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EXHIBIT 4.1
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XXXX, INC.
AND
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
RIGHTS AGENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MARCH 19, 1999
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Table of Contents
SECTION PAGE
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1 Certain Definitions 1
2 Appointment of Rights Agent 3
3 Issue of Rights Certificates 3
4 Form of Rights Certificates 5
5 Countersignature and Registration 6
6 Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange
of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed,
Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates 6
7 Exercise of Rights; Exercise Purchase Price;
Expiration Date of Rights 7
8 Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates 9
9 Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock 9
10 Common Stock Record Date 11
11 Adjustment of Exercise Purchase Price, Number
and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights 11
12 Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Purchase
Price or Number of Shares 18
13 Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
Assets or Earning Power 18
14 Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares 21
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SECTION PAGE
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15 Rights of Action 21
16 Agreement of Rights Holders 22
17 Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder 23
18 Concerning the Rights Agent 23
19 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of
Rights Agent 23
20 Duties of Rights Agent 24
21 Change of Rights Agent 26
22 Issuance of New Rights Certificates 27
23 Redemption and Termination 27
24 Notice of Certain Events 28
25 Notices 28
26 Supplements and Amendments 29
27 Successors 29
28 Determinations and Actions by the Board of
Directors, etc. 29
29 Benefits of this Agreement 30
30 Severability 30
31 Governing Law 30
32 Counterparts 30
33 Descriptive Headings 31
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of March 19, 1999 (the "Agreement"), between
XXXX, Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company"), and Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on February 10, 1999 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the
Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend
distribution of one Right for each share of common stock, $.01 par value (the
"Common Stock") of the Company outstanding at the close of business on April 5,
1999 (the "Record Date"), and has authorized the issuance of one Right for each
share of Common Stock of the Company issued between the Record Date (whether
originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) and the Distribution
Date, each Right initially representing the right to purchase one share of
Common Stock upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth
(the "Rights");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) that
constitutes an "Interested Shareholder" as defined in Section 505 and 912 of the
New York Business Corporation Law (the "New York BCL") other than as a result of
a Qualifying Offer; provided, however, that (i) an "Acquiring Person" shall not
include any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person solely as a result of a
reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding due to the
repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company, unless and until such
Person shall purchase or otherwise become the Beneficial Owner of additional
shares of Common Stock constituting 1% or more of the then outstanding shares of
Common Stock other than pursuant to a Qualifying Offer and (ii) for purposes of
determining whether such Person is an "Acquiring Person" a Person engaged in
business as an underwriter of securities shall not be deemed to be the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own", any securities acquired through
such Person's participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting
until the expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Section 912 of the New York BCL.
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(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own," any securities if such Person constitutes with
respect to such securities a "Beneficial Owner" as defined in Section 912 of the
New York BCL; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, a Person
engaged in business as an underwriter of securities shall not be deemed to be
the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own", any securities acquired
through such Person's participation in good faith in a firm commitment
underwriting until the expiration of forty days after the date of such
acquisition.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York
City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business
Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the next succeeding Business
Day.
(f) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, $.01 par value of the
Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other
than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with the greatest
voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having power to
control or direct the management, of such Person.
(g) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership or
other entity.
(h) "Qualifying Offer" shall mean an acquisition of shares of Common
Stock pursuant to a tender offer or an exchange offer for all outstanding shares
of Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at least a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors who are not officers of the Company and who
are not representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of any Person making
such offer, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms, to
be (a) fair to shareholders (taking into account all factors which such members
of the Board deem relevant including, without limitation, prices which could
reasonably be achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly
basis designed to realize maximum value) and (b) otherwise in the best interests
of the Company and its shareholders.
(i) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(j) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clauses (x), (y)
or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(k) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date of this Agreement
(the "Exchange Act")) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring
Person has become such.
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(l) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect at least
a majority of the directors of such corporation is beneficially owned, directly
or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(m) "Triggering Event" shall mean a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
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 such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth Business
Day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth Business Day after the
Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on
the Record Date), or (ii) the close of business on the tenth Business Day (or
such later date as the Board shall determine) after the date that a tender or
exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the
Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or
sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person
would be an Acquiring Person (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred
to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for the
Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which
Certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for
Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of
Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured,
postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close
of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, one or more right certificates, in substantially the
form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for
each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by
such Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the Company
will send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form attached
hereto as Exhibit B (the "Summary of Rights "), by first-class, postage prepaid
mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on
the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of
the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by
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such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered holders of the Common
Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the
earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such term is defined
in Section 7 hereof), the transfer of any certificates representing shares of
Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock which
are issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's treasury) after the
Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration
Date (as defined in Section 7(a)) or, in certain circumstances as provided in
Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing such
shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and
shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between XXXX,
Inc. (the "Company") and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
(the "Rights Agent") dated as of March 19, 1999 (the "Rights
Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of
the Rights Agent. Under certain circumstances as set forth in the
Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate
certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate.
The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of
the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without
charge promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under
certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights
issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an
Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such
terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held
by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may
become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until
the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer
of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and of
assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in
the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and may have such marks of identification
or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as
the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or
with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation
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of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to
conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22
hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the
Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such
number of shares of Common Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set
forth therein (such exercise price per share of Common Stock, the "Exercise
Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon the
exercise of each Right and the Exercise Purchase Price thereof shall be subject
to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22
hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or
any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights
Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer,
exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to
in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights
Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and
void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of such
Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by
its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman, its President or any Corporate
Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have
affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be
attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be manually
countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless
so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any
of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company,
such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent
and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though
the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer
of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the
Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights
Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights
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Certificate as provided above, although at the date of the execution of this
Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause
to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the appropriate
place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or transfer, books for
registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights
Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section
14 hereof, at any time after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and
at or prior to the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior
to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or
Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another
Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase
a like number of shares of Common Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate
or Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the
case of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer,
split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make
such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the
Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered
Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed
the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the
Rights Agent shall, subject to the Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14
hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up,
combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and upon written instruction of the Company to the Rights Agent, the Rights
Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the
Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the
Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the
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Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu
of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Purchase Price; Expiration Date
of Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise
provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Exercise Purchase Price with
respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock (or other securities, cash
or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are
then exercisable, at to which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at
or prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on February 9, 2009 (the
"Final Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
provided in Section 23 hereof (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred
to as the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Exercise Purchase Price for each share of Common Stock pursuant to the
exercise of a Right shall be one half of the Current Market Price as hereafter
defined and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph
(c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights,
with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Exercise
Purchase Price per share of Common Stock (or other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an amount
equal to any applicable transfer tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section
20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer Agent of
the shares of Common Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the
transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of shares of
Common Stock 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 total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of shares of
Common Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares
of Common Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer
agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the depositary
agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount
of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with
Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary
receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if
any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.
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The payment of the Exercise Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced
pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) shall be made in cash or by certified
bank check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company. In the event that
the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the Company, pay cash
and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company
will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or
other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when
appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and
after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights beneficially
owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or
(iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring
Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of
equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the
Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall
become null and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights
shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any
provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable
efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b)
hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights
Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any
determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates
or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the
Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with
respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as
set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i)
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for
such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights
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Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a
certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved
and kept available out of its authorized and Unicode shares of Common Stock
(and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and
unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities or out of its authorized
and issued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities held in its treasury),
the number of shares of Common Stock (and, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in
this Agreement including Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to permit
the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Common Stock (and, following the occurrence
of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) issuable and
deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national
securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and
after the Distribution Date, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed
on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)
hereof, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"),
with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing, and (ii) cause such registration
statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the
Rights are no longer exercisable for such Common Stock or other securities, and
(B) the date of the expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such
action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities
or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability
of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to
exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first
sentence of this Section (9c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to
prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective.
Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating
that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as
a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. In
addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is
required following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend
the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has
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been declared effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained and
until a registration statement has been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as
may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Common Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities)
delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the
certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the Exercise Purchase
Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may
be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and
of any certificates for shares of Common Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall
not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in
respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of shares of Common Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name
other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing
Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for
shares of Common Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may
be) in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any
Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the
holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been
established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for a number of shares of Common Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of
Common Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which
the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment
of the Exercise Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer taxes) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the Common Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may
be) transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to
have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Common Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a shareholder of the
Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
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Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Purchase Price, Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights. The Exercise Purchase Price, the number and kind of
shares issuable upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding
are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (C) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any
shares of its capital Stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock (including
any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise
provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Exercise Purchase
Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the
effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of capital Stock issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such
time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Exercise Purchase Price
then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock, which,
if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time
when the Common Stock transfer books of the Company were open, he would have
owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that
if the record date for any such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification shall occur prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall
make an appropriate adjustment to the Exercise Purchase Price (taking into
account any additional Rights which may be issued as a result of such dividend,
subdivision, combination or reclassification), in lieu of adjusting (as
described above) the number of shares of Common Stock (or other capital stock,
as the case may be) issuable upon exercise of the Rights. If an event occurs
which would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be
in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event any Person (other than an employee benefit plan of
the Company or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the
Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), alone or together with
its Affiliates and Associates, shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person, other than pursuant to a
transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof or a Qualifying Offer (such an
event being referred to herein as "a Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), then promptly
following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, proper provision shall be
made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section
7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof
at the then current Exercise Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as shall equal
the then number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
-23-
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock which
is authorized by the Company's certificate of incorporation but not outstanding
or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is
not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with
the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall: (A)
determine the excess of (1) the value of the Shares issuable upon the exercise
of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Exercise Purchase Price (such
excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right (subject to Section
7(e) hereof), make adequate provision to substitute for the t Shares, upon the
exercise of a Right and payment of the applicable Exercise Purchase Price, (1)
cash, (2) a reduction in the Exercise Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other
equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares or units
of shares of preferred Stock, which the Board of Directors of the Company has
deemed to have essentially the same value or economic rights as shares of Common
Stock (such shares of preferred stock being referred to as "Common Stock
Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any
combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current
Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Exercise Purchase Price), where
such aggregate value has been determined by the Board based upon the advice of a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors
of the Company; provided, however, that if the Company shall not have made
adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty
(30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to
Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the
"Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to
deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring
payment of the Exercise Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent
available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an
aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company
shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional
shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of
the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the
extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii)
Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek shareholder approval for the
authorization of such additional shares (such thirty (30) day period, as it may
be extended, is herein called the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the
Board of Directors of the Company determines that some action need be taken
pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the
Company (1) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action
shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (2) may suspend the
exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in
order to seek such shareholder approval for such authorization of additional
shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant
to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For
purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Stock shall be the
Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share
of the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any
Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to equal the Current Market Price per
share of the Common Stock on such date.
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(b) In case following the Stock Acquisition Date the Company shall fix a
record date for the issuance of rights (other than the Rights), options or
warrants to all holders of Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or
purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such
record date) Common Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and
preferences as the Common Stock ("Equivalent Common Stock")) or securities
convertible into Common Stock or Equivalent Common Stock at a price per share of
Common Stock or per share of Equivalent Common Stock (or having a conversion
price per share, if a security convertible into Common Stock or Equivalent
Common Stock) less than the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on such record date, the
Exercise Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the
number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total
number of shares of Common Stock and/or Equivalent Common Stock so to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so
to be offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator
of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such
record date, plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock and/or
Equivalent Common Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into
which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible).
In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or
all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration
shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
Shares of Common Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not
be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the
event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Exercise Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Purchase Price which would then be in
effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case following the Stock Acquisition Date the Company shall fix a
record date for a distribution to all holders of Common Stock (including any
such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other
than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings
of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in stock other than
Common Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in
Section 11(b) hereof), the Exercise Purchase Price to be in effect after such
record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Common Stock on such record date, less the fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of
-25-
Common Stock and the denominator of which shall be such current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock. Such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and
in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Exercise Purchase Price which would have been in effect if
such record date had not been fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than computations
made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Market Price per share
of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations
made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Market Price per share
of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive
Trading Days immediately following such date; provided, however, that in the
event that the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock is determined
during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of
(A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of such
Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other
than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of
such Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30)
Trading Day or Ten (10) Trading Day period as set forth above, after the ex-
dividend date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and
in each such case, the Current Market Price shall be properly adjusted to take
into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted
to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so
quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter
market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Automated Quotation System or such other system then in use, or, if on any such
date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a
market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted
to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of Common
Stock are not listed and admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so
listed or traded, Current Market Price per share shall mean the fair value per
share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
-26-
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the
Exercise Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require
an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Exercise Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of
Common Stock or other share, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first
sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall
be made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the
transaction which mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) or
Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital Stock other than Common Stock,
thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Right and the Exercise Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment
from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable
to the provisions with respect to the Common Stock contained in Sections 11(a),
(b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), and (m), and the provisions of Sections
7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Common Stock shall apply on like
terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Exercise Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Purchase Price, the number of shares
of Common Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in
Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Exercise Purchase Price as a result
of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Purchase Price, that number shares
of Common Stock (calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of shares covered by a Right immediately prior to
this adjustment, by (y) the Exercise Purchase Price in effect immediately prior
to such adjustment of the Exercise Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product
so obtained by the Exercise Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Exercise Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Exercise Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any
adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise
of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number
of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of shares of Common Stock for
which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right
held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become
that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by
-27-
dividing the Exercise Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment
of the Exercise Purchase Price by the Exercise Purchase Price in effect
immediately after adjustment of the Exercise Purchase Price. The Company shall
make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights,
indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the
amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which
the Exercise Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the
Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than
the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued,
upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Exercise
Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of
Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Purchase
Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue
to express the Exercise Purchase Price per share and the number of shares which
were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the
Exercise Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any
corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order
that the Company may validly and legally issue such number of fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Common Stock at such adjusted Exercise Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment
in the Exercise Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the number of shares of Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of
the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of
shares of Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise Purchase Price in
effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall
deliver to such holder a due xxxx or other appropriate instrument evidencing
such holder's right to receive such additional shares or securities upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Exercise Purchase
-28-
Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11,
as and to the extent that, in their good faith judgment, the Board of Directors
of the Company as shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i)
consolidation or subdivision of the Common Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash
of any shares of Common Stock at less than the current market price, (iii)
issuance, wholly for cash, of shares of Common Stock or securities which by
their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock,
(iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to
in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Common Stock
shall not be taxable to such shareholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that except as permitted by Section
13(d) it shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate
with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction
which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary
to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related transactions,
assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash
flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to
any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation,
merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities
outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y)
prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or
sale, the shareholder of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the
"Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a
distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates
and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date,
it will not, except as permitted by Section 13(d), Section 23 or Section 26
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section
13 hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth
such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such
adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer
agent for the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief
summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with
Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any
such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger of Sale or Transfer of Assets, Cash
Flow or Earning Power.
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(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date directly or
indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing
or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the Company, and
the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or merger,
all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other
property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of
its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a
series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating
more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than
50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in each such case (except as may
be contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof), proper provision shall be made so
that: (i) each holder of a Rights, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof,
shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof and
payment of one-half of the then Current Market Price of the Principal Party as
determined in accordance with the terms of Section 11(d) of this Agreement, such
number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely
tradable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is
hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first
refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the number of shares of
Common Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, the number of such shares
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable
for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations
and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company"
shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being
specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only
to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event;
(iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to,
the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in
connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to
assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as
reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section
11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first occurrence of any
Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of any
-30-
securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted in
such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person
that is the other party to such merger of consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets, cash flow or earning power transferred pursuant
to such transaction or transactions; provided, however, that in any such case,
(1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been
continuously over the preceding twelve (12) month period registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so
registered "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; and (2) in case
such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person,
the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so registered,
"Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the
Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale
or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for
issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this
Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13
and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any
consolidation, merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this
Section 13, the Principal Party will
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act, with
respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights
on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration
statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and
(B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of
the Act) until the Expiration Date; and
(ii) will deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply in
all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the
Exchange Act. The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event
that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
If, for any reason, the Rights cannot be exercised for Common Stock of the
Company or such Principal Party, then a holder of Rights will have the right to
exchange his Rights for cash from the Company or such Principal Party in an
amount equal to the number of shares of such Common Stock he would otherwise be
entitled to purchase times 50% of the then Current Market Price, as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of such stock of such Principal Party or
the Company. If, for any reason, including, without limitation, if such
Principal Party is an individual, private partnership or private company, the
foregoing formulation cannot be applied to determine the cash amount into which
-31-
the Rights are exchangeable, then the Board of Directors of the Company, based
upon the advice from one or more investment banking firms, shall determine such
amount reasonably and with utmost good faith to the holders of Rights. Any such
determination shall be binding and final.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section
13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs (x) and
(y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transactions is consummated with a Person or
Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Qualifying Offer (or a
wholly owned subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per share
of Common Stock offered in such transaction is not less than the price per share
of Common Stock paid to all holders of shares of Common Stock whose shares were
purchased pursuant to such Qualifying Offer and (iii) the form of consideration
being offered to the remaining holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to
such transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such
Qualifying Offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by
this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights, or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market
value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading
Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have
been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall be
the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such
day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either
case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights
are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the
last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low
asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other
system then in use, or if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares upon
exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
shares. In lieu of fractional shares, the Company may pay to the registered
holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
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value of one share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the
current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of
a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right 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 permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against, the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without listing the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledge that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance
of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relieve against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only
in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable
only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal
office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the
appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights Certificates
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby
(notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights
Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone other
than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e)
hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
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(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a
Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts, in their reasonable discretion, to have any such order, decree or
ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificates Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of Common Stock
or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any
Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company
or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted
to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation
for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of
the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for
or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with
its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or
certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument
of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter,
notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document
reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where
necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
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(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time
any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in
its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the
full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
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
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established by the Company
prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be
deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the
Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, any
Corporate Vice President, the Treasurer, or the Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization
-35-
to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under
the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement, the Summary of
Rights or in the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except
as to its countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements
and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the
due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificates; nor shall
it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11
or Section 13 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such
adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any
such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by
any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant
to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of
Common Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the
Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, any
Corporate Vice President, the Secretary, or the Treasurer of the Company, and to
apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties,
and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from
acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
-36-
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the Rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through
its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct; provided, however, reasonable care was exercised in the
selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to the
transfer agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove
the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to the transfer agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first class mail. If the
Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the
Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days
after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of
any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether
appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a legal business entity
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 entity
is authorized to do business in the State of New York, in good standing, having
an office in the State of New York, which is authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust or stock transfer 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 $25
million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally
named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights
Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at
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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 Stock,
and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Exercise Purchase Price and the number of kind or class of shares or
other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a)
shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted or
awarded as of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any
other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights
in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall
be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of
material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such
Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be
issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time
prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all but not
less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per
Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being
hereinafter referred to. as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the
Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such
basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion
may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering the redemption of the Rights becoming effective, evidence of which
shall have been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and
without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption
Price for each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of
Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice
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of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding
Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each holder's last address
as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the
Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common
Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed
given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of
redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price
will be made.
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the company shall propose, at any time after the Distribution
Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of
Common Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of Common Stock
(other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained
earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Common Stock rights
or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Common
Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or
options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Common Stock (other than
a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of
Common Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or
to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer),
in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the
assets, earning power or cash flow of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as
a whole) to any other Person or Person (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up ofthe
Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a
Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25
hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date
for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or
the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of
participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock, if any such
date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the
record date for determining holders of the shares of Common Stock for purposes
of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20)
days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock whichever
shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall
occur, then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable
thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificates, to the extent feasible
and in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such
event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to
holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
Section 25. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate
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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:
XXXX, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Vice President - Finance
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
0 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Compliance Division
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-
class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such
holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to time
supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right
Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights
which the Company may deem necessary or desirable, any such supplement or
amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights
Agent; provided, however, that from and after such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall not be amended in any manner which would
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights.
Section 27. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstaying shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
Section 912 of the New York BCL. The Board of Directors of the Company except
as otherwise specifically provided for herein, shall have the exclusive power
-40-
and authority to administer this Agreement and exercise all rights and powers
specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or
advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
of Directors of the Company shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and
(y) not subject the Board of Directors of the Company to any liability to the
holders of the Rights.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the
tenth Business Day following the date of such determination by the Board of
Directors. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring that a
determination be made by less than the entire Board (or at a time or with the
concurrence of a group of directors consisting of less than the entire Board) is
held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void
or unenforceable, such determination shall then be made by the entire Board of
Directors in accordance with applicable law and the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State.
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Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
Attest:
XXXX, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
------------------------------ ---------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Secretary Title: President
Attest:
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER
& TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------ ---------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Asst. Secretary Title: Vice President
-42-
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- Rights
------------
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER February 9, 2009 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. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]*
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
XXXX, 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 March 19, 1999(the "Rights Agreement"), between XXXX, INC, a New York
corporation (the "Company"), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a
New York corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any
time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on February 9, 2009 at the office
or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as
Rights Agent, one share of Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock") of
the Company, at a purchase price of one-half of the Current Market Price as
defined in the Rights Agreement per share (the "Exercise Purchase Price"), upon
presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election
to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares of Common Stock
which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Exercise
Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the number and Exercise Purchase
Price as of April 5, 1999, based on the Common Stock as constituted at such
date.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is defined
in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
-43-
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement),
(ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or (iii)
under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a
person who, after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void and no
holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after
the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and
kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities, which may be purchased upon
the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including
Triggering Events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Right
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as the Rights
evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall
have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights
not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption
price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the close of
business on (i) the tenth business day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as
such time period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii) the
Final Expiration Date.
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the exercise of
any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Common Stock or
of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
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exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein
be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a
shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action, or, to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in the Rights
Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until
the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Dated: ATTEST:
-----------------------------
XXXX, INC.
By:
-------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Secretary Countersigned
Attest:
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, RIGHTS AGENT
By:
--------------------------------
Authorized Officer
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer
the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED
------------------------------------------------
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
--------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
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This Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest
therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights
--------------------------------------
Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of
substation.
Date: , 19
-------------------- ---
--------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: , 19
--------------- ------- ---------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
-47-
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
-48-
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Rights
Certificate.)
To: XXXX, INC:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Rights
--------------
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of
and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be
registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dated:
-------------------------
---------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
-49-
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ]are [ ] are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated:
--------------------- --------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
-50-
EXHIBIT B
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
COMMON STOCK
On February 10, 1999, the Board of Directors of XXXX, Inc. (the "Company")
declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding share of
Common Stock, $.01 value (the "Common Stock"), of the Company to shareholders of
record at the close of business on April 5, 1999. Each Right entitles the
registered holder to purchase from the Company one share of Common Stock at an
Exercise Purchase Price of one-half of the Current Market Price as defined in
the Rights Agreement, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days following
a public announcement that a person (an "Acquiring Person") has become an
"interested shareholder" as defined in Section 912 of the New York Business
Corporation Law (i.e. has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial
ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), except
pursuant to a Qualifying Offer, as defined below (such public announcement date
being referred to below as the "Stock Acquisition Date") and (ii) 10 business
days (or such later date as the Board shall determine) following the
commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person
becoming an Acquiring Person. Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will
be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and
only with such Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates
issued after April 5, 1999 will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates
for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
at the close of business on February 9, 2009, unless earlier redeemed by the
Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by
the Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
-51-
In the event that a person becomes an Acquiring Person except pursuant to
an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the independent
directors (excluding officers of the Company) determine, after receiving advice
from one or more investment banking firms, to be fair to and otherwise in the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders (a "Qualifying Offer"), each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to purchase for one-half of the
Current Market Price as defined in the Rights Agreement one share of common
stock for each right exercised or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or
other securities of the Company equal to the value of the Right. However, the
Rights will not be exercisable following the occurrence of any such event until
such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth
below. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any
such event, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in
the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person (or
certain related parties) will be null and void.
For example, if the Current Market Price, as defined in the Rights
Agreement were $15 per share, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by
certain related parties) following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph
would entitle its holder to purchase for $7.50 one share of Common Stock.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i)
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in
which a merger which follows a Qualifying Offer and satisfies certain other
requirements, (ii) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation but
all or part of the Common Stock is changed into or exchanged for Securities of
the other person or other property, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's
assets, cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a
Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, one share of common stock
of the acquiring company for one-half of the Current Market Price of the
Acquirer's stock. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second
preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Common
Stock, (ii) if holders of the Common Stock are granted certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or convertible securities at less than
the current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to
holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding
regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants(other
than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment
in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Stock on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
-52-
At any time until ten business days following the Stock Acquisition Date,
the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01
per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed
appropriate by the Board of Directors). Immediately upon the action of the Board
of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $.01 redemption
price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to shareholders or to the Company, shareholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended in any respect
by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After
the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any
Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights
Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the time period
governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are not
redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is being filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of
the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary
description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein
by reference.
