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Technology Solutions Company
and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
Rights Agent
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Rights Agreement
Dated as of October 29, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
Section 1. Certain Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange
of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed,
Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price;
Expiration Date of Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital
Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and
Kind of Shares or Number of Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or
Number of Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer
of Assets or Earning Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 15. Rights of Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed
a Stockholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name
of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Section 23. Redemption and Termination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Section 24. Exchange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Section 26. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Section 28. Successors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Section 29. Determination and Actions by the Board
of Directors, etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Section 31. Severability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Section 32. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Section 33. Counterparts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of October 29, 1998 (the "Agreement"),
between Technology Solutions Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability
company (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on October 29, 1998 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a
dividend distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of
Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the Close
of Business on November 9, 1998 (the "Record Date"), each Right initially
representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights, powers
and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designation attached
hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter
set forth (the "Rights"), and has further authorized the issuance of one
Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions
of Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued
between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the
Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined) or, in certain
circumstances provided in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement,
the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be
the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary
of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed or established by
the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring
Person" as the result of an acquisition of shares of Common Stock by
the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding,
increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by
such Person to 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more
of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding by reason of share
purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the
Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common
Stock, then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person".
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person" (as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph (a)) has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as
promptly as practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so
that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person" (as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a)), then such
Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes
of this Agreement.
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and
in effect on the date of this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire
(whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the
passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of
conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options,
or otherwise; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall not be
deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," (A)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made
by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or
exchange, or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at
any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C)
securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the
occurrence of a Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by
such Person or any such Person's Affiliates or
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Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a)
or Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to
Section 11(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made with
respect to any Original Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or
dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined
pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act), including pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security
under this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such
agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from
a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then reportable by such
Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable
or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with
which such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether or not in writing), for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as
described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph
(d)) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing in this paragraph (d) shall cause a
Person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any securities
acquired through such Person's participation in good faith in a firm
commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty days after the
date of such acquisition.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Illinois
are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
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(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
Chicago time, on such date, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such date is
not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Chicago time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $.01
per share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with
reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital
stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity
securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct
the management, of such Person.
(h) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, limited liability
company, corporation, partnership or other entity and shall include
any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(i) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company, and, to the extent that there is not a sufficient number of
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock authorized to
permit the full exercise of the Rights, any other series of preferred
stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company designated for such
purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(j) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean the event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(k) "Section 13 Event" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(a) hereof.
(l) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the
Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring
Person has become such.
(m) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation or other entity of which an amount of voting securities
sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors of such
corporation or other entity is beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(n) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or
any Section 13 Event.
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In addition, for purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
have the meanings indicated in specified sections of this Agreement: (i)
"Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof; (ii) "common stock equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; (iii) "current market price" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof; (iv) "Current Value" shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; (v) "Distribution Date"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof; (vi) "equivalent
preferred stock" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof;
(vii) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a)
hereof; (viii) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(a) hereof; (ix) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof; (x) "Nasdaq" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) hereof; (xi) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b) hereof; (xii) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 4(a); (xiii) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals hereof; (xiv) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) hereof; (xv) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals hereof; (xvi) "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3(a) hereof; (xvii) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; (xviii) "Spread" shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; (xix) "Substitution
Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; (xx)
"Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof;
(xxi) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i)
hereof; and (xxii) "180 Day Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(c) hereof.
Section 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with
the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents
as it may deem necessary or desirable.
Section 3. ISSUE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Until the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day
after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the Stock
Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the
Record Date), (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 of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed or established by
the
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Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or
sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person
would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding, or (iii) the date immediately following the date of
execution of an agreement relating to or providing for a transaction
constituting a Xxxxxxx 00 Xxxxx (xxx xxxxxxxx xx (x), (xx) and (iii) being
herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be
evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by
the certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders
of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also
to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates and (y) the
Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the
underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As
soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent (to the
extent provided with all necessary information) will send by first-class,
insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as
of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more Rights certificates,
in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights Certificates"),
evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held, subject to
adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number
of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p)
hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company
shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance
with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only
whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional Rights. 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 Preferred Stock,
in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of
Rights"), by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the
Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address
of such holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to
certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until
the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates
registered in the names of the holders thereof together with a copy of the
Summary of Rights attached thereto. Until the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender for transfer of any certificate
representing shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been
issued, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto,
shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares
of Common Stock.
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(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common
Stock which are issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's
treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided in Section
22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing such
shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights,
and shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Technology
Solutions Company (the "Company") and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent") dated as of October 29, 1998
(the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal
offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in
the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate
certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The
Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the
Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge
promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or
held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the
Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of such
Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the
surrender for transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificates. In the event the Company purchases or acquires any shares of
its Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date,
any Rights associated with such shares shall be deemed cancelled and retired
so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated
with shares of Common Stock that are not outstanding.
Section 4. FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks
of identification or
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designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as
the Company may deem appropriate (but which do not affect the duties or
responsibilities of the Rights Agent) and as are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with
any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from
time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of
Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever
distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date or, in the case of Rights
with respect to shares of Common Stock issued or becoming outstanding after
the Record Date, the same date as the stock certificate evidencing such
shares, and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such
number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set
forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one
one-hundredth of a share, the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of
securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price
thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by any Person
known to be: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently
with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to
either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring
Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any
Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a
transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part
of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or
effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued
pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange,
replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this
sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights
Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void
in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of such Agreement.
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Section 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the
Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by
facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned manually
or by facsimile signature by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such
officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and
issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless,
may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the
Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such
Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any
Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who,
at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a
proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights 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 and subject to receipt of the
relevant materials and information, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be
kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the appropriate place
for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or transfer, books for
registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the
Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of
the Rights Certificates and the certificate number and the date of each of
the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHTS
CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. (a)
Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof,
at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or
prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or
Certificates (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights that have
become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) or that have been exchanged
pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the
registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate
or Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the
case of a
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transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the
Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any
such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on
the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such
additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former
Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company or the
Rights Agent shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall,
subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section 14 and Section 24 hereof,
countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge
that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or
exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation
of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of
indemnity or security satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificates if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of
like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the
registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed
or mutilated.
Section 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF
RIGHTS. (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such
surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the
Close of Business on October 29, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii)
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the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof or
(iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged pursuant to Section 24
hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein referred to as the
"Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be
$100 and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with
paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly
executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of
the Purchase Price per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or
other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be
purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer
tax required to be paid by the holder of the Rights Certificate in accordance
with Section 9(e) hereof, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k)
hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the
shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the
transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company
hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total
number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights
hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of one one-hundredths of a share
of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by
the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the
depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the
Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares
in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such
certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate,
registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, and
(iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order
of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the
Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof) shall be made in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft
payable to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is
obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock) of the Company,
pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof,
the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the
Rights Agent, if and when necessary to comply
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with the terms of this Agreement. The Company reserves the right to require
prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of
Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of
Preferred Stock would be issued.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be
issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or
names as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of
Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a) (ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of
an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently
with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to
either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring
Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) to holders of equity interests
in such Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) or to any
Person with whom the Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof)
has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the
transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the
Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which
has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall
become null and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights
shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under
any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but neither the Company nor the Rights
Agent shall have any liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or other
Person as a result of the Company's failure to make any determinations with
respect to an Acquiring Person or any of its Affiliates, Associates or
transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) properly completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise, and (ii)
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provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request.
Section 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer,
split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any
of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in
cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by
it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof, except as
expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company
shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the
Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificates
purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise
thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to
the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such
cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate
of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL STOCK. (a)
The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept
available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and
unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities) or out of its
authorized and issued shares held in its treasury, the number of shares of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common
Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in this Agreement, including
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full
of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities)
issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any
national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become
exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such
exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, upon official notice of issuance upon
such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, a registration statement under the Act with respect to the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
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appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective
as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration
statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the
Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and (B) the date of the
expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such action as may be
appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the
Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to
exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first
sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to
prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become
effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been
temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect. In addition, if the Company shall
determine that a registration statement is required following the
Distribution Date, and a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has not occurred, the
Company may temporarily suspend (and shall give the Rights Agent prompt
notice thereof) the exercisability of Rights until such time as a
registration statement has been declared effective. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be
exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification or exemption
in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise thereof shall
not be permitted under applicable law or a registration statement shall not
have been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
actions as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-hundredths of a share
of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
Common Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights
shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject
to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued
and fully paid and nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay,
when due and payable, any and all transfer taxes and governmental charges
which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the
case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any
transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of a number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
in respect of a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights
-14-
Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or
deliver any certificates for a number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any
Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the
holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has
been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. PREFERRED STOCK RECORD DATE. Each Person in whose
name any certificate for a number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to
have become the holder of record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented
thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the
Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of
the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which
the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may
be) transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to
have become the record holder of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on
which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the
case may be) transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise
of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not
be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to
shares or other securities for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or
other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be
entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as
provided herein.
Section 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER AND KIND OF
SHARES OR NUMBER OF RIGHTS. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of
shares covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject
to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date
of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock
payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding
Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a
smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock
in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the
-15-
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the
Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such
dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock
or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised
after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the
Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares
of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if
such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a
time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open,
such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to
receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be
in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 hereof, in the event any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, then each holder of a Right (except as
provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the then
current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
in lieu of a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as shall
equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the then number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) dividing that product
(which, following such first occurrence shall thereafter be referred
to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this
Agreement) by 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of such
first occurrence (such number of shares, the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock
which are authorized by the Company's certificate of incorporation, as
amended, but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes
other than upon exercise of the Rights, is not sufficient to permit
the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
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with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the
Company shall: (A) determine the value of the Adjustment Shares
issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value"), and
(B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute
for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the applicable Purchase
Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common
Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including, without
limitation, shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock, such as
the Preferred Stock, which the Board of Directors of the Company has
deemed to have substantially the same value or economic rights as
shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred stock, "common stock
equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets,
or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value
equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in the
Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors
of the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, if the Company shall not have made
adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above
within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the
later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to
deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without
requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to
the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares
and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. For purposes
of the preceding sentence, the term "Spread" shall mean the excess of
(i) the Current Value over (ii) the Purchase Price. If the Board of
Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith that it is
likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be
authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the
thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent
necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder
approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such thirty
(30) day period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution Period").
To the extent that action is to be taken pursuant to the first and/or
third sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall
provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply
uniformly to all outstanding
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Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the
expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek such stockholder
approval for such authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence
and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension,
the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well
as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer
in effect (with prompt notice of such announcements to the Rights
Agent). For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of each
Adjustment Share shall be the current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the
Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any "common stock
equivalent" shall be deemed to equal the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the Common
Stock on such date.
(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
Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period
expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date)
Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences
as the shares of Preferred Stock ("equivalent preferred stock")) or
securities convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock at
a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of equivalent preferred
stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into
Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock) less than the current market
price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred
Stock 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 shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record
date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the aggregate
offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or
equivalent preferred stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be
the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus
the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/ or equivalent
preferred stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the
convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case
such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or all
of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration
shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
-18-
Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the
Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such
computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, 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 a distribution
to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of
the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but
including any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)
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 current
market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of
Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent
and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights) of
the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share
of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be such current market
price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred
Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record
date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the
Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have
been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current
market price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to
be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common
Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is
hereinafter defined) immediately prior to but not including such date,
and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on any
date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per
share of such Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days
-19-
immediately following but not including such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that in the event that the current market price per share of the
Common Stock is determined during a period following the announcement
by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution
on such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or
securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than
the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification
of such Common Stock, and the ex-dividend date for such dividend or
distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or
reclassification shall not have occurred prior to the commencement of
the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period,
as set forth above, then, and in each such case, the "current market
price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account any trading
during the period prior to such ex-dividend date or record date. The
closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way,
or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported
in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on
which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or,
if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so
quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-
the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("Nasdaq") or such
other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common
Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market
maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is
making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on
such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on
which the principal national securities exchange on which the shares
of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the
transaction of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a
Business Day. If
-20-
the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded,
"current market price" per share shall mean the fair value per share
as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current
market price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the
same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause (i) of
this Section 11(d) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the
current market price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined
in the manner provided above, or if the Preferred Stock is not
publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in clause (i)
of this Section 11(d), the "current market price" per share of
Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to
100 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as
stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to
the Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement)
multiplied by the current market price per share of the Common Stock.
If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held
or so listed or traded, "current market price" per share of the
Preferred Stock 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 binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights. For all purposes of this Agreement, the "current market
price" of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be
equal to the "current market price" of one share of Preferred Stock
divided by 100.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment
in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require
an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e)
are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account
in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall
be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a share
of Common Stock or other share or one one-millionth of a share of Preferred
Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this
Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no
later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the
transaction which mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
-21-
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised
shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than
Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon
exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in
Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred
Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise
of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately
prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a share covered by a
Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing
the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in
the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon
the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in
the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately
prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of
the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the
nearest one-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall
make a public announcement (with prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent) 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
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Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later
than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been
issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed
to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights
Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights
to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or,
at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders
of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by
such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if
required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to
which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights
Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned
in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the
Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of
the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in
the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price
or the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one
one-hundredth of a share and the number of one one-hundredths of a share
which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of the
number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which
may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company
may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of
Preferred Stock 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 issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock and other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and
above the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise
on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment (and shall
provide the Rights Agent prompt notice of such election); 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
(fractional or
-23-
otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such
adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price,
in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as
and to the extent that the Board of Directors of the Company, in its good
faith judgment, shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i)
consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for
cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current market price,
(iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities
which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of
Preferred Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or
warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to
holders of its Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with
Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or
transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets 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 or
Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the
time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer
there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding
or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise
eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to,
simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would
constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall
have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any
of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 27 hereof,
take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action
is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by
the Rights.
-24-
(p) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the
Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i)
declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common
Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the
Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of
Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any
such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of
Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such
event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the
event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
Section 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF
SHARES. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section
13 hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth
such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts and computations
accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and
with each transfer agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy
of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a
Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of
a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in accordance with Section
26 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such
certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and shall not be deemed
to have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it shall have received
such certificate.
Section 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR
EARNING POWER.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date or
during the pendency of a 180 Day Period, directly or indirectly, (x) the
Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with
Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the Company, and
the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or merger,
all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into
or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any
other property, or (z) the Company
-25-
shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall
sell or otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a series of related
transactions, assets 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 Person or Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o)
hereof) (any event described in clauses (x), (y) or (z) of this Section 13(a)
following the Stock Acquisition Date or during the pendency of a 180 Day
Period, a "Section 13 Event"), then, and in each such case, proper provision
shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in
Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-hundredths of a share
of Preferred Stock, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal
Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens,
encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be
equal to the result obtained by (l) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for
which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the
first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first
occurrence), and dividing that product (which, following the first occurrence
of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each
Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by (2) 50% of the current
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of
the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such
Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for,
and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company"
shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being
specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply
only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common
Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be
necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of
Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v)
the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following
the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
-26-
(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 shares of Common Stock of the
Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no
securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such
merger or consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such
Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding
twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and
such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common
Stock of which is and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer
to such other Person; and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly
or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Stock of two or more of
which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to
whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the
greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or
reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such
Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a)
and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable
after the date of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets
mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act,
with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become effective
as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective
(with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act)
until the Expiration Date; and
-27-
(ii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which
comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form
10 under the Exchange Act.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees not to consummate a
transaction constituting a Section 13 Event unless a Distribution Date shall
have occurred as a result of the actions described in clauses (i), (ii) or
(iii) of Section 3(a) hereof.
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the
event that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of
a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been
exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in
Section 13(a).
Section 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p)
hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional
Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For purposes of
this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the
closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date
on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The
closing price of the Rights for any day shall be the last sale price, regular
way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported to the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the
Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by
Nasdaq or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights
are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in
the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such
date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights the fair value of
the Rights on such date as determined in
-28-
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares
of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or
to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a share of Preferred Stock). Fractions of shares of Preferred Stock in
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share may, at the election of
the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts pursuant to an appropriate
agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such
depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to
which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the shares represented by
such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock
that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred
Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates
at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one one-hundredth
of a share of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the
current market value of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall
be one one-hundredth of the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company
shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon
exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common
Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates
at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one share of Common
Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of one
share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of one share of Common Stock
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this
Section 14.
Section 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect of
this Agreement, other than rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement, are vested in the respective registered holders
of the Rights
-29-
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of
the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or,
prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of
the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in such holder's own
behalf and for such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and
maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or
otherwise act in respect of, such holder's right to exercise the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights
Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this
Agreement.
Section 16. AGREEMENT OF RIGHTS HOLDERS. Every holder of a Right
by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights
Agent and with every holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper
instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates
fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company
and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated
Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof
and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated
Common Stock certificates 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 required to be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent
-30-
shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as
a result of its inability to perform any of its obligations under this
Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other
order, decree, judgment 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 reasonable efforts to have any such order, decree,
judgment or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. RIGHTS CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER.
No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote,
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose to be the holder of the number
of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities
of the Company which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a 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 Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance
with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to
time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees
and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the preparation,
execution, delivery and amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder, PROVIDED, that the aggregate amount that
the Company shall be required to pay the Rights Agent in connection with the
preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not exceed
$2,500. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine,
penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense incurred without gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent
for any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection
with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs
and expenses of defending
-31-
against any claim of liability in the premises. Anything to the contrary
notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special,
indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever
(including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has
been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage. Any liability of the
Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement will be limited to the amount of
fees paid by the Company to the Rights Agent.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be authorized and protected and shall
incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it in connection with its acceptance and administration of this Agreement
in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or
for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer,
power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction,
consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to
be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice
of counsel as set forth in Section 20.
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 business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such Person would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have
been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may
adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such
Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at the time any of the
Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights
Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such
cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the
Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed, and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver
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Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case, at that time, any of the
Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the
full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes
only the duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement upon the
following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders
of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall
be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent
and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in
accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that
any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any
Acquiring Person and the determination of "current market price") be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any
action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in
respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be
conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the
Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights
Agent, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect
of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith by it
under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own
gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any
of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or
in the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except
as to its countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such
statements and recitals are
-33-
and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent)
or in respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate
(except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for
any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in
this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be
responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 11, Section 13 or Section 24 hereof or responsible for the
manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of
the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except
with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights
Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it
by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty
as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock
or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any
Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed,
acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts,
instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights
Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the
provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder
from the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the
Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant
Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such
officer.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, Affiliate,
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
-34-
be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise
act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this
Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights
or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either
itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent
shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect
or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the
Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the
exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for
believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to
the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to
the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case
may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative
response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take
any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer
without first consulting with the Company.
Section 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under
this Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the
Company, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock,
by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights
Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or
any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed
to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise
become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the
Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
-35-
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of
a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit such holder's
Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder
of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction
for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent,
whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (i) a Person
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the
State of Illinois or the State of New York (or of any other state of the
United States so long as such Person is authorized to do business in the
State of Illinois or the State of New York), in good standing, having an
office or agency in the State of Illinois or the State of New York, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise 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 $50,000,000 or (ii) an Affiliate of such Person. 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 reasonable
assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than
the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent
of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to
give any notice provided for in this Section 21 or any defect therein shall
not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the
Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case
may be.
Section 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding
any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights
in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any
adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of
shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights
Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In
addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock
following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of
the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so
issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any
employee plan or arrangement, granted or awarded prior to the Distribution
Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter
issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or
appropriate by the Board
-36-
of Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing an
appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if,
and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such
issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences
to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued,
and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent
that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the
issuance thereof.
Section 23. REDEMPTION AND TERMINATION.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at
any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day
following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall
have occurred prior to the Record Date, the Close of Business on the tenth
day following the Record Date), or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all
but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of
$.01 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the
"Redemption Price"). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence
of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event until such time as the Company's right of
redemption hereunder has expired. The Company may, at its option, pay the
Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the "current
market price", as defined in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of the Common Stock at
the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate
by the Board of Directors. The redemption of the Rights by the Board of
Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and 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, evidence of which shall have
been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption
Price for each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of
Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give
notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then
outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to the Rights Agent and to all such
holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon the registry books
of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books
of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in
the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder
receives the notice. Each such notice of
-37-
redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price
will be made.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 23(a), in the event
that a majority of the Board of Directors is elected by stockholder action by
written consent, or is comprised of persons elected at a meeting of
stockholders who were not nominated by the Board of Directors in office
immediately prior to such meeting, then for a period of one hundred eighty
(180) days following the effectiveness of such election (the "180 Day
Period"), the Rights may not be redeemed.
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 null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section
7(e) hereof) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of
Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company shall
not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other
than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person organized,
appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Common
Stock then outstanding.
(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 any such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public
notice (with prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent) of any exchange;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice
shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall
mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at
their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights
Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Common
Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange,
the number
-38-
of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange will be effected pro
rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become null
and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each
holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at
its option, may substitute shares of Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred
stock, as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of Section 11 hereof) for
shares of Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred stock)
for each share of Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect
adjustments in the voting rights of the Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms
thereof, so that the fraction of a share of Preferred Stock delivered in lieu
of each share of Common Stock shall have the same voting rights as one share
of Common Stock.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of
Common Stock 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 actions as may be necessary to authorize
additional shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares
of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock,
there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with
regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this subsection
(e), the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the
closing price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to
the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the
holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out
of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the
holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase
any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or
any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification
involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or
(iv) to effect any
-39-
consolidation or merger into or with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of
its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one transaction or
a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or earning
power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other
Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in
one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof),
or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company,
then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and to
each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance
with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify
the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of
rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding
up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of
the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such
notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or
(ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the record date for determining
holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in
the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days prior to the
date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation
therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, whichever shall be
the earlier.
(b) In case a Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur, then, in any
such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to
each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance
with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall
specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights
under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the preceding
paragraph to Preferred Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common
Stock and/or, if appropriate, other securities.
Section 26. NOTICES. Notices or demands authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any
Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made
if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Technology Solutions Company
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
-40-
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by
this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or
made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Relationship Manager
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Company may from time
to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Rights Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions
with respect to the Rights which the Company may deem necessary or desirable,
any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the
Company and the Rights Agent; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that from and after such
time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall not be
amended in any manner which would adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights and FURTHER PROVIDED that the Rights Agent shall not be
obligated to enter into any such supplement or amendment that would change or
increase the duties, liabilities or obligations of the Rights Agent
hereunder. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interest of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common
Stock. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company may at any time prior to
such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person amend this Agreement to
lower the thresholds set forth in Sections 1(a) and 3(a) to a percentage that
(subject to exceptions for specified Persons or groups excepted from the
definition of "Acquiring Person") is not less than the greater of (i) the sum
of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
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 of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, any Person organized, appointed
or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan
or, to the extent excepted from the definition of "Acquiring Person", other
specified Persons or groups) and (ii) 10.0%. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Agreement to the contrary, during the
-41-
pendency of any 180 Day Period, no supplement or amendment shall be made to
this Agreement, other than an amendment or supplement to cure any ambiguity
or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein.
Section 28. SUCCESSORS. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. DETERMINATION AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
ETC. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for
purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares
of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in
accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(l)(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
Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the
Board of Directors of the Company or to the Company, or as may be necessary
or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including, but not limited to, a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement).
All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to
the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board of Directors of the
Company in good faith shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other Persons,
and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of the Company to any liability to
the holders of the Rights. The Rights Agent is entitled to always assume
that the Board of Directors of the Company acted in good faith and shall be
fully protected and incur no liability in reliance thereon.
Section 30. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to
the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement
shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent
and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
-42-
Section 31. SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or
restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its
good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement
would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of
redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not
expire until the Close of Business on the tenth day following the date of
such determination by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Section 32. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement, each Right and each
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State
applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes
be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. Descriptive headings of the
several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and
shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the
provisions hereof.
-43-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement
to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto
affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
Attest: Technology Solutions Company
By: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx By: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
____________________________ _______________________________
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Secretary and Title: President and
General Counsel Chief Executive Officer
Attest: ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
By: Xxxx X. Xxxxx By: Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx
______________________________ __________________________________
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx
Title: Asst. Vice President Title: Vice President
-44-
Exhibit A
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS COMPANY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned do hereby certify that the following resolution was
duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Technology Solutions Company, a
Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), on October 29, 1998:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the board of
directors of the Corporation by the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended
(the "Charter"), the Board of Directors does hereby create, authorize and
provide for the issue of a series of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share,
of the Corporation, to be designated "Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock" (hereinafter referred to as the "Series A Preferred Stock"), initially
consisting of 1,000,000 shares, and to the extent that the designations, powers,
preferences and relative and other special rights and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of the Series A Preferred Stock are not stated and
expressed in the Charter, does hereby fix and herein state and express such
designations, powers, preferences and relative and other special rights and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as follows (all terms used
herein which are defined in the Charter shall be deemed to have the meanings
provided therein):
Section 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. The shares of such series shall
be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" and the number
of shares constituting such series shall be 1,000,000.
Section 2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared
by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first business day of
January, April, July and October in each year (each such date being referred
to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or
fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $.01 or (b) subject
to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the
aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate
per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other
distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a
subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise), declared on the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the immediately preceding Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
after October 29, 1998 (the "Rights Declaration Date") (i) declare any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide
the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock
into a smaller number of shares, then in each case the amount to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior
to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above immediately
after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than
a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, in
the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common
Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the
next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, subject to the prior and
superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock
ranking prior to and superior to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock with
respect to dividends, a dividend of $.01 per share on the Series A Preferred
Stock shall nevertheless by payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the
record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case
dividends on such
A-2
shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless
the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin
to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of
such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be
allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the
time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the
determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to
receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record
date shall be no more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment
thereof.
Section 3. VOTING RIGHTS.
The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the
following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to
100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares
of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall
be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of which
is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall vote collectively as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series A Preferred Stock
shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends
thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall xxxx the beginning of a
period (herein called a "default period") which shall extend until such
time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly
dividend periods and for the current quarterly
A-3
dividend period on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding
shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each
default period, all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the
Series A Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to
six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of
series, shall have the right to elect two (2) Directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of the holders of
Series A Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting
called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual
meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders,
provided that such voting right shall not be exercised unless the holders
of ten percent (10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding
shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the
holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of
Preferred Stock of such voting rights. At any meeting at which the holders
of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an
existing default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class, to
elect Directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors
as may then exist up to two (2) Directors or, if such right is exercised at
an annual meeting, to elect two (2) Directors. If the number which may be
so elected at any special meeting does not amount to the required number,
the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such
increase in the number of Directors as shall be necessary to permit the
election by them of the required number. After the holders of the
Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect Directors in any
default period and during the continuance of such period, the number of
Directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders
of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any
equity securities ranking senior to or PARI PASSU with the Series A
Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during an existing
default period, have previously exercised their right to elect Directors,
the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders owning
in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of
shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request,
the calling of special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock, which
meeting shall thereupon be called by the Chairman of the Board, the
President, a Vice President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of
such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock
are entitled to vote pursuant to this paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to
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each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice
to him or her at his or her last address as the same appears on the books
of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier
than 10 days and not later than 50 days after such order or request, or in
default of the calling of such meeting within 50 days after such order or
request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or
stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the
total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be
called during the period within 50 days immediately preceding the date
fixed for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.
(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common Stock, and, if
applicable, other classes of capital stock of the Corporation, shall
continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of Directors until the
holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect two
(2) Directors voting as a class, after the exercise of which right (x) the
Directors so elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in
office until their successors shall have been elected by such holders or
until the expiration of the default period, and (y) any vacancy in the
Board of Directors may (except as provided in paragraph (C)(ii) of this
Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining Directors
theretofore elected by the holders of the class of capital stock which
elected the Director whose office shall have become vacant. References in
this paragraph (C) to Directors elected by the holders of a particular
class of stock shall include Directors appointed by such Directors to fill
vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the
right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect Directors shall
cease, (y) the term of any Directors elected by the holders of Preferred
Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of Directors shall be
such number as may be provided for in the certificate of incorporation or
by-laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of
paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to
change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors
effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence
may be filled by a majority of the remaining Directors.
(D) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series A Preferred Stock
shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required
(except to the extent they are
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entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking
any corporate action.
Section 4. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears,
thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether
or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have
been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions
on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of capital stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions
on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of any capital stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any
time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity
stock in exchange for shares of any capital stock of the Corporation
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of capital stock ranking on
a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with
a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by
the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms
as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective
annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will
result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
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(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of
this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
Section 5. REACQUIRED SHARES.
Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise
acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and
cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon
their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock
and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created
by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
Section 6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders
of shares of capital stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock
unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall have received $100 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the
date of such payment (the "Series A Liquidation Preference"). Following the
payment of the full amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference, no
additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall have received an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to
the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series A Liquidation Preference by
(ii) 100 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to
reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations
with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii), the
"Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series
A Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Common Stock,
respectively, and the payment of liquidation preferences of all other shares
of capital stock which rank prior to or on a parity with Series A Preferred
Stock, holders of Series A Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common
Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining
assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1 with
respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis,
respectively.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the
A-7
Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other
series of Preferred Stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series A
Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to
the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective
liquidation preferences. In the event, however, that there are not
sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common
Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the
holders of Common Stock.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such
event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC.
In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger,
combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are
exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any
other property, then in any such case the shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per
share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal
to 100 times the aggregate amount of capital stock, securities, cash and/or
any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, for which or into
which each share of Common Stock is exchanged or changed. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare
any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the
amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. NO REDEMPTION.
The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
A-8
Section 9. RANKING.
The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series
of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of assets, whether or not upon the dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of the Corporation, unless the terms of any such series shall
provide otherwise.
Section 10. AMENDMENT.
The Charter shall not be amended in any manner which would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 11. FRACTIONAL SHARES.
Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share
which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional
shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in
distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of
Series A Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Technology Solutions Company has caused its
corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and this certificate to be signed by
____________________, its __________, and the same to be attested to by
____________________, its __________, this 29th day of October, 1998.
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS COMPANY
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
(Corporate Seal)
Attest:
_________________________________
A-9
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- __________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER OCTOBER 29, 2008 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY
THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE
COMPANY, AT $.01 PER RIGHT, AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY
SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A
PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT).
ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH
AGREEMENT.](*)
__________________
(*) The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
Rights Certificate
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS COMPANY
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 October 29, 1998 (the "Rights
Agreement"), between Technology Solutions Company, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a New Jersey
limited liability company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company
at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (Chicago time) on October 29, 2008 at the
office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its
successors as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid, nonassessable
share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Company, at a purchase price of $100
per one one-hundredth of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation
and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to
Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares which may be
purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price per
share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of October 29,
1998, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. The Company
reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event
(as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) that, upon any exercise of
Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of
Preferred Stock will be issued.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the
Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate
or Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such transfer, became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of such Person, such Rights
shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with
respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section
11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the
number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of
certain events, including Triggering Events.
B-2
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the
holder to purchase a like aggregate number of one one-hundredths of a share
of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificates
surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights
Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may, in each case at the option of the Company,
be (i) redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $.01
per Right or (ii) exchanged in whole or in part for shares of Common Stock or
other securities of the Company. Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company authorizing redemption, the Rights will terminate
and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption
price. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, the
Rights may not be redeemed for a period of one hundred eighty days (180).
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock,
which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of
Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any
time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the
Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as
such,
B-3
any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or,
to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except
as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned manually or by facsimile
signature by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of _______ __, ____
ATTEST: Technology Solutions Company
_________________________ By:______________________________
Secretary Name:
Title:
Countersigned:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
By:__________________________
Authorized Signature
B-4
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _________________________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto ___________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Company,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: ___________________,
_____________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold,
assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person
(as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently
became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person.
Dated: _______, ____________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Rights
Certificate.)
TO: TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS COMPANY
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ______ Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares (or other securities) be
issued in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: ______________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
_____________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: ______________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
_____________________________________________________________________________
Dated: _____________,_______
________________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-6
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ]
are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person
(as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _________, __________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
B-7
Exhibit C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK
On October 29, 1998, the Board of Directors of Technology Solutions
Company (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for
each outstanding share of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per
share ("Common Stock"), to stockholders of record at the Close of Business on
November 9, 1998. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from
the Company a unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share (a "Unit") of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $100 per Unit, subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a
Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") dated as of October 29, 1998
between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights
Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common
Stock and the Distribution Date will occur upon the earliest of (i) 10 days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the
right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), (ii) 10 business days
(or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors
prior to such time as any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person)
following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer which, if
consummated, would result in a person or group beneficially owning 15% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (iii) during any 180 Day
Period (as defined below), the date immediately following the date of
execution of an agreement relating to or providing for (x) an acquisition of
the Company in a merger or other business combination transaction in which
the Company would not be the surviving corporation, (y) an acquisition of the
Company in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the
Company would be the surviving corporation and in which all or part of the
Common Stock would be converted into securities of another entity, cash or
other property, or (z) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power
being sold or transferred.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by
the Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such
Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after
November 9, 1998, will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement
by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any
certificates for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer
of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate.
Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to
require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined below)
that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that
only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the Close of Business on October 29, 2008, unless earlier redeemed
by the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of
the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate
Rights certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise
provided in the Rights Agreement, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to
the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that, at any time following the Distribution Date, a
person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock having a
value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. If an insufficient
number of shares of Common Stock is authorized for issuance, then the Board
would be required to substitute cash, property or other securities of the
Company for the Common Stock. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing,
following the occurrence of the event set forth in this paragraph, all Rights
that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement)
were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void.
However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the event set
forth in this paragraph until such time as the Rights are no longer
redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $100 per Right, each Right
not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following an
event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to
purchase $200 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above)
for $100. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $50 at such
time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 4 shares
of Common Stock for $100.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date
or during the pendency of a 180 Day Period, (i) the Company is acquired in a
merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is not
the surviving corporation, (ii) the Company is acquired in a merger or other
C-2
business combination transaction in which the Company is the surviving
corporation and all or part of the Common Stock is converted into securities
of another entity, cash or other property, or (iii) 50% or more of the
Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a
Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above)
shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of
the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of
the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second
preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
The purchase price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights
are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the
event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred
Stock are granted certain rights, options or warrants to subscribe for
Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market
price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of
the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular
quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than
those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will
be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the
Purchase Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred
Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person
and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which
will have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one
share of Common Stock, or one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or
of a share of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having
equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to
adjustment).
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right (subject to adjustment and payable in
cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of
Directors) at any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date.
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors authorizing any
redemption, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of
Rights will be to receive the redemption price. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event that a majority of
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the Board of Directors is elected by stockholder action by written consent,
or is comprised of persons elected at a meeting of stockholders who were not
nominated by the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such
meeting, then (i) for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the
effectiveness of such election (the "180 Day Period"), the Rights may not be
redeemed.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have
no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights
will not result in the recognition of taxable income by stockholders or the
Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize
taxable income after a Triggering Event.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of
the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an
amendment to lower certain thresholds described above to not less than the
greater of (i) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by
any person or group of affiliated or associated persons and (ii) 10%, except
that from and after such time as any person or group of affiliated or
associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may
adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, during the pendency of any 180 Day Period, the terms of the
Rights may not be amended other than to cure ambiguities or to correct
defects or inconsistencies.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Rights Agent. This description of the Rights does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which
is incorporated herein by reference.
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