FIRST AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 3.3
Execution Copy
FIRST AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This FIRST AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of February 23, 2009 (the “Amendment”) is
entered into by and between Hampshire Group, Limited, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
Mellon Investor Services LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, as Rights Agent (the “Rights
Agent”).
Whereas, the Company and the Rights Agent are parties to that certain Rights Agreement dated
as of August 13, 2008 (the “Rights Agreement”);
Whereas, all capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings
assigned to them in the Rights Agreement;
Whereas, Section 27 of the Rights Agreement provides that the Company may amend the Rights
Agreement as it deems necessary or desirable without the approval of any holders of Rights;
Whereas, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) intends to approve
the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of, and the consummation of the tender
offer, the merger and all other transactions contemplated by, that certain Agreement and Plan of
Merger by and among the Company, NAF Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“Parent”), and NAF Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of Parent (“Merger
Sub”), in substantially the form presented to and reviewed by the Board of Directors; and
Whereas, in contemplation of consummation of the tender offer, the merger and the other
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (as defined below), the Board of Directors deems
it necessary and desirable and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to adopt
this Amendment;
Now, therefore, in consideration of the foregoing and the terms contained herein, the Rights
Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
1. Amendment to Rights Agreement
1.1 Subject to the provisions of Section 2 hereof, the Rights Agreement is amended by adding
the following new Section 35 to the Rights Agreement:
“SECTION 35. TRANSACTIONAL EXEMPTION
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither the
execution, delivery nor performance by the respective parties thereto of that
certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of February 23, 2009 (as may be
amended and/or supplemented, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, NAF
Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“Parent”), and NAF Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of
Parent (“Merger Sub”), nor the consummation of the Offer and the Merger (as such
terms are defined in the Merger Agreement) or any other transactions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement, shall cause any Person to become an “Acquiring Person” (as
that term is defined in Section 1(a) hereof), or give rise to any event that,
through passage of time or otherwise, would result in the occurrence of a “Shares
Acquisition Date” or a “Distribution Date” (as those terms are defined in Sections
1(dd) and 3(a), respectively, of this Agreement).
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions
of Section 13 of this Agreement shall be deemed not to apply to the Merger or any
other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the Offer Documents, the
Ancillary Agreements or the Financing Agreements (as such terms are defined in the
Merger Agreement).”
1.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 2 hereof, the Rights Agreement is amended by
deleting the word “or” between “(the “Redemption Date”)” and “(iii)” in Section 7(a) of the
Rights Agreement and adding the following to the end of such Section 7(a):
“and (iv) the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement). The Company shall
promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing upon the occurrence of the Effective Time and,
if such notification is given orally, the Company shall confirm same in writing as soon as
practicable. Until such notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent may
presume conclusively for all purposes that the Effective Time has not occurred.”
2. Condition to Effectiveness
This Amendment shall become effective immediately prior to the execution and delivery of the
Merger Agreement by each of the parties thereto; provided, however, that if the Merger Agreement is
terminated for any reason, this Amendment shall no longer be applicable or of any further force and
effect.
3. Reference to and Effect on Rights Agreement
Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 hereof, each
reference in the Rights Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein” or any other
expression of like import referring to the Rights Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the
Rights Agreement as amended by this Amendment.
4. Governing Law
This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that all provisions regarding the rights, duties, obligations and
immunities of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
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5. Counterparts
This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall for all
purposes by deemed to be an original, and all of which shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
6. Descriptive Headings
Descriptive headings of the several sections of this Amendment are inserted for convenience
only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
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Execution Copy
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of
the date first written above.
“Company” HAMPSHIRE GROUP, LIMITED |
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By: | ||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
“Rights Agent”: MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC |
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By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |