_______________________________________________________________________________
Parent Holding Corp.
(to be renamed Promus Hotel Corporation)
and
First Union National Bank
as Rights Agent
Rights Agreement
Dated as of December 17, 1997
_______________________________________________________________________________
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 1997, between Parent
Holding Corp. (to be renamed Promus Hotel Corporation), a Delaware corporation
(the "COMPANY"), and First Union National Bank, a North Carolina corporation, as
Rights Agent (the "RIGHTS AGENT").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on December 17, 1997, the Board of Directors of the
Company adopted this Agreement, and authorized the issuance, subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, of one preferred share purchase right (a
"RIGHT") for each Common Share (as defined in Section 1.6) of the Company
issued at or after the Effective Time (the "Effective Time") of the mergers
of wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company with and into Doubletree
Corporation and Promus Hotel Corporation (together, the "Merger") and prior
to the earliest of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as such
terms are defined in Sections 3.1 and 7.1), each Right initially representing
the right to purchase one one-hundredth (subject to adjustment) of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED SHARES") of the
Company having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form of
Certificate of Designation attached hereto as Exhibit A (which will be filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware following the Effective
Time), upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Rights may be issued with respect to Common Shares
that shall become outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior to the
Expiration Date in accordance with Section 22.
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:
1.1 "ACQUIRING PERSON" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates
(as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding but shall not include (i) an Exempt Person (as
such term is hereinafter defined) or (ii) if, as of the Effective Date, any
Person is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares outstanding
(an "Existing Holder"), such Existing Holder shall not be or become an
"Acquiring Person" unless and until such time as such Existing Holder shall
become the Beneficial Owner of one or more additional Common Shares of the
Company (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the
Company on the outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a
split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares), unless, upon becoming
the Beneficial Owner of such additional Common Shares, such Existing Holder is
not then the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person
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shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of Common
Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding,
increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such
Person to 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15%
or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding solely by reason
of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by
the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of one or more additional Common
Shares of the Company (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid
or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares or
pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares), then
such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person," unless, upon
becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional Common Shares, such Existing
Holder is not then the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares
then outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors
of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be
an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of
this Section 1.1, has become such inadvertently (including, without
limitation, because (A) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a
percentage of Common Shares that would otherwise cause such Person to be an
"Acquiring Person" or (B) such Person was aware of the extent of its
Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares but had no actual knowledge of the
consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement) and without
any intention of changing or influencing control of the Company, and such
Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of Common
Shares so that such Person would no longer be an Acquiring Person, as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.1, then such Person
shall not be deemed to be or have become an "Acquiring Person" at any time
for any purposes of this Agreement. For all purposes of this Agreement, any
calculation of the number of Common Shares outstanding at any particular
time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such
outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall
be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
1.2 "AFFILIATE" and "ASSOCIATE" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations,
under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
1.3 A Person shall be deemed the "BENEFICIAL OWNER" of and shall be
deemed to "BENEFICIALLY OWN" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly (as
determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this
Agreement);
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(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates, directly or indirectly, has (A) the right to acquire
(whether such right is exercisable immediately, or only after the
passage of time, compliance with regulatory requirements, fulfillment
of a condition or otherwise) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement
or understanding, whether or not in writing (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members
with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon
the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants
or options, or otherwise; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall not
be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (w)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or
on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase
or exchange, (x) securities which such Person has a right to acquire
upon the exercise of Rights at any time prior to the time that any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person, (y) securities issuable upon the
exercise of Rights from and after the time that any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person if such Rights were acquired by such Person or any
of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution
Date or pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 22 ("ORIGINAL RIGHTS") or
pursuant to Section 11.9 or Section 11.15 with respect to an
adjustment to Original Rights or (z) securities which such Person or
any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates may acquire, does or do
acquire or may be deemed to have the right to acquire, pursuant to
any merger or other acquisition agreement between the Company and
such Person (or one or more of his Affiliates or Associates) if such
agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company
prior to such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person; or (B) the right
to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether or not in writing); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall
not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any
security under this clause (B) if the agreement, arrangement or
understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a
revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a
public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in
accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange
Act and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the
Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof) and with respect to which such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities), whether or not in writing, for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable
proxy or consent as described in the proviso to Section 1.3(ii)(B))
or disposing of any securities of the Company;
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PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee
of an Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's
status or authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are
"beneficially owned" (as defined in this Section 1.3), including, without
limitation, in a fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other
such officer, director or employee of an Exempt Person.
1.4 "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the state in
which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
1.5 "CLOSE OF BUSINESS" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., New
York time, on such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such date is not a Business
Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the next succeeding Business
Day.
1.6 "COMMON SHARES" when used with reference to the Company shall
mean the shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.
"Common Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company
shall mean the capital stock with the greatest voting power, or the equity
securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the
management, of such other Person or, if such Person is a Subsidiary (as such
term is hereinafter defined) of another Person, the Person or Persons which
ultimately control such first-mentioned Person, and which has issued and
outstanding such capital stock, equity securities or equity interest.
1.7 "CONTINUING DIRECTOR" shall mean (i) any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company, while such Person is a member of the Board, who is
not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person,
or an employee, director, representative, nominee or designee of any Acquiring
Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and was a member of the Board
prior to the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (ii) any
Person (during such period in which such Person is a member of the Board) who,
after the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, becomes a member of
the Board and who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate of Associate of
an Acquiring Person, or an employee, director, representative, nominee or
designee of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, if such
Person's nomination for election or election to the Board is recommended or
approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors.
1.8 "EXEMPT PERSON" shall mean the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, in each case including, without limitation, in its fiduciary capacity,
or any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company
or any entity or trustee holding shares of capital stock of the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan or
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for the purpose of funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits
for employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company.
1.9 "PERSON" shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company, firm, corporation, unincorporated association, trust
or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of
such entity.
1.10 "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, the filing of a report pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange
Act or pursuant to a comparable successor statute) by the Company or an
Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such or that discloses
information which reveals the existence of an Acquiring Person or such earlier
date as a majority of the Board of Directors shall become aware of the
existence of an Acquiring Person.
1.11 "SUBSIDIARY" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interests is owned, of record or beneficially, directly or
indirectly, by such Person.
1.12 A "TRIGGER EVENT" shall be deemed to have occurred upon any
Person becoming an Acquiring Person.
1.13 The following terms shall have the meanings defined for such
terms in the Sections set forth below:
Term Section
---- -------
Adjustment Shares 11.1.2
common stock equivalent 11.1.3
Company Recitals
current per share market price 11.4
Current Value 11.1.3
Distribution Date 3.1
Effective Time Recitals
equivalent preferred stock 11.2
Exchange Act 1.1
Exchange Consideration 27
Existing Holder 1.1
Expiration Date 7.1
Final Expiration Date 7.1
Merger Recitals
Nasdaq 9
Original Rights 1.3
Preferred Shares Recitals
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Principal Party 13.2
Purchase Price 4
Redemption Date 7.1
Redemption Price 23.1
Right Recitals
Right Certificate 3.1
Rights Agent Recitals
Security 11.4
Spread 11.1.3
Substitution Period 11.1.3
Trading Day 11.4
Section 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of
the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3, shall prior to the Distribution
Date also be the holders of the Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable. In the event the Company appoints one or more co-Rights
Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any co-Rights Agent shall
be as the Company shall determine. Contemporaneously with such appointment, if
any, the Company shall notify the Rights Agent thereof.
Section 3. ISSUANCE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES.
3.1 RIGHTS EVIDENCED BY SHARE CERTIFICATES. Until the earlier of
(i) the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth
Business Day after the date of the commencement of, or first public
announcement of the intent of any Person (other than an Exempt Person) to
commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result
in any Person (other than an Exempt Person) becoming the Beneficial Owner of
Common Shares aggregating 15% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares
of the Company (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the
"DISTRIBUTION DATE"), (x) the Rights (unless earlier expired, redeemed or
terminated) will be evidenced by the certificates for Common Shares
registered in the names of the holders thereof and not by separate
certificates, and (y) the Rights (and the right to receive certificates
therefor) will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the
underlying Common Shares. The preceding sentence notwithstanding, prior to
the occurrence of a Distribution Date specified as a result of an event
described in clause (ii) (or such later Distribution Date as the Board of
Directors of the Company may select pursuant to this sentence), the Board of
Directors may postpone, one or more times, the Distribution Date which would
occur as a result of an event described in clause (ii) beyond the date set
forth in such clause (ii). Nothing herein shall permit such a postponement
of a Distribution Date after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, except as
a result of the operation of the third sentence of Section 1.1. As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and
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execute, the Rights Agent will countersign and the Company (or, if requested,
the Rights Agent) will send, by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each
record holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution
Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company, one or more certificates for Rights, in substantially the form of
Exhibit B hereto (a "RIGHT CERTIFICATE"), evidencing one Right (subject to
adjustment as provided herein) for each Common Share so held. As of the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right
Certificates.
3.2 CERTIFICATES. Certificates for Common Shares which become
outstanding (whether upon issuance in connection with the Merger, disposition
out of authorized but unissued Common Shares, issuance out of treasury or
transfer or exchange of outstanding Common Shares) at or after the Effective
Time but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date,
shall have impressed, printed, stamped, written or otherwise affixed onto them
the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in an Agreement between Promus Hotel
Corporation (the "Company") and First Union National Bank, as Rights
Agent, dated as of December 17, 1997, as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at
the principal executive offices of the Company. Under certain
circumstances, as set forth in the 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 Agreement without charge after receipt of a
written request therefor. AS DESCRIBED IN THE AGREEMENT, RIGHTS
WHICH ARE OWNED BY, TRANSFERRED TO OR HAVE BEEN OWNED BY ACQUIRING
PERSONS OR ASSOCIATES OR AFFILIATES THEREOF (AS DEFINED IN THE
AGREEMENT) SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE
TRANSFERABLE.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date (or the earlier Expiration Date), the Rights associated with
the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such
certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such certificates,
except as otherwise provided herein, shall also constitute the transfer of the
Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In the event
that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the Effective
Time but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common
Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be
entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no
longer outstanding.
Notwithstanding this Section 3.2, the omission of a legend shall not
affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any
holder of the Rights.
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Section 4. FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. The Right Certificates (and
the forms of election to purchase shares, certification and assignment to be
printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B
hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange or trading system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed
or quoted, or to conform to usage. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
the Right Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the date on which
the Effective Time occurs, and shall show the date of countersignature by the
Rights Agent, and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase
such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth
therein at the price per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share set forth
therein (the "PURCHASE PRICE"), but the number of such one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as
provided herein.
Section 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION. The Right Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, President or any 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 any Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Right Certificates shall be countersigned, either manually or
by facsimile signature, by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent, but it
shall not be necessary for the same signatory to countersign all of the Right
Certificates hereunder. No Right Certificate shall be valid for any purpose
unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have
signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery
by the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by
an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent, and issued and delivered by the
Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such
Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any
Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at
the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of
the execution of this Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause
to be kept, at its principal office, books for registration and transfer of the
Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of
Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates, the certificate
number of each of the Right Certificates and the date of each of the Right
Certificates.
Section 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHT
CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT CERTIFICATES. Subject
to the provisions of Section 7.5,
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Section 11.1.2 and Section 14, at any time after the close of business on the
Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the Expiration
Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right
Certificates representing Rights that have become void pursuant to Section
11.1.2 or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 27) may be
transferred, split up or combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate
or Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as the Right Certificate or
Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any
registered holder desiring to transfer, split up or combine or exchange any
Right Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights
Agent, and shall surrender, together with any required form of assignment and
certificate duly completed, the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be
transferred, split up or combined or exchanged at the office 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 Right Certificate or Right Certificates until the
registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained
in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Right Certificate or
Right Certificates 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 countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a
Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.
The Company may require payment from the holders of Right Certificates of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up or combination or exchange of such
Right Certificates.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.1.2 , at any time after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, upon receipt by the Company
and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss,
theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss,
theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them,
and, at the Company's request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights
Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the
Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate if mutilated, the
Company will make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the
Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu
of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF
RIGHTS.
7.1 EXERCISE OF RIGHTS. Subject to Section 11.1.2 and except as
otherwise provided herein, the registered holder of any Right Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase and certification on the reverse side thereof duly
executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for the
total number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (or other securities,
cash or other assets) as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the
time (the "EXPIRATION DATE") that is the earliest of (i) the close of
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business on December 17, 2007 (the "FINAL EXPIRATION DATE"), (ii) the time at
which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 (the "REDEMPTION
DATE"), (iii) the closing of any merger or other acquisition transaction
involving the Company pursuant to an agreement of the type described in
Sections 1.3(ii)(A)(z) and 13.3, at which time the Rights are deemed
terminated, or (iv) the time at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in
Section 27.
7.2 PURCHASE. The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall be initially $160.00,
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11, 13
and 26 and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in
accordance with Section 7.3.
7.3 PAYMENT PROCEDURES. Upon receipt of a Right Certificate
representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and
certification duly executed, accompanied by payment of the aggregate Purchase
Price for the total number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share to be
purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be
paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9, in
cash or by certified or cashier's check or money order payable to the order of
the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from
any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make available, if the Rights
Agent is the transfer agent) certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to
be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent
to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to
deposit the total number of Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Rights hereunder with a depository agent, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing interests in such number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the
transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the
depositary agent to comply with all such requests, (ii) when appropriate,
requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of the
issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 or otherwise in
accordance with Section 11.1.3, (iii) promptly after receipt of such
certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in
such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when
appropriate, after receipt, promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of
the registered holder of such Right Certificate. 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 11.1.3, 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.
7.4 PARTIAL EXERCISE. In case the registered holder of any Right
Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new
Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to the registered
holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to
the provisions of Section 14.
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7.5 FULL INFORMATION CONCERNING OWNERSHIP. Notwithstanding anything
in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company
shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder
of Rights upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this
Section 7 unless the certificate contained in the form of election to purchase
set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such
exercise shall have been duly completed and signed by the registered holder
thereof and the Company shall have been provided with 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 RIGHT CERTIFICATES. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the
written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and
in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL STOCK. The
Company covenants and agrees that from and after the Distribution Date it will
cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued
Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a Trigger Event, out of its
authorized and unissued Common Shares or other securities or out of its shares
held in its treasury) the number of Preferred Shares (and, following the
occurrence of a Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) that will
be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
So long as the Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a
Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) issuable upon the
exercise of Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange or traded
in the over-the-counter market and quoted on the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") (including the
National Market or Small Cap Market), the Company shall use its best efforts to
cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares
reserved for such issuance to be listed or admitted to trading on such exchange
or quoted on Nasdaq upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as
may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (and, following the
occurrence of a Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities)
delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of
11
delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the
Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable shares.
From and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, the
Company shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to permit the issuance
of Preferred Shares upon the exercise of Rights, to register and qualify such
Preferred Shares under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities
or "Blue Sky" laws (to the extent exemptions therefrom are not available),
cause such registration statement and qualifications to become effective as
soon as possible after such filing and keep such registration and
qualifications effective until the earlier of the date as of which the Rights
are no longer exercisable for such securities and the Expiration Date. The
Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 90 days,
the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file a registration
statement under the Securities Act and permit it to become effective. Upon
any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating
that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well
as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the
Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite
qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until a
registration statement under the Securities Act (if required) shall have been
declared effective.
The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all Federal and state transfer taxes and charges which
may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right
Certificates or of any Preferred Shares (or Common Shares 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 Right Certificates to a person
other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates for the Preferred
Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a
name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate
evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any
certificates for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares 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 any such tax shall have been paid (any such
tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction
that no such tax is due.
Section 10. PREFERRED SHARES RECORD DATE. Each person in whose
name any certificate for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares 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 the
Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may
be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date
upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered
and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was
made; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a
date upon which the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other
securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are closed,
such person shall be
12
deemed to have become the record holder of such shares (fractional or
otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding
Business Day on which the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares 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 Right
Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred
Shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends or other distributions,
and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the
Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER OF SHARES OR NUMBER
OF RIGHTS. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares or other
securities or property purchasable upon exercise of each Right and the number
of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided
in this Section 11.
11.1 POST-EXECUTION EVENTS.
11.1.1 CORPORATE DIVIDENDS, RECLASSIFICATIONS, ETC. In the event
the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare and
pay a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, (B)
subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine the outstanding
Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or (D) issue any
shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares
(including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or
merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except
as otherwise provided in this Section 11.1, the Purchase Price in effect at the
time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares
of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so
that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to
receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such
Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, he would have owned
upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend,
subdivision, combination or reclassification; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no
event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less
than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issuable upon exercise of one Right. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both Section 11.1.1 and Section 11.1.2, the adjustment
provided for in this Section 11.1.1 shall be in addition to, and shall be made
prior to, the adjustment required pursuant to, Section 11.1.2.
11.1.2 ACQUIRING PERSON EVENTS; TRIGGERING EVENTS. Subject to
Sections 23.1 and 27 of this Agreement, from and after the first occurrence of
a Trigger Event, each holder of a Right, except as provided below, shall
thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price per Right
equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-
hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable (without
giving effect to this Section 11.1.2), in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and in lieu of Preferred
13
Shares, such number of Common Shares as shall equal the result obtained by
(x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable
(without giving effect to this Section 11.1.2) and (y) dividing that product
by 50% of the current per share market price of the Common Shares (determined
pursuant to Section 11.4) on the first of the date of the occurrence of a
Trigger Event (the "ADJUSTMENT SHARES"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Purchase
Price and the number of Adjustment Shares shall thereafter be subject to
further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11.6.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event, any
Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by (1) any Acquiring
Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof, (2) a transferee of any
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (3) a transferee of
any 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 as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of this Section 11.1.2, and
subsequent transferees, shall become void without any further action, and any
holder (whether or not such holder is an Acquiring Person or an Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) of such Rights shall thereafter have no
right to exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise. From and after the Trigger Event, no Right Certificate shall be
issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 6 that represents Rights that are or
have become void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, and any Right
Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent that represents Rights that are or
have become void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall be
canceled. From and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section
13.1, any Rights that theretofore have not been exercised pursuant to this
Section 11.1.2 shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with
Section 13 and not pursuant to this Section 11.1.2.
The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the
provisions of this Section 11.1.2 are complied with, but shall have no
liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a result of
its failure to make any determinations with respect to any Acquiring Person or
its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.
11.1.3 INSUFFICIENT SHARES. The Company may at its option
substitute for a Common Share issuable upon the exercise of Rights in
accordance with the foregoing Section 11.1.2 a number of Preferred Shares or
fraction thereof such that the current per share market price of one Preferred
Share multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current per share
market price of one Common Share. In the event that upon the occurrence of a
Trigger Event there shall not be sufficient Common Shares authorized but
unissued, or held by the Company as treasury shares, to permit the exercise in
full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing Section 11.1.2, the Company
shall take all such action as may be necessary to
14
authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of the Rights,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Company determines that it is unable to cause
the authorization of a sufficient number of additional Common Shares, then,
in the event the Rights become exercisable, the Company, with respect to each
Right and to the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law and any
agreements or instruments in effect on the date hereof to which it is a
party, shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment
Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "CURRENT VALUE"), over (2)
the Purchase Price (such excess, the "SPREAD") and (B) with respect to each
Right (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section 11.1.2),
make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment
of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase
Price, (3) Preferred Shares or other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, shares, or fractions of shares, of preferred
stock which, by virtue of having dividend, voting and liquidation rights
substantially comparable to those of the Common Shares, the Board of
Directors of the Company has deemed in good faith to have substantially the
same value as Common Shares) (each such share of preferred stock or fractions
of shares of preferred stock constituting a "COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENT")), (4)
debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets or (6) any combination of
the foregoing having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where
such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors of the
Company based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking
firm selected in good faith 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 first occurrence of a Trigger Event, then the Company shall be
obligated to deliver, to the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law
and any agreements or instruments in effect on the date hereof to which it is
a party, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring
payment of the Purchase Price, Common Shares (to the extent available) and
then, if necessary, such number or fractions of Preferred Shares (to the
extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have
an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the
Company shall determine in good faith that it is unlikely that sufficient
additional Common Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in
full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be
extended and re-extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety
(90) days following the first occurrence of a Trigger Event, in order that
the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such
additional shares (such period as may be extended, the "SUBSTITUTION
PERIOD"). To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be
taken pursuant to the second and/or third sentences of this Section 11.1.3,
the Company (x) shall provide that such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights
until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any
authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of
distribution to be made pursuant to such 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 11.1.3, the
value of a Common Share shall be the current per share market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on the date of the first occurrence of a
15
Trigger Event and the value of any "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed
to have the same value as the Common Shares on such date. The Board of
Directors of the Company may, but shall not be required to, establish
procedures to allocate the right to receive Common Shares upon the exercise
of the Rights among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 11.1.3.
11.2 DILUTIVE RIGHTS OFFERING. In case the Company shall fix a
record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of
Preferred Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days
after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or
securities having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred
Shares ("EQUIVALENT PREFERRED STOCK")) or securities convertible into Preferred
Shares or equivalent preferred stock at a price per Preferred Share or per
share of equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion or exercise price
per share, if a security convertible into or exercisable for Preferred Shares
or equivalent preferred stock) less than the current per share market price of
the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on such record
date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of
Preferred Shares and shares of equivalent preferred stock outstanding on such
record date plus the number of Preferred Shares and shares of equivalent
preferred stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of
Preferred Shares and/or shares of equivalent preferred stock to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so
to be offered) would purchase at such current per share market price and the
denominator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares and shares of
equivalent preferred stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of
additional Preferred Shares and/or shares of equivalent preferred stock to be
offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities
so to be offered are initially convertible); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no
event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less
than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issuable upon exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be
paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than
cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described
in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights
Agent and the holders of the Rights. Preferred Shares and shares of equivalent
preferred stock owned by or held for the account of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of
any such computation. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever
such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights or warrants are
not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price
which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
11.3 DISTRIBUTIONS. In case the Company shall fix a record date for
the making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including
any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in
which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness, cash, securities or assets (other than a regular periodic cash
dividend at a rate not in excess of 125% of the rate of the last regular
periodic cash
16
dividend theretofore paid or, in case regular periodic cash dividends have
not theretofore been paid, at a rate not in excess of 50% of the average net
income per share of the Company for the four quarters ended immediately prior
to the payment of such dividend, or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares
(which dividend, for purposes of this Agreement, shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 11.1.1(A))) or convertible securities, or subscription
rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11.2), the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record
date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current per share
market price of the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4)
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, securities or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or
of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one Preferred Share and
the denominator of which shall be such current per share market price of the
Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4); PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one
Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of
the Company to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall
be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event
that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
11.4 CURRENT PER SHARE MARKET VALUE.
11.4.1 GENERAL. For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
the "CURRENT PER SHARE MARKET PRICE" of any security (a "SECURITY" for the
purpose of this Section 11.4.1) on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30)
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately
prior to such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event that the current per
share market price of the Security is determined during any period following
the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (i) a dividend or
distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or
securities convertible into such shares or (ii) any subdivision, combination
or reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration of thirty
(30) Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or
distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, then, and in each such case, the "current per share market
price" shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price
per share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day shall
be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on
such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in
either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading
on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the
principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not
17
so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in
use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by
a professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker
is making a market in the Security, the fair value of the Security 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 Security is listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, a Business Day. If the Security is not publicly held or not so
listed or traded, or if on any such date the Security is not so quoted and no
such market maker is making a market in the Security, "current per share
market price" shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith
by the Board of Directors of the Company or, if at the time of such
determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a majority of the Continuing
Directors then in office, or if there are no Continuing Directors, by a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of
Directors, which shall have the duty to make such determination in a
reasonable and objective manner, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all
purposes, and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights.
11.4.2 PREFERRED SHARES. Notwithstanding Section 11.4.1, for the
purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per share market price" of
the Preferred Shares shall be determined in the same manner as set forth above
in Section 11.4.1 (other than the last sentence thereof). If the current per
share market price of the Preferred Shares cannot be determined in the manner
described in Section 11.4.1, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 100 (as
such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits,
stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Shares
occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the current per share
market price of the Common Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4.1).
If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so
listed or traded, or if on any such date neither the Common Shares nor the
Preferred Shares are so quoted and no such market maker is making a market in
either the Common Shares or the Preferred Shares, "current per share market
price" of the Preferred Shares shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, or, if at
the time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a majority of
the Continuing Directors then in office, or if there are no Continuing
Directors, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company, which shall have the duty to make such
determination in a reasonable and objective manner, which determination shall
be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive
for all purposes and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of
the Rights. For purposes of this Agreement, the "current per share market
price" of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share shall be equal to the "current
per share market price" of one Preferred Share divided by 100.
18
11.5 INSIGNIFICANT CHANGES. No adjustment in the Purchase Price
shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease
of at least 1% in such price. Any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11.5 are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-hundred thousandth of a
Preferred Share or the nearest one-hundredth of a Common Share or other share
or security, as the case may be.
11.6 SHARES OTHER THAN PREFERRED SHARES. If as a result of an
adjustment made pursuant to Section 11.1, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the
Company other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares
so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to
the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares contained in Sections 11.1,
11.2, 11.3, 11.5, 11.8, 11.9 and 11.13 hereof and the provisions of Sections 7,
9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms
to any such other shares.
11.7 RIGHTS ISSUED PRIOR TO ADJUSTMENT. All Rights originally
issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price
hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price,
the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable from time to
time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment
as provided herein.
11.8 EFFECT OF ADJUSTMENTS. Unless the Company shall have exercised
its election as provided in Section 11.9, upon each adjustment of the Purchase
Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11.2 and 11.3, each
Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall
thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest
one-hundred thousandth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x)
the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share covered by a Right
immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing
the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.
11.9 ADJUSTMENT IN NUMBER OF RIGHTS. The Company may elect on or
after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of
Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights
outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable
for the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record
prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of
Rights (calculated to the nearest one-hundredth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of
19
the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its
election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the
adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be
made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is
adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have been
issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment
of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11.9, the Company may, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of
Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject
to Section 14, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause
to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement
for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right
Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed
shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein
(and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and
shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
11.10 RIGHT CERTIFICATES UNCHANGED. Irrespective of any adjustment
or change in the Purchase Price or the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the
Purchase Price per share and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
11.11 PAR VALUE LIMITATIONS. Before taking any action that would
cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below one one-hundredth of the
then par value, if any, of the Preferred Shares or other shares of capital
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 fully paid and
nonassessable Preferred Shares or other such shares at such adjusted Purchase
Price.
11.12 DEFERRED ISSUANCE. In any case in which this Section 11 shall
require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a
record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the
occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after
such record date of the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities
of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the
Preferred Shares and other capital stock or other securities, assets or cash of
the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase
Price in effect prior to such adjustment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company
shall deliver to such holder a due xxxx or other appropriate instrument
evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional shares upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
20
11.13 REDUCTION IN PURCHASE PRICE. Anything in this Section 11 to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such
reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly
required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole
discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or
subdivision of the Preferred Shares, issuance wholly for cash of any of the
Preferred Shares at less than the current market price, issuance wholly for
cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible
into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, dividends on Preferred Shares
payable in Preferred Shares or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred
to hereinabove in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of
its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
11.14 COMPANY NOT TO DIMINISH BENEFITS OF RIGHTS. The Company
covenants and agrees that after the earlier of the Shares Acquisition Date or
Distribution Date it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section 26 or
Section 27, 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
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights.
11.15 ADJUSTMENT OF RIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH COMMON SHARES.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the
event that the Company shall at any time after the date hereof and prior to the
Distribution Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on the outstanding Common
Shares payable in Common Shares, (ii) effect a subdivision or consolidation of
the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by the
payment of dividends payable in Common Shares), or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Shares into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares,
then in any such case, the number of Rights associated with each Common Share
then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter, shall be proportionately
adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each Common
Share following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying
the number of Rights associated with each Common Share immediately prior to
such event by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of
Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and
the denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately following the occurrence of such event. The adjustments provided
for in this Section 11.15 shall be made successively whenever such a dividend
is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is
effected.
21
Section 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF
SHARES. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 13, 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 Shares
or the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary
thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25.
The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate
and on any adjustment therein contained and shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such
certificate.
Section 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR
EARNING POWER.
13.1 CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS. In the event that, from and after the
first occurrence of a Trigger Event, directly or indirectly, (A) the Company
shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person and the
Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation, (B) any Person
shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the Company and the
Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in
connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of the Company or any other
Person or cash or any other property, or (C) the Company shall sell, exchange,
mortgage or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell,
exchange, mortgage or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets
or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons
(other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries), then,
and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that (i) each holder
of a Right (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section
11.1.2) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof
at a price per Right equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Trigger Event (as
subsequently adjusted pursuant to Sections 11.1.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.8, 11.9 and
11.12), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred
Shares or Common Shares, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully
paid, non-assessable and freely tradeable Common Shares of the Principal Party
(as such term is hereinafter defined) not subject to any liens, encumbrances,
rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the
result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Trigger Event (as
subsequently adjusted pursuant to Sections 11.1.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.8, 11.9 and
11.12) and (y) dividing that product by 50% of the then current per share
market price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party (determined pursuant
to Section 11.4) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer; PROVIDED, that the price per Right so payable and the number
of Common Shares of such Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a Right
shall thereafter be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance
22
with Section 11.6 to reflect any events covered thereby occurring in respect
of the Common Shares of such Principal Party after the occurrence of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (ii) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company
pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be
deemed to refer to such Principal Party; and (iv) such Principal Party shall
take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a
sufficient number of its Common Shares in accordance with Section 9) in
connection with such consummation as may be necessary to assure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may
be, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise
of the Rights; PROVIDED that, upon the subsequent occurrence of any
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets or other extraordinary
transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall
thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the
Purchase Price as provided in this Section 13.1, such cash, shares, rights,
warrants and other property which such holder would have been entitled to
receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the Common
Shares of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of a Right
pursuant to this Section 13.1, and such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be
necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with
the terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property.
The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
confirming that the requirements of this Section 13.1 and Section 13.2 shall
promptly be performed in accordance with their terms and that such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets shall not result in a
default by the Principal Party under this Agreement as the same shall have
been assumed by the Principal Party pursuant to this Section 13.1 and Section
13.2 and providing that, as soon as practicable after executing such
agreement pursuant to this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(1) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities
Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement
to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of
the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date and similarly comply with
applicable state securities laws;
(2) use its best efforts, if the Common Shares of the Principal
Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or
on another national securities exchange, to list or admit to trading (or
continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities
exchange, or, if the Common Shares of the Principal Party shall not be listed
or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities
exchange, to
23
cause the Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of the Rights to
be authorized for quotation on Nasdaq or on such other system then in use;
(3) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements
for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act; and
(4) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive
rights in respect of the Common Shares of the Principal Party subject to
purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
In case the Principal Party has provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other
instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the
effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of
Rights pursuant to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, Common
Shares or common stock equivalents of such Principal Party at less than the
then current market price per share thereof (determined pursuant to Section
11.4) or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Shares or
common stock equivalents of such Principal Party at less than such then current
market price, or (ii) providing for any special payment, taxes or similar
provision in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares of such
Principal Party pursuant to the provision of Section 13, then, in such event,
the Company hereby agrees with each holder of Rights that it shall not
consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such
Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing that the provision in question of such
Principal Party shall have been canceled, waived or amended, or that the
authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable provision will
have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of
the proposed transaction.
The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after
the Trigger Event, enter into any transaction of the type described in clauses
(A) through (C) of this Section 13.1 if (i) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other transaction there are any
rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements
in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the
benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii) prior to, simultaneously
with or immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other
transaction, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would
constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section 13.2 shall have
received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature of organization of the
Principal Party would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights. The
provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive transactions
of the type described in clauses (A) through (C) of this Section 13.1.
24
13.2 PRINCIPAL PARTY. "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (A) or (B) of the
first sentence of Section 13.1: (i) the Person that is the issuer of the
securities into which the Common Shares are converted in such merger or
consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer the
Common Shares of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding, or (ii) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that is
the other party to the merger, if such Person survives said merger, or, if
there is more than one such Person, the Person the Common Shares of which
have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding or (y) if the
Person that is the other party to the merger does not survive the merger, the
Person that does survive the merger (including the Company if it survives) or
(z) the Person resulting from the consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (C) of the first
sentence in Section 13.1, the Person that is the party receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction
or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such transaction or
transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning power so
transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or
earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons is the issuer of
Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in any such case described in the foregoing clause (A)
or (B) of this Section 13.2, if the Common Shares of such Person are not at
such time or have not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Shares of which are
and have been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such
other Person, or (2) if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of
more than one Person, the Common Shares of all of which are and have been so
registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons
is the issuer of Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value of
shares outstanding, or (3) if such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by
a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or
indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2)
above shall apply to each of the owners having an interest in the venture as if
the Person owned by the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such
joint venturers, and the Principal Party in each such case shall bear the
obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as its interest in
such Person bears to the total of such interests.
13.3 APPROVED ACQUISITIONS. Notwithstanding anything contained
herein to the contrary, in the event of any merger or other acquisition
transaction involving the Company pursuant to a merger or other acquisition
agreement between the Company and any Person (or one or more of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates) which agreement has been approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company prior to any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, this
Agreement and the rights of holders of Rights hereunder shall be terminated in
accordance with Section 7.1.
25
Section 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.
14.1 CASH IN LIEU OF FRACTIONAL RIGHTS. The Company shall not be
required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which
evidence fractional Rights (except prior to the Distribution Date in accordance
with Section 11.15). In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to
the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes
of this Section 14.1, the current market value of a whole Right shall be the
closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date
on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The
closing price for any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in
case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in
the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the
Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price
or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use
or, if on any 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 current market value of the Rights on such date shall be the
fair value of the Rights as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors
of the Company, or, if at the time of such determination there is an Acquiring
Person, by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office, or if there
are no Continuing Directors, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company, which shall have the duty to
make such determination in a reasonable and objective manner, which
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes.
14.2 CASH IN LIEU OF FRACTIONAL PREFERRED SHARES. The Company shall
not be required to issue fractions of Preferred Shares (other than fractions
which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon
exercise or exchange of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples
of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Interests in fractions of
Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts,
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary
selected by it; PROVIDED, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of
such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences
to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Shares
represented by such depositary
26
receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to
the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are
exercised or exchanged as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current per share market price of one Preferred Share (as
determined in accordance with Section 14.1) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
14.3 CASH IN LIEU OF FRACTIONAL COMMON SHARES. The Company shall
not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares upon the exercise or
exchange of Rights. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company
shall pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to
which such fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in
cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common
Share (as determined in accordance with Section 14.1) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
14.4 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO RECEIVE FRACTIONAL RIGHTS OR SHARES. 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 or
exchange of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect of
this Agreement, except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of
the Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or,
prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of
the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for
his own benefit, enforce this Agreement, and may institute and maintain any
suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce this Agreement, or
otherwise enforce or act in respect of his right to exercise the Rights
evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided in such Right
Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of, the obligations of any Person (including, without limitation,
the Company) subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. AGREEMENT OF RIGHT HOLDERS. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
27
(b) as of and after the Distribution Date, the Right
Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights
Agent if surrendered at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer
with all required certifications completed;
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
Person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, the associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the
absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby
(notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Right
Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever,
and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any
holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary
or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court
of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or
executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority,
prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation;
provided, however, the Company must use its best efforts to have any such
order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as
possible.
Section 17. RIGHT CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or
any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 24), or to receive dividends or
subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such
Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
Section 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT. The Company agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder in accordance with a fee schedule to be mutually agreed upon and,
from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and
counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent, its
directors and officers,
28
for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense,
incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of
the Rights Agent or such other indemnified party, 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 arising therefrom, directly or
indirectly.
The Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with its administration of this Agreement or the exercise or
performance of its duties hereunder in reliance upon any Right Certificate or
certificate for the Preferred Shares or the Common Shares or for other
securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, instruction, direction,
consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to
be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
The indemnity provided in this Section 18 shall survive the
expiration of the Rights and the termination of the Agreement.
Section 19. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS
AGENT. Any corporation or limited liability company into which the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be
consolidated, or any corporation or limited liability company resulting from
any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent shall be a party, or any corporation or limited liability company
succeeding to the corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent
under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, PROVIDED that such
corporation or limited liability company would be eligible for appointment as a
successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21. In case at the time
such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this
Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of
the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not
have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name
of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates
shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this
Agreement.
In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time
any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name
29
or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
20.1 LEGAL COUNSEL. The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel
selected by it (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.
20.2 CERTIFICATES AS TO FACTS OR MATTERS. Whenever in the
performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it
necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the
Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter
(unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed)
may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed
by any one of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the
Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary of
the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be
full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good
faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.
20.3 STANDARD OF CARE. The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder
only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
20.4 RELIANCE ON AGREEMENT AND RIGHT CERTIFICATES. The Rights Agent
shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or
recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right Certificates (except as to
its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all such
statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the
Company only.
20.5 NO RESPONSIBILITY AS TO CERTAIN MATTERS. The Rights Agent
shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of any
provision of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the
due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including
the Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11.1.2) or any adjustment required
under this Agreement or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any
such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Right Certificates after actual notice of any such change or
adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to
30
make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of
any Preferred Shares or other securities to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares
will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
20.6 FURTHER ASSURANCE BY COMPANY. 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.
20.7 AUTHORIZED COMPANY OFFICERS. The Rights Agent is hereby
authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance
of its duties hereunder from any one of the Chairman of the Board of Directors,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any
Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or
Assistant Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties under this Agreement, 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 or for any delay in acting
while waiting for these instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for
written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent,
set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights
Agent with respect to its duties or obligations under this Agreement and the
date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be
effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable to the Company for any action
taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal
included in any such application on or after the date specified therein (which
date shall not be less than three business days after the date any such officer
actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have
consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking of any such
action (or the effective date in the case of omission), the Rights Agent shall
have received written instructions in response to such application specifying
the action to be taken or omitted.
20.8 FREEDOM TO TRADE IN COMPANY SECURITIES. The Rights Agent and
any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy,
sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become
pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be
interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as
fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement.
Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other
capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
20.9 RELIANCE ON ATTORNEYS AND AGENTS. 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, omission,
default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents
31
or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, omission,
default, neglect or misconduct, PROVIDED that reasonable care was exercised
in the selection and continued employment thereof.
20.10 INCOMPLETE CERTIFICATE. If, with respect to any Rights
Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the
certificate contained in the form of assignment or the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse thereof, as the case may be, has not been
completed to certify the holder is not an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof), the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with
respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with
the Company.
20.11 RIGHTS HOLDERS LIST. At any time and from time to time after
the Distribution Date, upon the request of the Company, the Rights Agent shall
promptly deliver to the Company a list, as of the most recent practicable date
(or as of such earlier date as may be specified by the Company), of the holders
of record of Rights.
20.12 The Rights Agent undertakes only the express duties and
obligations imposed on it by this Agreement and no implied duties or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.
20.13 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.
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
each transfer agent of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, as
applicable, by registered or certified mail. Following the Distribution Date,
the Company shall promptly notify the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail of any such resignation. 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 each transfer agent of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, as
applicable, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right
Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be
removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the resigning, removed,
or incapacitated Rights Agent shall remit to the Company, or to any successor
Rights Agent designated by the Company, all books, records, funds, certificates
or other documents or instruments of any kind then in its possession which were
acquired by such resigning, removed or incapacitated Rights Agent in connection
with its services as Rights Agent hereunder, and shall thereafter be discharged
from all duties and obligations hereunder. Following notice of such removal,
resignation or incapacity, the Company shall appoint a successor to such Rights
Agent. If the Company shall
32
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 Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit
his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered
holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights
Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States
or of the State of New York or the State of California (or any other state of
the United States so long as such corporation is authorized to do business as
a banking institution in the State of New York or California) in good
standing, having an office in the State of New York or the State of
California, which is authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer or
corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by
Federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as
Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $10 million. After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers,
rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as
Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent
shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the
time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the
effective date of any such appointment the Company shall file notice thereof
in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the
Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, as applicable, and, following the
Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders
of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this
Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or
validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHT CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any
adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of
shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates
made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares following the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with
respect to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted or awarded as of the
Distribution Date, or upon 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 Right
Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with
such issuance or sale; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) no such Right Certificate
shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by
counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse
tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Right Certificate
would be issued, (ii) no such Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the
extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have
33
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof and (iii) at the time of a
determination by the Board of Directors to cause the Company to issue a Right
Certificate under clause (b) above, there must be Continuing Directors then
in office and any such determination shall require the approval of at least a
majority of such Continuing Directors.
Section 23. REDEMPTION.
23.1 RIGHT TO REDEEM. The Board of Directors of the Company may, at
its option, at any time prior to a Trigger Event, redeem all but not less than
all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "REDEMPTION PRICE"), and
the Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in Common Shares
(based on the "current per share market price," determined pursuant to Section
11.4, of the Common Shares at the time of redemption), cash or any other form
of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. The redemption
of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on
such basis and subject to such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion may establish.
23.2 REDEMPTION PROCEDURES. Immediately upon the action of the
Board of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights (or at
such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the effectiveness
of such redemption), and without any further action and without any notice, the
right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of
the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right
so held. The Company shall promptly give public notice of such redemption;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice
shall not affect the validity of such redemption. The Company shall promptly
give, or cause the Rights Agent to give, notice of such redemption to the
holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such
holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
transfer agent for the Common Shares. 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 shall state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of
its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any
Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this
Section 23 or in Section 27, and other than in connection with the purchase,
acquisition or redemption of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS. In case the Company shall
propose at any time after the earlier of the Shares Acquisition Date and the
Distribution Date (a) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Preferred Shares (other than a regular periodic cash dividend at a rate not in
excess of 125% of the rate of the last regular periodic cash dividend
theretofore paid
34
or, in case regular periodic cash dividends have not theretofore been paid,
at a rate not in excess of 50% of the average net income per share of the
Company for the four quarters ended immediately prior to the payment of such
dividends, or a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of the Common Shares), or (b) to offer to the holders of
Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any
additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other
securities, rights or options, or (c) to effect any reclassification of its
Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the
subdivision of outstanding Preferred Shares), or (d) to effect any
consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect any sale or other transfer
(or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other
transfer), in one or more trans actions, of 50% or more of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any
other Person (other than pursuant to a merger or other acquisition agreement
of the type described in Section 1.3(ii)(A)(z)), or (e) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (f) to declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares),
then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and to
each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 25, 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 Preferred Shares and/or Common
Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in
the case of any action covered by clause (a) or (b) above at least ten (10)
days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares
for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least ten (10) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action
or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Preferred Shares
and/or Common Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
In case any event set forth in Section 11.1.2 or Section 13 shall
occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable
thereafter give to the Rights Agent and to each holder of a Right Certificate,
in accordance with Section 25, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which
notice shall describe the event and the consequences of the event to holders of
Rights under Section 11.1.2 and Section 13, and (ii) all references in this
Section 24 to Preferred Shares shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common
Shares and/or, if appropriate, other securities.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, prior to
the Distribution Date a filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission shall constitute sufficient notice to the holders of securities of
the Company, including the Rights, for purposes of this Agreement and no other
notice need be given.
35
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 Right
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Promus Hotel Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 and Section 24, any notice or demand
authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the
holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently
given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until
another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
First Union National Bank
1524 West X.X. Xxxxxx Boulevard
Building 3C3
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Shareholder Services Group
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, to the holder of any certificate representing Common
Shares) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as
shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 26. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. For so long as the Rights
are then redeemable, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and
the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any
provision of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders
of Rights or Common Shares. From and after the time that the Rights are no
longer redeemable, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company
so directs, from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of Rights (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (ii) to shorten or lengthen any
time period hereunder (which shortening or lengthening, after the time a Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, shall be effective only if there are Continuing
Directors and shall require the approval of at least a majority of such
Continuing Directors) or (iii) to make any other changes or provisions in
regard to matters or questions arising hereunder which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable, including but not limited to extending the Final
Expiration Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such supplement or amendment shall
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person), and no
such supplement
36
or amendment may cause the Rights again to become redeemable or cause this
Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this
sentence; PROVIDED FURTHER, that the right of the Board of Directors to
extend the Distribution Date shall not require any amendment or supplement
hereunder. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of
the Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in
compliance with the terms of this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute
such supplement or amendment. Without limiting the foregoing, at any time
prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company and
the Rights Agent may amend this Agreement to lower the thresholds set forth
in Sections 1.1 and 3.1 to not less than the greater of (i) any percentage
greater than the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Shares then
known by the Company to be beneficially owned by any Person (other than an
Exempt Person) and (ii) 10%. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, any supplement or amendment to this Agreement, after the time that
a Person becomes an Acquiring Person shall require the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Continuing Directors.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary,
no supplement or amendment that materially and adversely changes the rights or
duties of the Rights Agent under this Agreement shall be effective without the
consent of the Rights Agent.
Section 27. EXCHANGE.
27.1 EXCHANGE OF COMMON SHARES FOR RIGHTS. The Board of Directors
of the Company may, at its option, at any time after the occurrence of a
Trigger Event, exchange Common Shares for all or part of the then outstanding
and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.1.2) by exchanging at an exchange
ratio of that number of Common Shares having an aggregate value equal to the
Spread (with such value being based on the current per share market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on the date of the occurrence of a Trigger
Event) per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such amount
per Right being hereinafter referred to as the "EXCHANGE CONSIDERATION").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Board of Directors shall not be
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Acquiring Person shall
have become the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding. From and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section
13.1, any Rights that theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this
Section 27.1 shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13
and may not be exchanged pursuant to this Section 27.1. The exchange of the
Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such
basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion
may establish.
27.2 EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. Immediately upon the action of the Board
of Directors of the Company ordering the exchange for any Rights pursuant to
Section 27.1 and without any further action and without any notice, the right
to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a
holder of such Rights shall be to receive the Exchange
37
Consideration. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such
exchange; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly
shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights
at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights
Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of exchange shall state the method by which the exchange of the Common
Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange,
the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be
effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than the Rights which
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.1.2) held by each
holder of Rights.
27.3 INSUFFICIENT SHARES. The Company may at its option substitute,
and, in the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued but
not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit an exchange of Rights for
Common Shares as contemplated in accordance with this Section 27, the Company
shall substitute to the extent of such insufficiency, for each Common Share
that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of
Preferred Shares or fraction thereof (or equivalent preferred stock, as such
term is defined in Section 11.2) such that the current per share market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11.4) of one Preferred Share (or equivalent
preferred share) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current
per share market price of one Common Share (determined pursuant to Section
11.4) as of the date of such exchange.
Section 28. SUCCESSORS. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any Person or corporation other than the Company,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for
the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Shares).
Section 30. DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The Board of Directors of the Company (in conjunction with the Continuing
Directors as specifically provided in this Agreement) or, where applicable as
specifically provided in this Agreement, the Continuing Directors shall have
the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise
the rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors of the
Company (in conjunction with the Continuing Directors, as applicable) or the
Continuing Directors or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right
and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination to redeem or not
38
redeem the Rights or amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y)
below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by
the Board of Directors of the Company or the Continuing Directors, as
applicable, in good faith shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights, as such, and all other
parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors or the Continuing
Directors, as applicable, to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 31. SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and each Right
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADING. 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.
39
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed, as of the day and year first above written.
PARENT HOLDING CORP.
(TO BE RENAMED PROMUS HOTEL CORPORATION)
By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
40
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
PROMUS HOTEL CORPORATION
(Pursuant to Section 151 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law)
_____________________________
Promus Hotel Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the
"CORPORATION"), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation as required by Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law by unanimous written consent on December 17, 1997.
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of this Corporation (hereinafter called the "BOARD OF
DIRECTORS" or the "BOARD") in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate
of Incorporation of this Corporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a
series of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "PREFERRED STOCK"), of
the Corporation and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and
fixes the relative rights, powers and preferences, and qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof as follows:
Section 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "SERIES A
PREFERRED STOCK") and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be 5,000,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased
by resolution of the Board of Directors; PROVIDED, that no decrease shall
reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than
the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation
convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.
A-1
Section 2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any class or series of stock of this Corporation ranking prior
and superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends,
the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the
holders of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "COMMON STOCK"), of
the Corporation, and of any other stock ranking junior to the Series A
Preferred Stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by
the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose,
quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June,
September and December in each year (each such date being referred to
herein as a "QUARTERLY DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE"), commencing on the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or
fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b)
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times
the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the
aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or
other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common
Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any
share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision,
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of
Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock,
then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause
(b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section 2
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided
that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on
the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend
of $1.00 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be
payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of
issue of such shares is prior to the record
A-2
date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case
dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue
of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination
of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in
either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series
A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends
at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata
on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment
of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be
not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to
100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment
of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per
share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such
number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator
of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Certificate of
Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or
by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders
of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation
having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all
matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights
and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are
entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for
taking any corporate action.
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Section 4. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in
arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred
Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as
to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series
A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any
time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior
stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking
junior (both as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares
of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock,
except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by
publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders
of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after
consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other
relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes,
shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable
treatment among the respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph
(A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such
time and in such manner.
Section 5. REACQUIRED SHARES. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become
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authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part
of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions
on issuance set forth herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation, or in any
other Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any
similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP. (A) Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, voluntary or
otherwise no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received an amount per share
(the "Series A Liquidation Preference") equal to $100 per share, plus an amount
equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not
declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per
share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to
100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares
of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with
the Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a
dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares
of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such
event under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that are
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the
Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in
respect thereof, then the assets available for such distribution shall be
distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the
holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation
preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or
with another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of any other
corporation into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section
6.
Section 7. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock
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are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any
other property, then in any such case each share of Series A Preferred Stock
shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per
share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal
to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other
property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each
share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise
than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or
lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount
set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. NO REDEMPTION. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall
not be redeemable by the Company.
Section 9. RANK. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, junior to all series of any other class of the
Corporation's Preferred Stock, except to the extent that any such other series
specifically provides that it shall rank on a parity with or junior to the
Series A Preferred Stock.
Section 10. AMENDMENT. At any time any shares of Series A Preferred
Stock are outstanding, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation
shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to
affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting
separately as a single class.
Section 11. FRACTIONAL SHARES. Series A Preferred Stock may be issued
in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series A Preferred Stock.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is executed on behalf
of the Corporation by its Chairman of the Board this 17th day of December,
1997.
-----------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Chairman of the Board
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EXHIBIT B
[Form of Right Certificate]
Certificate No. R- Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER DECEMBER 17, 2007 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
OR EXCHANGE IS GIVEN OR IF THE COMPANY IS MERGED OR ACQUIRED PURSUANT TO
AN AGREEMENT OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED IN SECTION 1.3(ii)(A)(z) OF THE
AGREEMENT. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT, AND TO
EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES (SPECIFIED IN SECTION 11.1.2 OF THE AGREEMENT), RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN
THE AGREEMENT), OR ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS WILL BECOME NULL
AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
Right Certificate
PROMUS HOTEL CORPORATION
This certifies that , or registered
assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each
of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 1997, as the same
may be amended from time to time (the "Agreement"), between Promus hotel
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and First Union National
Bank, a North Carolina corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to
purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to
5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 17, 2007, at the offices of the
Rights Agent, or its successors as Rights Agent, designated for such purpose,
one one-hundredth of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred
Shares") of the Company, at a purchase price of $160.00 per one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share, subject to adjustment (the "Purchase Price"), upon
presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election
to Purchase and certification duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate (and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the
Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of
________, ____ based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.
Capitalized terms used in this Right Certificate without definition shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement. As provided in the Agreement,
the Purchase Price and the number of Preferred Shares which may be purchased
upon the exercise of
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the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification
and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions
and conditions of the Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies
of the Agreement are on file at the principal offices of the Company and the
Rights Agent.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates,
upon surrender at the offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like
tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as the Rights
evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have
entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised
in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another
Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not
exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Agreement, the Board of Directors
may, at its option, (i) redeem the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
at a redemption price of $.01 per Right or (ii) exchange Common Shares for the
Rights evidenced by this Certificate, in whole or in part.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of
any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions of Preferred Shares
which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository receipts), but
in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any
time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or
otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall
have been exercised as provided in the Agreement.
If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of the Agreement is
held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the remainder
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of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of the Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or binding for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of ___________, ____.
Attest: Promus Hotel Corporation
By ______________________ By _________________________________
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent
By_____________________________
Authorized Signature
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[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder
desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED_____________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto_______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address
of transferee)
Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and
interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint____________
Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-
named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: _________
_________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
_______________________
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" as
defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
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_______________________________________________________________________________
The undersigned hereby certifies that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not
beneficially owned by and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or an Associate thereof; and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
the undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
from any person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated:________________
____________________________
Signature
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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate.)
To: Promus Hotel Corporation
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares
issuable upon the exercise of such Rights (or such other securities or property
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:
____________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
____________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
____________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
____________________________________________________________
Dated: __________________
______________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
___________________________
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" as
defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
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The undersigned hereby certifies that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially
owned by and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
an Associate thereof; and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from
any person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated:_______________
________________________
Signature
________________________________________________________________________________
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Form of Assignment and Form of Election
to Purchase must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any
change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment
or Form of Election to Purchase is not completed, the Company will deem the
beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate hereof and such Assignment or
Election to Purchase will not be honored.
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