c) Except as provided in Section 22 hereof, Rights shall be
issued in respect of all Common Shares that are issued (whether originally
issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) after the Record Date but prior
to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates
representing such Common Shares shall also be deemed to be certificates for
beneficial interests in the associated Rights, and shall bear the following
legend:
"This certificate also evidences a beneficial interest in and
entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights
Agreement between Cotelligent Group, Inc. (the "Company") and BankBoston,
N.A. (the "Rights Agent"), dated as of September 24, 1997 (the "Rights
Agreement"), and as the same may be amended from time to time, the terms of
which are
7
hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at
the principal offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set
forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate
certificates and beneficial interests therein will no longer be evidenced
by this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this
certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of
mailing, without charge, promptly after receipt of a written request
therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement,
Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an
Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of
such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void."
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, beneficial
interests in the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such
certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered
holders of Common Shares shall also be the registered holders of beneficial
interests in the associated Rights, and the transfer of any of such certificates
shall also constitute the transfer of beneficial interests in the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks
of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11
and 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall entitle the
holders thereof to purchase such number of Preferred Share Fractions as shall be
set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per
Preferred Share Fraction, the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of
securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price
thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights that the Company knows are beneficially
owned by: (i) an
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Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such or (iii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming
such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not
for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in
such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing oral or written plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors
of the Company has determined is part of an oral or written plan, agreement,
arrangement or understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance
of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6
or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the
extent feasible) the following legend:
"The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were beneficially
owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented
hereby may become null and void in the circumstances specified in Section
7(e) of such Agreement."
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its
President, its Chief Executive Officer or any Executive Vice President, either
manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's
seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary of the
Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates
shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for
any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer
of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be
countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with
the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights
Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights
Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the
actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Rights
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Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such
person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep
or cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the
appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the Rights Certificates, the Certificate number and the date of each
of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 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 Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate
or Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another
Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase
a like number of Preferred Share Fractions (or, following a Triggering Event,
Common Shares or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be, as
the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder or
former holder in the case of a transfer to purchase). Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or
Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent,
and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred,
split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office or offices of the Rights
Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company
shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of
any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the
reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or
Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 14 hereof,
countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or
exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably
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satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of
all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights
Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will
execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent
for countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights
Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) Subject to subsection (e), the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price (except as
provided in Section 11(q) hereof) with respect to the total number of Preferred
Share Fractions (or Common Shares, other securities, cash or other assets, as
the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable
(except as provided in Section 11(q) hereof), at or prior to the earliest of (i)
the close of business on September 24, 2007 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii)
the consummation of a transaction contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof, or (iii)
the time at which the Rights are redeemed or terminated as provided in Section
23 hereof (the earlier of (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein referred to as the
"Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each Preferred Share Fraction
pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $90.00, and shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13(a)
hereof and shall be payable in accordance with subsection (c).
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate
duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised,
of the Purchase Price per Preferred Share Fraction (or Common Shares, other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased as set
forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax, the Rights Agent
shall, subject to Section 20(k) and Section 14(b) hereof, thereupon promptly (i)
(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make
available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such Shares)
certificates for the total number of Preferred Shares to be purchased and the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit some or all of the
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total number of Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder
with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary
receipts representing such number of Preferred Share Fractions as are to be
purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by
such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary
agent) and the Company will direct the depositary agent to comply with such
request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be
paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii)
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 Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of
the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof) may be made, at the election of the holder of the Rights Certificate,
(x) in cash or by certified bank check or money order payable to the order of
the Company or (y) by delivery of Rights if and to the extent authorized by
Section 11(q) hereof. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other
securities of the Company (including Common Shares) pay cash and/or distribute
other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all
arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property
are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names
as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14
hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
the Acquiring Person has any continuing oral or written plan, agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of an oral or
written plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary
purpose
12
or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void without
any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever
with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise; provided, however, that the Rights held by an Acquiring Person, an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or the transferees of such persons
referred to above shall not be voided unless the Acquiring Person in question or
an Affiliate or Associate of such Acquiring Person shall be involved in the
transaction giving rise to the Section 11(a)(ii) Event. The Company shall use
all reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but neither the Company nor the Rights
Agent shall have any liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or other
Person as a result of the Company's failure to make any determinations with
respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees
hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for
such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request
of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case
shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
13
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock;
Registration of Securities.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding Rights
as many of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued Common
Shares and/or other securities or out of its authorized and issued shares held
in its treasury), which together shall at all times after the Distribution Date
be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the Preferred Shares (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Shares or other securities) issuable
and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national
securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and
after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares and other
securities reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon
official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon
as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the
Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the
Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement or statements
under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), with respect to the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form or forms, (ii)
cause such registration statement or statements to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration statement or
statements to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the
Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and (B) the date of the
expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such action as may be
appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety
(90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this
subsection (c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file
such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification
in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (and, following a
Triggering Event, Common Shares or other securities) delivered upon exercise of
Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares or
other securities (subject to payment of the
14
Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and, with respect to
Preferred Shares, Common Shares or other shares of capital stock, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges
that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates and of any certificates for a number of Preferred Share Fractions
(or Common Shares or other securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of
Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax that
may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to
a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of Preferred Share
Fractions (or Common Shares or other securities, as the case may be) in respect
of a name other than that of the registered holder of the Rights Certificates
evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any
certificates for a number of Preferred Share Fractions (or Common Shares or
other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the
registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been
paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the
time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Capital Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for a number of Preferred Share Fractions (or Common Shares or other
securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Preferred
Share Fractions (or Common Shares or other securities, as the case may be)
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which
the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment
of the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided,
however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the
applicable transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed
to have become the record holder of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which
the applicable transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of
the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be
entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares
for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the
right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any
preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any
proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
15
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares and other
securities 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 any security of the Company
payable in Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred
Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number
of 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) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price
in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the
effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and
the number and kind of Preferred Shares or capital stock, as the case may
be, issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the
holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive,
upon payment of the adjusted Purchase Price, the aggregate number and kind
of Preferred Shares or capital stock, as the case may be, that, if such
Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when
the Preferred Share transfer books were open, such holder would have owned
upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend,
subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event occurs which
would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i)
shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment
required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event:
(A) any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of
any Acquiring Person, at any time after the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (1) shall merge into the Company or otherwise
combine with the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such merger or combination and the Common
Shares of the Company or other equity securities of the Company shall
remain outstanding, (2) shall, in one transaction or a series of
transactions, transfer any assets to the Company or to any of its
Subsidiaries in exchange (in whole or in part) for Common Shares, for
shares of other equity securities of the Company, or for securities
exercisable for or convertible into shares of equity securities of the
Company (Common Shares or otherwise) or otherwise obtain from the
Company, with or without consideration, any additional shares of such
equity securities or securities exercisable for or convertible into
shares of such equity securities (other than pursuant to a pro rata
distribution to all holders of Common Shares), (3) shall sell,
purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
16
otherwise acquire or dispose of assets in one transaction or a series
of transactions, to, from or with (as the case may be) the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, on terms and conditions less favorable to the
Company than the Company would be able to obtain in arm's-length
negotiation with an unaffiliated third party, other than pursuant to a
Section 13 Event, (4) shall sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage,
pledge, transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose of assets having an
aggregate fair market value of more than $5,000,000 in one transaction
or a series of transactions, to, from or with (as the case may be) the
Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries (other than incidental to
the lines of business, if any, engaged in as of the date hereof
between the Company and such Acquiring Person or Associate or
Affiliate), other than pursuant to a Section 13 Event, (5) shall
receive any compensation from the Company or any of the Company's
Subsidiaries other than compensation for full-time employment as a
regular employee at rates in accordance with the Company's (or its
Subsidiaries') past practices, or (6) shall receive the benefit,
directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder and
except if resulting from a requirement of law or governmental
regulation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other
financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantage
provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
(B) any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized,
appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan), alone or together with its Affiliates and
Associates, shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration
Date, become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares
then outstanding, unless the event causing the 20% threshold to be
crossed is a Section 13 Event, or is an acquisition of Common Shares
pursuant to a tender offer or an exchange offer for all outstanding
Common Shares at a price and on terms that provide fair value to all
stockholders, as determined by at least a majority of the Continuing
Directors, after taking into consideration all factors that such
members of the Board of Directors deem relevant, including, without
limitation, the long-term prospects and value of the Company and the
prices and terms that such members of the Board of Directors believe,
in good faith, could reasonably be achieved if the Company or its
assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum
value, or
17
(C) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there
shall be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse
stock split), or recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or
consolidation of the Company with any of its Subsidiaries or any other
transaction or series of transactions involving the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, other than a Section 13 Event or series of such
Events (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an
Acquiring Person) that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of
increasing by more than 1% the proportionate share of the outstanding
shares of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that is directly or indirectly beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring
Person,
then, promptly following the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right
(except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current
Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu
of a number of Preferred Share Fractions, such number of Common Shares
of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying
the then current Purchase Price by the then number of Preferred Share
Fractions for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the
first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that
product (which, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter be
referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all
purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the current market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Common Share on the
date of such first occurrence (such number of shares, the "Adjustment
Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of Common Shares that are
authorized by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,
but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than
upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the exercise
in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph
(ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall: (A) determine the
excess of the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the
exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over the Purchase Price
(such excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make
adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon
payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in
the Purchase Price, (3) Common Shares of the same or a different class
or other equity securities of the Company (including, without
limitation, preferred shares or units of preferred shares that a
majority of the Continuing Directors in office at the time has
18
deemed (based, among other things, on the dividend and liquidation rights
of such preferred shares) to have substantially the same economic value as
Common Shares (such preferred shares, hereinafter referred to as "common
share equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets,
or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to
the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by a
majority of the Continuing Directors in office at the time after
considering the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, if
the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value
pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of
(x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on
which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires
(the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver,
upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of
the Purchase Price, Common Shares (to the extent available) and then, if
necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to
the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in
good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional Common Shares could
be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty
(30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary,
but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger
Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the
authorization of such additional shares (such period, as it may be
extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company
determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or
second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company shall provide,
subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to
all outstanding Rights, and may suspend the exercisability of the Rights
until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any
authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of
distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine
the value thereof. The Company shall make a public announcement when the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, and again when
such suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section
11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Shares shall be the current market
price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Common Share on
the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any "common share
equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares on
such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance
of rights, options or warrants to holders of any security of the Company
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such
19
record date) 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 per equivalent preferred share (or having a
conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or
equivalent preferred shares) less than the current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Preferred Share 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 that 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). In case such subscription price may be paid
by delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than
cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent and the 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 or warrants are
not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price
that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Shares (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular
quarterly dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company),
assets (other than a regular quarterly dividend referred to above or dividend
payable in Preferred Shares, but including any dividend payable in stock other
than 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 current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per Preferred Share on such record date, less the then 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 conclusive for all
20
purposes) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to
be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a
Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be such current market price
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Preferred Share. Such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and
in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current
market price" per Common Share on any date shall be deemed to be the
average of the daily closing prices per Common Share for the thirty (30)
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately
prior to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current market price" per Common Share on
any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per
Common Share for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately
following such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current
market price per Common Share is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Common Share of (A) a dividend or
distribution on such Common Share payable in Common Shares or securities
convertible into Common Shares (other than the Rights), or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Common Shares, and
prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten
(10) Trading Day period, as set forth above, 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
market price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend
trading. The closing price for each Trading 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 Common Shares 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 Common Shares are
listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Shares are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted
price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System
("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the
Common Shares are not quoted by any such organization, the
21
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Common Shares selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a
market in the Common Shares, the fair value of such shares on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be
used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal
national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Shares are not publicly
held or not so listed or traded, "current market price" per share shall
mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all
purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current
market price" per Preferred Share shall be determined in the same manner as
set forth above for the Common Shares in clause (i) of this Section 11(d)
(other than the last sentence thereof). If the current market price per
Preferred Share cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the
Preferred Shares are not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner
described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the "current market price"
per Preferred Share shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to
10,000 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as
stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalization with respect to the
Common Shares occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the
current market price per Common Share. If neither the Common Shares nor the
Preferred Shares are publicly held or so listed or traded, "current market
price" per Preferred Share shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent
and shall be conclusive for all purposes. For all purposes of this
Agreement, the "current market price" of a Preferred Share Fraction shall
be equal to the "current market price" of one Preferred Share divided by
10,000.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a Common
Share or one one-hundred millionth of a Preferred Share, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this subsection (e), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be
22
made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the
transaction that mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised
shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than
Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon
exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares contained in
Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (m) and (q), and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 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 Preferred Share
Fractions purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights,
all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in subsections (b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
Preferred Share Fractions (calculated to the nearest one one-hundred millionth
of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of Preferred
Share Fractions covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y)
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the
Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price
in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment
of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment
in the number of Preferred Share Fractions purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of
Rights shall be exercisable for the number of Preferred Share Fractions 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 ten-thousandth of a Preferred
Share) 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
23
of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the
time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. The record date for the
adjustment may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day
thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least
ten (10) days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights
Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights
pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable,
cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such
record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the
additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such
adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to
such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights
Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon
surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option
of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the
names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of Preferred Share Fractions issuable upon the exercise of
the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may
continue to express the Purchase Price per Preferred Share Fraction and the
number of Preferred Share Fractions that were expressed in the initial Rights
Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then stated or par value, if any, of the
number of Preferred Share Fractions issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the
Company shall take any corporate action that may, in the opinion of its counsel,
be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue such number
of fully paid and nonassessable Preferred Share Fractions at such adjusted
Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the number of Preferred Share Fractions and other capital stock or securities of
the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of
Preferred Share Fractions 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
24
(fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the
Company shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or
subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any
Preferred Shares at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly
for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible
into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance
of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by
the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such
stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary
of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or
(iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one
transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other person or persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other
instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect that would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section
13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
in the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date and prior
25
to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on the outstanding Common Shares
payable in Common Shares, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of shares, the
number of Rights associated with each Common Share then outstanding, or issued
or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each Common Share following any such event shall equal the result obtained by
multiplying the number of Rights associated with each Common Share immediately
prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the total
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the
event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
(q) In the event that the Rights become exercisable following a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Company, by action of a majority of the Continuing
Directors in office at the time, may permit the Rights, subject to Section 7(e)
hereof, to be exercised for 50% of the Common Shares (or cash or other
securities or assets to be substituted for the Adjustment Shares pursuant to
subsection (a)(iii)) that would otherwise be purchasable under subsection (a),
in consideration of the surrender to the Company of the Rights so exercised and
without other payment of the Purchase Price. Rights exercised under this
subsection (q) shall be deemed to have been exercised in full and shall be
cancelled.
26
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13
hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Preferred Shares and the Common Shares, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail
a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to
the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing Common
Shares) 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 deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment
unless and until it shall have received such a certificate.
27
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with
and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not
be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y)
any person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or
into, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such
consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding Common Shares shall be
changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or
cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer
(or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in each such case and except as
contemplated by subsection (d), proper provision shall be made so that:
(i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in
Section 7(e) hereof or subsection (e), shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized
and issued, fully paid, non assessable and freely tradeable Common Shares of the
Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens,
encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal
to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the
number of Preferred Share Fractions for which a Right is exercisable immediately
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event,
multiplying the number of such shares for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first occurrence), and
dividing that product (which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all
purposes of this Agreement) by (2) 50% of the current market price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per Common Share of such Principal Party on
the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event,
28
(ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for,
and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;
(iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer
to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of
Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event;
(iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares)
in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary
to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly
as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights; and
(v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of
no effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x)
or (y) of the first sentence of subsection (a), the Person that is the issuer of
any securities into which Common Shares of the Company are converted in such
merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is
the other party to such merger or consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z)
of the first sentence of subsection (a), the Person that is the party receiving
the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Shares of such
Person are not at such time and have not been continuously over the preceding
twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and
such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common
Shares of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer
to such other Person, and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Shares of two or more of which
are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of
such Persons is the issuer of the Common Shares having the greatest aggregate
market value.
29
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
authorized shares of its Common Shares that have not been issued or reserved for
issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this
Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13
and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any Section
13 event, the Principal Party will
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after such
filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the Expiration Date; and
(ii) will deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates that
comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under
the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Section 13 Event
shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the
Rights that have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become
exercisable solely in the manner described in Section 13(a).
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 13 (other than this subsection (d)) shall not be applicable to, and the
term "Section 13 Event" shall not include, a transaction described in
subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is
consummated with a Person, or Persons who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a
tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding Common Shares that complies
with the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof (or a wholly owned Subsidiary
of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per Common Share offered in such
transaction is not less than the price per Common Share paid to all holders of
Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such tender offer or
exchange offer and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the
remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the same as
the form of consideration paid pursuant to such tender or exchange offer. Upon
consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this subsection (d), all
Rights hereunder shall expire.
30
(e) In the event that the Rights become exercisable under
subsection (a) (except as provided in subsection (d)), the Company, by action of
a majority of the Continuing Directors in office at the time, may agree with the
Principal Party that the Principal Party shall permit the Rights to be exercised
for 50% of the Common Shares of the Principal Party that would otherwise be
purchasable under subsection (a), in consideration of the surrender to the
Principal Party, as the successor to the Company under subsection (a) (ii), of
the Rights so exercised and without other payment of the Purchase Price. Rights
exercised under this subsection (e) shall be deemed to have been exercised in
full and shall be cancelled.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p)
hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates that evidence fractional Rights. In
lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of
the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this subsection (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 of the Rights for
any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or
admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market,
as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such date
the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market
in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such
date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights the fair value of the
Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional
31
Preferred Shares, except in each case for fractions which are integral multiples
of Preferred Shares. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not
integral multiples of Preferred Shares, the Company may pay to the registered
holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a Preferred Share. For purposes of this subsection (b), the current
market value of one Preferred Share shall be the closing price of a Preferred
Share (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company
shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares upon exercise of the
Rights or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional Common Shares. In
lieu of fractional Common Shares, the Company may pay to the registered holders
of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided
an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one
Common Share. For purposes of this subsection (c), the current market value of
one Common Share shall be the closing price of one Common Share (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right or a beneficial interest in a Right by
the acceptance thereof expressly waives his right to receive any fractional
Rights or any fractional Common Shares upon exercise of a Right, except as
permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Rights 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 Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights or beneficial interests
therein, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights or
beneficial interests therein would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
32
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right or a
beneficial interest in a Right by accepting the same consents and agrees with
the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other such holder that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, beneficial interests in the
Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common
Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company
and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Share
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Share certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or a beneficial interest in a Right or other Person as a result of
its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason
of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling
issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or
executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority,
prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; provided,
however, the Company must use its best efforts to have any such order, decree or
ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
33
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of Preferred
Share Fractions or any other securities of the Company (including the Common
Shares) that may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a 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 24 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate
shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent and its
directors, officers, employees and agents, for and to hold each of them harmless
against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done
or omitted by the Rights Agent or any such indemnified party in connection with
the acceptance or administration of this Agreement or the exercise of its duties
hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with its administration of this Agreement or the exercise of its
duties hereunder in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for
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(a).
34
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to
the corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation
would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the
provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent
shall succeed to the agency and trust created by this Agreement, any of the
Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such
successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights
Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any
successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the
name of the predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all
such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the
Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates
or beneficial interests in the Rights, by their acceptance thereof, shall be
bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Company), and the written opinion or advice 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 or advice.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and
the determination of "current market price") be proved or established by the
Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter
(unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may
be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by
any person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the
Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, the
Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of
the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be
full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good
faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.
35
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable to the Company hereunder in
the event of loss, liability or damages only for its own gross negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any
of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of any provision of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights or any adjustment required under the provisions of
this Agreement or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such
adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any
such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by
any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any Common Shares to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any Common Shares or
Preferred Shares will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by
the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the Vice
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, the
Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of
the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in
connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or
suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any
such officer. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from
the Company may, at the
36
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 five
Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written
instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken
or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, 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 the Rights
Agent under this Agreement and none of such actions shall constitute a breach of
trust. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other
capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights
or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by
or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable
or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys
or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct; provided, however, that the Rights Agent was not grossly
negligent in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability
in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such
funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to
the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form
of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either
not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
37
(l) The Rights Agent undertakes only the express duties and
obligations imposed on it by this Agreement and no implied duties or obligations
shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.
(m) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
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).
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first- class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon
thirty (30) days' prior written notice mailed to the Rights Agent or successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common
Shares and Preferred Shares, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders
of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign
or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall
appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized, doing business
and in good standing under the laws of the United States or of any state, that
is authorized by law to exercise corporate trust and stock transfer powers and
is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and that
has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and
surplus adequate in the judgment of a majority of Continuing Directors in office
at the time to assure the performance of its duties hereunder and the protection
of the interests of the Company and the holders of Rights or beneficial
interests therein, or (b) an Affiliate of a corporation described in clause (a)
of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested
with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Shares and Preferred
38
Shares and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates or, prior to the Distribution Date, to the registered
holders of the Common Shares. Failure to give any notice provided for in this
Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or
validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of
the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or
other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance, sale or delivery of Common Shares following the Distribution
Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a)
shall, with respect to Common Shares so issued, sold or delivered pursuant to
the exercise of stock options, stock appreciation rights, grants or awards
outstanding on the Distribution Date under any benefit plan or arrangement for
employees or directors, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
securities outstanding on the Record Date or hereinafter issued by the Company,
and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board
of Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the
appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided,
however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the
extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would
create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or
the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
39
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at
any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth day
following a Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall have
occurred prior to the Record Date, the close of business on the tenth day
following the Record Date), or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but
not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per
Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price") and
the Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares
(based on the "current market price", as defined in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of
the Common Shares at the time of redemption) or cash; provided, however, if the
Board of Directors of the Company authorizes redemption of the Rights in either
of the circumstances set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this proviso, then
there must be Continuing Directors then in office and such authorization shall
require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing Directors if: (i) such
authorization occurs on or after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
or (ii) such authorization occurs on or after the date of a change (resulting
from a proxy or consent solicitation) in a majority of the directors in office
at the commencement of such solicitation if any Person who is a participant in
such solicitation has stated (or, if upon the commencement of such solicitation,
a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company has determined in good
faith) that such Person (or any of its Affiliates or Associates) intends to
take, or may consider taking, any action that would result in such Person
becoming an Acquiring Person or that would cause the occurrence of a Triggering
Event unless, concurrent with such solicitation, such Person (or one or more of
its Affiliates or Associates) is making a cash tender offer pursuant to a
Schedule 14D-1 (or any successor form) filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission for all outstanding Common Shares not beneficially owned by such
Person (or by its Affiliates or Associates); provided further, however, that if,
following the occurrence of a Stock Acquisition Date and following the
expiration of the right of redemption hereunder but prior to any Triggering
Event, (i) an Acquiring Person shall have transferred or otherwise disposed of a
number of Common Shares in one transaction or series of transactions, not
directly or indirectly involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which
did not result in the occurrence of a Triggering Event or the Company (with the
approval of the majority of Continuing Directors) shall have issued additional
equity securities, in either instance such that such Person is thereafter a
Beneficial Owner of 10% or less of the outstanding Common Shares, and (ii) there
is no other Acquiring Person immediately following the occurrence of the event
described in clause (i), then the right of redemption shall be reinstated and
thereafter be subject to the provisions of this Section 23. Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be
exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event until such
time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has expired.
40
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been
filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption
to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing
such notice to all such holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common Shares. Any notice that
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.
(c) In deciding whether or not to exercise the Company's right
of redemption hereunder, the directors of the Company shall act in good faith,
in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the Company
and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, skill and diligence, as a
person of ordinary prudence would use under similar circumstances.
41
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly dividend out of earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of 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, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares
(other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding
Preferred Shares), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with
any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or
to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer),
in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a
Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25
hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date
for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or
the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of
participation therein by the holders of Preferred Shares, if any such date is to
be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by
clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the record date for
determining holders of Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the
case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of
the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the
holders of Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, (i) the
Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right,
to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of
the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all
references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred Shares shall be deemed
thereafter to refer to Common Shares and/or, if appropriate, other securities.
42
Section 25. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Cotelligent Group, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
BankBoston, N.A.
c/o Boston EquiServe
Blue Hills Office Park
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Mail Stop 45-02-62
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date to the holder of certificates representing Common
Shares) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the
registry books of the Company.
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments.
(a) Prior to the Distribution Date and subject to the
penultimate sentence of this Section 26, the Company and the Rights Agent shall,
if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement
without the approval of any holders of certificates representing Common Shares.
From and after the Distribution Date and subject to the penultimate sentence of
this Section 26, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders
of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder, or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any
manner that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates; provided,
this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to
clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may
be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other
time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing
or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon
the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that
states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms
of this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) no
supplement or amendment shall be made that changes the Redemption Price, the
Final Expiration Date, the Purchase Price or the number of Preferred Share
Fractions for which a Right is exercisable, (ii) any supplement or amendment
shall be effective only if there are Continuing Directors and shall require the
concurrence of a majority of such Continuing Directors if: (x) such supplement
or amendment occurs on or after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
or (y) such supplement or amendment occurs on or after the date of a change
(resulting from a proxy or consent solicitation) in a majority of the directors
in office at the commencement of such solicitation if any Person who is a
participant in such solicitation has stated (or, if upon the commencement of
such solicitation, a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined in good faith) that such Person (or any of its Affiliates or
Associates) intends to take, or may consider taking, any action that would
result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person or that would cause the
occurrence of a Triggering Event unless, concurrent with such solicitation, such
Person (or one or more of its Affiliates or Associates) is making a cash tender
offer pursuant to a Schedule 14D-1 (or any successor form) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for all outstanding Common Shares not
beneficially owned by such Person (or by its Affiliates or Associates);, and
(iii) no supplement or amendment that changes the rights and duties of the
Rights Agent under this Agreement shall be effective without the consent of the
Rights Agent. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the beneficial
owners of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of
Common Shares.
43
(b) In deciding whether or not to supplement or amend this
Agreement, the directors of the Company shall act in good faith, in a manner
they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the Company and with such
care, including reasonable inquiry, skill and diligence, as a person of ordinary
prudence would use under similar circumstances, and they may consider the
effects of any action upon employees, suppliers and customers of the Company and
upon communities in which offices or other establishments of the Company are
located, and all other pertinent factors.
Section 27. 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 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common
Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining
the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person
is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of
Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
The Board of Directors of the Company (with, where specifically provided for
herein, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors) shall have the exclusive
power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and
powers specifically granted to the Board (with, where specifically provided for
herein, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors) or to the Company, or as
may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the
provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary
or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination
to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend or supplement the Agreement). All
such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for
purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that
are done or made by the Board (with, where specifically provided for herein, the
concurrence of the Continuing Directors) in good faith, shall (x) be final,
conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the
Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board or the Continuing
Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
44
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 Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of 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 Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of 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 for any purpose or under
any set of circumstances or as applied to any Person, such invalid, void or
unenforceable term, provision, covenant or restriction shall continue in effect
to the maximum extent possible for all other purposes, under all other
circumstances and as applied to all other Persons; and the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the
tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.
Without limiting the foregoing, if any provisions requiring that a determination
be made by less than the entire Board (or at a time or with the concurrence of a
group of directors consisting of less than the entire Board) is held by a court
of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, such determination shall then be made by the Board in accordance
with applicable law and the Company's articles of incorporation and by-laws.
45
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such jurisdiction applicable to
contracts made and to be performed entirely within such jurisdiction.
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.
46
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
COTELLIGENT GROUP, INC.
By
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
By
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
47
EXHIBIT A
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
COTELLIGENT GROUP, INC.
ESTABLISHING & DESIGNATING
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
AS A SERIES OF THE SERIES PREFERRED STOCK
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority expressly vested in the Board
of Directors of Cotelligent Group, Inc. (the "Corporation") by Article Four of
the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Corporation, the Board of
Directors hereby fixes and determines the voting rights, designations,
preferences, qualifications, privileges, limitations, restrictions, options,
conversion rights and other special or relative rights of a series of the
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, which shall consist of 2,500 shares
and shall be designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the
"Series A Preferred Shares").
Special Terms of the Series A Preferred Shares
Section 1. Dividends and Distributions.
(a) The rate of dividends payable per share of Series A Preferred
Shares on the first day of January, April, July and October in each year or such
other quarterly payment date as shall be specified by the Board of Directors
(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 the Series A Preferred Shares,
shall be (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (i) $0.01 or (ii)
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 10,000 times the
aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 10,000 times the aggregate
per share amount (payable in cash, based upon the fair market value at the time
the non-cash dividend or other distribution is declared or paid as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors) 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, $.01 par value, of the Corporation
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 the Series A Preferred Shares. Dividends
on the Series A Preferred Shares shall be paid out of funds legally available
for such purpose. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after September
24, 1997 (the "Rights Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares
of Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
-A-1-
smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amounts to which holders of
Series A Preferred Shares were entitled immediately prior to such event under
clause (ii) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying each 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.
(b) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
Series A Preferred Shares from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such Series A Preferred 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 Series A Preferred Shares 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 Series A Preferred Shares 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.
Section 2. Voting Rights. In addition to any other voting rights
required by law, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall have the
following voting rights:
(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each Series A Preferred Share shall entitle the holder thereof to 10,000 votes
on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In
the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date
(i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each
such case the number of votes per share to which holders of Series A Preferred
Shares 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.
(b) In the event that dividends upon the Series A Preferred Shares
shall be in arrears to an amount equal to six full quarterly dividends thereon,
the holders of such Series A Preferred Shares shall become entitled to the
extent hereinafter provided to vote noncumulatively at all elections of
directors of the Corporation, and to receive notice of all stockholders'
meetings to be held for such purpose. At such meetings, to the extent that
-A-2-
directors are being elected, the holders of such Series A Preferred Shares
voting as a class shall be entitled solely to elect two members of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation; and all other directors of the Corporation shall
be elected by the other stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote in the
election of directors. Such voting rights of the holders of such Series A
Preferred Shares shall continue until all accumulated and unpaid dividends
thereon shall have been paid or funds sufficient therefor set aside, whereupon
all such voting rights of the holders of shares of such series shall cease,
subject to being again revived from time to time upon the reoccurrence of the
conditions above described as giving rise thereto.
At any time when such right to elect directors separately as a class
shall have so vested, the Corporation may, and upon the written request of the
holders of record of not less than 20% of the then outstanding total number of
shares of all the Series A Preferred Shares having the right to elect directors
in such circumstances shall, call a special meeting of holders of such Series A
Preferred Shares for the election of directors. In the case of such a written
request, such special meeting shall be held within 90 days after the delivery of
such request, and, in either case, at the place and upon the notice provided by
law and in the By-laws of the Corporation; provided, that the Corporation shall
not be required to call such a special meeting if such request is received less
than 120 days before the date fixed for the next ensuing annual or special
meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. Upon the mailing of the notice of
such special meeting to the holders of such Series A Preferred Shares, or, if no
such meeting be held, then upon the mailing of the notice of the next annual or
special meeting of stockholders for the election of directors, the number of
directors of the Corporation shall, ipso facto, be increased to the extent, but
only to the extent, necessary to provide sufficient vacancies to enable the
holders of such Series A Preferred Shares to elect the two directors hereinabove
provided for, and all such vacancies shall be filled only by vote of the holders
of such Series A Preferred Shares as hereinabove provided. Whenever the number
of directors of the Corporation shall have been increased, the number as so
increased may thereafter be further increased or decreased in such manner as may
be permitted by the By-laws and without the vote of the holders of Series A
Preferred Shares, provided that no such action shall impair the right of the
holders of Series A Preferred Shares to elect and to be represented by two
directors as herein provided.
So long as the holders of Series A Preferred Shares are entitled
hereunder to voting rights, any vacancy in the Board of Directors caused by the
death or resignation of any director elected by the holders of Series A
Preferred Shares, shall, until the next meeting of shareholders for the election
of directors, in each case be filled by the remaining director elected by the
holders of Series A Preferred Shares having the right to elect directors in such
circumstances.
-A-3-
Upon termination of the voting rights of the holders of any series of
Series A Preferred Shares the terms of office of all persons who shall have been
elected directors of the Corporation by vote of the holders of Series A
Preferred Shares or by a director elected by such holders shall forthwith
terminate.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the articles of the
Corporation or by law, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares and the holders
of Common Stock (and the holders of shares of any other series or class entitled
to vote thereon) shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a
vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
Section 3. Reacquired Shares. Any Series A Preferred Shares 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 Series Preferred
Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Series Preferred Stock to
be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. In the event of
any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to
receive the greater of (a) $100 per share, plus accrued dividends to the date of
distribution, whether or not earned or declared, or (b) an amount per share,
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 10,000
times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common
Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
then in each such case the amount to which holders of Series A Preferred Shares
were entitled immediately prior to such event pursuant to 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
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.
Section 5. 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 the Series A
Preferred Shares shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an
amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth)
equal to 10,000 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
-A-4-
Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, 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 Shares 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.
Section 6. No Redemption. The Series A Preferred Shares shall not be
redeemable.
Section 7. Ranking. The Series A Preferred Shares shall rank junior
to all other series of the Corporation's Series Preferred Stock as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any
such series shall provide otherwise.
Section 8. Fractional Shares. Series A Preferred Shares may be issued
in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series A Preferred Shares.
-A-5-
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- ___________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 OR AFTER EARLIER REDEMPTION BY
THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY,
AT $.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]*
----------
* The bracketed portion of the legend shall be inserted only if applicable and
shall replace the preceding sentence.
-B-1-
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
This certifies that _______________________, or registered assigns, is
the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between Cotelligent Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
BankBoston, N.A., a national banking association (the "Rights Agent"), to
purchase from the Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (San Francisco,
California time) on September 24, 2007 at the office or offices of the Rights
Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one
one-ten thousandth of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Share") of the Company, at a
purchase price (the "Purchase Price") of $90.00 per one one-ten thousandth of a
Preferred Share (such fraction, a "Preferred Share Fraction"), upon presentation
and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase
and related Certificate duly executed. Except as provided in Sections 11(q) and
13(e) of the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price shall be paid in cash. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of
Preferred Share Fractions that may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth
above, and the Purchase Price per Preferred Share Fraction set forth above, are
the number and Purchase Price as of September 24, 1997, based on the Preferred
Shares as constituted at such date. Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Rights Agreement.
Except as otherwise provided in the Rights Agreement, upon the
occurrence of any Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially
owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such
Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a
transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or (iii) under
certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a
person who, after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void and no
holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after
the occurrence of any such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of Preferred Shares or other securities that may be purchased upon the
exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including
Triggering Events.
-B-2-
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Share Fractions as the Rights
evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall
have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights
not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a
redemption price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the close
of business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such
time period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii) the
Final Expiration Date. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights
Agreement, the decision to redeem shall require the concurrence of a majority of
the Continuing Directors.
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 a Preferred Share, which may, as the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Preferred Shares or
of any other securities of the Company (including Common Shares) that may at any
time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the
Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or, to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
-B-3-
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Dated as of ____________ ___, 19__
ATTEST
By
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Secretary Title:
Countersigned
By
------------------------------------
Authorized Officer
-B-4-
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ________________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto _____________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney,
to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ______________ ___, 19__
--------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate **[] is **[] is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
**[] did **[] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
-B-5-
Dated: __________________, 19__ --------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signatures to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
-B-6-
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights
represented by the Rights Certificate.)
To:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________ Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights (or Common Shares or such other securities of
the Company or of any other person that may be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of
and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance 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: ______________ ___, 19__
--------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
-B-7-
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate **[ ] are **[ ]
are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it **[ ] did **[ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: __________________, 19__ --------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signatures to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
-B-8-
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On September 24, 1997 the Board of Directors of Cotelligent Group,
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
outstanding share of Common Stock, $.01 par value (each, a "Common Share") of
the Company to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 24,
1997. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a
unit consisting of one one-ten thousandth of a share (a "Unit") of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company
(the "Preferred Shares"), or a combination of securities and assets of
equivalent value, at a Purchase Price of $90.00 per Unit, subject to adjustment.
The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the
"Rights Agreement") between the Company and BankBoston, N.A. as Rights Agent.
Initially, ownership of the Rights will be evidenced by the Common
Share certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common
Shares and a Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
(the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) the close of business on such date as
may be fixed by the Board of Directors, which date shall not be more than 65
days following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would
result in a person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by
the Common Share certificates and will be transferred with and only with such
Common Share certificates, (ii) new Common Share certificates issued after
September 24, 1997, will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement
by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common
Shares outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Shares represented by such certificate.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on September 24, 2007, unless earlier redeemed
by the Company as described below or unless a transaction under Section 13(d) of
the Rights Agreement has occurred.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
-C-1-
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by
the Board of Directors, and except in connection with the exercise of employee
stock options or stock appreciation rights or under any other benefit plan for
employees or directors or in connection with the exercise of warrants or
conversion of convertible securities, only Common Shares issued after September
24, 1997 and prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
Except in the circumstances described below, after the Distribution
Date each Right will be exercisable into one one-ten thousandth of a Preferred
Share (a "Preferred Share Fraction"). Each Preferred Share Fraction carries
voting and dividend rights that are intended to produce the equivalent of one
Common Share. The voting and dividend rights of the Preferred Shares are subject
to adjustment in the event of dividends, subdivisions and combinations with
respect to the Common Shares of the Company. In lieu of issuing certificates for
Preferred Share Fractions which are less than an integral multiple of one
Preferred Share (i.e. 10,000 Preferred Share Fractions), the Company may pay
cash representing the current market value of the Preferred Share Fractions.
In the event that at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger with an Acquiring
Person and its Common Shares remain outstanding, (ii) a Person becomes the
beneficial owner of more than 20% of the then outstanding Common Shares other
than pursuant to a tender offer that provides fair value to all stockholders,
(iii) an Acquiring Person engages in one or more "self-dealing" transactions as
set forth in the Rights Agreement, or (iv) during such time as there is an
Acquiring Person an event occurs that results in such Acquiring Person's
ownership interest being increased by more than 1% (e.g., a reverse stock
split), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, Common Shares (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other
securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the exercise price
of the Right. In lieu of requiring payment of the Purchase Price upon exercise
of the Rights following any such event, the Company may permit the holders
simply to surrender the Rights, in which event they will be entitled to receive
Common Shares (and other property, as the case may be) with a value of 50% of
what could be purchased by payment of the full Purchase Price. Notwithstanding
any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of the events set forth in
clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this paragraph, all Rights that are, or
(under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person who was involved in the transaction
giving rise to any such event will be null and void. However, Rights are not
exercisable following the occurrence of any of the events set forth above until
such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth
below.
For example, at an exercise price of $90.00 per Right, each Right not
otherwise voided following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would
entitle its holder to purchase $180.00 worth of Common Shares (or other
consideration, as noted above) for $90.00. Assuming that the Common
-C-2-
Shares had a per share value of $15.00 at such time, the holder of each valid
Right would be entitled to purchase 12 Common Shares for $90.00. Alternatively,
the Company could permit the holder to surrender each Right in exchange for
stock or cash equivalent to 6 Common Shares (with a value of $90.00) without the
payment of any consideration other than the surrender of the Right.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than a
merger that is described in, or that follows a tender offer or exchange offer
described in, the second preceding paragraph), or (ii) 50% or more of the
Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right
(except Rights that previously have been voided as set forth above) shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common shares of the
acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the
Right. Again, provision is made to permit surrender of the Rights in exchange
for one-half of the value otherwise purchasable. The events set forth in this
paragraph and in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the
"Triggering Events."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units 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 (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Shares, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Shares are granted certain
rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Shares or convertible securities
at less than the current market price of the Preferred Shares, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular quarterly dividends) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
-C-3-
At any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per
Right. That ten day redemption period may be extended by the Board of Directors
so long as the Rights are still redeemable. Under certain circumstances set
forth in the Rights Agreement, the decision to redeem will require the
concurrence of a majority of the Continuing Directors. Immediately upon the
action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, with, where
required, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors, the Rights will terminate
and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $.01
redemption price.
The term "Continuing Directors" means any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company who was a member of the Board prior to the date of the
Rights Agreement, and any person who is subsequently elected to the Board if
such person is recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing
Directors, but shall not include an Acquiring Person, or an affiliate or
associate of an Acquiring Person, or any representative of the foregoing
entities.
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. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Preferred Shares (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common shares of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Other than those provisions relating to the principal economic terms
of the Rights, any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes that do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any
Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights
Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the time period
governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are not
redeemable. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement,
amendments will require the concurrence of the Continuing Directors.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is being filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. A
copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This
summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
-C-4-
