EXHIBIT 4.1
RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of ________________________,
199__, between ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS GROUP,
INC.,a Kansas corporation (the "Company"), and
_________________________, a _________________________
banking corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding at
the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on _______________________, 1996
(the "Record Date"), and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such
number may hereafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Rights
Agreement) with respect to each share of Common Stock that shall become
outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date,
the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter
defined); provided, however, that Rights may be issued with respect to shares of
Common Stock that shall become outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior
to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date in accordance with
the provisions of Section 23. Each Right shall initially represent the right to
purchase one one-thousandths (1/1000ths) of a share of Series A Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (the
"Preferred Shares"), having the powers, rights and preferences set forth in the
Certificate of Designations attached as Exhibit A.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Rights
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, alone or
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of more than 15% of the Common Shares then outstanding, other
than pursuant to a Qualifying Offer, but shall not include (a) the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any of
its Subsidiaries, or any Person holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the
terms of any such employee benefit plan or (b) any such Person who has become
and is such a Beneficial Owner solely because (i) of a change in the aggregate
number of Common Shares outstanding since the last date on which such Person
acquired Beneficial Ownership of any Common Shares, (ii) it acquired such
Beneficial Ownership in the good faith belief that such acquisition would not
(x) cause such Beneficial Ownership to exceed 15% of the Common Shares then
outstanding and such Person relied in good faith in computing the percentage of
its Beneficial Ownership on publicly filed reports or documents of the Company
which are inaccurate or out-of-date or (y) otherwise cause a Distribution Date
or the adjustment provided for in Section 11(a) to occur or (iii) of shares
acquired directly from the Company in connection with the Company's acquisition
of a business or pursuant to an agreement with the Company stating
such Person is not intended to become an Acquiring Person as a result of such
acquisition. Notwithstanding clause (b)(ii) of the prior sentence, if any Person
that is not an Acquiring Person due to such clause (b)(ii) does not reduce its
percentage of Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares to 15% or less by the Close
of Business on the fifth Business Day after notice from the Company (the date of
notice being the first day) that such Person's Beneficial Ownership of Common
Shares so exceeds 15%, such Person shall, at the end of such five Business Day
period, become an Acquiring Person (and such clause (b)(ii) shall no longer
apply to such Person). For purposes of this definition, the determination
whether any Person acted in "good faith" shall be conclusively determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company, acting by a vote of those directors of the
Company whose approval would be required to redeem the Rights under Section 24.
"Affiliate" and "Associate," when used with reference to any Person,
shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date
of this Rights Agreement.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own," and shall be deemed to have "Beneficial Ownership"
of, any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
is deemed to "beneficially own" within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the
date of this Rights Agreement;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (a) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (written or oral), or upon the exercise of
conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights),
warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall
not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, or to have
Beneficial Ownership of, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for
purchase or exchange thereunder, or (b) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (written or oral); provided,
however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, any security if (1) the agreement, arrangement or
understanding (written or oral) to vote such security arises solely from a
revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public
proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and (2) the
beneficial ownership of such security is not also then reportable on
Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor
report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (written or
oral) for the purpose of acquiring,
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holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in
clause (ii)(B) of this definition) or disposing of any securities of the
Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this definition shall cause
a Person ordinarily engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be
the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired in
a bona fide firm commitment underwriting pursuant to an underwriting agreement
with the Company.
"Book Value," when used with reference to Common Shares issued by any
Person, shall mean the amount of equity of such Person applicable to each
Common Share, determined (a) in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles in effect on the date as of which such Book Value is
to be determined, (b) using all the consolidated assets and all the
consolidated liabilities of such Person on the date as of which such Book
Value is to be determined, except that no value shall be included in such
assets for goodwill arising from consummation of a business combination,
and (c) after giving effect to (i) the exercise of all rights, options and
warrants to purchase such Common Shares (other than the Rights), and the
conversion of all securities convertible into such Common Shares, at an
exercise or conversion price, per Common Share, which is less than such
Book Value before giving effect to such exercise or conversion (whether or
not exercisability or convertibility is conditioned upon occurrence of a
future event), (ii) all dividends and other distributions on the capital
stock of such Person declared prior to the date as of which such Book Value
is to be determined and to be paid or made after such date, and (iii) any
other agreement, arrangement or understanding (written or oral), or
transaction or other action prior to the date as of which such Book Value
is to be determined which would have the effect of thereafter reducing such
Book Value.
"Business Combination" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(c)(1).
"Business Day" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in
___________________________, ____________________________ or in Kansas
City, Missouri, are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close.
"Certificate of Designations" shall mean the Certificate of
Designations of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock setting
forth the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and
restrictions of such series of Preferred Stock of the Company, a copy of
which is attached as Exhibit A.
"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m.,
__________________________ time, on such date; provided, however, that, if
such date is not a Business Day, "Close of Business" shall mean 5:00 p.m.,
____________________________ time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
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"Common Shares," when used with reference to the company prior to a
Business Combination, shall mean the shares of Common Stock of the Company
or any other shares of capital stock of the Company into which the Common
Stock shall be reclassified or changed. "Common Shares," when used with
reference to any Person (other than the Company prior to a Business
Combination), shall mean shares of capital stock of such Person (if such
Person is a corporation) of any class or series, or units of equity
interests in such Person (if such Person is not a corporation) of any class
or series, the terms of which do not limit (as a maximum amount and not
merely in proportional terms) the amount of dividends or income payable or
distributable on such class or series or the amount of assets distributable
on such class or series upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of such Person and do not provide that such class
or series is subject to redemption at the option of such Person, or any
shares of capital stock or units of equity interests into which the
foregoing shall be reclassified or changed; provided, however, that, if at
any time there shall be more than one such class or series of capital stock
or equity interests of such Person, "Common Shares" of such Person shall
include all such classes and series substantially in the proportion of the
total number of shares or other units of each such class or series
outstanding at such time.
"Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory
paragraph of this Rights Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the heading of this
Rights Agreement; provided, however, that if there is a Business
Combination, "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(c)(III).
The term "Control" with respect to any Person shall mean the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
by or through stock ownership, agency or otherwise, or pursuant to or in
connection with an agreement, arrangement or understanding (written or
oral) with one or more other Persons by or through stock ownership, agency
or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" shall have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in
effect on the date in question, unless otherwise specifically provided.
"Exchange Consideration" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(b)(I).
"Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).
"Major Part," when used with reference to the assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries as of any date, shall mean assets (I) having a fair
market value aggregating 50% or more of the total fair market value of all
the assets of the Company and its
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Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) as of the date in question, (ii) accounting
for 50% or more of the total value (net of depreciation and amortization)
of all the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) as
would be shown on a consolidated or combined balance sheet of the Company
and its Subsidiaries as of the date in question, prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles then in effect, or (iii)
accounting for 50% or more of the total amount of earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization or of the revenues of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) as would be shown on, or derived from,
a consolidated or combined statement of income or operations of the Company
and its Subsidiaries for the period of 12 months ending on the last day of
the Company's monthly accounting period next preceding the date in
question, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles then in effect.
"Market Value," when used with reference to Common Shares on any date,
shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices, per share,
of such Common Shares for the period which is the shorter of (1) 30
consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to the date in question or (2)
the number of consecutive Trading Days beginning on the Trading Day
immediately after the date of the first public announcement of the event
requiring a determination of the Market Value and ending on the Trading Day
immediately prior to the record date of such event; provided, however,
that, in the event that the Market Value of such Common Shares is to be
determined in whole or in part during a period following the announcement
by the issuer of such Common Shares of any action of the type described in
Section 12(a) that would require an adjustment thereunder, then, and in
each such case, the Market Value of such Common Shares shall be
appropriately adjusted to reflect the effect of such action on the market
price of such Common Shares. The closing price for each Trading Day shall
be the closing price quoted on the principal United States securities
exchange registered under the Exchange Act (or any recognized foreign stock
exchange) on which such securities are listed, or, if such securities are
not listed on any such exchange, the closing price quoted on The NASDAQ
Stock Market or, if such securities are not so quoted, the average of the
closing bid and asked quotations with respect to a share of such securities
on any National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. quotations system,
or if no such quotations are available, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in
such securities selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on
any such Trading Day no market maker is making a market in such securities,
the closing price of such securities on such Trading Day shall be deemed to
be the fair value of such securities as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company (whose determination shall be described
in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
Rights Agent, the holders of Rights and all other Persons); provided,
however, that for the purpose of determining the closing price of the
Preferred Shares for any Trading Day on which there is no such market maker
for the Preferred Shares the closing price on such Trading Day shall be
deemed to be the Formula Number (as defined in the Certificate of
Designations) times the closing price of the Common Shares of the Company
on such Trading Day.
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"Person" shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.
"Preferred Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph of this Rights Agreement. Any reference in this
Rights Agreement to Preferred Shares shall be deemed to include any
authorized fraction of a Preferred Share, unless the context otherwise
requires.
"Principal Party" shall mean the Surviving Person in a Business
Combination; provided, however, that, if such Surviving Person is a direct
or indirect Subsidiary of any other Person, "Principal Party" shall mean
the Person which is the ultimate parent of such Surviving Person and which
is not itself a Subsidiary of another Person. In the event ultimate control
of such Surviving Person is shared by two or more Persons, "Principal
Party" shall mean that Person that is immediately controlled by such two or
more Persons.
"Purchase Price" with respect to each Right shall mean $_____________,
as such amount may from time to time be adjusted as provided herein, and
shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America. All
references herein to the Purchase Price shall mean the Purchase Price as in
effect at the time in question.
"Qualifying Offer" shall mean an all cash tender offer for all
outstanding Common Shares which meets all of the following requirements:
(1) on or prior to the date such offer is commenced within the
meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, such Person has, and has provided to the Company on
a non-confidential basis, firm written commitments from responsible
financial institutions, which have been accepted by such Person (or
one of its Affiliates), to provide, subject only to customary terms
and conditions, funds for such offer which, when added to the amount
of cash and cash equivalents which such Person then has available and
has irrevocably committed in writing to the Company to utilize for
purposes of such offer, will be sufficient to pay for all Common
Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis pursuant to the offer and
the second-step transaction required by clause (5) below and all
related expenses, together with copies of all written materials
prepared by such Person for such financial institutions in connection
with obtaining such financing commitments;
(2) after the consummation of such offer, such Person, alone or
together with any of its Affiliates and Associates, owns Common Shares
representing a majority of the then outstanding Common Shares;
(3) such offer remains open for at least 45 Business Days;
provided, however, that (x) if there is any increase in the price of
such offer, such offer must remain open for at least an additional 20
Business Days after the last such increase,
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(y) such offer must remain open for at least 20 Business Days after
the date that any bona fide alternative offer is made which, in the
opinion of one or more investment banking firms designated by the
Company, provides for consideration per share in excess of that
provided for in such offer, and (z) such offer must remain open for at
least 20 Business Days after the date on which such Person reduces the
per share price offered in accordance with clause (5)(y) below;
provided further, however, that such offer need not remain open, as a
result of this clause (3), beyond (i) the time which any other offer
satisfying the criteria for a Qualifying Offer is then required to be
kept open under this clause (3), or (ii) the scheduled expiration
date, as such date may be extended by public announcement on or prior
to the then scheduled expiration date, of any other tender or exchange
offer for Common Shares with respect to which the Board of Directors
has agreed to redeem the Rights immediately prior to acceptance for
payment of Common Shares thereunder (unless such other offer is
terminated prior to its expiration without any Common Shares having
been purchased thereunder);
(4) such offer is accompanied on a nonconfidential basis by a written
opinion, in customary form, of a nationally recognized investment banking
firm which is addressed to the holders of Common Shares other than such
Person and states that the price to be paid to holders pursuant to the
offer is fair from a financial point of view to such holders and includes a
written presentation of such firm showing the analysis and range of values
underlying such conclusions; and
(5) prior to or on the date that such offer is commenced within the
meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act, such Person makes an irrevocable written commitment to the
Company (x) to consummate a transaction or transactions promptly upon the
completion of such offer, whereby all Common Shares not purchased in such
offer will be acquired at the same cash price per share paid in such offer,
subject only to the condition that the Board of Directors shall have
granted any approvals required to enable such Person to consummate such
transaction or transactions following consummation of such offer without
obtaining the vote of any other stockholder, (y) that such Person will not
make any amendment to the original offer which reduces the per share price
offered (other than a reduction to reflect any dividend declared by the
Company after the commencement of such offer or any material change in the
capital structure of the Company initiated by the Company after the
commencement of such offer, whether by way of recapitalization,
reorganization, repurchase or otherwise), changes the form of consideration
offered, or reduces the number of shares being sought or which is in any
other respect materially adverse to the Company's stockholders, and (z)
that neither such Person nor of any its Affiliates or Associates will make
any offer for any equity securities of the Company for a period of six
months after the commencement of the original offer if such original offer
does not result in the tender of the number of Common Shares required to be
purchased pursuant to clause (2) above, unless another tender offer by
another
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party for all outstanding Common Shares is commenced that (a)
constitutes a Qualifying Offer or (b) is approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company (in which event, any new offer by such Person
or of any of its Affiliates or Associates must be at a price no less
than that provided for in such approved offer).
"Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory
paragraph of this Rights Agreement.
"Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a).
"Redemption Price" with respect to each Right shall mean $.01, as such
amount may from time to time be adjusted in accordance with Section 12. All
references herein to the Redemption Price shall mean the Redemption Price
as in effect at the time in question.
"Registered Common Shares" shall mean Common Shares which are, as of
the date of consummation of a Business Combination, and have continuously
been for the 12 months immediately preceding such date, registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
"Right Certificate" shall mean a certificate evidencing a Right in
substantially the form attached as Exhibit B.
"Rights" shall mean the rights to purchase Preferred Shares (or other
securities) as provided in this Rights Agreement.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as in effect
on the date in question, unless otherwise specifically provided.
"Subsidiary" shall mean a Person, at least a majority of the total
outstanding voting power (being the power under ordinary circumstances and
not merely upon the happening of a contingency to vote in the election of
directors of such Person if such Person is a corporation, or to participate
in the management and control of such Person if such Person is not a
corporation) of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by another Person
or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such other Person or by such other
Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such other Person.
"Surviving Person" shall mean (1) the Person which is the continuing
or surviving Person in a consolidation or merger specified in Section
11(c)(I)(i) or 11(c)(I)(ii) or (2) the Person to which the Major Part of
the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries is sold, leased, exchanged
or otherwise transferred or disposed of in a transaction specified in
Section 11(c)(I)(iii); provided, however, that, if the Major Part of the
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries is sold, leased, exchanged or
otherwise transferred or disposed of in one or more related transactions
specified in Section 11(c)(I)(iii) to more than one Person, the "Surviving
Person" in such case shall mean the Person that acquired
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assets of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries with the greatest fair market
value in such transaction or transactions.
"Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange (or principal recognized foreign stock exchange, as the
case may be) on which any securities or Rights, as the case may be, are
listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or,
if the securities or Rights in question are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange (or recognized foreign stock
exchange, as the case may be), a Business Day.
SECTION 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms
and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint one or more co-Rights Agents as it may
deem necessary or desirable (the term "Rights Agent" being used herein to refer,
collectively, to the Rights Agent together with any such co-Rights Agents). In
the event the Company appoints one or more co-Rights Agents, the respective
duties of the Rights Agent and any co-Rights Agents shall be as the Company
shall determine.
SECTION 3. Issue of Rights and Right Certificates.
(a) One Right shall be associated with each Common Share outstanding
on the Record Date, each additional Common Share that shall become outstanding
between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the
Redemption Date or the Expiration Date and each additional Common Share with
which Rights are issued after the Distribution Date but prior to the earlier of
the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date as provided in Section 23; provided,
however, that, if the number of outstanding Rights are combined into a smaller
number of outstanding Rights pursuant to Section 12(a), the appropriate
fractional Right determined pursuant to such Section shall thereafter be
associated with each such Common Share.
(b) Until the earlier of (i) such time as the Company learns that a
Person has become an Acquiring Person or (ii) the Close of Business on such
date, if any, as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Company
following the commencement of, or first public disclosure of an intent to
commence, 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 of
its Subsidiaries, or any Person holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the
terms of any such employee benefit plan and other than a Qualifying Offer) for
outstanding Common Shares, if upon consummation of such tender or exchange offer
such Person could be the Beneficial Owner of more than 15% of the outstanding
Common Shares (the Close of Business on the earlier of such dates being the
"Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates for
Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof and not by separate
Right Certificates and (y) the Rights, including the right to receive Right
Certificates, will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of
Common Shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights
Agent will send, by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each
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record holder of Common Shares as of the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate evidencing
one whole Right for each Common Share (or for the number of Common Shares with
which one whole Right is then associated if the number of Rights per Common
Share held by such record holder has been adjusted in accordance with the
proviso in Section 3(a)). If the number of Rights associated with each Common
Share has been adjusted in accordance with the proviso in Section 3(a), at the
time of distribution of the Right Certificates the Company may make any
necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments so that Right Certificates
representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in
lieu of any fractional Right in accordance with Section 15(a). As of and after
the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right
Certificates.
(c) With respect to any certificate for Common Shares, until the
earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date,
the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by any such certificate
shall be evidenced by such certificate alone, the registered holders of the
Common Shares shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights and
the surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
(d) Certificates issued for Common Shares after the Record Date
(including, without limitation, upon transfer or exchange of outstanding Common
Shares), but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date
or the Expiration Date, shall have printed on, written on or otherwise affixed
to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of
_____________________________, 1996, as it may be amended from time to time
(the "Rights Agreement"), between Associated Wholesale Grocers Group, Inc.
(the "Company") and ____________________________, as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices
of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will
no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Rights Agent will mail to
the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without
charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Rights beneficially
owned by Acquiring Persons or their Affiliates or Associates (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement) and by any subsequent holder of such
Rights are null and void and nontransferable.
Notwithstanding this paragraph (d), the omission of a legend shall not
affect the enforceability of any part of this Rights Agreement or the rights of
any holder of Rights.
SECTION 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and
the form of election to purchase and form of assignment to be printed on the
reverse side thereof) shall be in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit B
and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends,
summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may
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deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Rights
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 7, 11 and 23, the Right
Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the Distribution Date, and
on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of
Preferred Shares as shall be set forth therein for the Purchase Price set forth
therein, subject to adjustment from time to time as herein provided.
SECTION 5. Execution, Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the
Chief Operating Officer, the Treasurer or a Vice President (whether preceded by
any additional title) of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature,
and have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall
be attested by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or a Vice President
(whether preceded by any additional title, provided that such Vice President
shall not have also executed the Right Certificates) of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be manually
countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such an officer of
the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates may nevertheless be
countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with
the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Right
Certificates had not ceased to be such an officer of the Company; and any Right
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the
actual date of execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of
the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of execution of
this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer of the Company.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office in New York, New York, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books
shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced by each of the Right Certificates,
the certificate number of each of the Right Certificates and the date of each of
the Right Certificates.
SECTION 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of
Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates;
Uncertificated Rights.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e) and 15, at any time
after the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the
earlier of the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or
Right Certificates may be transferred, split-up, combined or exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Right Certificates representing, in the
11
aggregate, the same number of Rights as the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates surrendered then represented. Any registered holder desiring to
transfer, split-up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent and shall surrender the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent; provided, however, that
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action
whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any Right Certificate surrendered for
transfer until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certification contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Right Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Sections 7(e) and 15, countersign and deliver to the
Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case
may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split-up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.
(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 valid Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of
indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's
request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable
expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and
cancellation of the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make a new
Right Certificate of like tenor and deliver such new Right Certificate to the
Rights Agent for delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Right
Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Company and the
Rights Agent may amend this Rights Agreement to provide for uncertificated
Rights in addition to or in place of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates.
SECTION 7. Exercise of Rights; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) and except as otherwise provided herein
(including Section 11), each Right shall entitle the registered holder thereof,
upon exercise thereof as provided herein, to purchase for the Purchase Price, at
any time after the Distribution Date and at or prior to the earlier of (i) the
Close of Business on the 10th anniversary of the date of this Rights Agreement
(the Close of Business on such date being the "Expiration Date"), or (ii) the
Redemption Date, one one-thousandths (1/1000ths) of a Preferred Share, subject
to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 12.
(b) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the
Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in
part at any time after the Distribution Date, upon surrender of the Right
Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof
duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the principal office of the Rights Agent
in New York, New York, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one
12
one-thousandths (1/1000ths) of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights are
exercised, at or prior to the earlier of (i) the Expiration Date or (ii) the
Redemption Date.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Purchase Price for the Preferred Shares to be purchased together
with an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax, in lawful money of the
United States of America, in cash or by certified check or money order payable
to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon (i) either (A)
promptly requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make
available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent) certificates for the
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 the Preferred Shares with a depositary
agent under a depositary arrangement, promptly requisition from the depositary
agent depositary receipts representing the number of one one-thousandths
(1/1,000ths) of a Preferred Share to be purchased (in which case certificates
for the Preferred Shares to be 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 all such requests, (ii) when appropriate,
promptly requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of
issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 15, (iii) promptly
after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be
delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt promptly deliver such cash to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall
exercise fewer than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent and delivered to the registered holder of such Right
Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of
Section 15.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Rights Agreement to the
contrary, any Rights that are at any time beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person shall be null and
void and nontransferable, and any holder of any such Right (including any
purported transferee or subsequent holder) shall not have any right to exercise
or transfer any such Right.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Rights Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder of any Right
Certificates upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this
Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the
reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such exercise and (ii)
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request.
13
(g) The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to
exceed 90 calendar days after the Distribution Date, the exercisability of the
Rights in order to prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act, on appropriate form, with respect to the Preferred Shares
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights and permit such registration statement
to become effective; provided, however, that no such suspension shall remain
effective after, and the Rights shall without any further action by the Company
or any other Person become exercisable immediately upon, the effectiveness of
such registration statement. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a
public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been
temporarily suspended and shall issue a further public announcement at such time
as the suspension is no longer in effect. Notwithstanding any provision herein
to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the
requisite qualification under the blue sky or securities laws of such
jurisdiction shall not have been obtained or the exercise of the Rights shall
not be permitted under applicable law.
SECTION 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered or presented for the purpose of exercise,
transfer, split-up, combination or exchange shall, and any Right Certificate
representing Rights that have become null and void and nontransferable pursuant
to Section 7(e) surrendered or presented for any purpose shall, if surrendered
or presented to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights
Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered or presented to
the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right Certificates shall be
issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by this Rights Agreement.
The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement,
and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any Right Certificate purchased
or acquired by the Company. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right
Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company,
destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a
certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
SECTION 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares
or any authorized and issued Preferred Shares held in its treasury, free from
preemptive rights or any right of first refusal, a number of Preferred Shares
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Preferred Shares
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the exercise or
exchange of Rights in accordance with Section 11, the Company covenants and
agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Preferred Shares for issuance upon the exercise or exchange of Rights
pursuant to Section 11; provided, however, that if the Company is unable to
cause the authorization of additional Preferred Shares, then the Company shall,
or in lieu of seeking any such authorization, the Company may, to the extent
necessary and permitted by applicable law and any agreements or instruments in
effect prior to the Distribution Date to which it is a party, (A)
14
upon surrender of a Right, pay cash equal to the Purchase Price in lieu of
issuing Preferred Shares and requiring payment thereof or, (B) upon due exercise
of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price for each Preferred Share as to
which such Right is exercised, issue equity securities having a value equal to
the value of the Preferred Shares which otherwise would have been issuable
pursuant to Section 11, which value shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the
Company or (c) upon due exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price
for each Preferred Share as to which such Right is exercised, distribute a
combination of Preferred Shares, cash and/or other equity and/or debt securities
having an aggregate value equal to the value of the Preferred Shares which
otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to section 11, which value shall be
determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company. To the extent that any legal or contractual
restrictions (pursuant to agreements or instruments in effect prior to the
Distribution Date to which it is party) prevent the Company from paying the full
amount payable in accordance with the foregoing sentence, the Company shall pay
to holders of the Rights as to which such payments are being made all amounts
which are not then restricted on a pro rata basis as such payments become
permissible under such legal or contractual restrictions until such payments
have been paid in full.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares delivered upon
exercise or exchange of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the
certificates for such Preferred Shares (subject to payment of the Purchase
Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable shares.
(d) So long as the Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise or
exchange of Rights are to be listed on any national securities exchange, the
Company covenants and agrees to use its best efforts to cause, from and after
such time as the Rights become exercisable or exchangeable, all Preferred Shares
reserved for such issuance to be listed on such securities exchange upon
official notice of issuance upon such exercise or exchange.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when
due and payable any and all Federal and state transfer taxes and charges which
may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of Right Certificates or
of any Preferred Shares or Common Shares or other securities upon the exercise
or exchange of the Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay
any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of
Right Certificates to a Person other than, or in respect of the issuance or
delivery of certificates for the Preferred Shares or Common Shares or other
securities, as the case may be, in a name other than that of, the registered
holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or
exchange or to issue or deliver any certificates for Preferred Shares or Common
Shares or other securities, as the case may be, upon the exercise or exchange of
any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable
by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it
has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
15
SECTION 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each Person in whose name
any certificate for Preferred Shares or Common Shares or other securities is
issued upon the exercise or exchange of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed
to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares 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 Right Certificate evidencing
such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of any Purchase Price (and any
applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that, if the date of
such surrender and payment is a date upon which the transfer books of the
Company for the Preferred Shares or Common Shares or other securities, as the
case may be, are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record
holder of such Preferred Shares or Common Shares or other securities, as the
case may be, on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding
Business Day on which the transfer books of the Company for the Preferred Shares
or Common Shares or other securities, as the case may be, are open.
SECTION 11. Adjustments in Rights After There Is an Acquiring
Person; Exchange of Rights for Shares; Business Combinations.
(a) Upon a Person becoming an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall
be made so that each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e),
shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof for the Purchase
Price in accordance with the terms of this Rights Agreement, such number of one
one-thousandths (1/1,000ths) of a Preferred Share as shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of one one-thousandths (1/1,000ths) of a Preferred Share for which
a Right is then exercisable and the denominator of which is 50% of the Market
Value of the Common Shares on the date on which a Person becomes an Acquiring
Person. As soon as practicable after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person
(provided the Company shall not have elected to make the exchange permitted by
Section 11(b)(I) for all outstanding Rights), the Company covenants and agrees
to use its best efforts to:
(I) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities
Act, on an appropriate form, with respect to the Preferred Shares
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights;
(II) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing;
(III) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a
prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act)
until the Expiration Date; and
(IV) qualify or register the Preferred Shares purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights under the blue sky or securities laws of such
jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate.
16
(b)(I) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at
any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, mandatorily exchange all or
part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include
Rights that shall have become null and void and nontransferable pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e)) for consideration per Right consisting of either
one-half of the securities that would be issuable at such time upon the exercise
of one Right in accordance with Section 11(a) or, if applicable, Section 9(b)(B)
or (C) or, if applicable the cash consideration specified in section 9(b)(A)
(the consideration issuable per Right pursuant to this Section 11(b)(I) being
the "Exchange Consideration"). The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, issue, in substitution for Preferred Shares, Common Shares in an amount
per Preferred Share equal to the Formula Number (as defined in the Certificate
of Designations) if there are sufficient Common Shares issued but not
outstanding or authorized but unissued. If the Board of Directors of the Company
elects to exchange all the Rights for Exchange Consideration pursuant to this
Section 11(b)(I) prior to the physical distribution of the Rights Certificates,
the Corporation may distribute the Exchange Consideration in lieu of
distributing Right Certificates, in which case for purposes of this Rights
Agreement holders of Rights shall be deemed to have simultaneously received and
surrendered for exchange Right Certificates on the date of such distribution.
(II) Any action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the
exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 11(b)(I) shall be irrevocable and,
immediately upon the taking of such action and without any further action and
without any notice, the right to exercise any such Right pursuant to Section
11(a) shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Right
shall be to receive the Exchange Consideration in exchange for each such Right
held by such holder or, if the Exchange Consideration shall not have been paid
or issued, to exercise any such Right pursuant to Section 11(c)(I). The Company
shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that
the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity
of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange
to all holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange
of the Rights for the Exchange Consideration will be effected and, in the event
of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any
partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other
than Rights which shall have become null and void and nontransferable pursuant
to the provisions of Section 7(e)) held by each holder of Rights.
(c)(I) In the event that, following a Distribution Date, directly or
indirectly, any transactions specified in the following clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) of this Section 11(c) (each such transaction being a "Business
Combination") shall be consummated:
(i) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any
Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person;
17
(ii) any Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person shall merge with and into the Company and, in connection
with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or
exchanged for capital stock or other securities of the Company or of any
Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or cash
or any other property; or
(iii) the Company shall sell, lease, exchange or otherwise transfer or
dispose of (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell, lease, exchange
or otherwise transfer or dispose of), in one or more transactions, the
Major Part of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person,
then, in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a
Right, except as provided in Section 7(e), shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof for the Purchase Price in accordance with the
terms of this Rights Agreement, the securities specified below (or, at such
holder's option, the securities specified in Section 11(a)):
(A) If the Principal Party in such Business Combination has
Registered Common Shares outstanding, each Right shall thereafter represent
the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof for the Purchase Price in
accordance with the terms of this Rights Agreement, such number of
Registered Common Shares of such Principal Party, free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances or other adverse claims, as shall have an aggregate
Market Value equal to the result obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price
by two;
(B) If the Principal Party involved in such Business Combination
does not have Registered Common Shares outstanding, each Right shall
thereafter represent the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof for
the Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Rights Agreement,
at the election of the holder of such Right at the time of the exercise
thereof, any of:
(1) such number of Common Shares of the surviving Person in
such Business Combination as shall have an aggregate Book Value
immediately after giving effect to such Business Combination equal to
the result obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price by two;
(2) such number of Common Shares of the Principal Party in such
Business Combination (if the Principal Party is not also the Surviving
Person in such Business Combination) as shall have an aggregate Book
Value immediately after giving effect to such Business Combination
equal to the result obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price by two;
or
(3) if the Principal Party in such Business combination is an
Affiliate of one or more Persons which has Registered Common Shares
outstanding, such number of Registered Common Shares of whichever of
such Affiliates of the
18
Principal Party has Registered Common Shares with the greatest
aggregate Market Value on the date of consummation of such Business
Combination as shall have an aggregate Market Value on the date of
such Business Combination equal to the result obtained by multiplying
the Purchase Price by two.
(II) The Company shall not consummate any Business Combination unless
each issuer of Common Shares for which Rights may be exercised, as set forth in
this Section 11(c), shall have sufficient authorized Common Shares that have not
been issued or reserved for issuance (and which shall, when issued upon exercise
thereof in accordance with this Rights Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or any
other restrictions or limitations on the transfer or ownership thereof) to
permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 11(c)
and unless prior thereto:
(i) a registration statement under the Securities Act on an
appropriate form, with respect to the Rights and the Common Shares of such
issuer purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, shall be effective under
the Securities Act; and
(ii) the Company and each such issuer shall have:
(A) executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement providing for the assumption by such issuer of the
obligations set forth in this Section 11(c) (including the obligation
of such issuer to issue Common Shares upon the exercise of Rights in
accordance with the terms set forth in Sections 11(c)(I) and
11(c)(III)) and further providing that such issuer, at its own
expense, will use its best efforts to:
(1) cause a registration statement under the Securities
Act on an appropriate form, with respect to the Rights and the
Common Shares of such issuer purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights, to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the
Expiration Date;
(2) qualify or register the Rights and the Common Shares
of such issuer purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the
blue sky or securities laws of such jurisdictions as may be
necessary or appropriate; and
(3) list the Rights and the Common Shares of such issuer
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on each national
securities exchange on which the Common Shares were listed prior
to the consummation of the Business Combination or, if the
Common Shares were not listed on a national securities exchange
prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, on a
national securities exchange;
19
(B) furnished to the Rights Agent a written opinion of
independent counsel stating that such supplemental agreement is a
valid, binding and enforceable agreement of such issuer; and
(C) filed with the Rights Agent a certificate of a nationally
recognized firm of independent accountants setting forth the number of
Common Shares of such issuer which may be purchased upon the exercise
of each Right after the consummation of such Business Combination.
(III) After consummation of any Business Combination and subject to
the provisions of Section 11(c)(II), (i) each issuer of Common Shares for which
Rights may be exercised as set forth in this Section 11(c) shall be liable for,
and shall assume, by virtue of such Business Combination, all the obligations
and duties of the Company pursuant to this Rights Agreement, (ii) the term
"Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such issuer, (iii) each such
issuer shall take such steps in connection with such consummation as may be
necessary to assure that the provisions hereof (including the provisions of
Sections 11(a) and 11(c)) 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 (iv) the number of Common Shares of each such
issuer thereafter receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
practicable to the provisions of Sections 11 and 12 and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9 and 10 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply, as nearly
as reasonably may be, on like terms to any such Common Shares.
SECTION 12. Certain Adjustments.
(a) to preserve the actual or potential economic value of the Rights,
if at any time after the date of this Rights Agreement there shall be any change
in the Common Shares or the Preferred Shares, whether by reason of stock
dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations,
combinations or exchanges of securities, split-ups, split offs, spin-offs,
liquidations, other similar changes in capitalization, any distribution or
issuance of cash, assets, evidences of indebtedness or subscription rights,
options or warrants to holders of Common Shares or Preferred Shares, as the case
may be (other than distribution of the Rights or regular quarterly cash
dividends) or otherwise, then, in each such event the Board of Directors of the
Company shall make such appropriate adjustments in the number of Preferred
Shares (or the number and kind of other securities) issuable upon exercise of
each Right, the Purchase Price and Redemption Price in effect at such time and
the number of Rights outstanding at such time (including the number of Rights or
fractional Rights associated with each Common Share) such that following such
adjustment such event shall not have had the effect of reducing or limiting the
benefits the holders of the Rights would have had absent such event.
(b) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 12(a),
the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive
any securities other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such
securities so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
20
practicable to the provisions of Sections 11 and 12 and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9 and 10 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply, as nearly
as reasonably may be, on like terms to any such other securities.
(c) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the amount of Preferred Shares or other securities relating
to a Right shall evidence the right to purchase, for the Purchase Price, the
adjusted number and kind of securities purchasable from time to time hereunder
upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided
herein.
(d) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of Preferred Shares or number or kind of other securities issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the terms which were expressed in the
initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(e) In any case in which action taken pursuant to Section 12(a)
requires that an adjustment be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the Preferred Shares and/or other securities, if any, issuable upon such
exercise over and above the Preferred Shares and/or other securities, if any,
issuable before giving effect 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 securities upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
SECTION 13. Certificate of Adjustment. Whenever an adjustment is
made as provided in Section 11 or 12, 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 a copy of such certificate and (c)
mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares) in accordance with Section 25. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment therein contained.
SECTION 14. Additional Covenants.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Rights Agreement, no
adjustment to the number of Preferred Shares (or fractions of a share) or other
securities for which a Right is exercisable or the number of Rights outstanding
or associated with each Common Share or any similar or other adjustment shall be
made or be effective if such adjustment would have the effect of reducing or
limiting the benefits the holders of the Rights would have had absent such
adjustment, including, without limitation, the benefits under Sections 11 and
12, unless the terms of this Rights Agreement are amended so as to preserve such
benefits.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, except as permitted by Section 26, it will not take (or permit any
Subsidiary of the Company to take) any
21
action if at the time such action is taken it is intended or reasonably
foreseeable that such action will reduce or otherwise limit the benefits the
holders of the Rights would have had absent such action, including, without
limitation, the benefits under Sections 11 and 12. Any action taken by the
company during any period after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person but prior
to the Distribution Date shall be null and void unless such action could be
taken under this Section 14(b) from and after the Distribution Date. The Company
shall not consummate any Business Combination if any issuer of Common Shares for
which Rights may be exercised after such Business Combination in accordance with
Section 11(c) shall have taken any action that reduces or otherwise limits the
benefits the holders of the Rights would have had absent such action, including,
without limitation, the benefits under Sections 11 and 12.
SECTION 15. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company may, but shall not be required to, issue fractions of
Rights or distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In
lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company may pay to the registered holders of
the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 15(a), the
current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights
(as determined pursuant to the second and third sentences of the definition of
Market Value contained in Section 1) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable.
(b) The Company may, but shall not be required to, issue fractions of
Preferred Shares upon exercise of the Rights or distribute certificates which
evidence fractional Preferred Shares. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares,
the Company may elect to (i) utilize a depository arrangement as provided by the
terms of the Preferred Shares or (ii) in the case of a fraction of a Preferred
Share (other than one one-thousandths (1/1,000ths) of a Preferred Share or any
integral multiple thereof), pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates
at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal
to the same fraction of the current market value of one Preferred Share, if any
are outstanding and publicly traded (or the Formula Number times the current
market value of one Common Share if the Preferred Shares are not outstanding and
publicly traded). For purposes of this Section 15(b), the current market value
of a Preferred Share (or Common Share) shall be the closing price of a Preferred
Share (or Common Share) (as determined pursuant to the second and third
sentences of the definition of Market Value contained in Section 1) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise. If, as a result of
an adjustment made pursuant to Section 12(a), the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any securities other than Preferred
Shares, the provisions of this Section 15(b) shall apply, as nearly as
reasonably may be, on like terms to such other securities.
(c) The Company may, but shall not be required to, issue fractions of
Common Shares upon exchange of Rights pursuant to Section 11(b), or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu of such
fractional Common Shares, the Company may pay to the registered holders of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional
22
Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current Market Value of one Common Share as of the date on which
a Person became an Acquiring Person.
(d) The holder of Rights by the acceptance of the Rights expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise of a Right except as provided in this Section 15.
SECTION 16. Rights of Action.
(a) All rights of action in respect of this Rights Agreement are
vested in the respective registered holders of the Right Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares);
and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares) may, in 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 Right Certificate in the manner provided
in such Right Certificate and in this Rights Agreement. Without limiting the
foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Rights Agreement and shall be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations of any Person under, and injunctive relief
against actual or threatened violations of the obligations of any Person subject
to, this Rights Agreement.
(b) Any holder of Rights who prevails in an action to enforce the
provisions of this Rights Agreement shall be entitled to recover the reasonable
costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred in such action.
SECTION 17. Transfer and Ownership of Rights and Right Certificates.
(a) Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares and the Rights
associated with the Common Shares shall be automatically transferred upon the
transfer of the Common Shares.
(b) After the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates will be
transferable, subject to Section 7(e), only on the registry books of the Rights
Agent if surrendered at the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed
or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer.
(c) The Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in
whose name a Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date the
associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated certificate for
Common Shares made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for
23
all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary.
SECTION 18. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed, for any purpose, the holder of the Preferred Shares or
of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company,
including, without limitation, 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, or to receive dividends or other
distributions or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with
the provisions hereof.
SECTION 19. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and from time to time, on
demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other
disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Rights
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder.
(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 Rights Agreement in reliance upon any Right
Certificate or certificate for the 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.
SECTION 20. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to
the stock transfer or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Rights Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act
on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such corporation would
be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 22. In case, at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to
the agency created by this Rights Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall
have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may
adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such
Right Certificates so countersigned; and, in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been
24
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name
of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates
shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Rights
Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and, in case at that time
any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Rights Agreement.
SECTION 21. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Rights Agreement upon the following terms
and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right
Certificates (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), by
their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Rights
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person) be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking, refraining from taking or
suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in
respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be
conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by any one of the
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief
Operating Officer, the Chief Financial officer, a Vice President (whether
preceded by any additional title), the Treasurer or the 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 Rights Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own
negligence, bad faith or wilful 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 Rights Agreement or in the
Right Certificates (except as to its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to
have been made by the Company only.
25
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Rights Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the
validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any
covenant or condition contained in this Rights Agreement or in any Right
Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the
provisions of Section 11 or 12 or responsible for the manner, method or amount
of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Right Certificates after 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 Preferred Shares or Common Shares
to be issued pursuant to this Rights Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to
whether any Preferred Shares or Common 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 Rights Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
the Chief Operating Officer, a Vice President (whether preceded by any
additional title), the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, 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.
(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 Rights Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights
Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal
entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employment thereof.
(j) The Company agrees to indemnify and to hold the Rights Agent
harmless against any loss, liability, damage or expense (including reasonable
fees and expenses of legal counsel) which the Rights Agent may incur resulting
from its actions as Rights Agent pursuant to this Rights Agreement; provided,
however, that the Rights Agent shall not be indemnified or held
26
harmless with respect to any such loss, liability, damage or expense incurred by
the Rights Agent as a result of, or arising out of, its own negligence, bad
faith or wilful misconduct. In no case shall the Company be liable with respect
to any action, proceeding, suit or claim against the Rights Agent unless the
Rights Agent shall have notified the Company, by letter or by facsimile
confirmed by letter, of the assertion of any action, proceeding, suit or claim
against the Rights Agent, promptly after the Rights Agent shall have notice of
any such assertion of an action, proceeding, suit or claim or have been served
with the summons or other first legal process giving information as to the
nature and basis of the action, proceeding, suit or claim. The Company shall be
entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action,
proceeding, suit or claim, and, if the Company so elects, the Company shall
assume the defense of any such action, proceeding, suit or claim. In the event
that the Company assumes such defense, the Company shall not thereafter be
liable for the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by the
Rights Agent, so long as the Company shall retain counsel satisfactory to the
Rights Agent, in the exercise of its reasonable judgment, to defend such action,
proceeding, suit or claim. The Rights Agent agrees not to settle any litigation
in connection with any action, proceeding, suit or claim with respect to which
it may seek indemnification from the Company without the prior written consent
of the Company.
SECTION 22. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Rights Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to
each transfer agent of the Common Shares and the Preferred Shares by registered
or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares) by first-class mail. The Company
may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice
in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case
may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares and the Preferred Shares
by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares) by first-class mail.
If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become
incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.
If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days
after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the
Common Shares) (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate or,
prior to the Distribution Date, the certificate representing his Common Shares,
for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Right
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares) may apply
to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights
Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a
court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States or of the State of [NEW YORK] (or of any other state of the United
States so long as such corporation is authorized to conduct a stock transfer or
corporate trust business in the State of [NEW YORK]), in good standing, having a
principal office in the State of [NEW YORK], which is authorized under such laws
to exercise stock transfer or corporate trust powers and is subject to
supervision or examination by Federal or state authority and which has at the
time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least [$50,000,000]; [PROVIDED
27
THAT THE PRINCIPAL TRANSFER AGENT FOR THE COMMON SHARES SHALL IN ANY EVENT BE
QUALIFIED TO BE THE RIGHTS AGENT.] 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 the Preferred Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing
to the registered holders of the Right Certificates (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares). Failure to give any notice provided
for in this Section 22, 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 23. Issuance of Additional Rights and Right Certificates.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement or of the Rights
to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates
evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to
reflect any adjustment or change made in accordance with the provisions of this
Rights Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common
Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the
Redemption Date and the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to
Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or
under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities, notes or debentures issued by the Company, and (b) may,
in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors
of the Company, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of
Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no
such Right 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
Right Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Right Certificate shall be
issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
SECTION 24. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to the earlier of (i) such time as a Person becomes an Acquiring
Person and (ii) the Expiration Date, order the redemption of all, but not fewer
than all, the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price (the date of such
redemption being the "Redemption Date"), and the Company, at its option, may pay
the Redemption Price either in cash or Common Shares or other securities of the
Company deemed by the Board of Directors of the Company, in the exercise of its
sole discretion, to be at least equivalent in value to the Redemption Price;
provided, however, that, in addition to any other limitations contained herein
on the right to redeem outstanding Rights (including the occurrence of any event
or the expiration of any period after which the Rights may no longer be
redeemed), for the 120-day period after any date of a change (resulting from a
proxy
28
or consent solicitation) in a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company
in office at the commencement of such solicitation, the Rights may only be
redeemed if (A) there are directors then in office who were in office at the
commencement of such solicitation ("Prior Directors") and (B) the directors,
with the concurrence of a majority of the Prior Directors, determine that such
redemption is, in their judgment, in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, 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. Within 10 Business Days after the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company
shall give notice of such redemption to the holders of the then outstanding
Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at their last addresses as
they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the
Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common
Shares. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which payment of
the Redemption Price will be made. The notice, if mailed in the manner herein
provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not
the holder of Rights receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such
notice by mail, or any defect in the notice, to any particular holder of Rights
shall not affect the sufficiency of the notice to other holders of Rights.
SECTION 25. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares) 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:
Associated Wholesale Grocers Group, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Subject to the provisions of Section 22, any notice or demand authorized by this
Rights Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of a Right
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares) 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:
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
Attention:___________________________________
Notices or demands authorized by this Rights Agreement to be given or made by
the Company or the Rights Agent to any holder of a Right Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, of the
29
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 Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares.
SECTION 26. Supplements and Amendments. At any time prior to the
Distribution Date and subject to the last sentence of this Section 26, the
Company may, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend any provision of this Rights Agreement (including, without limitation, the
date on which the Distribution Date shall occur, the time during which the
Rights may be redeemed pursuant to Section 24 or any provision of the
Certificate of Designations) without the approval of any holder of the Rights.
From and after the Distribution Date and subject to applicable law, the Company
may, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, amend this Rights
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right Certificates (i) to cure
any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which
may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this Rights
Agreement or (ii) to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions
arising hereunder which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which
shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Right Certificates
(other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person). Any supplement or amendment adopted during any period after any Person
has become an Acquiring Person but prior to the Distribution Date shall be null
and void unless such supplement or amendment could have been adopted under the
prior sentence from and after the Distribution Date. Any supplement or amendment
to this Rights Agreement duly approved by the Company that does not amend
Sections 19, 20, 21 or 22 in a manner adverse to the Rights Agent shall become
effective immediately upon execution by the Company, whether or not also
executed by the Rights Agent. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Rights
Agreement to the contrary, during the 120-day period after any date of a change
(resulting from a proxy or consent solicitation) in a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company in office at the commencement of such solicitation,
this Rights Agreement may be supplemented or amended only if (A) there are
directors then in office who were in office at the commencement of such
solicitation ("Prior Directors") and (B) the directors, with the concurrence of
a majority of the Prior Directors, determine that such supplement or amendment
is, in their judgment, in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders
and, after the Distribution Date, the holders of the Right Certificates. In
addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Rights
Agreement, no supplement or amendment to this Rights Agreement shall be made
which (a) reduces the Redemption Price (except as required by Section 12(a)) or
(b) provides for an earlier Expiration Date.
SECTION 27. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Rights 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. Benefits of Rights Agreement; Determinations and Actions
by the Board of Directors, etc.
30
(a) Nothing in this Rights Agreement shall be construed to give to
any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders
of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common
Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Rights
Agreement; but this Rights Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit
of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares).
(b) Except as explicitly otherwise provided in this Rights Agreement,
the Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this Rights Agreement and to exercise all rights and
powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors of the Company or to the
Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this
Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i)
interpret the provisions of this Rights Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Rights Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination to redeem or
not redeem the Rights or to amend this Rights Agreement and a determination of
whether an offer constitutes a Qualifying Offer and whether there is an
Acquiring Person).
(c) Nothing contained in this Rights Agreement shall be deemed to be
in derogation of the obligation of the Board of Directors of the Company to
exercise its fiduciary duty. Without limiting the foregoing, nothing contained
herein shall be construed to suggest or imply that the Board of Directors shall
not be entitled to reject any Qualifying Offer or any other tender offer, or to
recommend that holders of Common Shares reject any Qualifying offer or any other
tender offer, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the
commencement, prosecution, defense or settlement of any litigation and the
submission of additional or alternative offers or other proposals) with respect
to any Qualifying offer or any other tender offer that the Board of Directors
believes is necessary or appropriate in the exercise of such fiduciary duty.
SECTION 29. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Rights Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Rights
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected,
impaired or invalidated.
SECTION 30. Governing Law. This Rights Agreement and each Right
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the law
of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the law of such State applicable to contracts to be made and
performed entirely within such State.
SECTION 31. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Rights 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. This Rights Agreement shall
be effective as of the Close of Business on the date hereof.
31
SECTION 32. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several Sections of this Rights Agreement are inserted for convenience only and
shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
of this Rights Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Rights Agreement to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS GROUP, INC.
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
----------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------------
, as Rights Agent,
----------------------
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
----------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------------
32
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF SERIES A
PARTICIPATING CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED STOCK OF
ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS GROUP, INC.
Pursuant to Section 17-6401 of the General Corporation Code of the
State of Kansas, Associated Wholesale Grocers Group, Inc. (the "Corporation"), a
corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Code of the
State of Kansas, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That, pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors
of the Corporation by Article Fourth of the Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation (the "Articles of Incorporation"), the Board of Directors of the
Corporation on __________________________, 199___, adopted the following
resolution creating a series of Preferred Stock designated as Series A
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that, pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of the
Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, a series of Preferred Stock
of the Corporation is hereby created and that the designation and number of
shares thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such
series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as
follows:
SECTION 1. Designation and Number of Shares. The shares of such
series shall be designated as "Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock" (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), par value $0.10 per share. The number
of shares initially constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be
_____________________________; provided, however, that, if more than a total of
___________________________ shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be issuable
upon the exercise of Rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights
Agreement dated as of ____________________________, 199____, between the
Corporation and ___________________________________, a ___________________
corporation, as Rights Agent (the"Rights Agreement"), the Board of Directors of
the Corporation, pursuant to Section 17-6401(g) of the General Corporation Code
of the State of Kansas, shall direct by resolution or resolutions that a
certificate be properly executed, acknowledged, filed and recorded, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 17-6003 thereof, providing for the
total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock authorized to be issued to be
increased (to the extent that the Articles of Incorporation then permits) to the
largest number of whole shares (rounded up to the nearest whole number) issuable
upon exercise of such Rights.
SECTION 2. Dividends or Distributions.
2
(i) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of shares
of any other series of Preferred Stock or other class of capital stock of
the Corporation ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A
Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of the
Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors, out of the assets of the Corporation
legally available therefor, (1) quarterly dividends payable in cash on the
last day of each fiscal quarter in each year, or such other dates as the
Board of Directors of the Corporation shall approve (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 a fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in the amount
of $.01 per whole share (rounded to the nearest cent) less the amount of
all cash dividends declared on the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the
following clause (2) since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date,
since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A
Preferred Stock (the total of which shall not, in any event, be less than
zero) and (2) dividends payable in cash on the payment date for each cash
dividend declared on the Common Stock in an amount per whole share (rounded
to the nearest cent) equal to the Formula Number (as hereinafter defined)
then in effect times the cash dividends then to be paid on each share of
Common Stock. In addition, if the Corporation shall pay any dividend or
make any distribution on the Common Stock payable in assets, securities or
other forms of noncash consideration (other than dividends or distributions
solely in shares of Common Stock), then, in each such case, the Corporation
shall simultaneously pay or make on each outstanding whole share of Series
A Preferred Stock a dividend or distribution in like kind equal to the
Formula Number then in effect times such dividend or distribution on each
share of the Common Stock. As used herein, the "Formula Number" shall be
1,000; provided, however, that, if at any time after
___________________________, 199___, the Corporation shall (i) declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or
make any distribution on the Common Stock in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide (by a stock split or otherwise) the outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a larger number of shares of Common Stock or (iii) combine (by a
reverse stock split or otherwise) the outstanding shares of Common Stock
into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such event
the Formula Number shall be adjusted to a number determined by multiplying
the Formula Number in effect immediately prior to such event by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that are
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately prior
to such event (and rounding the result to the nearest whole number); and
provided further, that, if at any time after _______________________,
199___, the Corporation shall issue any shares of its capital stock in a
merger, reclassification, or change of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, then in each such event the Formula Number shall be appropriately
adjusted to reflect such merger, reclassification or change so that each
share of Preferred Stock continues to be the economic equivalent of a
Formula Number of shares of Common Stock prior to such merger,
reclassification or change.
3
(ii) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2(a) immediately prior to
or at the same time it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend or distribution solely in shares of Common
Stock); provided, however, that, in the event no dividend or distribution
(other than a dividend or distribution in shares of Common Stock) shall
have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, a dividend of $0.10 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock
shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be the
same as the record date for any corresponding dividend or distribution on
the Common Stock.
(iii) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from and after the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of original issue of such
shares of Series A Preferred Stock; provided, however, that dividends on
such shares which are originally issued after the record date for the
determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to
receive a quarterly dividend and on or prior to the next succeeding
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date shall begin to accrue and be cumulative
from and after such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock which are
originally issued prior to the record date for the determination of holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly
dividend on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date shall be calculated
as if cumulative from and after the last day of the fiscal quarter next
preceding the date of original issuance of such shares. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends
at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata
on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
(iv) So long as any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are
outstanding, no dividends or other distributions shall be declared, paid or
distributed, or set aside for payment or distribution, on the Common Stock
unless, in each case, the dividend required by this Section 2 to be
declared on the Series A Preferred Stock shall have been declared.
(v) The holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not
be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions except as
provided herein.
SECTION 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(i) Each holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to a
number of votes equal to the Formula Number then in effect, for each share
of Series A Preferred Stock held of record on each matter on which holders
of the Common Stock or stockholders generally are entitled to vote,
multiplied by the maximum number of votes
4
per share which any holder of the Common Stock or stockholders generally
then have with respect to such matter (assuming any holding period or other
requirement to vote a greater number of shares is satisfied).
(ii) Except as otherwise provided herein or by applicable law, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall vote together as one class for the election of directors
of the Corporation and on all other matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Corporation.
(iii) If, at the time of any annual meeting of stockholders for the
election of directors, the equivalent of six quarterly dividends (whether
or not consecutive) payable on any share or shares of Series A Preferred
Stock are in default, the number of directors constituting the Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall be increased by two. In addition to
voting together with the holders of Common Stock for the election of other
directors of the Corporation, the holders of record of the Series A
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class to the exclusion of the
holders of Common Stock, shall be entitled at said meeting of stockholders
(and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders), unless all
dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment
prior thereto, to vote for the election of two directors of the
Corporation, the holders of any Series A Preferred Stock being entitled to
cast a number of votes per share of Series A Preferred Stock equal to the
Formula Number. Until the default in payments of all dividends which
permitted the election of said directors shall cease to exist, any director
who shall have been so elected pursuant to the next preceding sentence may
be removed at any time, either with or without cause, only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock
at the time entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast
for the election of any such director at a special meeting of such holders
called for that purpose, and any vacancy thereby created may be filled by
the vote of such holders. If and when such default shall cease to exist,
the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be divested of the
foregoing special voting rights, subject to revesting in the event of each
and every subsequent like default in payments of dividends. Upon the
termination of the foregoing special voting rights, the terms of office of
all persons who may have been elected .directors, pursuant to said special
voting rights shall forthwith terminate, and the number of directors
constituting the Board of Directors shall be reduced by two. The voting
rights granted by this Section 3 (c) shall be in addition to any other
voting rights granted to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock in
this section 3.
(iv) Except as provided herein, in Section 11 or by applicable law,
holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and
their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled
to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for authorizing
or taking any corporate action.
5
SECTION 4. Certain Restrictions.
(i) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in
arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred
Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not
(1) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on,
or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock;
(2) declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on
any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(3) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Preferred Stock; provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in
exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding
up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(4) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity
with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a
purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the
Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as
the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual
dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will
result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
(ii) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph
(a) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such
time and in such manner.
SECTION 5. Liquidation Rights. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, no distribution
shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution
6
or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received an amount
equal to the accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or
not declared, to the date of such payment, plus an amount equal to the greater
of (x) $.01 per whole share or (y) an aggregate amount per share equal to the
Formula Number then in effect times the aggregate amount to be distributed per
share to holders of Common Stock or (2) to the holders of stock ranking on a
parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
with the Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the
Series A Preferred Stock and all other such parity stock in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
SECTION 6. 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 or any other property, then in any such case the then
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share equal to the Formula
Number then in effect times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or
any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for
which each share of Common Stock is exchanged or changed. In the event both this
Section 6 and Section 2 appear to apply to a transaction, this Section 6 will
control.
SECTION 7. No Redemption; No Sinking Fund.
(i) The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be subject to
redemption by the Corporation or at the option of any holder of Series A
Preferred Stock except as set forth in Section 5 of Article IV of the
Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation; provided, however,
that the Corporation may purchase or otherwise acquire outstanding shares
of Series A Preferred Stock in the open market or by offer to any holder or
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
(ii) The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be subject to or
entitled to the operation of a retirement or sinking fund.
SECTION 8. Ranking. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank junior
to all other series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, unless the Board of
Directors shall specifically determine otherwise in fixing the powers,
preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of
the shares of such series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof.
SECTION 9. Fractional Shares. The Series A Preferred Stock shall be
issuable upon exercise of the Rights issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement in
whole shares or in any fraction of a share that is one one thousandths
(1/1,000ths) of a share or any integral multiple of such fraction which shall
entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to receive
dividends, exercise voting rights, participate in distributions and to have the
benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock. In lieu of
fractional shares, the Corporation,
7
prior to the first issuance of a share or a fraction of a share of Series A
Preferred Stock, may elect (1) to make a cash payment as provided in the Rights
Agreement for fractions of a share other than one one-thousandths (1/1,000ths)
of a share or any integral multiple thereof or (2) to issue depository receipts
evidencing such authorized fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Corporation and a depository
selected by the Corporation; provided that such agreement shall provide that the
holders of such depository receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and
preferences to which they are entitled as holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock.
SECTION 10. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred
Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.
All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued
shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series until such shares
are once more designated as part of a particular series by the Board of
Directors pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of Article IV of the Articles
of Incorporation.
SECTION 11. Amendment. None of the powers, preferences and relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock
as provided herein or in the Articles of Incorporation shall be amended in any
manner which would alter or change the powers, preferences, rights or privileges
of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely
without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class;
provided, however, that no such amendment approved by the holders of at least
66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed to
apply to the powers, preferences, rights or privileges of any holder of shares
of Series A Preferred Stock originally issued upon exercise of a Right after the
time of such approval without the approval of such holder.
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be duly
executed in its corporate name on this ________ day of ________________ 199___.
ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS GROUP, INC.,
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------
Title:
----------------------------
Attest:
---------------------
Name:
Title:
STATE OF )
) ss.
COUNTY OF )
On this ______ day of _______________, 19___, before me appeared
______________________, to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn did
say that (s)he is the ____________________ of Associated Wholesale Grocers
Group, Inc., a corporation of the State of Kansas, and that the seal affixed to
the foregoing instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation and that said
instrument was signed and sealed on behalf of said corporation by authority of
its Board of Directors, and said ____________________ acknowledged said
instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my notarial
seal the day and year last above written.
--------------------------------------
Notary Public
My Commission Expires:
---------------------
[SEAL]
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Right Certificate]
Certificate No. [R]-
___________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER _______________________________, OR EARLIER IF
REDEEMED 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. RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING
PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND BY ANY SUBSEQUENT
HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS ARE NULL AND VOID AND NONTRANSFERABLE.
Right Certificate
ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS GROUP, INC.
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 7, 1994 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Associated
Wholesale Grocers Group, Inc., a Kansas corporation (the "Company"), and
__________________________________, a ___________________ banking corporation,
as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), unless the Rights evidenced hereby shall
have been previously redeemed by the Company, to purchase from the Company at
any time after the Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and
prior to 5:00 p.m., __________________________ time, on the 10th anniversary of
the date of the Rights Agreement (the "Expiration Date"), at the principal
office of the Rights Agent, or its successors as Rights Agent, in
________________________, ___________________, one one-thousandths (1/1000ths)
of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (the "Preferred
Shares"), at a purchase price per one one-thousandths (1/1000ths)of a share
equal to $___________ and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of
Election to Purchase duly executed.
The Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares which may be
purchased upon exercise of each Right evidenced by this Right Certificate, as
set forth above, are the Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares which
may be so purchased as of __________________________, 1996. As provided in the
Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares which may
be purchased upon the exercise of each Right evidence by this Right Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
2
If the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate are at any time
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), such
Rights shall be null and void and nontransferable and the holder of any such
Right (including any purported transferee or subsequent holder) shall not have
any right to exercise or transfer any such Right.
This Right Certificate is subject to all 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
reference to the Rights Agreement is hereby made for a full description of the
rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of
the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies
of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Rights
Agent and are also available from the Company upon written request.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the principal stock transfer or corporate trust office of the
Rights Agent, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number and kind of shares as the Rights evidenced by
the Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not
exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a
redemption price (in cash or shares of Common Stock or other securities of the
Company deemed by the Board of Directors to be at least equivalent in value) of
$0.01 per Right (which amount shall be subject to adjustment as provided in the
Rights Agreement) at any time prior to the earlier of (i) such time as a Person
becomes an Acquiring Person and (ii) the Expiration Date; provided, however,
that, for the 120-day period after any date of a change (resulting from a proxy
or consent solicitation) in a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company
in office at the commencement of such solicitation, the Rights may only be
redeemed if (A) there are directors then in office who were in office at the
commencement of such solicitation ("Prior Directors") and (B) the directors,
with the concurrence of a majority of the Prior Directors, determine that such
redemption is, in their judgment, in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders.
The Company may, but shall not be required to, issue fractions of Preferred
Shares or distribute certificates which evidence fractions of Preferred Shares
upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby. In lieu of issuing
fractional shares, the Company may elect to make a cash payment as provided in
the Rights Agreement for fractions of a share other than one one-thousandths
(1/1000ths) of a share or any integral multiple thereof or to issue certificates
or utilize a depository arrangement as provided in the terms of the Rights
Agreement and the Preferred Shares.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of
any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein
be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of
3
the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, 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 other distributions or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the
Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised as
provided in accordance with the provision of the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Dated as of: ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS GROUP, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
Attest:
----------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------
Title:
----------------------------
Countersigned:
-----------------, as Rights Agent,
By:
-------------------------------
Authorized Officer
4
[On Reverse Side of Right Certificate]
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
----------------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder
if such holder desires to exercise the Rights represented by this Right
Certificate.)
To the Rights Agent:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _____________________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares
(or other shares) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that
certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security of other identifying number:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such
Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: ________, 19__
-----------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
5
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder
if such holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ________________________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto _______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
________________________________________________________________________________
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named
Corporation, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ___________, 19__
____________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
The undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf of
a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof
(as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (2) this Rights Certificate
is not being sold, assigned or transferred to or on behalf of any such Acquiring
Person, Affiliate or Associate, and (3) after inquiry and to the best knowledge
of the undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate from any Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement).
____________________________________
Signature
6
NOTICE
------
The signature on the foregoing Form of Election to Purchase or Form of
Assignment must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
