EXHIBIT 4.1
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NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.,
a California corporation
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.,
a New Jersey limited liability company
Rights Agent
____________
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of August 12, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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1. Certain Definitions.......................................................1
2. Appointment of Rights Agent...............................................3
3. Issue of Rights Certificates..............................................3
4. Form of Rights Certificates...............................................5
5. Countersignature and Registration.........................................5
6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates..................6
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.............6
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.......................8
9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock...........................8
10. Preferred Stock Record Date...............................................9
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of
Rights....................................................................9
12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.............. 14
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.... 15
14. Additional Covenants.................................................... 17
15. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares................................. 17
16. Rights of Action........................................................ 18
17. Agreement of Rights Holders............................................. 18
18. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder...................... 18
19. Concerning the Rights Agent............................................. 19
20. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent............... 19
21. Duties of Rights Agent.................................................. 20
22. Change of Rights Agent.................................................. 21
23. Issuance of New Rights Certificates..................................... 22
24. Redemption, Termination and Exchange.................................... 22
25. Notice of Certain Events................................................ 24
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26. Notices................................................................. 25
27. Supplements and Amendments.............................................. 25
28. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc................ 26
29. Successors.............................................................. 26
30. Benefits of This Agreement.............................................. 26
31. Severability............................................................ 26
32. Governing Law........................................................... 26
33. Counterparts............................................................ 26
34. Descriptive Headings.................................................... 27
Exhibit A -- Certificate of Determination of Series A Participating Preferred
Stock........................................................................A-1
Exhibit B -- Form of Rights Certificate......................................B-1
Exhibit C -- Form of Summary of Rights.......................................C-1
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of August 12, 1997, between NETWORK
COMPUTING DEVICES, INC., a California corporation (the "Company"), and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company
(the "Rights Agent"),
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on August 12, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right (as hereinafter
defined) for each share of Common Stock, no par value, of the Company (the
"Common Stock") outstanding as of the close of business on September 2, 1997
(the "Record Date"), and contemplates the issuance of one Right (subject to
adjustment as provided herein) for each share of Common Stock of the Company
issued between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the
Expiration Date, as such terms are hereinafter defined (with Rights also to be
issued in connection with certain issuances of Common Stock after the
Distribution Date, as provided more fully herein), each Right representing the
right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Company ("Preferred Stock") having the
rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of
Determination attached hereto as Exhibit A ("Certificate of Determination"),
upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the
"Rights"):
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is hereinafter
defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates (as such term is hereinafter
defined) and Associates (as such term is hereinafter defined) of such Person,
shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of
securities representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding or who was such a Beneficial Owner at any time on or
after the date hereof, whether or not such Person continues to be the Beneficial
Owner of securities representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in no
event shall a Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates
of such Person, is the Beneficial Owner of less than fifteen percent (15%) of
the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock become an Acquiring Person
solely as a result of a reduction of the number of shares of outstanding Common
Stock, including repurchases of outstanding shares of Common Stock by the
Company, which reduction increases the percentage of outstanding shares of
Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person (provided that any subsequent
increase in the amount of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, without the prior
written approval of the Board of Directors of the Company shall cause such
Person to be an Acquiring Person); (ii) the term Acquiring Person shall not mean
(A) the Company, (B) any subsidiary of the Company (as such term is hereinafter
defined), (C) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, (D) any entity holding securities of the Company organized,
appointed or established by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or (E) any underwriter acting in good
faith in a firm commitment underwriting of an offering of the Company's
securities pursuant to arrangements with the Company that have been approved by
the Board of Directors of the Company (HOWEVER, the exception provided by this
clause (E) shall no longer be available in the event that any such underwriter
is otherwise an Acquiring Person on or after the date which is forty (40) days
after the date of initial acquisition of the Company's securities by such
underwriter in connection with such offering); and (iii) no Person shall be
deemed to be an Acquiring Person if: (A)(1) any Schedule 13D under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or any
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comparable or successor report, filed (or required to be filed) by such Person
does not (or would not) state any intention to or reserve the right to control
or influence the management or policies of the Company or engage in any of the
actions specified in Item 4 (or any comparable or successor Item) of such
Schedule 13D (other than the disposition of Common Stock), (2) either (x) within
two (2) Business Days of being requested by the Company to advise the Company
regarding the same, such Person certifies in writing to the Company that such
Person acquired Beneficial Ownership of securities representing shares of Common
Stock in excess of fifteen percent (15%) inadvertently or without knowledge of
the terms of the Rights, or (y) the Board of Directors of the Company determines
in good faith that such Person has become an Acquiring Person inadvertently,
(3) such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of
securities representing shares of Common Stock so that such Person shall not be
deemed to be an Acquiring Person pursuant to the first sentence of this Section
1(a), and (4) promptly following such Person's divestiture of such securities,
such Person certifies to the Board of Directors of the Company that such Person
is no longer an Acquiring Person as defined pursuant to the first sentence of
this Section 1(a); or (B) by reason of such Person's Beneficial Ownership of
fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the
date hereof if prior to the Record Date, such Person notifies the Board of
Directors that such Person is no longer the Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent
(15%) or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(b) "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.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be deemed
to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right or obligation to acquire (whether such
right or obligation is exercisable or effective immediately or only
after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of
conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights),
warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person
shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially
own," securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made
by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until
such tendered securities are accepted for payment or exchange; 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 given 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 by such Person 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) with which
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has 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 with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates have otherwise formed a group, for the
purpose of acquiring, holding,
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voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in clause (B) of
subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (c)) or disposing of any securities of
the Company.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of California are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., San
Francisco time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., San Francisco time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, no par value, of the
Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to stock issued by
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 Person or, if such Person is a
subsidiary of another Person, of the Person which ultimately controls such
first-mentioned Person and which has issued and outstanding such capital stock,
equity securities or equity interests.
(g) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust or other entity.
(h) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Participating Preferred
Stock, no par value, of the Company.
(i) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such.
(j) A "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
voting interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or which is
otherwise controlled by such Person.
(k) "Voting power" shall mean the voting power of all securities of the
Company then outstanding and generally entitled to vote for the election of
directors of the Company.
2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby appoints the Rights
Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable. In the event the Company appoints one or more Co-Rights
Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agents and any Co-Rights Agents
shall be as the Company shall determine.
3. ISSUE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth
day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of
Directors) after the date of the commencement of, or first public announcement
of the intent of any Person (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or
any entity organized, appointed or established by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to commence (which
intention to commence remains in effect for five (5) Business Days after such
announcement), a tender or exchange offer which would result in such Person
becoming an Acquiring Person (including any such date which is on or after the
date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights) (the earlier of
such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights
shall be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this
Section 3) by the certificates for Common Stock registered in the names of the
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holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed
also to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and
(y) the Rights (and the right to receive certificates therefor) shall be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of
Common Stock. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights
Agent shall send, by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record
holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date,
at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a certificate
for Rights, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights
Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held. As
of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced solely by such
Rights Certificates.
As soon as practicable following the Record Date, the Company shall send a
copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to
each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record
Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company. With
respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date,
until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration or termination of
the Rights), the Rights shall be evidenced by such certificates for the Common
Stock together with the Summary of Rights and the registered holders of the
Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights.
Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration or termination of
the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any of the certificates for the
Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, even without a copy of the Summary
of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.
(b) Certificates issued for Common Stock (including, without limitation,
certificates issued upon transfer or exchange of Common Stock) after the Record
Date, but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date
(as such term is hereinafter defined), shall be deemed also to be certificates
for Rights, and 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 A RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN NETWORK
COMPUTING DEVICES, INC. (THE "COMPANY") AND CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES, L.L.C. (THE "RIGHTS AGENT") DATED AS OF AUGUST 12, 1997 (THE
"RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN
BY REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES
OF THE COMPANY. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, SUCH RIGHTS MAY BE REDEEMED, MAY EXPIRE, OR MAY BE
EVIDENCED BY SEPARATE CERTIFICATES AND WILL NO LONGER BE EVIDENCED BY
THIS CERTIFICATE. THE COMPANY WILL MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS
CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE WITHIN FIVE
(5) DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS ISSUED TO ACQUIRING PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR CERTAIN RELATED PERSONS AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER
OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration or termination of the
Rights), the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender
for transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.
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4. FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase shares
and of assignment and certificates to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall
each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have
such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or interdealer
quotation system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or traded,
or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 23
hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the
Record Date, and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase
such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set
forth therein at the price per one one-hundredth of a share set forth therein
(the "Purchase Price"), but the number of such shares and the Purchase Price
shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof that
represents Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or any Associate or
Affiliate thereof and any Rights Certificate issued at any time upon the
transfer of any Rights to such an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate
thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, and
any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 upon transfer,
exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to
in this sentence, shall contain the following legend:
THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED TO A
PERSON WHO WAS AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR AN ASSOCIATE OF
AN ACQUIRING PERSON, AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT. THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY
MAY BECOME VOID UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
The provisions of Section 7(e) of this Rights Agreement shall be operative
whether or not the foregoing legend is contained on any such Rights Certificate.
5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION. The Rights Certificates shall be
executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, any Vice
Chairman of the Board, its 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 an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights
Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent, either manually or by
facsimile signature, and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so
countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of
the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company,
such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights
Agent, and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as
though the Person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such
officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of
the Company by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of such
Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights
Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights 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 office designated for such purpose, books for registration and
transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the
names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights
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Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights
Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES;
MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. Subject to the
provisions of Sections 7(e), 7(f) and 15 hereof, at any time after the close of
business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on
the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred,
split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of
shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate shall
make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender
the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent. Thereupon
the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.
The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split
up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 7(f) and 15 hereof, upon
receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory
to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate
and 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, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company and
the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
mutilated, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of
like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the
registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated.
7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF RIGHTS.
(a) The registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights
evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at
any time after the Distribution Date upon presentation of the Rights
Certificate, with the appropriate form of election to purchase on the reverse
side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the principal office of the
Rights Agent, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or such other number of shares or
other securities) as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the
earliest of (i) the close of business on August 12, 2007 (the "Final Expiration
Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 24
hereof, (iii) the consummation of a transaction contemplated by Section 13(d)
hereof or (iv) the time at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in
Section 24(c) hereof (such earliest time being herein referred to as the
"Expiration Date"). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any
Person who prior to the Distribution Date becomes a record holder of shares of
Common Stock may exercise all of the rights of a registered holder of a Rights
Certificate with respect to the Rights associated with such shares of Common
Stock in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof, as of the date such Person
becomes a record holder of shares of Common Stock.
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth share of Preferred Stock
pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $50.00, shall be subject
to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and
shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance
with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights,
with the appropriate form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Purchase Price for the
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shares (or other securities or property) to be purchased and an amount equal to
any applicable transfer tax (as determined by the Rights Agent) in cash, or by
certified check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company, the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Section 21(k), thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition
from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if
the Rights Agent is the transfer agent) certificates for the number of shares of
Preferred Stock to be purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes
its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company, in
its sole discretion, shall have elected to deposit the shares of Preferred Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder into a depositary, requisition
from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which
case certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts
shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the
Company shall direct the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid
in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 15,
(iii) promptly after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause
the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Rights 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 Rights Certificate. In
the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the
Company, and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a), the Company
shall make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities and/or
property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when
appropriate. In addition, in the case of an exercise of the Rights by a holder
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii), the Rights Agent shall return such Rights
Certificate to the registered holder thereof after imprinting, stamping or
otherwise indicating thereon that the rights represented by such Rights
Certificate no longer include the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii) of the
Rights Agreement and if less than all the Rights represented by such Rights
Certificate were so exercised, the Rights Agent shall indicate on the Rights
Certificate the number of Rights represented thereby which continue to include
the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii).
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise
(except pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)) less than all the Rights evidenced
thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights
remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate or to such registered holder's duly
authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 15 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if there
occurs any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) then
any Rights that are or were on or after the Distribution Date beneficially owned
by an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person
shall become null and void, without any further action, and any holder of such
Rights shall thereafter have no rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights,
whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. Without limiting
the foregoing sentence, Rights held by the following Persons shall be null and
void without any further action: (i) any direct or indirect transferee of any
Rights that are or were on or after the Distribution Date beneficially owned by
an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person;
(ii) any direct or indirect transferee of any Rights that were on or before the
Distribution Date beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or any Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person if the transferee received such Rights,
directly or indirectly, (A) from an Acquiring Person or any Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person (x) as a result of a distribution by such
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person to holders
of its equity securities or similar interests (including, without limitation,
partnership interests) or (y) pursuant to any continuing agreement, arrangement
or understanding with respect to the Rights or (B) in a transfer (or series of
transfers) which the Board of Directors of the Company determines is part of a
plan, arrangement or understanding which has the purpose or effect of avoiding
the provisions of this Section 7(e); and (iii) subsequent transferees of Persons
referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) as well as this clause (iii).
The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of
this Section 7(e) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder
of Rights or any Rights Certificate or to any other Person as
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a result of the Company's failure to make any determination with respect to an
Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the
Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with
respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as
set forth in this Section 7 unless the certificate contained in the appropriate
form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights
Certificate surrendered for such exercise shall have been properly completed and
duly executed 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.
8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. All Rights
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to
the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the
written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and
in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF PREFERRED STOCK. The Company covenants
and agrees that it shall cause to be reserved and kept available out of its
authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, or any authorized and issued
shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury, the number of shares of
Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights and, after the occurrence of an event specified in
Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a), shall so reserve and keep available a
sufficient number of shares of Common Stock (and/or other securities) which may
be required to permit the exercise in full of the Rights pursuant to this
Agreement.
So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, after the occurrence of an
event specified in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a), any other securities)
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national
securities exchange or national quotation system, the Company shall use its best
efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all
shares (or other securities) reserved for such issuance to be listed on such
exchange or system upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
The Company covenants and agrees that it shall take all such action as may
be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock and/or other
securities delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of
the certificates for such shares or other securities (subject to payment of the
Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable shares or securities.
The Company further covenants and agrees that it shall pay when due and
payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or of
any certificates for shares of Preferred Stock and/or other securities upon the
exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to (a) pay any
transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of
Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or in respect of the issuance or
delivery of the shares of Preferred Stock and/or other securities in a name
other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing
Rights surrendered for exercise or (b) issue or deliver any certificates for
shares of Preferred Stock and/or other securities in a name other than that of
the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have
been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder
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of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been
established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, if required by law, as
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, a registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), with respect to the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form,
(ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration statement to
remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder) until the Expiration Date (unless
and until the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel to the effect
that the maintenance of such registration statement in effect is no longer
necessary). The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under
the blue sky laws of the various states.
10. PREFERRED STOCK RECORD DATE. Each Person in whose name any certificate
for shares of Preferred Stock (or other securities) is issued upon the exercise
of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record
of the shares of Preferred Stock (or other securities) represented thereby on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly presented and payment of the Purchase Price (and
any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of
such presentation and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or other
securities) transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be
deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate
shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock
(or other securities) transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the
exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate, as
such, shall not be entitled to any rights of a shareholder of the Company with
respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without
limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to
exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice
of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER AND KIND OF SHARES OR NUMBER OF
RIGHTS. The Purchase Price, the number of shares covered by each Right and the
number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of
Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the
outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares or (D) issue any
shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock
(including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or
merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except
as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and in Section 7(e), 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 and other securities which, if such Right had been exercised
immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer
books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise
and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision,
combination or reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), the adjustment
provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made
prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) Subject to Section 24(c) of this Agreement, in the event any Person,
alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall become an Acquiring
Person (except pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for all outstanding shares
of Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at
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least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not officers
of the Company and are not Acquiring Persons or Affiliates or Associates thereof
to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders (other than the
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof on whose behalf the offer is being
made) (a "Permitted Offer")), then, promptly following the first occurrence of
an event described in this Section 11(a)(ii), proper provision shall be made so
that each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall,
for a period of sixty (60) days after the later of the occurrence of any such
event and the effective date of an appropriate registration statement pursuant
to Section 9, have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current
Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of shares
of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as
shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the then number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for
which a Right is then exercisable (prior to any adjustment required pursuant to
this Section 11(a)(ii)) and (y) dividing that product by fifty percent (50%) of
the current market price per one share of Common Stock (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)) on the date of the occurrence of the event set forth in this
subparagraph (ii) (such number of shares being referred to as the "number of
Adjustment Shares"); provided, however, that if the transaction that would
otherwise give rise to the foregoing adjustment is also subject to the
provisions of Section 13 hereof, then only the provisions of Section 13 hereof
shall apply and no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii);
and provided, further, that such sixty (60) day period shall not be deemed to
run during any period in which the exercise of the Rights or the fulfillment by
the Company or the Rights Agent of its or their obligations under this Agreement
shall be enjoined or otherwise prohibited in full or in part by any court or
other governmental agency or body.
(iii) In lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if a majority of the Board of Directors then
in office determines that such action is necessary or appropriate and not
contrary to the interests of holders of Rights, elect to (and, in the event that
the Board of Directors has not exercised the exchange right contained in
Section 24(c) hereof and there are not sufficient treasury shares and authorized
but unissued shares of Common Stock to permit the exercise in full of the Rights
in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Company shall) take all
such action as may be necessary to authorize, issue or pay, upon the exercise of
the Rights, cash (including by way of a reduction of the Purchase Price),
property, shares of Common Stock, other securities or any combination thereof
having an aggregate value equal to the value of the shares of Common Stock which
otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii), which
aggregate value shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by a majority of the Board of Directors. For purposes of
the preceding sentence, the value of the Common Stock shall be determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof and the value of any preferred stock or
preference stock which a majority of the Board of Directors determines to be a
"common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common
Stock. Any such election by the Board of Directors must be made and publicly
announced within sixty (60) days following the date on which the event described
in Section 11(a)(ii) shall have occurred. Following the occurrence of the event
described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, a majority of the Board of Directors then
in office may suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to
sixty (60) days following the date on which the event described in Section
11(a)(ii) shall have occurred to the extent that such directors have not
determined whether to exercise their rights of election under this Section
11(a)(iii). 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.
(b) If the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights,
options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them (for a
period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or shares having the same or more
favorable rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock ("equivalent
preferred stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent
preferred stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of
equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a
security convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock) less
than the current market price (as defined in Section 11(d)) per share of
Preferred Stock on such record date,
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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 shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred
Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of
Preferred Stock and/or 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 market price and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such
record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or
equivalent preferred stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into
which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible).
In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of
which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall
be determined reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights 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 conclusive for all purposes. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for
the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of
any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such
a record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so
issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) If the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a distribution
to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly
cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets
(other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend
payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price to be in
effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the current market price (as defined in Section
11(d)) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market
value (as determined reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights 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 conclusive for all purposes) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences
of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
distributable in respect of one share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of
which shall be the current market price (as defined in Section 11(d)) per share
of the Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever
such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so
made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d)(i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than as
provided in Section 11(a)(iii), the "current market price" per share of Common
Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices
per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (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 Common
Stock is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of
such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable
in shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such
Common Stock or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Common Stock, 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 market price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account
ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale
price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the New
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York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted
to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange but are listed or quoted on The
Nasdaq Stock Market, the last reported sale price, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
reported by Nasdaq or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or quoted on
The Nasdaq Stock Market, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average
of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported
by the Nasdaq Bulletin Board or such other system then in use, or, if on any
such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a
market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as
determined reasonably and with good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company shall be used and shall be binding on the Rights Agent. The term
"Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the national securities exchange or The
Nasdaq Stock Market, as the case may be, on which the shares of Common Stock are
principally listed or admitted to trading or quoted is open for the transaction
of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to
trading or quoted on any national securities exchange or The Nasdaq Stock
Market, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so
listed or traded, "current market price" per share shall mean the fair value per
share determined reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights 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.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current market
price" per share (or one one-hundredth of a share) of Preferred Stock shall be
determined in the same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in
Section 11(d)(i) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the current market
price per share (or one one-hundredth of a share) of Preferred Stock cannot be
determined in the manner provided above or if the Preferred Stock is not
publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in Section 11(d)(i), the
"current market price" per share of Preferred Stock 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 recapitalization with respect
to the Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by
the current market price per share of the Common Stock and the "current market
price" per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be equal to the
current market price per share of the Common Stock (as appropriately adjusted).
If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so
listed or traded, "current market price" per share shall mean the fair value per
share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the
Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price;
provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e)
are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in
any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made
to the nearest cent or to the nearest thousandth of a share of Common Stock or
other share or one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three
(3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such adjustment or
(ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of any provision of Section 11(a), the holder of any
Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of
capital stock of the Company other than Preferred Stock, 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 shares contained in
Section 11(a) through (c),
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inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 15 hereof with
respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other
shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred
Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all
subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in
Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Section 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately
prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase
Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any
adjustment in the number of shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the
exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the
number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
one millionth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a
public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating
the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights
Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 15 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to
be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the
Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option
of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the
names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the
number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights,
the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to
express the Purchase Price per share and the number of shares which were
expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the
Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the shares of Preferred
Stock, Common Stock or other securities 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 shares of Preferred Stock, Common Stock or other
securities at such adjusted Purchase Price. If upon any exercise of the Rights,
a holder is to receive a combination of Common Stock and common stock
equivalents, a portion of the consideration paid upon such exercise, equal
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to at least the then par value of a share of Common Stock of the Company, shall
be allocated as the payment for each share of Common Stock of the Company so
received.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment
in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified
event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the
issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the shares
of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise over and above the shares of Preferred Stock and
other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment;
provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due xxxx or
other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such
additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything to the contrary in this Section 11 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 Stock, issuance
wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current market
price, issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities which
by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred
Stock, stock dividends or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to
hereinabove in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such shareholders.
(n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event that the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on the outstanding shares
of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding Common Stock, (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the outstanding Common Stock, the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or
delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of
Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of
which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
following the occurrence of such event.
(o) The exercise of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) shall only result in the
loss of rights under Section 11(a)(ii) to the extent so exercised and shall not
otherwise affect the rights represented by the Rights under this Rights
Agreement, including the rights represented by Section 13.
12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF SHARES. Whenever
an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 13 hereof, the Company shall
(a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Stock and the
Common Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to
each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 26 hereof. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment therein contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
any adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, the failure of the
Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the
validity of or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment.
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13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR EARNING POWER.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date, directly or
indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any
other Person, (y) 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 (other than, in the case of either transaction
described in (x) or (y), a merger or consolidation which would result in all of
the voting power represented by the securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into securities of the surviving entity) all
of the voting power represented by the securities of the Company or such
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and
the holders of such securities not having changed as a result of such merger or
consolidation), or (z) the Company shall sell, mortgage or otherwise transfer
(or one or more of its subsidiaries shall sell, mortgage or otherwise transfer),
in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than fifty
percent (50%) of the assets or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any other Person, then, and in each such case, proper
provision shall be made so that (i) following the Distribution Date, each holder
of a Right (other than as provided in Section 7(e) hereof) shall have the right
to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of shares of freely
tradable Common Stock of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), free and
clear of liens, rights of call or first refusal, encumbrances 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 share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right is then exercisable (without taking into
account any adjustment previously made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) and
(y) dividing that product by fifty percent (50%) of the current market price per
share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation 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, it being
specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply 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 shares
of its Common Stock in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such
consummation as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its
shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (x) or (y) of the
first sentence of this Section 13, the Person that is the issuer of
any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are
converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so
issued, the Person that is the other party to the merger or
consolidation (including, if applicable, the Company, if it is the
surviving corporation); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (z) of the first
sentence in this Section 13, the Person that is the party receiving
the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred
pursuant to such transaction or transactions; provided, however, that
in any such case, (A) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at
such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such
Person is a direct or indirect subsidiary or Affiliate of another
Person, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (B) in
case such Person is a subsidiary, directly or indirectly, or Affiliate
of more than one Person, the Common Stock of two or more of which are
and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to
whichever of such
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Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate
market value; and (C) in case 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 (A) and
(B) above shall apply to each of the chains of ownership having an interest
in such joint venture as if such party were a "Subsidiary" of both or all
of such joint venturers and the Principal Parties in each such chain shall
bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as
their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear to the total of such
interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale
or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
authorized shares of its Common Stock that have not been issued or reserved for
issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this
Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and each Principal Party and
each other Person who may become a Principal Party as a result of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer shall have executed and delivered to the
Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as
practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of
assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party at its
own expense shall:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act with
respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights on an appropriate form, will use its best efforts to cause
such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing and will use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all
times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to (x) qualify or register the Rights
and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate
and (y) cause the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise
of the Rights to be listed on any national securities exchange or
national quotation system upon which its Common Stock is listed,
traded or quoted; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which
comply in all material respects with the requirements for registration
on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. The rights under this Section 13
shall be in addition to the rights to exercise Rights and adjustments under
Section 11(a)(ii) and shall survive any exercise thereunder.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section 13
shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs (x) and (y)
of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons
who acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a wholly
owned subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per share of
Common Stock offered in such transaction is not less than the price per share of
Common Stock paid to all holders of Common Stock whose shares were purchased
pursuant to such Permitted Offer and (iii) the form of consideration being
offered to the remaining holders of Common Stock pursuant to such transaction is
the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted Offer.
Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this subsection (d),
all Rights hereunder shall expire.
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14. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that after the Stock Acquisition Date
it shall not (i) consolidate with, (ii) merge with or into, or (iii) sell or
transfer to any other Person, in one or more transactions, assets or earning
power aggregating more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, if at the time of or after
such consolidation, merger or sale there are any charter or by-law provisions or
any rights, warrants or other instruments outstanding or any other action taken
which would diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded
by the Rights. The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger
or sale unless prior thereto the Company and such other Person shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement evidencing
compliance with this subsection.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Stock Acquisition
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 24 hereof, take any action the
purpose or effect of which is to diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.
15. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights, except
prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(n), or to distribute
Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such
fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 15(a), the current
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall
be the last sale price, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average
of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported
by The Nasdaq Stock Market or such other system then in use or, if on any such
date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making
a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on
any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair
value of the Rights on such date as determined reasonably and with good faith to
the holders of Rights by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used and
shall be binding on the Rights Agent.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a
share of Preferred Stock). Fractions of shares of Preferred Stock in integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock 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 shares of Preferred Stock represented by
such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that
are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock,
the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 15(b), the current market value
of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-hundredth of
the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
such exercise.
-17-
(c) Following the occurrence of one of the transactions or events specified
in Section 11 or Section 13 giving rise to the right to receive common stock
equivalents (other than Preferred Stock) or other securities upon the exercise
of a Right, the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares or
units of such common stock equivalents or other securities upon exercise of the
Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of such
common stock equivalents or other securities. In lieu of fractional shares or
units of such common stock equivalents or other securities, the Company may pay
to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are
exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a share or unit of such common stock equivalent or other
securities. For purposes of this Section 15(c), the current market value shall
be determined in the manner set forth in Section 11(d) hereof for the Trading
Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise and, if such common stock
equivalent is not traded, each such common stock equivalent shall have the value
of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock.
(d) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the holder of a Right by
the acceptance of the Right expressly waives such holder's right to receive any
fractional Rights or any fractional shares (other than, in the case of Preferred
Stock, fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock) upon exercise of a Right.
16. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect of this Agreement,
except those rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant to Section 21,
are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock); and
any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the
holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of
the Common Stock), may, in such holder's own behalf and for such holder's own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's
right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner
provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the
foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, 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 hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Holders of Rights shall be entitled to recover the reasonable costs and
expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by them in any action to enforce
the provisions of this Agreement.
17. AGREEMENT OF RIGHTS HOLDERS. Every holder of a Right by accepting the
same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every
other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable
only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal
office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument
of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose
name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated
Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the
Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing
on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by
anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever,
and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to
the contrary.
18. RIGHTS CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A SHAREHOLDER. No holder, as
such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or
be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
-18-
shares of Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any other securities of the Company
which may at any time be issuable upon exercise of the Rights represented
thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be
construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of
the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election
of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting
thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive
notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided
in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or
otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall
have been exercised in accordance with the provisions thereof.
19. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT. The Company agrees to pay to the Rights
Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and,
from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and
counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the
administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance
of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent
for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred
without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights
Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the
acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and
expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly
or indirectly.
The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its
administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or
certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument
of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter,
notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary,
verified or acknowledged by the proper Person or Persons.
20. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT. Any
corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from
any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust or
shareholder services 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 would be eligible for appointment
as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 22 hereof. In case
at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by
this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of
the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not
have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the
successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and at
such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent
may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
-19-
21. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and
obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions,
by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their
acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel 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.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of "current market price") be proved or established by the Company
prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof shall be herein specifically prescribed) may
be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by
the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, any
Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken
or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in
reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights
Certificates (except as to the fact that it has countersigned the Rights
Certificates) or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the
due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11 or
13 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment
or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights
Certificates after receipt of a certificate pursuant to Section 12 describing
any such adjustment); nor shall it be responsible for any determination by the
Board of Directors of the Company of the current market value of the Rights or
Preferred Stock or Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of Section 15 hereof;
nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Preferred Stock
or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Preferred Stock or other securities
will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder and
certificates delivered pursuant to any provision hereof from the Chairman of the
Board, any Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the
Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of
the Company, and is authorized to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it
-20-
shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good
faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer. Any application by
the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the 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
Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken
or omitted and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or
omitted 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 (3)
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 or omitting any such action, the Rights
Agent has received written instructions in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of
the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities
of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the
Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or
otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not the Rights Agent under
this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in
any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through
its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct of any such
attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company or to the holders of the
Rights resulting from any such act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct,
provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment
thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise or transfer, the Certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause l and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the Company.
22. 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 Stock and Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove
the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by
first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall
otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has
been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for inspection by the
Company), then the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States or of the State of New York or the State of California (or of 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
-21-
York or the State of California), in good standing, having a principal office in
the State of New York or the State of California, which is authorized under such
laws to exercise corporate trust or shareholder services powers and is subject
to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the
time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50,000,000.00 or (b) affiliate of a corporation described in clause (a)
of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested
with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall mail notice
thereof in writing to the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice
provided for in this Section 22, however, or any defect therein, shall not
affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
23. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the Purchase Price per share and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company
(a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to
the exercise of stock options or otherwise under any employee plan or
arrangement, which plan or arrangement is existing as of the Distribution Date,
or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of any other securities issued by
the Company on or prior to the Distribution Date, and (b) may, in any other
case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights
in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such
Rights Certificates shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company
shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk
of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such
Rights Certificates would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificates shall
be issued if, and to the extent that appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
24. REDEMPTION, TERMINATION AND EXCHANGE.
(a) (i) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to the earlier of (x) the Stock Acquisition Date or (y) 5:00 p.m.,
San Francisco time, on the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than
all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being
hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price").
(ii) In addition, and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 24(a)(i),
the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem all but not less than all of
the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price following the Stock
Acquisition Date but prior to any event described in Section 13(a) either (x) in
connection with any event specified in Section 13(a) in which all holders of
Common Stock are treated alike and not involving (other than as a holder of
Common Stock being treated like all other such holders) an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate thereof or any other Person in which such Acquiring
Person or Affiliate or Associate thereof has any interest, or any other Person
acting directly or indirectly on behalf of or in association with any such
Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate thereof, or (y) following the
occurrence of an event set forth in, and the expiration of any period during
which the holder of Rights may exercise the rights under, Section 11(a)(ii) if
and for as long as any Acquiring Person having triggered such event is not
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thereafter the Beneficial Owner of securities representing fifteen percent (15%)
or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and at the time of redemption
there are no other Persons who are Acquiring Persons.
(b) In the case of a redemption permitted under Section 24(a)(i),
immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering
the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the
Rights Agent and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders
of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. In the case of a redemption
permitted only under Section 24(a)(ii), evidence of which shall have been filed
with the Rights Agent, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and
represent only the right to receive the Redemption Price only after ten (10)
Business Days following the giving of notice of such redemption to the holders
of such Rights if no event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) shall have occurred,
and, if such event shall have occurred, upon the later of ten (10) Business Days
following the giving of such notice or the expiration of any period during which
the rights under Section 11(a)(ii) may be exercised. Within ten (10) days after
the action of the Board of Directors ordering any such redemption of the Rights,
the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the
holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to the Rights
Agent and 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 Stock. Any notice which is
mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the
holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the
method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
In the case of a redemption permitted under Section 24(a)(i) or (ii), the
Company may, at its option, discharge all of its obligations with respect to the
Rights by (i) issuing a press release announcing the manner of redemption of the
Rights and (ii) mailing payment of the Redemption Price to the registered
holders of the Rights at their last addresses as they appear on the registry
books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry
books of the transfer agent of the Common Stock, and upon such action, all
outstanding Rights Certificates shall be null and void without any further
action by the Company.
(c)(i) Subject to the limitations of applicable law, the Board of
Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time after any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for (A) shares of Common
Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (the "Exchange Shares") or (B) Substitute
Consideration (as that term is defined below). The Board of Directors may
determine, in its sole discretion, whether to deliver Exchange Shares or
Substitute Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors
shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person
(other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or any such subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifty percent (50%)
or more of the Common Stock then outstanding.
(ii) In the event the Board of Directors shall determine to deliver
Substitute Consideration in exchange for Rights, the Company shall (A) determine
the value of the Exchange Shares (the "Exchange Value"), and (B) with respect to
each Right to be exchanged, make adequate provision to substitute for Exchange
Shares the following (the "Substitute Consideration"): (v) cash, (w) Common
Stock or common stock equivalents (as that term is defined in Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof) or Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock (as that term is
defined in Section 11(b) hereof), (x) debt securities of the Company, (y) other
assets, or (z) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal
to the Exchange 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
-23-
banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. For purposes of
this Section 24(c), the value of a share of Common Stock shall be the current
market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of
Common Stock on the day that is the later of (x) the first occurrence of an
event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 24(a) expires; and the value
of any common stock equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the
Common Stock on such date.
(iii) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to this Section 24(c), 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 Exchange Shares or Substitute Consideration for each Right
exchanged by such holder. 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 address as they appear upon the registry books of the
Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice
of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of Common Stock 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 Rights which have become void pursuant
to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(iv) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock
or Preferred Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to
permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this
Section 24(c), the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize additional shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock for issuance upon
exchange of the Rights.
(v) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company
shall pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to
which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole
share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this Section 24(c)(v), the current
market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a
share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this
Section 24(c).
25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS. In case the Company shall propose (a) to pay
any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or
to make any other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the
Company) or (b) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to
subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares
of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, or (c) to
effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a
reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock), 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 transactions,
of more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets or earning power of the Company
and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, or (e) to effect
the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such
case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in
accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall
specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of
rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation,
merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place
and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the
-24-
case of any action covered by clause (a) or (b) above at least twenty (20) days
prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action
or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock whichever shall be the earlier.
In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) or 13(a) of this
Agreement shall occur, then, in any such case, the Company or the Principal
Party, as the case may be, shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice
of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the
consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) or 13(a)
hereof, as the case may be.
The failure to give notice required by this Section 25 or any defect
therein shall not affect the legality or validity of the action taken by the
Company or the vote upon any such action.
26. NOTICES. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given
or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on
the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Rights Agent) as follows:
Network Computing Devices, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 22, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Compliance Area
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate 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.
27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Company and the Rights Agent may from
time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without approval of any holders
of Rights or Rights Certificates in order (a) to cure any ambiguity, (b) to
correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (c) prior to the Distribution
Date, to change or supplement any provision hereunder in any manner which the
Company may deem necessary or desirable or (d) on or following the Distribution
Date, to change or supplement any provision hereunder in any manner which the
Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights Certificates. 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 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment unless
the Rights Agent shall have determined in good faith that such supplement or
amendment would adversely affect its interests under this Agreement. Prior to
the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed
coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock.
-25-
28. DETERMINATION AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ETC. For all
purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining
the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock or any
other securities of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in
accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this
Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Board of Directors of the
Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this
Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the
Board, or the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration
of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to
(a) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (b) make all determinations
deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement
(including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the
Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be
final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of
the Rights Certificates and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to
any liability to the holders of the Rights Certificates.
29. 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.
30. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock).
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.
32. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of California 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 to
be performed entirely within such state.
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.
-26-
34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. Descriptive headings of the several Sections of
this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect
the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
Attest: NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.
[seal]
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
- -------------------- ------------------------
Name Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Name Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
----------------- --------------------
Title Secretary Title President and Chief Executive Officer
--------- -------------------------------------
Attest: CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES, L.L.C., as Rights Agent
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------ ---------------------
Name Xxxx Xxxxxxx Name Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------ -----------------
Title Assistant Vice President Title Assistant Vice President
------------------------ ------------------------
[Corporate seal]
-27-
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF DETERMINATION,
PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS
OF SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.
We, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, the President and Chief Executive Officer, and
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, the Secretary, of Network Computing Devices, Inc., a
corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the
State of California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
1. That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors
by the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, the
said Board of Directors on August 12, 1997 adopted the following resolution
creating a series of 500,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A
Participating Preferred Stock:
"RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors
of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation (the "Articles of Incorporation"), a series of
Preferred Stock of the Corporation be and it hereby is created, and that the
designation and amount thereof and the powers, preferences and relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such series,
and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:
Section 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series A Participating Preferred Stock," no par value, and the
number of shares constituting such series shall be 500,000. 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
Participating Preferred Stock to a number less than that of the shares then
outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding
rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued
by the Corporation.
Section 2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares
of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock in preference to the holders of
shares of Common Stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation
and any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June,
September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as
a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock in an amount per share (rounded to the
nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $25.00, 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
A-1
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 Participating Preferred Stock. In the event
the Corporation shall at any time after the close of business on September 2,
1997 (the "Rights Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock,
or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
by reclassification or otherwise, then in each such case the amount to which
holders of shares of Series A Participating 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.
(A) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above
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 $25.00 per share on
the Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(B) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares
of Series A Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record
date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on
such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or
unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after
the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A
Participating 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 Participating 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 Participating Preferred
Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared
thereon, which record date shall be no more than thirty (30) days prior to the
date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a
vote of the shareholders of the Corporation. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date
(i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock into a greater
number of shares, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, by reclassification or otherwise, then in
each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of
shares of Series A Participating 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
A-2
such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
shares of Series A Participating 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 shareholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series A Participating
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.
Section 4. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Participating 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 Participating
Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall
not
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on,
or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Participating
Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions
on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock except dividends paid ratably on the
Series A Participating 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 on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock provided that the Corporation may at any
time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity
stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up) to the Series A Participating Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of Series A Participating Preferred Stock or any shares of stock
ranking on a parity with the Series A Participating 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.
A-3
Section 5. REACQUIRED SHARES. Any shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.
All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued
shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein.
Section 6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of
stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto,
the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall have
received per share, the greater of $1,000.00 or 100 times the payment made per
share of Common Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the
"Series A Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full amount of
the Series A Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made
to the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per
share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to the quotient obtained by dividing
(i) the Series A Liquidation Preference by (ii) 100 (as appropriately adjusted
as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits,
stock dividends and recapitalization with respect to the Common Stock) (such
number in clause (ii), the "Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the
full amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in
respect of all outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock and
Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock
and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and
proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of
the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common
Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B) In the event there are not sufficient assets available to permit
payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation
preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any, which rank on a
parity with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock then such remaining
assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event there are
not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common
Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the
holders of Common Stock.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, by reclassification or
otherwise, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately
prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment 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.
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 are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly
exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 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 after the Rights
Declaration
A-4
Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,
(ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount
set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of
shares of Series A Participating 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 are
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. REDEMPTION. The shares of Series A Participating Preferred
Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. RANKING. The Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall rank
junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any
such series shall provide otherwise.
Section 10. AMENDMENT. The Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws of
the Corporation shall not be further amended (including, without limitation,
pursuant to a Certificate of Determination filed pursuant to the authority
granted by the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation) in any manner which
would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of
the Series A Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely
without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds
percent (66-2/3%) of the outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred
Stock voting separately as a class.
Section 11. FRACTIONAL SHARES. Series A Participating Preferred Stock may
be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion
to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive
dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other
rights of holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock."
2. That no shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock have been
issued. The number of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock is
500,000.
We further declare under penalty of perjury that the matters set forth in
the foregoing Certificate of Determination are true and correct of our own
knowledge.
Executed at Mountain View, California on August 12, 1997.
----------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
President and Chief Executive Officer
----------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Secretary
A-5
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R-______________ _____________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER AUGUST 12, 2007, OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF
REDEMPTION IS GIVEN. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE
OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
WERE ISSUED TO A PERSON WHO WAS AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN ASSOCIATE OR
AFFILIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT). THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED
HEREBY MAY BECOME VOID UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION
7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.](*)
Rights Certificate
NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.
This certifies that ____________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement dated as of August 12, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement") between Network
Computing Devices, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"), and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company
(the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the
Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to
5:00 p.m. (San Francisco time) on August 12, 2007, at the office of the Rights
Agent designated for such purpose, one one-hundredth of a fully paid,
nonassessable share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock (the "Preferred
Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of $50.00 per one one-hundredth of a
share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the appropriate Form of Election to Purchase and Certificate
duly executed.
The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number
of shares 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 the
close of business on the record date relating to the initial distribution of the
Rights, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. As provided
in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of shares of
Preferred Stock or other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of
the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and
adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the
- --------------------------
(*) The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable.
B-1
Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of the Rights
Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are also
available upon written request to the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor
and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate
number of shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder
to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised (other than pursuant
to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement) in part, the holder shall be
entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. If this Rights
Certificate shall be exercised in whole or in part pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
of the Rights Agreement, the holder shall be entitled to receive this Rights
Certificate duly marked to indicate that such exercise has occurred as set forth
in the Rights Agreement.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption
price of $.01 per Right. Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the
Company, at its option, may elect to mail payment of the redemption price to the
registered holder of the Right at the time of redemption, in which event this
certificate may become void without any further action by the Company.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise of
any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the
election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu
thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred
Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
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This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Dated: ____________, 19__.
Attest: NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.
- ----------------------------------- By -----------------------------------
Name ------------------------------ Name ---------------------------------
Title ----------------------------- Title --------------------------------
Countersigned:
- -----------------------------------
as Rights Agent
By -----------------------------------
B-3
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, __________________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto___________________________________________________
(please print name and address of transferee)
_______________________________________________________________ this Rights
Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does
hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _______________ Attorney, to transfer
the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with
full power of substitution.
Dated: ____________, ______.
-------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-4
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate / / are / / are not
being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was
an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person
(as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it / /
did / / did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any
Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: __________
-------------------------
Signature
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment must correspond to the name as
written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
B-5
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Rights Certificate pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement.)
To: NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________ Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Common Stock
(or such other securities of the Company) issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please insert social security or other identifying number)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rights Certificate indicating the balance, if any, of such Rights which
may still be exercised pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement
shall be returned to the undersigned unless such Person requests that the Rights
Certificate be registered in the name of and delivered to:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please insert social security or other identifying number (complete only if
Rights Certificate is to be registered in a name other than the undersigned)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: ____________, ______.
-------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-6
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate / / are / / are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) this Rights Certificate / / is / / is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement); and
(3) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it / /
did / / did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any
Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: __________
-------------------
Signature
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase must correspond to the
name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
B-7
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
the Rights Certificate other than pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement.)
To: NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________ Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
(or such other securities of the Company or any other Person) issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued
in the name of:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please insert social security or other identifying number)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rights Certificate indicating the balance, if any, of such Rights which
may still be exercised pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement
shall be returned to the undersigned unless such Person requests that the Rights
Certificate be registered in the name of and delivered to:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please insert social security or other identifying number
(complete only if Rights Certificate is to be registered in
a name other than the undersigned)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: __________
-----------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-8
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate / / are / / are not
being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was
an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person
(as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it / /
did / / did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any
Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: __________
-----------------
Signature
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase must correspond to the
name as written upon the fact of this Rights Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
B-9
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS
On August 12, 1997, the Board of Directors of Network Computing Devices,
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one "Right" for each
outstanding share of common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 2, 1997
(the "Record Date"). Except as set forth below, each Right, when exercisable,
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of
a share of a new series of preferred stock, designated as Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, no par value (the "Preferred Stock"), at a price of $50.00 (the
"Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as "Rights Agent."
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
"Distribution Date" will occur upon the earliest of (i) a public announcement
that a person, entity or group of affiliated or associated persons and/or
entities (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire,
beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock, other than as a result of repurchases of stock by the Company
or certain inadvertent actions by institutional or certain other shareholders,
or (ii) ten (10) days (unless such date is extended by the Board of Directors)
following the commencement of (or a public announcement of an intention to make)
a tender offer or exchange offer which would result in any person, entity or
group of affiliated or associated persons and/or entities becoming an Acquiring
Person.
Until the Distribution Date the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to
any of the Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such
Common Stock certificate together with this Summary of Rights. The Rights
Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferred with and only with Common Stock certificates. From as soon as
practicable after the Record Date and until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued
after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of the Common Stock will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding as of
the Record Date (with or without this Summary of Rights attached) will also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the
Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date, and the separate Rights Certificates
alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on the earliest of (i) August 12, 2007, (ii) consummation of a
merger transaction with a Person or group who acquired Common Stock pursuant to
a Permitted Offer (as defined below), and is offering in the merger the same
price per share and form of consideration paid in the Permitted Offer, or
(iii) redemption or exchange of the Rights by the Company as described below.
The number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock shall be
proportionately adjusted to prevent dilution in the event of a stock dividend
on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Common Stock. The
Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a
C-1
subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Preferred Stock, (ii) upon
the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of certain rights or warrants to
subscribe for Preferred Stock, certain convertible securities or securities
having the same or more favorable rights, privileges and preferences as the
Preferred Stock at less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock, or
(iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends out of
earnings or retained earnings) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than
those referred to above). With certain exceptions, no adjustments in the
Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an
adjustment of at least one percent (1%) in such Purchase Price.
In the event that, after the first date of public announcement by the
Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such, the
Company is involved in a merger or other business combination transaction
(whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) or fifty percent (50%)
or more of the Company's assets or earning power are sold (in one transaction or
a series of transactions), proper provision shall be made so that each holder of
a Right (other than an Acquiring Person) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price, that
number of shares of common stock of either the Company, in the event that it is
the surviving corporation of a merger or consolidation, or the acquiring company
(or, in the event there is more than one acquiring company, the acquiring
company receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
transferred) which at the time of such transaction would have a market value of
two times the Purchase Price (such right being called the "Merger Right"). In
the event that a Person becomes the beneficial owner of fifteen percent (15%) or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (unless pursuant to a tender
offer or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price
and on terms determined prior to the date of the first acceptance of payment for
any of such shares by at least a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors who are not officers of the Company and are not Acquiring Persons or
Affiliates or Associates thereof to be both adequate and otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders (a "Permitted Offer")), then
proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right will for a sixty
(60) day period (subject to extension under certain circumstances) thereafter
have the right to receive upon exercise that number of shares of Common Stock
(or, at the election of the Company, which election may be obligatory if
sufficient authorized shares of Common Stock are not available, a combination of
Common Stock, property, other securities (E.G., Preferred Stock) and/or a
reduction in the exercise price of the Right) having a market value of two times
the Purchase Price (such right being called the "Subscription Right"). The
holder of a Right will continue to have the Merger Right whether or not such
holder exercises the Subscription Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon
the occurrence of any of the events giving rise to the exercisability of the
Merger Right or the Subscription Right, any Rights that are or were at any time
after the Distribution Date owned by an Acquiring Person shall immediately
become null and void.
At any time prior to the earlier to occur of (i) a Person becoming an
Acquiring Person or (ii) the expiration of the Rights, the Company may redeem
the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Right (the
"Redemption Price"), which redemption shall be effective upon the action of the
Board of Directors. Additionally, the Company may thereafter redeem the then
outstanding Rights in whole, but not in part, at the Redemption Price (i) if
such redemption is incidental to a merger or other business combination
transaction or series of transactions involving the Company but not involving an
Acquiring Person or certain related Persons or (ii) following an event giving
rise to, and the expiration of the exercise period for, the Subscription Right
if and for as long as the Acquiring Person triggering the Subscription Right
beneficially owns securities representing less than fifteen percent (15%) of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock and at the time of redemption there are no
other Acquiring Persons. The redemption of Rights described in the preceding
sentence shall be effective only as of such time when the Subscription Right is
not exercisable, and in any event, only after ten (10) business days' prior
notice. Upon the effective date of the
C-2
redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Subject to applicable law, the Board of Directors, at its option, may at
any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person (but not after the
acquisition by such Person of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding
Common Stock), exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable
Rights (except for Rights which have become void) for shares of Common Stock at
a rate of one share of Common Stock per Right or, alternatively, for substitute
consideration consisting of cash, securities of the Company or other assets (or
any combination thereof).
The Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will be
nonredeemable and junior to any other series of preferred stock the Company may
issue (unless otherwise provided in the terms of such stock). Each share of
Preferred Stock will have a preferential quarterly dividend in an amount equal
to 100 times the dividend declared on each share of Common Stock, but in no
event less than $25.00. In the event of liquidation, the holders of shares of
Preferred Stock will receive a preferred liquidation payment equal to the
greater of $1,000.00 or 100 times the payment made per each share of Common
Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 100 votes, voting together with
the shares of Common Stock. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other
transaction in which shares of Common Stock are exchanged, each share of
Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount and type of
consideration received per share of Common Stock. The rights of the Preferred
Stock as to dividends, liquidation and voting, and in the event of mergers and
consolidations, are protected by customary antidilution provisions. Fractional
shares of Preferred Stock will be issuable; however, (i) the Company may elect
to distribute depositary receipts in lieu of such fractional shares and (ii) in
lieu of fractional shares other than fractions that are multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market
price of the Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of
exercise.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. The Company and the Rights Agent retain broad
authority to amend the Rights Agreement; however, following any Distribution
Date any amendment may not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. A
copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. THIS
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHTS DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, WHICH IS
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.
C-3
