RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), effective as of March 16,
2000 between Energizer Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"),
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2000, the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized and declared a dividend of one common share purchase right for each
share of the Company's common stock outstanding at the close of business on
March 31, 2000, (the "Record Date"), each such right representing the right to
purchase one share of the Company's common stock upon the terms and subject to
the conditions therein set forth. At that time the Board further authorized and
directed the issuance of one common share purchase right with respect to each
share of the Company's common stock that becomes outstanding between the Record
Date and the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined);
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Rights Agreement, the following terms have the meanings
indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall become, at any time after the
date of this Rights Agreement (whether or not such status continues for any
period), the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares representing 20% or more of the
Common Shares then outstanding, other than as a result of a Permitted Offer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include
(i) the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan or
compensation arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any
entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or
compensation arrangement, or (ii) any Person, who or which together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or
more of the then outstanding Common Shares as a result of the acquisition of
Common Shares directly from the Company (provided, however, that if, after such
acquisition, such Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of such Person, becomes
the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares in an acquisition not made
directly from the Company, then such Person shall be deemed an Acquiring
Person), and (B) no Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" either
(X) as a result of the acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by
reducing the number of Common Shares outstanding, increases the proportionate
number of Common Shares beneficially owned by such Person together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person to 20% or more of the Common Shares
then outstanding; except that if (i) a Person would become an Acquiring Person
(but for the operation of this subclause (X)) as a result of the acquisition of
Common Shares by the Company, and (ii) after such share acquisition by the
Company, such Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of such Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares, then such Person shall be
deemed an Acquiring Person, or (Y) if (i) such Person, or an Affiliate or
Associate of such Person, inadvertently becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or
more of the outstanding Common Shares, (ii) within 8 days thereafter such Person
notifies the Board of Directors that such Person did so inadvertently and (iii)
promptly after such notification, such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less
than 20% of the outstanding Common Shares.
(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.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be deemed
to have acquired "beneficial ownership" of, or to "beneficially own", any
securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3
of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act in effect as of the
date hereof;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or
only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and
selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of
securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights
(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 or on
behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until
such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right
to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided,
however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, any security for purposes of this clause (ii) if the
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely
from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public
proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is
not also then reportable on Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act
(or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other
Person with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements
with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona
fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding,
voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B))
or disposing of any securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of "Beneficial Owner" to the
contrary, the phrase "then outstanding", when used with reference to a Person's
Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the number of such
securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such
securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person would be
deemed to own beneficially hereunder.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a
day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York
time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day
it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share, and any other
class or classes or series of common stock of the Company resulting from any
subdivision, combination, recapitalization or reclassification of shares of such
common stock. "Common Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than
the Company shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest
voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of
another Person, of the Person or Persons which ultimately control such
first-mentioned Person.
(g) "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Rights Agreement.
(h) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)
hereof.
(i) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(j) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24 hereof.
(k) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
hereof.
(l) "NASDAQ" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof.
(m) "Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender or exchange offer which is for all
outstanding Common Shares at a price and on terms determined, prior to the
purchase of shares under such tender or exchange offer, by at least a majority
of the members of the Board of Directors who are not officers of the Company and
who are not (or would not be, if the offer were consummated) Acquiring Persons
or Affiliates, Associates, nominees or representatives of an Acquiring Person,
to be adequate and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders (other than the Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof on
whose basis the offer is being made). In determining whether an offer is
adequate or in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, the Board
may take into account all factors that it deems relevant including, without
limitation, (1) the consideration being offered in the proposal in relation to
the Board's estimate of: (i) the current value of the Company in a freely
negotiated sale of either the Company by merger, consolidation or otherwise, or
all or substantially all of the Company's assets, (ii) the current value of the
Company if orderly liquidated, and (iii) the future value of the Company over a
period of years as an independent entity discounted to current value; (2) then
existing political, economic and other factors bearing on security prices
generally or the current market value of the Company's securities in particular;
(3) whether the proposal might violate federal, state or local laws; (4) social,
legal and economic effects on employees, suppliers, customers and others having
similar relationships with the Company, and the communities in which the Company
conducts its businesses; (5) the financial condition and earnings prospects of
the person making the proposal including the person's ability to service its
debt and other existing or likely financial obligations; and (6) the competence,
experience and integrity of the person making the acquisition proposal.
(n) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, corporation,
trust, association, joint venture or other entity, and shall include any
successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(o) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b)
hereof.
(p) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
hereof.
(q) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Rights Agreement.
(r) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
hereof.
(s) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23
hereof.
(t) "Rights" shall mean the rights to purchase Common Shares authorized by
the Board of Directors of the Company after the Record Date.
(u) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Rights Agreement.
(v) "Rights Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Rights Agreement.
(w) "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)
hereof.
(x) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(y) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of a public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such, or
the date onn which the Company first has notice that an Acquiring Person has
become such; provided, that, if such Person is determined not to have become an
Acquiring Person pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition
Date shall be deemed to have occurred.
(z) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of
which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity
interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
(aa) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b)
hereof.
(bb) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof.
(cc) "Voting Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(a)
hereof.
SECTION 2
APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT
The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and
the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior
to the Distribution Date also be the holders of the Common Shares) in accordance
with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as
it may deem necessary or desirable. In the event that the Company appoints one
or more Co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any
Co-Rights Agents shall be as the Company shall determine.
SECTION 3
ISSUE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day after
the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business
Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors
of the Company prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person)
after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan or
compensation arrangement of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or
any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan
or compensation arrangement is first published or sent or given within the
meaning of Rule 14d-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange
Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of
20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; the earlier of such
dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will
be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the
certificates for the Common Shares registered in the names of the holders
thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights)
and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights (and the right to receive
separate certificates ("Rights Certificates")) will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of the underlying Common Shares (including a
transfer to the Company) as more fully set out below. As soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights
Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the
Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to
each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company, a Rights Certificate, which shall be in substantially the form of
Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each
Common Share so held. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the Company will
send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Shares, in substantially
the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class,
postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of
business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records
of the Company. Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption
Date or the Final Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for Common Shares outstanding, with or without a copy of the Summary
of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding (including,
without limitation, reacquired shares which are subsequently disposed of by the
Company) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution
Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall have impressed on,
printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend (or one
substantially similar):
"This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement, as it may from time to time be
supplemented or amended, between Energizer Holdings, Inc. and Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the
principal executive offices of Energizer Holdings, Inc. Under certain
circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such rights may be redeemed
or exchanged, may expire, or may be evidenced by separate certificates and no
longer be evidenced by this certificate. Energizer Holdings, Inc. will mail to
the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge
within five days after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
circumstances, rights issued to or held by Acquiring Persons or their Affiliates
or Associates (as defined in the Rights Agreement) 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, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such
certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
therewith. In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common
Shares prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common
Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired unless and until such Common Shares
are subsequently issued by the Company so that the Company shall not be entitled
to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer
outstanding.
SECTION 4
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES
(a) The Right Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and of
assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same
as provided for in Section 3(a) hereof 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 Rights Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable
law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be
listed, or to conform to customary usage. Subject to the provisions of Section
22 hereof, the Right Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the
Record Date and shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number and
kind of Common Shares as shall be set forth therein at the price per share set
forth therein, but the number and kind of such Common Shares and the price per
share shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22
hereof that represents Rights which are null and void pursuant to the second
paragraph of Section 11(a)(ii) of this Rights Agreement and any Right
Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6, Section 11 or Section 22 hereof upon
transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Right Certificate
referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the
following legend:
"The Rights represented by this Right Certificate are or were beneficially
owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement). Accordingly, this Right Certificate and the Rights represented
hereby are null and void."
Notwithstanding the above provision, failure to place such legend on any Rights
Certificate representing Rights which are otherwise null and void pursuant to
the terms of this Rights Agreement, shall not affect the null and void status of
such Rights.
SECTION 5
COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by
its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of
its Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer, either manually or by facsimile
signature, shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof,
and shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company,
either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be
manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have
signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered with the same force and effect as though
the person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer
of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company
by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right
Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right
Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any
such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to
be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the appropriate place
for surrender of such Right Certificate or transfer, books for registration and
transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the
names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the
number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the
date of each of the Right Certificates.
SECTION 6
TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED,
DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT CERTIFICATES
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(c) and 14 hereof, at any
time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to
the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final
Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right
Certificates representing Rights that have become void pursuant to the second
paragraph of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof or that have been exchanged pursuant to
Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder
to purchase a like number and kind of Common Shares as the Right Certificate or
Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any
registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right
Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered
to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal
office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Thereupon,
the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a
Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.
The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split
up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right
Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new
Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the
registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated.
SECTION 7
EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF RIGHTS
(a) Subject to the second paragraph of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the
registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced
thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time
after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the
form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the
Rights Agent at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, together with payment of the price per share (rounded up to
the nearest cent) provided for in paragraph (b) below (the "Purchase Price") for
each Common Share as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the
earliest of (i) the close of business on March 31, 2010 (the "Final Expiration
Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23
hereof (the "Redemption Date"), or (iii) the time at which such Rights are
exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price for each Common Share pursuant to the exercise of a
Right shall initially be $150, 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 Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights,
with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of
the Purchase Price for the Common Shares to be purchased and an amount equal to
any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof by certified check, cashier's
check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall
thereupon promptly (i) requisition from any transfer agent of the Common Shares
certificates for the number and kind of Common Shares to be purchased (or
depository receipts when appropriate) and the Company hereby irrevocably
authorizes its transfer agents to comply with all such requests, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu
of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii)
after receipt of such certificates, cause the same to be delivered to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such
name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate,
after receipt, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder
of such Right Certificate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise
less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing
Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the
Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly
authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) So long as the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of Rights may
be listed on any national securities exchange or national quotation system, the
Company shall use its best efforts to cause all such shares which will be issued
upon exercise to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance
upon such exercise.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement ot 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 Right
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.
SECTION 8
CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF
RIGHT CERTIFICATES
All Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split
up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of
its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled
form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no
Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted
by any of the provisions of this 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 Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written
request of the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such
case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
SECTION 9
AVAILABILITY OF COMMON SHARES
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as
may be necessary to ensure that all Common Shares delivered upon exercise of
Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable
any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in
respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any Common
Shares upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required
to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or
delivery of Right Certificates to a person other than, or the issuance or
delivery of certificates or depository receipts for the Common Shares in a name
other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing
Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates for
Common Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been
paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the
time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's reasonable
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
SECTION 10
RECORD HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES
ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF RIGHTS
Each person in whose name any certificate for Common Shares is issued upon the
exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of
record of the Common Shares represented thereby on, and such certificate shall
be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was
duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer
taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the Company's transfer books for the Common Shares
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 such transfer books are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights
evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to
any rights of a holder of Common Shares for which the Rights evidenced thereby
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.
SECTION 11
ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE,
NUMBER AND KIND OF COMMON
SHARES OR NUMBER OF RIGHTS
The Purchase Price, the number of Common Shares or other securities covered by
each Right, and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date
(A) declare a dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (B)
subdivide the outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of such shares,
(C) combine the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of such shares,
or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of Common
Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect
for Rights 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 (including Common Shares) issuable on such date,
shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised
after such time shall, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, be
entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock
which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a
time when the Common Shares transfer books of the Company were open, he would
have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that
in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one such
Right be less than the per share par value of the Common Shares. If an event
occurs which would require an adjustment under both Section 11(a)(i) and the
second paragraph of 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 the second paragraph of Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Rights Agreement, in the event any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person, then the Purchase Price for each Common
Share issuable upon exercise of Rights shall be reduced to an amount equal to
33-1/3% of the then current market price per share of such Common Share
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the Shares Acquisition Date.
Notwithstanding the above, 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).
From and after the occurrence of the event described above, any Rights that
are or were acquired or beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person (or any
Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) shall be void and any holder of
such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any
provision of this Rights Agreement. No Right Certificate shall be issued
pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any
Associate or Affiliate thereof; no Right Certificate shall be issued at any time
upon the transfer of any Rights to or from an Acquiring Person whose Rights
would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate
thereof or to or from any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or
Affiliate; and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer
to or from an Acquiring Person (or any Associate, Affiliate or nominee of such
Acquiring Person) whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence
shall be canceled.
(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued
but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the exercise in full of
the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraphs (i) and (ii), and the
Rights become exercisable, notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement, the Company shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law and
agreements in effect on the date hereof to which the Company is a party, take
all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for
issuance upon exercise of the Rights, including the calling of a meeting of
shareholders; provided, however, if the Company is unable to cause the
-------- -------
authorization of additional Common Shares then the Company, to the extent
necessary and permitted by applicable law and any agreements or instruments in
effect on the date thereof to which it is a party, shall, at its option (A) pay
cash equal to twice the applicable Purchase Price (as adjusted pursuant to this
Section 11) in lieu of issuing any such Common Shares and requiring payment
therefor, or (B) issue equity securities having a value equal to the market
price of Common Shares which otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to the
foregoing subparagraphs (i) and (ii), which value shall be determined 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,
or (C) distribute a combination of Common Shares, cash and/or other equity
securities having a value equal to the market price of the shares of the Common
Shares which otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to the foregoing
subparagraphs (i) and (ii), determined in accordance with the preceding clause
(B), upon exercise of the related Rights.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights
(other than the Rights), options or warrants to all holders of Common Shares
entitling them (for a period expiring within 90 calendar days after such record
date) to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares (or securities having the same
or more favorable rights, privileges and preferences as the Common Shares
("equivalent common shares")), or securities convertible into Common Shares at a
price per share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Common Shares) less than the then current per share market
price (as defined in Section 11(d)) of the Common Shares on such record date,
the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of Common Shares which the
aggregate offering price of the total number of Common Shares or equivalent
common shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of
the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current
market price and the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional Common Shares
and/or equivalent common shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or
into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially
convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be
paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the per share par value of the
shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. In
case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which
shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be binding on the Rights Agent. Common Shares owned by or held for the
account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any
such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options 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) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of Common Shares (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation), of evidences of indebtedness or assets
(other than a regular quarterly cash dividend, a dividend payable in Common
Shares or other distribution referred to in Section 11(a) hereof) or
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)
hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the then current per
share market price of the Common Shares on such record date, less the fair
market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent) of the portion of such
assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription
rights or warrants applicable to one Common Share and the denominator of which
shall be such current per share market price of the Common Shares; provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise
of one Right be less than the per share par value of the shares of capital stock
of the Company to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall
be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that
such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to
be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per share
market price" of a Common Share on any date shall be deemed to be the average of
the daily closing prices per share of a Common Share for the 30 consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the
event that the current per share market price of a Common Share is determined
during a period following the announcement by the Company of (A) a dividend or
distribution on the Common Shares, payable in Common Shares or securities
convertible into Common Shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of the Common Shares, and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading
Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record
date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each
such case, the current per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to
reflect the current market price per share of a Common Share. 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 Common Shares are not listed
or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Shares
are listed or admitted to trading or, if Common Shares are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price
or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then
in use, or, if on any such date Common Shares 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 Common Shares, selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market-maker is
making a market in Common Shares, the fair value of Common Shares on such date
as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be
used, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal
national securities exchange on which Common Shares are listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if Common Shares are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or included in
the Nasdaq National Market, a Business Day. If Common Shares are not publicly
held or so listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall mean the
fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company, 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 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 one ten-thousandth of a share as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three
years from the date of the transaction which mandates such adjustment or (ii)
the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof,
the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive
any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Common Shares, thereafter
the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall
be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly
equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Common Shares
contained in Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive, and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Common Shares shall apply on
like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made hereunder to the Purchase Price applicable thereto shall
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of
Common Shares or other capital stock purchasable from time to time hereunder
upon exercise of such 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 Sections 11(b) and (c), each related Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Common Shares
(calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a share) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of Common Shares covered by such Right immediately
prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior
to such Purchase Price adjustment and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such Purchase Price adjustment.
(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 Common Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each
of such Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of such Rights
shall be exercisable for the number of Common Shares for which such Right was
exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each such Right held of
record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number
of such Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by
dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of such
Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to
adjust the number of Rights indicating the record date for the adjustment, and,
if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date
may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter,
but, if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 days later
than the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been
issued, upon each adjustment of the number of such Rights pursuant to this
Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be
distributed to holders of record of such Right Certificates on such record date
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 such Right
Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon
surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing
all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment.
Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and
countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be registered in the
names of the holders of record of Right 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 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the
Purchase Price and the number of Common Shares which were expressed in such
Right Certificates theretofore 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 Common Shares 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 Common Shares at such
adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment
in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified
event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the
issuing to the holder of any related Right exercised after such record date of
the Common Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise over and above the Common Shares 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 in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in
order that (i) any consolidation or subdivision of the Common Shares, (ii)
issuance wholly for cash of any Common Shares at less than the current market
price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Common Shares or securities which by
their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares, (iv)
dividends on Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (v) issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter made by
the Company to holders of Common Shares, shall not be taxable to such
stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date, it
will not, except as permitted by Sections 23 or 27 hereof, take (or permit any
Subsidiary to take) any action the purpose of which is to, or if at the time
such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that the effect of such action
is to, materially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights.
SECTION 12
CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTMENT
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly
file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares a
copy of such certificate and, (c) include a brief summary thereof in the next
quarterly or current report filed pursuant to the Exchange Act by the Company,
and, following the Distribution Date, mail such summary to each holder of a
Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof.
SECTION 13
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR EARNING POWER
(a) In the event that, on or following the Distribution Date, directly or
indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into any
other Person, (y) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with, any other
Person, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger (other than, in a case of any transaction described in
(x) or (y), a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting power
represented by all of the securities generally entitled to vote in the election
of directors ("voting 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 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 or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer), in one or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person (other than the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which does not
violate Section 11(n) hereof), then, and in each such case (except as provided
in Section 13(d) hereof), proper provision shall be made so that (i) each holder
of a Right, except as provided in the second paragraph of Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at
a price equal to the then current Purchase Price (without giving effect to any
adjustment to such Purchase Price pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)) multiplied by
the number of Common Shares for which such Right is then exercisable, in
accordance with the terms of this Rights Agreement, such number of freely
tradable Common Shares of the Principal Party, not subject to any liens,
encumbrances, rights of call or first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall
equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase Price
(without giving effect to any adjustment to such Purchase Price pursuant to
Section 11(a(ii)) by the number of Common Shares for which such Right is then
exercisable and dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then current per share
market price of the Common Shares 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 Rights
Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such
Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section
11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first
occurrence of an event described in this Section 13; and (iv) such Principal
Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a
sufficient number of its Common Shares in accordance with Section 9 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 the Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of
the Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of any
securities into which Common Shares of the Company are converted in such merger
or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the
other party to such merger or consolidation (including, if applicable, the
Company if it is the surviving corporation); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earnings power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions; provided, however, that in any of the foregoing
cases, (1) if the Common Shares of such Person are not at such time and have not
been continuously over the preceding twelve (12) month period registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary or Affiliate of another Person the Common Shares of which are and
have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2)
in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one
Person, the Common Shares of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the common shares having the greatest aggregate market value; and (3)
in case such Person is, or is owned, directly or indirectly, by a partnership or
joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or
indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall
apply to each of the chains of ownership having an interest in such joint
venturers as if such party were a "Subsidiary" of both or all of such joint
ventures 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 its
authorized Common Shares which have not been issued or reserved for issuance to
permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and
unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party 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 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 Securities Act of
1933, as amended, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of such Act) until the Final Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to 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
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for
the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that the
events described in this Section 13 shall occur at any time after the occurrence
of the events described in the second paragraph of Section 11(a)(ii), the Rights
which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in
the manner described in Section 13(a).
(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 Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a wholly owned
subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per share of the
Common Shares offered in such transaction is not less than the price per share
of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such tender offer or
exchange offer and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the
remaining holders of shares of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the
same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such tender offer or exchange
offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section
13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
SECTION 14
FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND
FRACTIONAL SHARES
a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of such Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in such 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 such Rights on such date 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,
shall be used and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares
upon (i) exercise of the Rights or exchange of the Rights for Common Shares
pursuant to Section 24 of this Rights Agreement, or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional shares of Common Shares. Fractions of Common Shares
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository 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 the rights, privileges and preferences to
which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Common Shares represented by
such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Common Shares or depositary
receipts, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at
the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of one Common Share. For the
purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Common Share shall
be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second
sentence of Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the
date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of such Right expressly waives
his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise of a Right (except as provided in this Section 14).
SECTION 15
RIGHTS OF ACTION
All rights of action in respect of this Rights Agreement, excepting the
rights of action given to the Rights Agent under Sections 18 or 20 hereof, are
vested in the respective registered holders of the Right Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares);
and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided
in such Right Certificate and in this Rights Agreement. Without limiting the
foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Rights Agreement and will be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of the obligations of any Person subject to, this Rights
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.
SECTION 16
AGREEMENT OF RIGHT HOLDERS
Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the
Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right 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 the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated
certificates for Common Shares) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and
of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or
writing on the Right Certificates or the associated certificates for Common
Shares made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all
purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Rights Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or a beneficial interest in a Right or other Person as a result of
its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Rights Agreement by
reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or
ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental,
regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule,
regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental
authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation;
provided, however, the Company must use its best efforts to have any such order,
decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
SECTION 17
RIGHT CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT
DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER
No holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common Shares or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
SECTION 18
CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT
The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all
services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the
Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements
incurred in the administration and execution of this Rights Agreement and the
exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to
indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss,
liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the
Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Rights
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability in the premises. The indemnity provided for herein shall survive the
expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Rights Agreement.
The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for, or in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with, its
administration of this Rights Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate
or certificate for the Common Shares or for other securities of the Company,
instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit,
letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where
necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or
otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
SECTION 19
MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR
CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from
any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the stock transfer,
shareholder services or all or substantially all of the corporate trust business
of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the
Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement without the execution or filing of any
paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that
such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent
under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor
Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Rights Agreement any of
the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such
successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights
Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any
successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the
name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights
Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Rights Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of
the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed
name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Rights Agreement.
SECTION 20
DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT
The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Rights
Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company
and the holders of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be
bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company or its own in-house counsel), 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 Rights Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate
shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered
in good faith by it under the provisions of this Rights Agreement in reliance
upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any other
Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Rights Agreement or in the
Right Certificates (except its countersignature on such 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 Rights Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the
validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any
covenant or condition contained in this Rights Agreement or in any Right
Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of
the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to the second paragraph
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights
(including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections 3, 11,
13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require
any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Right Certificates after actual notice that such change or
adjustment is required); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Common
Shares to be issued pursuant to this Rights Agreement or any Right Certificate
or as to whether any Common Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Rights Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
any Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply
to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and
it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in
accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting
while waiting for those instructions.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of
the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities
of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the
Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or
otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this
Rights Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in
any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through
its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employment thereof.
SECTION 21
CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT
The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from
its duties under this Rights Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to
the Company and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights
Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail or, prior to the Distribution Date, through any filing made by
the Company pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. If the
Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the
Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after
giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by
the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right
Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any
Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether
appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation or other
entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of
any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such
laws to exercise corporate trust, shareholder services or stock transfer powers
and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and
which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and
surplus of at least $25 million, or (b) an affiliate of a corporation or other
entity described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Common Shares and mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates or, prior to the
Distribution Date, through any filing made by the Company pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Failure to give any notice
provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not
affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
SECTION 22
ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHT CERTIFICATES
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement or of the Rights
to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates
evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or
class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Right
Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Rights Agreement.
In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares
following the Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date
and the Final Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall with respect to Common
Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any
employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
securities, notes or debentures issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other
case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights
in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) the
Company shall not be obligated to issue any such Right Certificates if, and to
the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance
would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the
Company or the Person to whom such Right Certificate would be issued, and (ii)
no Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
SECTION 23
REDEMPTION
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time
prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all but not
less than all of the then outstanding Rights at an initial redemption price of
$.01 per Right ("Redemption Price"). The Redemption Price shall be
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof. The redemption of the Rights by
the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and
with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section
23, evidence of which shall be promptly filed with the Rights Agent, or, when
approprate, immediately upon the time or satisfaction of such conditions as the
Board of Directors may have established, 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. The Company shall promptly give public disclosure of any such
redemption; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any
such disclosure shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Within 10
days after such action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the
Rights, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the
then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry
books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry
books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed
in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder
receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by
which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor
any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value
any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in
this Section 23 or in Section 24 hereof, and other than in connection with the
purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
SECTION 24
EXCHANGE
(a) 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 the second paragraph of Section
11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per
Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). 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 or compensation arrangement of the Company or
any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan or any trust agreement entered into by the Company to
secure benefits payable under any employee benefit plan or compensation
arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company), together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of Common
Shares representing 50% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section
24 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 that number of Common Shares equal to the number of
such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. 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 shall promptly mail a notice of any such exchange
to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives
the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the
exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of
any partial exchange, the number and kind of Rights which will be exchanged.
Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights
being exchanged (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the
provisions of the second paragraph of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each
holder of such Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued
but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights
as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall take all
such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for
issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
SECTION 25
NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS
(a) In case the Company, following the Distribution Date, shall propose (i)
to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class or series to holders of Common
Shares or to make any other distribution to holders of Common Shares (other than
a regular quarterly cash dividend) or to effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of dividends in Common Shares), (ii) to offer to holders of Common
Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Common
Shares or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any
reclassification of Common Shares (other than a reclassification involving only
the subdivision of outstanding Common Shares), (iv) 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 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company
and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
does not violate Section 11(n) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company
shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26
hereof, a notice of such proposed action to the extent feasible, which shall
specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or 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 holders of Common
Shares if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the
case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 days prior to
the record date for determining holders of Common Shares for purposes of such
action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the
date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein
by holders of Common Shares, whichever shall be the earlier. 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.
(b) In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) (except for an
event described in the second paragraph of that Section) hereof shall occur,
then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of
a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event and the
consequences of such event to holders of Rights under the second paragraph of
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
SECTION 26
NOTICES
Notices or demands authorized by this Rights Agreement to be given or made by
the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Company
shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights
Agent) as follows:
Energizer Holdings, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx. Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Rights Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of
any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or
made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
0 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Compliance Department
Notices or demands authorized by this Rights Agreement to be given or made by
the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right 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.
SECTION 27
SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS
Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the
Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Rights Agreement
without the approval of any holders of certificates representing Common Shares.
From and after the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if
the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Rights Agreement without the
approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order (i) to cure any
ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which
may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to
shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder (including, without limitation, to
extend the Final Expiration Date) or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions
hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and
which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Right
Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person); provided, however, that this Rights Agreement may not be
supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence,
(A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as
the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such
lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights
of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights; provided further that the
Company shall have the right to make unilaterally any changes necessary to
facilitate the appointment of a successor Rights Agent, which such changes shall
be set forth in a writing by the Company or by the Company and such successor
Rights Agent. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company may at any time prior
to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person amend this Rights
Agreement to lower the thresholds set forth in Sections 1(a) and 3(a) hereof
from 20% to not less than the greater of (i) any percentage greater than the
largest percentage of the then outstanding Common Shares then known by the
Company to be beneficially owned by any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan or compensation arrangement
of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common
Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or compensation
arrangement) together with all Affiliates or Associates of such Person, or (ii)
10%. 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, provided that such supplement or amendment does not
adversely affect the rights or obligations of the Rights Agent under Section 18
or Section 20 of this Rights 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 Shares.
SECTION 28
SUCCESSORS
All the covenants and provisions of this Rights Agreement by or for the
benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit
of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
SECTION 29
DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
For all purposes of this Rights Agreement, any calculation of the number of
Common Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which
any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last
sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive
power and authority to administer this Rights Agreement and to exercise all
rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may
be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Rights Agreement,
including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the
provisions of this Rights Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of this Rights Agreement
(including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the
Rights Agreement or a determination that an adjustment to the Redemption Price
or Exchange Ratio is or is not appropriate). 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 and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
SECTION 30
BENEFITS OF THIS RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Nothing in this Rights Agreement shall be construed to give to any person
or corporation other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the
Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Rights
Agreement; but this Rights Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit
of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
SECTION 31
SEVERABILITY
If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Rights Agreement is
held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void
or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and
shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. It is the intent of the
parties hereto to enforce the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement to the maximum extent permitted by law.
SECTION 32
GOVERNING LAW
This Rights Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be
deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Missouri and for all
purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such
State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such
State.
SECTION 33
COUNTERPARTS
This Rights Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and
each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original,
and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.
SECTION 34
DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS
Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this Rights Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or
construction of any of the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Rights Agreement to be
duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, INC.
Attest:
By: By:
Title: Title:
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER
& TRUST COMPANY
Attest:
By: By:
Title: Title:
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R- Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER MARCH 31, 2010 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE
ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS
RIGHT CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED TO A PERSON WHO WAS AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR AN ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON. THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE AND
THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN THE
SECOND PARAGRAPH OF SECTION 11(a)(ii) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]
Right Certificate
ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, 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 April 1, 2000 (the " Rights Agreement"), between
Energizer Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company") and Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust 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., St. Louis time, on March 31, 2010, at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, or at the office of its successor as
Rights Agent, one fully paid non-assessable share of Energizer Holdings, Inc.
common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), at a purchase
price of $___ per Common Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and
surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly
executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the
number of Common Shares which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth
above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price
as of _________________ based on the outstanding Common Shares at such date. As
provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of Common
Shares which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening
of certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company and the above-mentioned offices of the Rights Agent (and are available
upon the written request of the Company).
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing
Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Common Shares
as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Certificates surrendered
shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof
another Right Certificate or Certificates for the number of whole Rights not
exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a
redemption price of $.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part
by the Company, at its option, for one Common Share per Right, following the
Stock Acquisition Date and prior to the time an Acquiring Person, as that term
is defined in the Rights Agreement, owns 50% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares, as that term is defined in the Rights Agreement, of the Company.
No fractional shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or
Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common Shares or of any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein
be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of 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 Right Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
Witness the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal. Dated: ______________________.
ATTEST: ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, INC.
By:
Countersigned:
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
By:
Authorized Officer
EXHIBIT A - FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHT
CERTIFICATE
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
--------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the
Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto
(Please print name and address of transferee)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ,
Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: , 20
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member or a participant in the
Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange
Medallion Signature Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program.
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Right Certificate [ ] is [ ] not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: ______________________
__________________________________
Signature
(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on
the face of this Right Certificate.)
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Right Certificate.)
To [NAME OF COMPANY]:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _____________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Common Shares issuable
upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such shares
be issued in the name of:
Name: _________________________________
Address: _______________________________
Social Security
or taxpayer identification
number: ______________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Name: ______________________________
Address:_____________________________
Social Security
or taxpayer identification
number: _____________________________
Dated: ______________________________
_______________________________
Signature
(Signature must conform in all respect to name of holder as specified on the
face of this Right Certificate)
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member or a participant in the
Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange
Medallion Signature Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program.
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right 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 Right Certificate [ ] is [ ] not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(3) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated:____________________________
_________________________________
Signature
(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the
face of this Right Certificate)
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must
conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the form of Assignment or
the form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, the
Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such Assignment or
Election to Purchase will not be honored as described in the second paragraph of
Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement.
EXHIBIT B
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO
PURCHASE COMMON SHARES
Effective as of March 16, 2000, the Board of Directors of Energizer
Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") adopted a Rights Agreement (the "Rights
Agreement") and authorized and declared a dividend of one common share purchase
right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per
share of the Company (the "Common Shares"). The dividend was payable as of the
close of business on March 31, 2000, to the shareholders of record on that date
(the "Record Date"), and with respect to Common Shares issued thereafter until
the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined) or the expiration or earlier
redemption or exchange of the Rights. Except as set forth below, each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company, at any time after
the Distribution Date one Common Share at a price per share of $150, subject to
adjustment (the "Purchase Price"). The description and terms of the Rights are
as set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Initially the Rights will be evidenced by all certificates representing
Common Shares then outstanding, and no separate Right Certificates will be
distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares upon the earlier to
occur of (i) 10 business days after the public announcement of a person's or
group of affiliated or associated persons' having acquired in a transaction that
is not a Permitted Offer (as defined below) beneficial ownership of 20% or more
of the outstanding Common Shares (such person or group being hereinafter
referred to as an "Acquiring Person"); or (ii) 10 business days (or such later
date as the Board may determine) following the commencement of, or announcement
of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of
which would result in a person or group's becoming an Acquiring Person (the
earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"). A Permitted Offer
is a tender or exchange offer which is for all outstanding Common Shares at a
price and on terms which a majority of certain members of the Board of Directors
determines to be adequate and in the best interests of the Company, its
shareholders and other relevant constituencies, other than such Acquiring
Person, its affiliates and associates.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with,
and only with, the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued
after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares 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 Shares outstanding as of
the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights,
will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common
Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the
Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of
the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such separate Right
Certificates alone will then evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on March 31, 2010 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a
Right will thereafter have the right (the "Flip-In Right") to acquire a Common
Share for a purchase price equal to 33 1/3% of the then current market price of
a Common Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Rights that are, or were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate thereof
will be null and void and not exercisable.
In the event that, at any time following the Distribution Date, (i) the
Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in
which the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares immediately prior to
the consummation of the transaction are not the holders of all of the surviving
corporation's voting securities, or (ii) more than 50% of the Company's assets
or earning power is sold or transferred, then each holder of a Right (except
Rights which have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the
right (the "Flip-Over Right") to receive, upon exercise and payment of the
Purchase Price, common shares of the acquiring company having a value equal to
two times the Purchase Price. If a transaction would otherwise result in a
holder's having a Flip-In as well as a Flip-Over Right, then only the Flip-Over
Right will be exercisable; if a transaction results in a holder's having a
Flip-Over Right subsequent to a transaction resulting in a holder's having a
Flip-In Right, a holder will have Flip-Over Rights only to the extent such
holder's Flip-In Rights have not been exercised.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Common Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of Common Shares,
(ii) upon the grant to holders of Common Shares of certain rights or warrants to
subscribe for or purchase Common Shares at a price, or securities convertible
into Common Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market
price of Common Shares, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of Common
Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash
dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in
Common Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred
to above). However, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until
cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1%.
No fractional Common Shares will be issued and in lieu thereof, an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of Common Shares on
the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the time a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the
Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of
the Rights may be made effective at such time on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
Immediately upon any 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.
At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the
acquisition by such person or group of Common Shares representing 50% or more of
the then outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights which have become null and void), in
whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right.
All of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended prior to the
Distribution Date by the Board of Directors of the Company for any reason it
deems appropriate. Prior to the Distribution Date, the Board is also
authorized, as it deems appropriate, to lower the thresholds for distribution
and Flip-In Rights to not less than the greater of (i) any percentage greater
than the largest percentage then held by any shareholder, or (ii) 10%. After
the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, but such
changes may not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding
the interests of any Acquiring Person).
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to shareholders of the Company, shareholders may, depending upon the
circumstances, recognize taxable income should the Rights become exercisable or
upon the occurrence of certain events thereafter.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form 10 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission File No.
1-15401). 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
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The portions of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable.
