AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Dated as of March 12, 2009 BETWEEN MDS INC. - and - CIBC MELLON TRUST COMPANY as Rights Agent (amending and restating the Amended and Restated Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement dated...
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
Dated
as of March 12, 2009
BETWEEN
- and -
CIBC
MELLON TRUST COMPANY
as
Rights Agent
(amending
and restating the Amended and Restated Shareholder Protection
Rights
Agreement dated as of March 9, 2006)
FASKEN
XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX LLP
Toronto-Dominion
Bank Tower
Box 20,
Suite 4200
Toronto
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx X0X 0X0
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE 1INTERPRETATION
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1.1
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Certain
Definitions
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1.2
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Currency
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1.3
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Number
and Gender
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1.4
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Descriptive
Headings and References
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1.5
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Acting
Jointly or in Concert
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1.6
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Holder
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1.7
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Calculation
of Voting Shares Beneficially Owned
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ARTICLE 2THE
RIGHTS
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2.1
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Legend
on Voting Share Certificates
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2.2
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Initial
Exercise Price; Exercise of Rights; Detachment of
Rights
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2.3
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Adjustments
to Exercise Price; Number of Rights
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2.4
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Date
on Which Exercise is Effective
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2.5
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Execution,
Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights
Certificates
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2.6
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Registration,
Registration of Transfer and Exchange
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2.7
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Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates
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2.8
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Persons
Deemed Owners
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2.9
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Delivery
and Cancellation of Certificates
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2.10
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Agreement
of Rights Holders
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ARTICLE 3ADJUSTMENTS
TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF A FLIP-IN
EVENT
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3.1
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Flip-in
Event
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ARTICLE 4THE
RIGHTS AGENT
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4.1
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General
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4.2
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Merger
or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent
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4.3
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Duties
of Rights Agent
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4.4
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Change
of Rights Agent
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4.5
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Compliance
with Anti-Money Laundering
Legislation36
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ARTICLE 5MISCELLANEOUS
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5.1
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Redemption
of Rights
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5.2
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Waiver
of Flip-In Events
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5.3
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Expiration
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5.4
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Issuance
of New Rights Certificates
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5.5
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Supplements
and Amendments
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5.6
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Fractional
Rights and Fractional Shares
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5.7
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Rights
of Action
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5.8
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Holder
of Rights Not Deemed a Shareholder
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5.9
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Notice
of Proposed Actions
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5.10
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Notices
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5.11
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Costs
of Enforcement
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5.12
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Successors
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5.13
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Benefits
of this Agreement
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5.14
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Governing
Law
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5.15
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Language
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5.16
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Counterparts
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5.17
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Severability
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5.18
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Determinations
and Actions by the Board of
Directors44
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5.19
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Effective
Date and Expiration Time
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5.20
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Regulatory
Approval
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5.21
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Time
of the Essence
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5.22
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Declaration
as to Non-Canadian Holders
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5.23
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Fiduciary
Duties of the Directors
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5.24
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Privacy
Legislation
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AMENDED
AND RESTATED
AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDER
PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of March 12, 2009 between MDS INC., a corporation
incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act
(the “Corporation”), and
CIBC MELLON TRUST
COMPANY, a trust company existing under the laws of Canada, as rights
agent (the “Rights
Agent”, which term shall include any successor Rights Agent hereunder),
amending and restating the Amended and Restated Shareholder Protection Rights
Agreement dated as of March 9, 2006 between the Corporation and the Rights
Agent.
WHEREAS the Corporation and
the Rights Agent entered into a shareholder protection rights agreement dated as
of March 3, 2000 respecting a shareholder rights plan (the “Original Plan”) effective
until the Close of Business (as defined in the Original Plan) on the date on
which the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation was held in
2003;
AND WHEREAS the Original Plan
was amended and restated by an amended and restated shareholder protection
rights agreement (the “2003
Plan”) dated as of March 6, 2003 between the Corporation and the Rights
Agent that is effective at the latest until the Close of Business (as defined in
the 2003 Plan) on the date on which the annual meeting of the shareholders of
the Corporation is held in 2006;
AND WHEREAS the 2003 Plan was
amended and restated by an amended and restated shareholder protection rights
agreement (the “2006
Plan”) dated as of March 9, 2006, between the Corporation and the Rights
Agent that is effective at the latest until the Close of Business (as defined in
the 2006 Plan) on the date on which the annual meeting of the shareholders of
the Corporation is held in 2009;
AND WHEREAS the Board of
Directors has determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of the
Corporation to continue the 2006 Plan by adopting an amended and restated
shareholder protection rights agreement (the “Rights Plan”) to take effect
on the Effective Date (as hereinafter defined), subject to approval by the
Independent Shareholders (as hereinafter defined) at the annual and special
meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation scheduled to be held on March 12,
2009, to ensure, to the extent possible, that all shareholders of the
Corporation are treated fairly in connection with any Take-Over Bid (as
hereinafter defined);
AND WHEREAS in order to
implement the Rights Plan, the Board of Directors has:
(a)
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reconfirmed
the distribution of one right (a “Right”) effective at the
Record Time (as hereinafter defined) in respect of each Common Share (as
hereinafter defined) outstanding at the Record Time;
and
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(b)
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reconfirmed
its authorization of the issuance of one Right in respect of each Voting
Share issued after the Record Time and prior to the earlier of the
Separation Time (as hereinafter defined) and the Expiration Time (as
hereinafter defined);
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AND WHEREAS each Right
entitles the holder thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase
securities of the Corporation pursuant to the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein;
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AND WHEREAS the Rights Agent
has agreed to act on behalf of the Corporation in connection with the issuance,
transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates (as hereinafter
defined), the exercise of Rights and other matters referred to
herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and the respective agreements set forth herein,
the Corporation and the Rights Agent hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION
1.1 Certain
Definitions
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings
indicated:
“Acquiring Person” shall mean
any Person who is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Voting Shares then
outstanding; provided,
however, that the term “Acquiring Person” shall not
include:
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(i)
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the
Corporation or any Subsidiary of the
Corporation;
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(ii)
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any
Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding
Voting Shares as a result of one or any combination
of:
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(A)
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a
Voting Share Reduction;
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(B)
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a
Pro Rata Acquisition;
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(C)
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a
Permitted Bid Acquisition,
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(D)
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an
Exempt Acquisition; or
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(E)
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a
Convertible Security Acquisition;
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provided, however, that if a
Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Voting Shares then
outstanding by reason of one or any combination of a Voting Share Reduction, a
Pro Rata Acquisition, a Permitted Bid Acquisition, an Exempt Acquisition or a
Convertible Security Acquisition and thereafter such Person, while such Person
is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Voting Shares then outstanding,
becomes the Beneficial Owner of an additional 1% or more of the outstanding
Voting Shares (other than pursuant to a Voting Share Reduction, a Pro Rata
Acquisition, a Permitted Bid Acquisition, an Exempt Acquisition or a Convertible
Security Acquisition or any combination thereof), then as of
the date and time that such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of such
additional Voting Shares, such Person shall become an Acquiring
Person;
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(iii)
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for
a period of 10 days after the Disqualification Date (as hereinafter
defined), any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of
the outstanding Voting Shares as a result of such Person becoming
disqualified from relying on Clause (3) of the definition of “Beneficial
Owner” solely because such Person makes or publicly announces a current
intention to make a Take-over Bid, alone or acting jointly or in concert
with any other Person. “Disqualification Date”
means the first date of a public announcement of facts indicating that any
Person is making or intends to make a Take-over Bid, either alone through
such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or by acting jointly or in concert
with any other Person;
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(iv)
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an
underwriter or member of a banking or selling group that becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Voting Shares then outstanding as a
result of an acquisition from the Corporation in connection with a
distribution of securities pursuant to a prospectus or by way of private
placement; and
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(v)
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a
Grandfathered Person, provided, however, that if after the Record Time
such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of an additional 1% or more of
the outstanding Voting Shares (other than pursuant to a Voting Share
Reduction, a Pro Rata Acquisition, a Permitted Bid Acquisition, an Exempt
Acquisition or a Convertible Security Acquisition), then as of the date
and time that such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of such additional
Voting Shares, such Person shall become an Acquiring
Person.
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“Affiliate”, when used to
indicate a relationship with a specified Person, shall mean a Person that
directly, or indirectly controls, or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified Person and a Person shall be deemed to be an
Affiliate of a specified Person if one of them is the Subsidiary of the other or
if each of them is controlled by the same Person.
“Agreement” shall mean this
amended and restated shareholder protection rights agreement between the
Corporation and the Rights Agent, as amended, supplemented or restated from time
to time.
“Associate”, when used to
indicate a relationship with a specified Person, shall mean (i) a spouse of such
specified Person, (ii) any Person of either sex with whom such specified Person
is living in a conjugal relationship outside marriage, or (iii) any relative of
such specified Person or of a Person mentioned in Clause (i) or (ii) of this
definition if that relative has the same residence as the specified
Person.
“Beneficial
Owner”: a Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” and to have
“Beneficial Ownership”
of and to “Beneficially
Own”, any security:
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(i)
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of
which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates is the
owner at law or in equity;
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(ii)
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as
to which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has
the right to become the owner at law or in equity (A) upon the purchase,
exercise, conversion or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or (B)
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, pledge or understanding
(including, for greater certainty, any lock-up agreement other than a
Permitted Lock-Up Agreement), whether or not in writing, in each case if
such right is then exercisable or exercisable within a period of 60 days
of the date of the determination of Beneficial Ownership, and whether or
not on condition or the happening of any contingency by a single
transaction or a series of linked transactions (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and members of banking groups or
selling groups with respect to a distribution of securities pursuant to a
prospectus or by way of a private placement and other than pursuant to
pledges of securities in the ordinary course of business);
and
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(iii)
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which
is Beneficially Owned within the meaning of Clause (i) or (ii) of this
definition by any other Person with which, and in respect of which
security, such Person is acting jointly or in
concert;
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provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, or to
have “Beneficial
Ownership” of, or to “Beneficially Own”, any
security by reason of:
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(1)
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such
security having been deposited or tendered pursuant to a Take-Over Bid
made by such Person, any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any
other Person with which, and in respect of which security, such Person is
acting jointly or in concert, until such deposited or tendered security
has been accepted unconditionally for payment or exchange or has been
taken up and paid for, whichever shall first
occur;
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(2)
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the
holder of such security having agreed pursuant to a Permitted Lock-Up
Agreement to deposit or tender such security pursuant to a Take-Over Bid
made by such Person, any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any
other Person with which, and in respect of which security, such Person is
acting jointly or in concert, until the earliest time at which any such
deposited or tendered security has been accepted unconditionally for
payment or exchange or has been taken up and paid for, whichever shall
first occur;
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(3)
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such
Person, for greater certainty, holding such security in the ordinary
course of such Person’s business or activities as
follows:
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(A)
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such
Person (in this definition, a “Manager”) manages
investment funds for others (which others may include, or be limited to,
employee benefit plans and pension plans), if such security is held by the
Manager in the performance of the Manager’s duties for the account of
another Person (in this definition, a “Client”, which term
shall include any non-discretionary account held on behalf of a Client by
a broker or dealer registered under applicable
law);
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(B)
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such
Person (in this definition, a “Trust Company”) is
licensed as a trust company under applicable law and, as such, acts as
trustee or administrator or in a similar capacity for the estates of
deceased or incompetent Persons (each, in this definition, an “Estate Account”) or for
other accounts (each, in this definition, an “Other Account”), if such
security is held by the Trust Company for the Estate Account or for such
Other Accounts;
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(C)
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such
Person (in this definition, a “Crown Agent”) is a Crown
agent or agency that manages public assets, if such security is held by
the Crown Agent for the purposes of its activities as Crown
Agent;
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(D)
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such
Person (in this definition, a “Statutory Body”) is
established by statute for purposes that include the management of
investment funds for employee benefit plans, pension plans and insurance
plans (other than insurance plans administered by insurance companies) of
various public bodies, if such security is held by the Statutory Body for
the purposes of its activities as Statutory Body;
or
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(E)
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such
Person (in this definition, an “Administrator”) is the
administrator or trustee of one or more pension funds or plans (each, in
this definition, a “Plan”) registered under
the laws of Canada or any province thereof or the corresponding laws of
the jurisdiction by which such Plan is governed, or is such a Plan, if
such security is held by the Administrator or Plan for the purposes of its
activities as Administrator or
Plan;
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but only
if the Manager, the Trust Company, the Crown Agent, the Statutory Body, the
Administrator or the Plan, as the case may be, is not then making or has not
publicly announced a current intention to make a Take-Over Bid, alone or by
acting jointly or in concert with any other Person, other than pursuant to a
distribution by the Corporation or by means of ordinary market transactions
(including pre-arranged trades entered into in the ordinary course of business
of such Person) executed through the facilities of a stock exchange, securities
quotation system or an organized over-the-counter market;
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(4)
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such
Person, for greater certainty, being a Client of the same Manager as
another Person on whose account the Manager holds such
security;
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(5)
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such
Person, for greater certainty, having an Estate Account or an Other
Account with the same Trust Company as another Person on whose account the
Trust Company holds such security;
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(6)
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such
Person, for greater certainty, being a Plan with the same Administrator as
another Plan on whose account the Administrator holds such
security;
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(7)
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such
Person, for greater certainty:
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(A)
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being
a Client of a Manager, if such security is owned at law or in equity by
the Manager;
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(B)
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being
an Estate Account or an Other Account of a Trust Company, if such security
is owned at law or in equity by the Trust Company;
or
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(C)
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being
a Plan, if such security is owned at law or in equity by the Administrator
of the Plan; or
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(8)
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such
Person being the registered holder of such security as a result of
carrying on the business of, or acting as nominee for, a securities
depository.
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“Board of Directors” shall mean
the board of directors of the Corporation or any duly constituted or empowered
committee thereof.
“Business Day” shall mean any
day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in
Toronto, Ontario are authorized or obliged by law to close.
“Canada Business
Corporations Act” shall mean the Canada Business Corporations
Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.C-44, as amended, and the regulations made
thereunder, as now in effect or as the same may from time to time be amended,
re-enacted or replaced.
“Canadian Dollar Equivalent” of
any amount which is expressed in United States dollars shall mean on any date
the Canadian dollar equivalent of such amount determined by multiplying such
amount by the U.S.-Canadian Exchange Rate in effect on such date.
“Canadian-U.S. Exchange Rate”
shall mean on any date the inverse of the U.S.-Canadian Exchange
Rate.
“Close of Business” on any
given date shall mean the time on such date (or, if such date is not a Business
Day, the time on the next succeeding Business Day) at which the office of the
transfer agent for the Common Shares in Toronto, Ontario (or, after the
Separation Time, the office of the Rights Agent in Toronto, Ontario) is closed
to the public.
“Common Shares” shall mean the
common shares in the capital of the Corporation.
“Competing Permitted Bid” shall
mean a Take-Over Bid that:
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(i)
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is
made after a Permitted Bid or another Competing Permitted Bid has been
made and prior to the expiry, termination or withdrawal of that Permitted
Bid or Competing Permitted Bid (in this definition, the “Prior
Bid”);
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(ii)
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satisfies
all the provisions of the definition of a Permitted Bid other than the
requirements set out in Clauses (ii)(A) and (D) of the definition of
Permitted Bid; and
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(iii)
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contains,
and the take-up and payment for securities deposited or tendered
thereunder are subject to, irrevocable and unqualified conditions
that:
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(A)
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no
Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities shall be taken up or paid for
pursuant to the Take-Over Bid (x) prior to the Close of Business on a date
that is not less than the later of 35 days after the Offer Date of such
Take-Over Bid constituting the Competing Permitted Bid and 60 days after
the Offer Date of the earliest Prior Bid then in existence, and (y) then
only if, at the Close of Business on the date Voting Shares and/or
Convertible Securities are first taken up or paid for under such Take-Over
Bid constituting the Competing Permitted Bid, more than 50% of the then
outstanding Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities held by
Independent Shareholders have been deposited or tendered pursuant to such
Take-Over Bid and not withdrawn;
and
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(B)
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in
the event that the requirement set forth in Subclause (iii)(A)(y) of this
definition is satisfied, the Offeror will make a public announcement of
that fact and the Take-Over Bid will remain open for deposits and tenders
of Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities for not less than 10
Business Days from the date of such public
announcement.
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“controlled”: a Person is
“controlled” by another
Person or two or more Persons acting jointly or in concert if:
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(i)
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in
the case of a Person that is a body corporate, securities entitled to vote
in the election of directors of such body corporate carrying more than 50%
of the votes for the election of directors are held, directly or
indirectly, by or for the benefit of the other Person or Persons and the
votes carried by such securities are entitled, if exercised, to elect a
majority of the board of directors of such body corporate;
and
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(ii)
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in
the case of a Person that is not a body corporate, more than 50% of the
voting or equity interests of such Person are held, directly or
indirectly, by or for the benefit of the other Person or
Persons;
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and
“controls”, “controlling” and “under common control with”
shall be interpreted accordingly.
“Convertible Securities” shall
mean at any time any securities issued by the Corporation from time to time
(other than the Rights) or any other Person from time to time carrying any
purchase, exercise, conversion or exchange right, pursuant to which the holder
thereof may acquire Voting Shares or other securities carrying any purchase,
exercise, conversion or exchange right pursuant to which the holder thereof may
acquire, directly or indirectly, Voting Shares (in each case, whether such right
is exercisable immediately or after a specified period and whether or not on
condition or the happening of any contingency).
“Convertible Security
Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition of Voting Shares by a Person upon
the purchase, exercise, conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities
acquired or received by such Person pursuant to a Permitted Bid Acquisition, an
Exempt Acquisition or a Pro Rata Acquisition.
“Co-Rights Agent” shall have
the meaning attributed thereto in Subsection 4.1(a).
“Effective Date” shall mean the
Close of Business on the date upon which the annual meeting of the holders of
Voting Shares scheduled to be held on March 12, 2009, or at any adjournments or
postponements thereof, terminates.
“Election to Exercise” shall
have the meaning attributed thereto in Subsection 2.2(d).
“Exchange Act of
1934” means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 of the United States, as amended, and the rules and regulations made
thereunder, as now in effect or as the same may from time to time be amended,
re-enacted or replaced.
“Exempt Acquisition” shall mean
an acquisition by a Person of Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities (i) in
respect of which the Board of Directors has waived the application of Section 3.1 pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.2, (ii) pursuant to a regular dividend reinvestment
or other plan of the Corporation made available by the Corporation to the
holders of Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities where such plan permits
the holder to direct that the dividends paid in respect of such Voting Shares
and/or Convertible Securities be applied to the purchase from the Corporation of
further securities of the Corporation, (iii) pursuant to a distribution of
Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities made by the Corporation (A) to the
public pursuant to a prospectus; provided that such Person
does not thereby become the Beneficial Owner of a greater percentage of Voting
Shares so offered than the percentage of Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by
such Person immediately prior to such distribution, or (B) by way of a private
placement or other distribution made by the Corporation that is exempt from the
prospectus requirements of applicable law (other than a Pro Rata Acquisition);
provided that (x) all
necessary stock exchange and other approvals to such private placement or other
distribution made by the Corporation that is exempt from the prospectus
requirements of applicable law have been obtained and such private placement or
other distribution made by the Corporation that is exempt from the prospectus
requirements of applicable law complies with the terms and conditions of such
approvals, and (y) such Person does not thereby become the Beneficial Owner of
Voting Shares equal in number to more than 25% of the Voting Shares outstanding
immediately prior to the private placement or other distribution made by the
Corporation that is exempt from the prospectus requirements of applicable law
and, in making this determination, the securities to be issued to such Person on
the private placement or other distribution made by the Corporation that is
exempt from the prospectus requirements of applicable law shall be deemed to be
held by such Person but shall not be included in the aggregate number of Voting
Shares outstanding immediately prior to the private placement, or (iv) pursuant
to an amalgamation, merger, arrangement or other statutory procedure requiring
shareholder approval.
“Exercise Price” shall mean, as
of any date, the price at which a holder may purchase the securities issuable
upon exercise of one whole Right in accordance with the terms hereof and,
subject to adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the Exercise
Price shall be:
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(i)
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until
the Separation Time, an amount equal to three times the Market Price, from
time to time, per Common Share; and
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(ii)
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from
and after the Separation Time, an amount equal to three times the Market
Price, as at the Separation Time, per Common
Share.
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“Expansion Factor” shall have
the meaning attributed thereto in Subsection 2.3(b)(x).
“Expiration Time” shall have
the meaning attributed thereto in Subsection 5.19(a)(ii).
“Flip-in Event” shall mean a
transaction or event in which any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person.
“Grandfathered Person” shall
mean any Person who is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding
Voting Shares as determined at the Record Time; provided, however, that a
Person shall cease to be a Grandfathered Person in the event that such Person
ceases to Beneficially Own 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares at any
time after the Record Time.
“holder” shall have the meaning
attributed thereto in Section 1.6.
“including” and “includes” shall be interpreted
on an inclusive basis and shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without
limitation”.
“Independent Shareholders”
shall mean holders of outstanding Voting Shares, other than (i) any Acquiring
Person, (ii) any Offeror, (iii) any Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring
Person or Offeror, (iv) any Person acting jointly or in concert with any
Acquiring Person or Offeror, and (v) any employee benefit plan, deferred profit
sharing plan, stock participation plan or trust for the benefit of employees of
the Corporation or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Corporation (unless the
beneficiaries of such plan or trust direct the manner in which such Voting
Shares are to be voted or direct whether the Voting Shares are to be deposited
or tendered to a Take-Over Bid, in which case the plan or trust shall be
considered to be an Independent Shareholder).
“Market Price” per security of
any securities on any date shall mean the average of the daily closing prices
per security of such securities (determined as described below) on each of the
20 consecutive Trading Days through and including the Trading Day immediately
preceding such date; provided,
however, that if an event of a type analogous to any of the events
described in Section 2.3 shall have caused the
closing prices used to determine the Market Price on any Trading Day not to be
fully comparable with the closing price on such date of determination (or, if
the date of determination is not a Trading Day, on the immediately preceding
Trading Day), each such closing price so used
shall be appropriately adjusted in a manner analogous to the applicable
adjustment provided for in Section 2.3 in order to
make it fully comparable with the closing price on such date of determination
(or, if the date of determination is not a Trading Day, on the immediately
preceding Trading Day). The closing price per security of any
securities on any date shall be:
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(i)
|
the
closing board lot sale price or, in case no such sale takes place on such
date, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for each such
security as reported by the principal stock exchange or securities
quotation system in Canada on which such securities are listed or admitted
to trading (based on the volume of securities traded during the most
recently completed financial year);
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(ii)
|
if
for any reason none of the prices described in Clause (i) above are
available for such date or the securities are not listed or admitted to
trading on a stock exchange or securities quotation system in Canada, the
last board lot sale price or, if such price is not available, the average
of the closing bid and asked prices, for each such security on such date
as reported by such other securities exchange or securities quotation
system on which such securities are listed or admitted to trading (and if
such securities are listed or admitted to trading on more than one other
stock exchange or securities quotation system such prices shall be
determined based on the stock exchange or securities quotation system on
which such securities are then listed or admitted to trading on which the
largest number of such securities were traded during the most recently
completed financial year);
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(iii)
|
if
for any reason none of the prices described in Clauses (i) and (ii) above
are available for such date or the securities are not listed or admitted
to trading on a stock exchange in Canada or any other securities exchange
or securities quotation system, the last sale price, or if no sale takes
place, the average of the high bid and low asked prices for each such
security on such date in the over-the-counter market, as quoted by any
reporting system then in use (as determined by the Board of Directors);
or
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|
(iv)
|
if
for such date none of such prices described in Clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)
above are available or the securities are not listed or admitted to
trading on a stock exchange in Canada or any other securities exchange and
are not quoted by any reporting system, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices for such date as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in the securities selected in good faith by the Board of
Directors;
|
provided, however, that if on
any such date none of such prices is available, the closing price per security
of such securities on such date shall mean the fair value per security of such
securities on such date as determined in good faith by a recognized investment
banking firm selected by the Board of Directors. The Market Price
shall be expressed in Canadian dollars and if initially determined in respect of
any day forming part of the 20 consecutive Trading Day period in question in
United States dollars, such amount shall be
translated into Canadian dollars on such date at the Canadian Dollar Equivalent
thereof.
“Offer Date” shall mean the
date of a Take-Over Bid.
“Offer to Acquire” shall
include:
|
(i)
|
an
offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell, Voting Shares
and/or Convertible Securities; and
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|
(ii)
|
an
acceptance of an offer to sell Voting Shares and/or Convertible
Securities, whether or not such offer to sell has been
solicited;
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or any
combination thereof, and the Person accepting an offer to sell shall be deemed
to be making an Offer to Acquire to the Person that made the offer to
sell.
“Offeror” shall mean a Person
who has made a public announcement of a current intention to make or who is
making a Take-Over Bid (including a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted Bid),
but excluding any Person referred to in Clause (3) of the definition of
Beneficial Owner in the circumstances described therein.
“Offeror’s Securities” shall
mean the aggregate of the Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by an Offeror on the
date of an Offer to Acquire.
“Permitted Bid” shall mean a
Take-Over Bid that is made by means of a take-over bid circular and that also
complies with the following additional provisions:
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(i)
|
the
Take-Over Bid is made to all holders of Voting Shares of record, other
than the Offeror; and
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|
(ii)
|
the
Take-Over Bid contains, and the provisions for take-up and payment for
securities deposited or tendered thereunder are subject to, irrevocable
and unqualified conditions that:
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|
(A)
|
no
Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities shall be taken up or paid for
pursuant to the Take-Over Bid (x) prior to the Close of Business on a date
that is not less than 60 days following the Offer Date, and (y) then only
if, at the Close of Business on the date Voting Shares and/or Convertible
Securities are first taken up or paid for under such Take-Over Bid, more
than 50% of the then outstanding Voting Shares and/or Convertible
Securities held by Independent Shareholders have been deposited or
tendered pursuant to the Take-Over Bid and not
withdrawn;
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(B)
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Voting
Shares and/or Convertible Securities may be deposited or tendered pursuant
to such Take-Over Bid, unless such Take-Over Bid is withdrawn, at any time
prior to the Close of Business on the date Voting Shares and/or Convertible
Securities are first taken up or paid for under the Take-Over
Bid;
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|
(C)
|
any
Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities deposited or tendered pursuant
to the Take-Over Bid may be withdrawn until taken up and paid for;
and
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|
(D)
|
in
the event that the requirement set forth in Subclause (ii)(A)(y) of this
definition is satisfied, the Offeror will make a public announcement of
that fact and the Take-Over Bid will remain open for deposits and tenders
of Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities for not less than 10
Business Days from the date of such public
announcement.
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“Permitted Bid Acquisition”
shall mean an acquisition by a Person of Voting Shares and/or Convertible
Securities pursuant to a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted
Bid.
“Permitted Lock-Up Agreement”
shall mean an agreement (the “Lock-Up Agreement”) between a
Person and one or more holders of Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities
(each a “Locked-Up
Person”) (the terms of which are publicly disclosed and a copy of which
is made available to the public (including the Corporation) not later than the
date the Lock-Up Bid (as defined below) is publicly announced or, if the Lock-Up
Bid has been made prior to the date on which such Lock-Up Agreement is entered
into, not later than the date of such Lock-Up Agreement (or, if such date is not
a Business Day, on the Business Day next following such date)), pursuant to
which such Locked-Up Person agrees to deposit or tender Voting Shares and/or
Convertible Securities held by such holder to a Take-Over Bid (the “Lock-Up Bid”) made or to be
made by such Person, any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any other
Person with which, and in respect of which security, such Person is acting
jointly or in concert; provided that:
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(i)
|
the
Lock-Up Agreement permits such Locked-Up Person to terminate its
obligation to deposit or tender to or not to withdraw Voting Shares and/or
Convertible Securities from the Lock-Up Bid in order to deposit or tender
such securities to another Take-Over Bid or support another transaction
where:
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|
(A)
|
the
price or value per Voting Share or Convertible Security offered under such
other Take-Over Bid or transaction exceeds the price or value per Voting
Share or Convertible Security offered under the Lock-Up
Bid;
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|
(B)
|
the
price or value per Voting Share or Convertible Security offered under such
other Take-Over Bid or transaction exceeds by as much as or more than a
specified amount (the “Specified Amount”) the price or value
per Voting Share or Convertible Security offered under the Lock-Up Bid,
provided that
such Specified Amount is not greater than 7% of the price or value per
Voting Share or Convertible Security offered under the Lock-Up Bid;
or
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|
(C)
|
the
number of Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities to be purchased
under such other Take-Over Bid or transaction exceeds by as much as or
more than a specified number (the “Specified Number”) the
number of Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities that the Offeror has
offered to purchase under the Lock-Up Bid at a price or value per Voting
Share or Convertible Security that is not less than the price or value per
Voting Share or Convertible Security offered under the Lock-Up Bid,
provided that the Specified Number is not greater than 7% of the number of
Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities offered under the Lock-Up
Bid;
|
and for
greater certainty, such Lock-Up Agreement may contain a right of first refusal
or require a period of delay to give the Offeror under the Lock-Up Bid an
opportunity to match the higher price, value or number in such other Take-Over
Bid or transaction, or other similar limitation on a Locked-Up Person’s right to
withdraw Voting Shares from the Lock-Up Agreement, so long as the limitation
does not preclude the exercise by the Locked-Up Person of the right to withdraw
Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities in sufficient time to deposit or
tender to the other Take-Over Bid or support the other transaction;
and
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(ii)
|
no
“break-up” fees, “top-up” fees, penalties, expenses or other amounts that
exceed in the aggregate the greater
of:
|
|
(A)
|
the
cash equivalent of 2.5% of the price or value of the consideration payable
under the Lock-Up Bid to a Locked-Up Person;
and
|
|
(B)
|
50%
of the amount by which the price or value of the consideration payable
under another Take-Over Bid or other transaction to a Locked-Up Person
exceeds the price or value of the consideration that such Locked-Up Person
would have received under the Lock-Up
Bid,
|
shall be
payable by a Locked-Up Person pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreement in the event
that the Locked-Up Bid is not successfully concluded or if any Locked-Up Person
fails to deposit or tender Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities to the
Lock-Up Bid or withdraws Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities previously
deposited or tendered thereto in order to deposit or tender to another Take-Over
Bid or support another transaction.
“Person” shall include any
individual, firm, partnership, syndicate, association, trust, trustee, executor,
administrator, legal personal representative, government, governmental body or
authority, corporation or other incorporated or unincorporated
organization.
“Predecessor Plans” shall mean,
collectively, the Original Plan, the 2003 Plan and the 2006 Plan, and “Predecessor Plan” shall mean
any one of them.
“Privacy Laws” shall have the
meaning attributed thereto in Section 5.24.
“Pro Rata Acquisition” shall
mean an acquisition by a Person of Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities
(i) as a result of a stock dividend, a stock split or other event pursuant to
which such Person receives or acquires Voting Shares and/or Convertible
Securities on the same pro
rata basis as all other holders of Voting Shares and/or Convertible
Securities of the same class or series; or (ii) pursuant to the receipt or
exercise of rights (other than the Rights) to subscribe for or purchase Voting
Shares and/or Convertible Securities issued by the Corporation on the same pro rata basis to all of the
holders of Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities of the same class or
series, provided that such rights are acquired directly from the Corporation;
and further provided,
in either case, that such Person does not thereby become the Beneficial Owner of
a greater percentage of Voting Shares than the percentage of Voting Shares
Beneficially Owned by such Person immediately prior to such
acquisition.
“Record Time” shall mean 8:30
a.m. (Toronto time) on March 12, 2009.
“Redemption Price” shall have
the meaning attributed thereto in Subsection 5.1(a).
“Regular Periodic Cash
Dividend” shall have the meaning attributed thereto in Subsection 2.3(d).
“Rights” shall mean the herein
described rights to purchase securities pursuant to the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein.
“Rights Certificate” shall mean
a certificate representing the Rights after the Separation Time which shall be
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or such other form as the
Corporation and the Rights Agent may agree.
“Rights Register” and “Rights Registrar” shall each
have the meaning attributed thereto in Subsection 2.6(a).
“Securities Act of
1933” shall
mean the Securities Act of
1933 of the United States, as amended, and the rules and regulations made
thereunder, as now in effect or as the same may from time to time be amended,
re-enacted or replaced.
“Securities
Act (Ontario)”
shall mean the Securities
Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S-5, as amended, and the rules and regulations
made thereunder, as now in effect or as the same may from time to time be
amended, re-enacted or replaced.
“Separation Time” shall mean
the Close of Business on the tenth Trading Day after the earliest
of:
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(i)
|
the
Stock Acquisition Date;
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|
the
date of the commencement of, or first public announcement of the current
intention of any Person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary of
the Corporation) to commence, a Take-Over Bid (other than a Permitted Bid
or Competing
Permitted Bid so long as such Take-Over Bid continues to satisfy the
requirements of a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted Bid);
and
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|
(iii)
|
the
date upon which a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid ceases to be a
Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted Bid, as
applicable;
|
or such
later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors in good faith, provided, however, that if
any Take-Over Bid referred to in Clause (ii) above expires or is terminated or
otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Time, such Take-Over Bid shall be
deemed, for the purposes of this definition, never to have been
made.
“Stock Acquisition Date” shall
mean the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this
definition, shall include a report filed pursuant to the Securities Act (Ontario), the
Exchange Act of 1934 or
any other applicable securities laws) by the Corporation or an Acquiring Person
of facts indicating that a Person has become an Acquiring Person.
“Subsidiary” shall mean a
Person that is controlled, directly or indirectly, by another Person and
includes a Subsidiary of a Subsidiary.
“Take-Over Bid” shall mean an
Offer to Acquire Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities where the Voting
Shares and/or Convertible Securities subject to the Offer to Acquire, together
with the Offeror’s Securities, constitute in the aggregate 20% or more of the
outstanding Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities at the date of the Offer
to Acquire.
“Termination Time” shall mean
the time at which the right to exercise Rights shall terminate pursuant to
Section 5.1.
“Trading Day”, when used with
respect to any securities, shall mean a day on which the principal stock
exchange or securities quotation system in Canada on which such securities are
listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any stock exchange or
securities quotation system in Canada, a Business Day.
“TSX” means the Toronto Stock
Exchange.
“U.S.-Canadian Exchange Rate”
shall mean on any date:
|
(i)
|
if
on such date the Bank of Canada sets an average noon rate of exchange for
the conversion of one United States dollar into Canadian dollars, such
rate; and
|
|
(ii)
|
in
any other case, the rate on such date for the conversion of one United
States dollar into Canadian dollars which is calculated in the manner
which shall be determined by the Board of Directors from time to time
acting in good faith.
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|
“U.S. Dollar Equivalent”
of any amount which is expressed in Canadian dollars shall mean on any
date the United States dollar equivalent of such amount determined by
reference to the Canadian-U.S. Exchange Rate in effect on such
date.
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“Voting Share Reduction” shall
mean an acquisition or a redemption by the Corporation of Voting Shares and/or
Convertible Securities which, by reducing the number of outstanding Voting
Shares and/or Convertible Securities, increases the percentage of Voting Shares
Beneficially Owned by any Person.
“Voting Shares” shall mean
collectively the Common Shares and any other shares in the capital stock or
voting interests issued by the Corporation, the holders of which are entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors.
1.2 Currency
All sums
of money which are referred to in this Agreement are expressed in lawful money
of Canada, unless otherwise specified.
1.3 Number
and Gender
Wherever
the context so requires, terms used herein importing the singular number only
shall include the plural and vice versa and words importing any one gender shall
include all others.
1.4 Descriptive
Headings and References
Descriptive
headings and the Table of Contents appear herein for convenience of reference
only and shall not affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof. All references to Articles, Sections, Subsections, Clauses
and Exhibits are to the articles, sections, subsections, clauses and exhibits
forming part of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The words
“hereto”, “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder”, “this Agreement” and similar
expressions refer to this Agreement including the Exhibits, as the same may be
amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
1.5 Acting
Jointly or in Concert
For
purposes of this Agreement, a Person is acting jointly or in
concert with every other Person who is a party to any agreement, commitment or
understanding, whether formal or informal and whether or not in writing, with
the first mentioned Person to acquire or Offer to Acquire Voting Shares and/or
Convertible Securities (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and/or members of banking groups and/or selling group members with
respect to a distribution of securities pursuant to a prospectus or by way of
private placement and other than pursuant to pledges of securities in the
ordinary course of business).
1.6 Holder
As used
in this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the term “holder” of any Rights shall
mean the registered holder of such Rights (or, prior to the Separation Time, of
the associated Common Shares).
1.7 Calculation
of Voting Shares Beneficially Owned
For the
purposes of this Agreement, the percentage of Voting Shares Beneficially Owned
by a Person shall be and be deemed to be the product determined by the
formula:
100 x
A
B
|
where
|
|
A
|
=
|
the
number of votes for the election of all directors generally attaching to
the Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person;
and
|
|
B
|
=
|
the
number of votes for the election of all directors generally attaching to
all outstanding Voting Shares.
|
Where a
Person is deemed to Beneficially Own unissued Voting Shares, such Voting Shares
shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of both A and B above, but no
other unissued Voting Shares shall, for the purposes of such calculation, be
deemed to be outstanding.
ARTICLE 2
THE
RIGHTS
2.1 Legend
on Voting Share Certificates
Voting
Share certificates issued after the Record Time and prior to the Close of
Business on the earlier of the Separation Time and the Expiration Time shall
evidence one Right for each Voting Share represented thereby and shall have
impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them prior to the
Effective Date the legend set forth in Section 2.1
of the applicable Predecessor Plan, which legend shall be deemed to be amended
for all purposes to read the same as the legend set forth below, and after the
Effective Date the following legend:
“Until
the Separation Time (as such term is defined in the Shareholder Protection
Rights Agreement referred to below), this certificate also evidences and
entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in an Amended and
Restated Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement dated as of March 12, 2009,
amending and restating the Amended and Restated Shareholder Protection Rights
Agreement dated as of March 9, 2006, as amended, supplemented or restated from
time to time (the “Rights Agreement”) between MDS Inc. (the “Corporation”)
and CIBC Mellon Trust
Company, as Rights Agent, the terms of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which is on file and may be inspected during
normal business hours at the registered office of the Corporation. In
certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be
amended, may be redeemed, may expire, may become null and void or may be
evidenced by separate certificates and may no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. The Corporation will mail or arrange for the mailing of
a copy of the Rights Agreement to the holder of this certificate without charge
promptly after the receipt of a written request therefor.”
Certificates
representing Voting Shares that are issued and outstanding at the Record Time
shall also evidence one Right for each Voting Share evidenced thereby,
notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend, until the earlier of the
Separation Time and the Expiration Time. Following the Separation
Time, Rights will be evidenced by Rights Certificates issued pursuant to Section
2.2 hereof.
2.2 Initial
Exercise Price; Exercise of Rights; Detachment of Rights
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(a)
|
Subject
to adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will entitle the holder
thereof, from and after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration
Time, to purchase one Common Share for the Exercise Price (which Exercise
Price and number of Common Shares are subject to adjustment as set forth
below) or its U.S. Dollar Equivalent as at the Business Day immediately
preceding the day on which such Right is
exercised. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, any Rights held by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries
shall be null and void.
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|
(b)
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Until
the Separation Time, (i) the Rights shall not be exercisable and no Right
may be exercised, and (ii) for administrative purposes, each Right will be
evidenced by the certificate for the associated Voting Share registered in
the name of the holder thereof (which certificate shall be deemed to
represent a Rights Certificate) and will be transferable only together
with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, such associated Voting
Share.
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|
(c)
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From
and after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, the Rights
may be exercised and the registration and transfer of the Rights shall be
separate from and independent of Voting Shares. Promptly
following the Separation Time, the Corporation will prepare and the Rights
Agent will mail to each holder of record of Voting Shares as of the
Separation Time (other than an Acquiring Person, any other Person whose
Rights are or become void pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 3.1(b) and, in respect of any Rights
Beneficially Owned by such Acquiring Person which are not held of record
by such Acquiring Person, the holder of record of such Rights), at such
holder’s address as shown by the records of the Corporation (the
Corporation hereby agreeing to furnish copies of such records to the
Rights Agent for this purpose):
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|
(i)
|
a
Rights Certificate appropriately completed, representing the number of
Rights held by such holder at the Separation Time and having such marks of
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Corporation may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required
to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation or judicial or
administrative order made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation
of any self-regulatory organization, stock exchange or securities
quotation system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or
traded, or to conform to usage; and
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|
(ii)
|
a
disclosure statement prepared by the Corporation describing the
Rights;
|
provided, however, that a
nominee shall be sent the materials provided for in Clauses (i) and (ii) above
only in respect of Voting Shares held of record by it which are not Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person. In order for the Corporation to
determine whether any Person is holding Voting Shares which are Beneficially
Owned by another Person, the Corporation may require such first-mentioned Person
to furnish such information and documentation as the Corporation deems necessary
or appropriate to make such determination.
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(d)
|
Rights
may be exercised in whole or in part on any Business Day after the
Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time by submitting to the
Rights Agent at its principal office in Toronto, Ontario or, with the
approval of the Rights Agent, at any other office of the Rights Agent in
the cities designated from time to time for that purpose by the
Corporation:
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|
(i)
|
the
Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights with an election to exercise (an
“Election to
Exercise”) substantially in the form attached to the Rights
Certificate appropriately completed and duly executed by the holder or his
executors or administrators or other personal representatives or his legal
attorney duly appointed by an instrument in writing in form and executed
in a manner satisfactory to the Rights Agent;
and
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|
(ii)
|
payment
by certified cheque, banker’s draft or money order payable to the order of
the Corporation, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the
number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any
transfer tax or charge which may be payable in respect of the transfer or
delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of
certificates for Voting Shares in a name other than that of the holder of
the Rights being exercised.
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|
(e)
|
Upon
receipt of a Rights Certificate, with a completed Election to Exercise
appropriately completed and duly executed which does not indicate that
such Right is null and void as provided by Subsection 3.1(b), accompanied by payment as set forth in
Clause 2.2(d)(ii), the Rights Agent (unless
otherwise instructed in writing by the Corporation) will thereupon
promptly:
|
|
(i)
|
requisition
from the transfer agent of the Common Share certificates for the number of
Common Shares to be purchased (the Corporation hereby irrevocably agreeing
to authorize its transfer agent to comply with all such
requisitions);
|
|
(ii)
|
after
receipt of such certificates referred to in Clause 2.2(e)(i), deliver such certificates 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;
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|
(iii)
|
when
appropriate, requisition from the Corporation the amount of cash to be
paid in lieu of issuing fractional Common
Shares;
|
|
(iv)
|
after
receipt, deliver such cash referred to in Clause 2.2(e)(iii) to or to the order of the registered
holder of the Rights Certificate;
and
|
|
(v)
|
tender
to the Corporation all payments received on exercise of the
Rights.
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|
(f)
|
In
case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the Rights
evidenced by such holder’s Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights
Agent to such holder or to such holder’s duly authorized
assigns.
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|
(g)
|
The
Corporation covenants and agrees that it
will:
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|
(i)
|
take
all such action as may be necessary and within its power to ensure that
all securities delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of
delivery of the certificates for such securities (subject to payment of
the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized, executed, issued and
delivered as fully paid and
non-assessable;
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|
(ii)
|
take
all such action as may reasonably be considered to be necessary and within
its power to comply with any applicable requirements of the Canada Business Corporations
Act, the Securities Act
(Ontario), the Securities Act of 1933
and the Exchange Act of
1934 and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in
connection with the issuance and delivery of the Rights, the Rights
Certificates and the issuance of any Common Shares upon exercise of
Rights;
|
|
(iii)
|
use
reasonable efforts to cause all Common Shares issued upon exercise of
Rights to be listed upon issuance on the TSX and each other stock exchange
and/or securities quotation system on which the Common Shares are then
listed or admitted to trading at that
time;
|
|
(iv)
|
cause
to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued
Common Shares the number of Common Shares that, as provided in this
Agreement, will from time to time be sufficient to permit the exercise in
full of all outstanding Rights; and
|
|
(v)
|
pay
when due and payable any and all Canadian and United States federal,
provincial and state transfer taxes (for greater certainty not including
any income taxes or capital gains of the holder or exercising holder or
any liability of the Corporation to withhold tax) and charges which may be
payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates or certificates for Common Shares, provided that the
Corporation shall not be required to pay any transfer tax or charge which
may be payable in respect of the transfer or delivery of Rights
Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates for Common Shares
in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights being transferred or
exercised.
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2.3 Adjustments
to Exercise Price; Number of Rights
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(a)
|
The
Exercise Price, the number and kind of securities subject to purchase upon
exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 2.3.
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|
(b)
|
In
the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and
prior to the Expiration Time:
|
|
(i)
|
declare
or pay a dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or other
capital stock of the Corporation (or Convertible Securities) other than
pursuant to any optional stock dividend program, dividend reinvestment
plan or dividend payable in Common Shares in lieu of a regular periodic
cash dividend;
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|
(ii)
|
subdivide
or change the outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of Common
Shares;
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|
(iii)
|
consolidate
or change the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of Common
Shares; or
|
|
(iv)
|
issue
any Common Shares or other capital stock of the Corporation (or
Convertible Securities) in respect of, in lieu of, or in exchange for
existing Common Shares;
|
the
Exercise Price and the number of Rights outstanding, or, if the payment or
effective date therefor shall occur after the Separation Time, the securities
purchasable upon exercise of Rights, shall be adjusted in the manner set forth
below.
If the
Exercise Price and number of Rights outstanding are to be adjusted:
|
(x)
|
the
Exercise Price in effect after such adjustment will be equal to the
Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment divided by
the number of Common Shares (or other capital stock) (the “Expansion Factor”) that
a holder of one Common Share immediately prior to such dividend,
subdivision, change, consolidation or issuance would hold immediately
thereafter as a result thereof (assuming the exercise of all such
purchase, exchange, conversion or acquisition rights, if any);
and
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|
(y)
|
each
Right held prior to such adjustment will become that number of Rights
equal to the Expansion Factor and the adjusted number of Rights will be
deemed to be distributed among the Common Shares with respect to which the
original Rights were associated (if they remain outstanding) and the
Common Shares issued or issuable in respect of such dividend, subdivision,
change, consolidation or issuance, so that each such Common Share (or
other capital stock) will have exactly one Right associated with
it.
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For
greater certainty, if the securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights are to
be adjusted, the securities purchasable upon exercise of each Right after such
adjustment will be the securities that a holder of the securities purchasable
upon exercise of one Right immediately prior to such dividend, subdivision,
change, consolidation or issuance would hold thereafter as a result
thereof. To the extent that such rights of purchase, exchange,
conversion or acquisition are not exercised prior to the expiration thereof, the
Exercise Price shall be readjusted to the Exercise Price which would then be in
effect based on the number of Common Shares (or Convertible Securities) actually
issued upon the exercise of such rights.
If after
the Record Time and prior to the Expiration Time the Corporation shall issue any
shares of capital stock other than Common Shares in a transaction of a type
described in Clause 2.3(b)(i) or (iv), shares of such capital stock shall be treated
herein as nearly equivalent to Common Shares as may be practicable and
appropriate under the circumstances and the Corporation and the Rights Agent
shall amend or supplement this Agreement in order to effect such
treatment.
If an
event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 2.3 and Section 3.1, the
adjustment provided for in this Section 2.3 shall
be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant
to Section 3.1. Adjustments pursuant to
Section 2.3 shall be made successively, whenever an
event referred to in Section 2.3
occurs.
If the
Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the Separation
Time issue any Common Shares otherwise than in a transaction referred to in this
Subsection 2.3(b), each such Common Share so issued
shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which Right shall be
evidenced by the certificate representing such associated Common
Share.
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(c)
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In
the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and
prior to the Separation Time fix a record date for the issuance to all
holders of Common Shares of rights, options or warrants entitling them
(for a period expiring within 45 days after such record date) to subscribe
for or purchase Common Shares (or Convertible Securities pursuant to which
the holder may acquire Common Shares) at
a price per Common Share (or, if a Convertible Security having a purchase,
exchange, conversion or exercise price, including the price required to be
paid to purchase such convertible or exchangeable security or right, per
share) less than 90% of the Market Price per Common Share on such record
date, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted in the manner set forth
below. The Exercise Price in effect after such record date will
equal the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
multiplied by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be the number of
Common Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of Common
Shares that the aggregate offering price of the total number of Common
Shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion, exchange
or exercise price of the convertible or exchangeable securities or rights
so to be offered (including the price required to be paid to purchase such
convertible or exchangeable securities or rights)) would purchase at such
Market Price per Common Share and of which the denominator shall be the
number of Common Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of
additional Common Shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or
into which the convertible or exchangeable securities or rights so to be
offered are initially convertible, exchangeable or
exercisable). In case such subscription price may be paid by
delivery of consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other
than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors. To the extent that such rights
of purchase, exchange, conversion or acquisition are not exercised prior
to the expiration thereof, the Exercise Price shall be readjusted to the
Exercise Price which would then be in effect based on the number of Common
Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares)
actually issued upon the exercise of such
rights.
|
Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is
fixed. For purposes of this Agreement, the granting of the right to
purchase Common Shares (whether from treasury shares or otherwise) pursuant to
any dividend or interest reinvestment plan and/or any Common Share purchase plan
providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on securities of
the Corporation and/or the investment of periodic optional payments and/or
employee benefit or similar plans (so long as such right to purchase is in no
case evidenced by the delivery of rights or warrants) shall not be deemed to
constitute an issue of rights or warrants by the Corporation; provided, however, that, in
the case of any dividend or interest reinvestment plan, the right to purchase
Common Shares is at a price per share of not less than 90% of the current market
price per share (determined as provided in such plans) of the Common
Shares.
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(d)
|
In
the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and
prior to the Separation Time fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of Common Shares of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a Regular Periodic Cash Dividend (as defined below)
or a dividend paid in Common Shares) or rights, options or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Subsection 2.3(c)), the Exercise Price shall be
adjusted. The Exercise Price in effect after such record date
will equal the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior
to such record date less the fair market value (as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors) of the portion of the assets, evidences
of indebtedness, rights or warrants so to be distributed applicable to the
securities purchasable upon exercise of one Right. Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is
fixed.
|
For the
purpose of this Subsection 2.3(d), “Regular Periodic Cash
Dividend” shall mean cash dividends paid at regular intervals in any
fiscal year of the Corporation to the extent that such cash dividends do not
exceed, in the aggregate, the greatest of:
|
(i)
|
200%
of the aggregate amount of cash dividends declared payable by the
Corporation on its Common Shares in its immediately preceding fiscal
year;
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|
(ii)
|
300%
of the arithmetic mean of the aggregate amounts of cash dividends declared
payable by the Corporation on its Common Shares in its three immediately
preceding fiscal years; and
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|
(iii)
|
100%
of the aggregate consolidated net income of the Corporation, before
extraordinary items, for its immediately preceding fiscal
year.
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|
(e)
|
Each
adjustment made pursuant to this Section 2.3
shall be made as of:
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|
(i)
|
the
payment or effective date for the applicable dividend, subdivision,
change, consolidation or issuance, in the case of an adjustment made
pursuant to Subsection 2.3(b) above;
and
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|
(ii)
|
|
(f)
|
In
the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and
prior to the Separation Time issue any shares of capital stock (other than
Common Shares), or rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or
purchase any such capital stock, or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for any such capital stock in a transaction referred to in
Clause 2.3(b)(i) or (iv), or if the Corporation shall take any other
action (other than the issue of Common Shares) which might have a negative
effect on the holder of Rights, if the Board of Directors acting in good
faith determines that the adjustments contemplated by Subsections 2.3(b), (c) and (d) above in connection with such transaction
will not appropriately protect the interests of the holders of Rights, the
Board of Directors may determine what other adjustments to the Exercise
Price, number of Rights and/or securities purchasable upon exercise of
Rights would be appropriate and, notwithstanding Subsections 2.3(b), (c) and (d) above, but subject to the prior consent of
the holders of Voting Shares or Rights obtained as set forth in Subsection
5.5(b) or 5.5(c)
as applicable, such adjustments, rather than the adjustments contemplated
by Subsections 2.3(b), (c) and (d) above,
shall be made. The Corporation and the Rights Agent shall amend or
supplement this Agreement as appropriate to provide for such
adjustments.
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|
(g)
|
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment of the Exercise Price shall
be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease
of at least 1% in such Exercise Price; provided, however, that
any adjustments which by reason of this Subsection 2.3(g) are not required to be made shall be
carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent
adjustment. All adjustments made pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the
nearest ten-thousandth of a Common Share, as the case may
be.
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|
(h)
|
If
as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 3.1, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any securities other than
Common Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable
upon exercise of any Right and the applicable Exercise 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
Common Shares contained in the provisions of this Section 2.3 and the provisions of this Agreement with
respect to the Common Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other
securities.
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|
(i)
|
All
Rights originally issued by the Corporation subsequent to any adjustment
made to an Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase,
at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of Common Shares purchasable
from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to
further adjustment as provided
herein.
|
|
(j)
|
Unless
the Corporation shall have exercised its election, as provided in
Subsection 2.3(l), upon each adjustment of
the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Subsections 2.3(c) and (d),
each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment
shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise
Price, that number of Common Shares obtained
by:
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|
(i)
|
multiplying
(A) the number of Common Shares covered by a Right immediately prior to
such adjustment, by (B) the relevant Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior to such adjustment of the relevant Exercise Price;
and
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|
(ii)
|
dividing
the product so obtained by the relevant Exercise Price in effect
immediately after such adjustment of the relevant Exercise
Price.
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|
(k)
|
The
Corporation may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of an
Exercise Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment
in the number of Common Shares 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 Common Shares
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 the number of Rights (calculated to the
nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the relevant Exercise
Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of relevant Exercise Price
by the relevant Exercise Price in effect immediately after adjustment of
the relevant Exercise Price. The Corporation shall make a
public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights,
indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time,
the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may
be the date on which the relevant Exercise Price is adjusted or any day
thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at
least 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 Subsection 2.3(l), the Corporation 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 5.6, the additional Rights to
which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or,
at the option of the Corporation, 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 Corporation, 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 Corporation, the
relevant adjusted Exercise Price and shall be registered in the names of
holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in
the public announcement.
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(l)
|
Irrespective
of any adjustment or change in the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may
continue to express the securities so purchasable which were expressed in
the initial Rights Certificates issued
hereunder.
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(m)
|
In
any case in which this Section 2.3 shall
require that an adjustment in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a
record date for a specified event, the Corporation may elect to defer
until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right
exercised after such record date of the number of Common Shares and other
securities of the Corporation, if any, issuable upon such exercise over
and above the number of Common Shares and other securities of the
Corporation, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the
relevant Exercise Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that
the Corporation shall deliver to such holder a due xxxx or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such
additional Common Shares (fractional or otherwise) or other securities
upon the occurrence of the event requiring such
adjustment.
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(n)
|
Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 2.3 to the contrary,
the Corporation shall be entitled to make such adjustments in the Exercise
Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section
2.3, as and to the extent that in its good
faith judgment the Board of Directors shall determine to be advisable in
order that any (i) subdivision or consolidation of the Common Shares, (ii)
issuance (wholly or in part for cash) of Common Shares at less than the
applicable Market Price, (iii) issuance (wholly for cash) of any Common
Shares or securities that by their terms are exchangeable for or
convertible into or give a right to acquire Common Shares, (iv) stock
dividends, or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in
this Section 2.3, hereafter made by the
Corporation to holders of its Common Shares, subject to applicable
taxation laws, shall not be taxable to such
shareholders.
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(o)
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After
the Separation Time, the Corporation will not, except as permitted by the
provisions hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary of the Corporation 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.
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(p)
|
Whenever
an adjustment to the Exercise Price or a change in the securities
purchasable upon the exercise of Rights is made pursuant to this Section
2.3, the Corporation shall
promptly:
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|
(i)
|
prepare
a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the
facts accounting for such
adjustment;
|
|
(ii)
|
file
with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares,
a copy of such certificate; and
|
|
(iii)
|
cause
notice of the particulars of such adjustment or change to be given to the
holders of the Rights.
|
Failure
to file such certificate or to cause such notice to be given as aforesaid, or
any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of any such adjustment or
change.
2.4 Date
on Which Exercise is Effective
Each
Person in whose name any certificate for Common Shares or other securities, if
applicable, is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be
deemed to have become the holder of record of the Common Shares or other
securities, if applicable, represented thereby, and such certificate shall be
dated the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered in accordance with Subsection 2.2(e)
(together with a duly completed Election to Exercise) and payment of the
Exercise Price for such Rights (and any applicable transfer taxes and other
governmental charges payable by the exercising holder hereunder) was made; provided, however, that if
the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Common Share
transfer books of the Corporation are closed, such Person shall be deemed to
have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Common Share transfer books
of the Corporation are open.
2.5 Execution,
Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates
|
(a)
|
The
Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by its
President and its Chief Financial Officer, under its corporate seal
reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary. The signature of
any of these officers on the Rights Certificates may be manual or
facsimile. Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile
signatures of individuals holding the above offices of the Corporation
shall bind the Corporation, notwithstanding that such individuals or any
of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the countersignature and
delivery of such Rights
Certificates.
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|
(b)
|
Promptly
after the Corporation learns of the Separation Time, the Corporation will
notify the Rights Agent in writing of such Separation Time and will
deliver Rights Certificates executed by the Corporation, to the Rights
Agent for countersignature and a disclosure statement describing the
Rights, and the Rights Agent shall countersign (manually or by facsimile
signature in a manner satisfactory to the Corporation) and mail such
Rights Certificates, and disclosure statement describing the
Rights, to the holders of the Rights pursuant to Subsection 2.2(c). No Rights Certificate shall
be valid for any purpose until countersigned by the Rights Agent as
aforesaid.
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|
(c)
|
Each
Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature
thereof.
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2.6 Registration,
Registration of Transfer and Exchange
|
(a)
|
From
and after the Separation Time, the Corporation will cause to be kept a
register (the “Rights
Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it
may prescribe, the Corporation will provide for the registration and
transfer of Rights. The Rights Agent is hereby appointed “Rights Registrar” for
the purpose of maintaining the Rights Register for the Corporation and
registering Rights and transfers of Rights as herein provided and the
Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. In the event that
the Rights Agent shall cease to be the Rights Registrar, the Rights Agent
will have the right to examine the Rights Register at all reasonable
times.
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|
(b)
|
After
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon surrender for
registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate, and
subject to the provisions of Subsection 2.6(d), the Corporation will execute, and the
Rights Agent will countersign, deliver and register, in the name of the
holder thereof or the designated transferee or transferees, as required
pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates
evidencing the same aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights
Certificates so surrendered.
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|
(c)
|
All
Rights issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights
Certificates shall be the valid obligations of the Corporation, and such
Rights shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as the
Rights surrendered upon such registration of transfer or
exchange.
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|
(d)
|
Every
Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange
shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation or the Rights Agent, as
the case may be, duly executed, by the holder thereof or such holder’s
attorney duly authorized in writing. As a condition to the
issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this Section 2.6, the Corporation may require the payment of
a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and
expenses of the Rights Agent) connected
therewith.
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|
(e)
|
The
Corporation shall not be required to register the transfer or exchange of
any Rights after the Rights have been terminated pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement.
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2.7 Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates
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(a)
|
If
any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior
to the Expiration Time, the Corporation shall execute and the Rights Agent
shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor a new Rights
Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights
Certificate so surrendered.
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(b)
|
If
there shall be delivered to the Corporation and the Rights Agent prior to
the Expiration Time (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction,
loss or theft of any Rights Certificate, and (ii) such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any of their
agents harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Corporation or the
Rights Agent that such Rights Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser,
the Corporation shall execute and upon its request the Rights Agent shall
countersign and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of
Rights as did the Rights Certificate so destroyed, lost or
stolen.
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|
(c)
|
As
a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this
Section 2.7, the Corporation may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including
the fees and expenses of the Rights Agent) connected
therewith.
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|
(d)
|
Every
new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.7 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen
Rights Certificate shall evidence a contractual obligation of the
Corporation, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Rights
Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be
entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately
with any and all other Rights duly issued
hereunder.
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2.8
|
Persons
Deemed Owners
|
Prior to
due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, the
associated Voting Share certificate) for registration of transfer, the
Corporation, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Corporation or the Rights
Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Rights Certificate (or,
prior to the Separation Time, such Voting Share certificate) is registered as
the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for all purposes
whatsoever and the Corporation and the Rights Agent shall not be affected by any
notice or knowledge to the contrary except as required by statute or order of a
court of competent jurisdiction.
2.9 Delivery
and Cancellation of Certificates
All
Rights Certificates surrendered upon exercise or for redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Rights
Agent, be delivered to the Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly
cancelled by the Rights Agent. The Corporation may at any time
deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation any Rights Certificates previously
countersigned and delivered hereunder which the Corporation may have acquired in
any manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates so delivered shall be
promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent. No Rights Certificate shall
be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights Certificates cancelled
as provided in this Section 2.9, except as
expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall destroy
all cancelled Rights Certificates and deliver a certificate of destruction to
the Corporation, on request.
2.10 Agreement
of Rights Holders
Every
holder of Rights, by accepting such Rights, consents and agrees with the
Corporation and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of Rights
that:
|
(a)
|
such
holder shall be bound by and subject to the provisions of this Agreement
in respect of all Rights held;
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|
(b)
|
prior
to the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable only together
with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated Voting
Share certificate representing such
Right;
|
|
(c)
|
after
the Separation Time, the Rights will be transferable only on the Rights
Register as provided herein;
|
|
(d)
|
prior
to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation
Time, the associated Voting Share certificate) for registration of
transfer, the Corporation, the Rights Agent and any agent of the
Corporation or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose
name the Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, the
associated Voting Share certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations
of ownership or writing on such Rights Certificate or the associated
Voting Share certificate made by anyone other than the Corporation
or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the
Corporation nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary;
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|
(e)
|
such
holder of Rights is not entitled to receive any fractional Rights or
fractional Common Shares or other securities upon the exercise of
Rights;
|
|
(f)
|
without
the approval of any holder of Rights or Voting Shares and upon the sole
authority of the Board of Directors acting in good faith, this Agreement
may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of Section 5.5 and the third last
paragraph of Subsection 2.3(b);
and
|
|
(g)
|
notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Corporation nor
the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or to
any other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of applicable law, including
any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling
issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental,
regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule,
regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental
authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such
obligation.
|
ARTICLE 3
ADJUSTMENTS
TO THE RIGHTS IN
THE
EVENT OF A FLIP-IN EVENT
3.1 Flip-in
Event
|
(a)
|
Subject
to Subsection 3.1(b) and Sections 5.1 and 5.2, in the
event that prior to the Expiration Time a Flip-in Event shall occur, each
Right shall constitute, effective from and after the Close of Business on
the tenth Trading Day following the Stock Acquisition Date, the right to
purchase from the Corporation, upon exercise thereof in accordance with
the terms hereof, that number of Common Shares having an aggregate Market
Price on the date of consummation or occurrence of such Flip-in Event
equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the
Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately adjusted in a manner
analogous to the applicable adjustment provided for in Section 2.3 in the event that after such date of
consummation or occurrence an event of a type analogous to any of the
events described in Section 2.3 shall have
occurred with respect to such Common
Shares).
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|
(b)
|
Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, upon the occurrence of a
Flip-in Event, any Rights that are or were Beneficially Owned on or after
the earlier of the Separation Time or the Stock Acquisition Date, or which
thereafter may be Beneficially Owned,
by:
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|
(i)
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an
Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or
any Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person);
or
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(ii)
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a
transferee or other successor-in-title, directly or indirectly, from an
Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or
any Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person) in a
transfer of Rights, whether or not for consideration, that the Board of
Directors acting in good faith has determined is part of a plan,
understanding or scheme of an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person, or any Person acting jointly or in
concert with an Acquiring Person) that has the purpose or effect of
avoiding the provisions of Clause 3.1(b)(i);
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shall
become null and void without any further action and any holder of such Rights
(including transferees or other successors-in-title) shall thereafter have no
right to exercise or transfer such Rights under any provision of this Agreement
and shall have no other rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether
under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The holder of any
Rights represented by a Rights Certificate which is submitted to the Rights
Agent upon exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange which does not
contain the necessary certifications set forth in the Rights Certificate
establishing that such Rights are not null and void under this Subsection 3.1(b) shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for
the purposes of this Section 3.1 and such Rights
shall become null and void.
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(c)
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Any
Rights Certificate that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by a Person
described in either Clause 3.1(b)(i) or
Clause 3.1(b)(ii) or transferred to any
nominee of any such Person, and any Rights Certificate issued upon
transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights
Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain the following
legend:
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“The
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate were issued to a Person who was an
Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or an Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a
Person acting jointly or in concert with any of them (as such terms are defined
in the Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement). This Rights
Certificate and the Rights represented hereby shall become null and void in the
circumstances specified in Subsection 3.1(b) of the
Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement.”
provided, however, that the
Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility to ascertain the existence of
facts that would require the imposition of such legend but shall be required to
impose such legend only if instructed to do so in writing by the Corporation or
if a holder fails to certify upon transfer or exchange in the space provided on
the Rights Certificate that such holder is not a Person described in such
legend. The issuance of a Rights Certificate without the legend
referred to in this Subsection 3.1(c) shall be of
no effect on the provisions of Subsection 3.1(b).
ARTICLE 4
THE
RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 General
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(a)
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The
Corporation hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the
Corporation and the holders of Rights in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. The Corporation may from time to time appoint one
or more co-rights agents (each a “Co-Rights Agent”) as it
may deem necessary or desirable, subject to the approval of the Rights
Agent. In the event the Corporation appoints one or more
Co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and Co-Rights
Agents shall be as the Corporation may determine with the approval of the
Rights Agent and the Co-Rights Agents. The Corporation agrees
to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services
rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights
Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements
reasonably incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement
and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The
Corporation also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent and its directors,
officers, employees and agents for, and to hold it harmless against, any
loss, liability, cost, claim, action, suit, damage or expense, incurred
without negligence, bad faith or wilful misconduct on the part of the
Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in
connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement,
including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability, which right to indemnification will survive the termination of
this Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent.
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(b)
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The
Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with
its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any certificate for
Common Shares, Rights Certificate, certificate for other securities of the
Corporation, 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.
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(c)
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The
Corporation shall inform the Rights Agent in a reasonably timely manner of
events which may materially affect the administration of this Agreement by
the Rights Agent and, at any time upon request, shall provide to the
Rights Agent an incumbency certificate certifying the then current
officers of the Corporation.
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4.2 Merger
or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent
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(a)
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Any
corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may
be merged or amalgamated or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger, amalgamation or consolidation to
which the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent is a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, will be the successor to the Rights Agent under
this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such
corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent
under the provisions of Section 4.4. In case at the time such
successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement
any of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered,
any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the
predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates
have not been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign
such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights
Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates will have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this
Agreement.
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(b)
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In
case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is 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 such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at
that time any of the Rights Certificates have not 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 will have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates
and in this Agreement.
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4.3 Duties
of Rights Agent
The
Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement
upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Corporation and the
holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be
bound:
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(a)
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The
Rights Agent may retain and consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Corporation), and the opinion of such counsel will be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any
action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
opinion and the Rights Agent may also, with the approval of the
Corporation (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld), retain and
consult with such other experts or advisors as the Rights Agent shall
consider necessary or appropriate to properly carry out its duties and
obligations imposed under this Agreement (at the Corporation’s expense)
and the Rights Agent shall be entitled to act and rely in good faith on
the advice of such experts or
advisors.
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(b)
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Whenever
in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Rights Agent
deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or
established by the Corporation 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 an individual believed by the
Rights Agent to be the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the
Secretary of the Corporation and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate will be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action
taken, omitted or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of
this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.
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(c)
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The
Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own negligence, bad
faith or wilful misconduct and that of its officers, directors and
employees.
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(d)
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The
Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements
of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the certificates for
Common Shares or the Rights Certificates (except its countersignature
thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and
recitals are and will be deemed to have been made by the Corporation
only.
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(e)
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The
Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect of the
validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent)
or in respect of the validity or execution of any Common Share certificate
or Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor will it
be responsible for any breach by the Corporation of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor
will it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights
(including the Rights becoming void pursuant to Subsection 3.1(b)) or any adjustment required under the
provisions of Section 2.3 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 after receipt of the certificate
contemplated by Subsection 2.3(p) describing any
such adjustment); nor will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization of any Common Shares to
be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights or as to whether any
Common Shares will, when issued, be duly and validly authorized, executed,
issued and delivered and fully paid and
non-assessable.
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(f)
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The
Corporation 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.
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(g)
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The
Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept written
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
any individual believed by the Rights Agent to be the President, the Chief
Financial Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation, and to apply to
such individuals for advice or instructions in connection with its duties,
and it shall not be liable for any action taken,
omitted or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of
any such individual.
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(h)
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The
Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of the
Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Shares, Rights or other
securities of the Corporation or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Corporation may be interested, or contract with
or lend money to the Corporation 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 Corporation or for any other legal
entity.
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(i)
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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 will not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such
attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Corporation resulting from any
such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was
exercised in the selection and continued employment
thereof.
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4.4 Change
of Rights Agent
The
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 60 days’ notice (or such lesser notice as is acceptable to the Corporation)
in writing mailed to the Corporation and to the transfer agent of Voting Shares
by registered or certified mail. The Corporation may remove the
Rights Agent upon 60 days’ notice in writing, given to the Rights Agent and to
the transfer agent of the Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and to
the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.10. If the Rights Agent should resign or
be removed or otherwise become incapable of acting, the Corporation will appoint
a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Corporation fails to make
such appointment within a period of 30 days after such removal or after it has
been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent (at the Corporation’s expense) or by the holder of
any Rights (which holder shall, with such notice if given after the Separation
Time, submit such holder’s Rights Certificate for inspection by the
Corporation), then the holder of any Rights may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor
Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Corporation or by such a court, shall be
a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province thereof
authorized to carry on the business of a trust company in the Province of
Ontario. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent will 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, upon receipt of any and all outstanding amounts owing
to it pursuant to this Agreement, shall deliver and transfer to the successor
Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and
deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the
purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment,
the Corporation will file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights
Agent and the transfer agent of the Common Shares, and mail a notice thereof in
writing to the holders of the Rights. Failure to give any notice
provided for in this Section 4.4, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality
or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
4.5 Compliance
with Anti-Money Laundering Legislation
The
Rights Agent shall retain the right not to act and shall not be liable for
refusing to act if, due to a lack of information or for any other reason
whatsoever, the Rights Agent reasonably determines that such an act might cause
it to be in non-compliance with any applicable anti-money laundering or
anti-terrorist legislation, regulation or guideline. Further, should
the Rights Agent reasonably determine at any time that its acting under this
Agreement has resulted in it being in non-compliance with any applicable
anti-money laundering or anti-terrorist legislation, regulation or guideline,
then it shall have the right to resign on 10 days’ prior written notice to the
Corporation, provided: (i) that the Rights Agent’s written notice shall describe
the circumstances of such non-compliance; and (ii) that if such circumstances
are rectified to the Rights Agent’s satisfaction within such 10 day period, then
such resignation shall not be effective.
ARTICLE 5
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Redemption
of Rights
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(a)
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With
the prior consent of the holders of Voting Shares or Rights obtained in
accordance with Subsection 5.5(b) or (c), as applicable, the Board of Directors may,
at any time prior to the occurrence of a Flip-in Event as to which the
application of Section 3.1 has not been
waived pursuant to Section 5.2, elect to
redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a
redemption price of $0.00001 per Right, appropriately adjusted in a manner
analogous to the applicable adjustment to the Exercise Price provided for
in Section 2.3 if an event analogous to
any of the events described in Section 2.3
shall have occurred (such redemption price being herein referred to as the
“Redemption
Price”).
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(b)
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If
a Person acquires, pursuant to a Permitted Bid, a Competing Permitted Bid
or an Exempt Acquisition occurring under Subsection 5.2(a) or (b),
outstanding Voting Shares and/or Convertible Securities, the Board of
Directors shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection 5.1(a), immediately upon such acquisition and
without further formality be deemed to have elected to redeem the Rights
at the Redemption Price.
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(c)
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Where
a Take-Over Bid that is not a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid
expires, is terminated or is otherwise withdrawn after the Separation Time
has occurred and prior to the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, the Board of
Directors may elect to redeem all of the outstanding Rights at the
Redemption Price.
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(d)
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If
the Board of Directors elects or is deemed to have elected to redeem the
Rights and, in circumstances where Subsection 5.1(a) is applicable, the requisite consent is
given by the holders of Voting Shares or Rights, as applicable, (i) the
right to exercise
the Rights will thereupon, without further action and without notice,
terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be
to receive the Redemption Price, and (ii) subject to Subsection 5.1(f), no further Rights shall thereafter be
issued.
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(e)
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Within
10 Business Days of the Board of Directors electing or having been deemed
to have elected to redeem the Rights or, in circumstances where Subsection
5.1(a) is applicable, within 10 Business Days
after the requisite consent is given by the holders of Voting Shares or
Rights, as applicable, the Corporation shall give notice of redemption to
the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to each
such holder at his last address as it appears upon the Rights Register or,
prior to the Separation Time, on the register of Voting Shares maintained
by the Corporation’s transfer agent or transfer agents. Each
such notice of redemption shall state the method by which the payment of
the Redemption Price shall be made.
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(f)
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Upon
the Rights being redeemed pursuant to Subsection 5.1(c), all the provisions of this Agreement
shall continue to apply as if the Separation Time had not occurred and
Rights Certificates representing the number of Rights held by each holder
of record of Voting Shares as of the Separation Time had not been mailed
to each such holder and, for all purposes of this Agreement, the
Separation Time shall be deemed not to have occurred and Rights shall
remain attached to the outstanding Voting Shares, subject to and in
accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement.
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(g)
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The
Corporation shall not be obligated to make a payment of the Redemption
Price to any holder of Rights unless such holder is entitled to receive at
least $1.00 in respect of all Rights held by such
holder.
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5.2 Waiver
of Flip-In Events
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(a)
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With
the prior consent of the holders of Voting Shares obtained in accordance
with Subsection 5.5(b), the Board of
Directors may, at any time prior to the occurrence of a Flip-in Event that
would occur by reason of an acquisition of Voting Shares otherwise than in
the circumstances described in Subsection 5.2(b) or (c),
waive the application of Section 3.1 to such
Flip-in Event by written notice delivered to the Rights
Agent.
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(b)
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The
Board of Directors may, at any time prior to the occurrence of a Flip-in
Event that would occur as a result of a Take-Over Bid made by means of a
take-over bid circular sent to all holders of record of Voting Shares
(which, for greater certainty, shall not include the circumstances
described in Subsection 5.2(c)), waive the
application of Section 3.1 to such Flip-in
Event by written notice delivered to the Rights Agent, provided, however, that
if the Board of Directors waives the application of Section 3.1 to such a Flip-in Event, the Board of
Directors shall be deemed to have waived the application of Section 3.1 to any other Flip-in Event occurring by
reason of any Take-Over Bid which is made by means of a take-over bid
circular sent to all holders of record of Voting Shares prior to the
expiry, termination or withdrawal of any Take-Over Bid in respect of which
a waiver is, or is deemed to have been, granted under this Subsection 5.2(b).
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(c)
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The
Board of Directors may waive the application of Section 3.1 to a Flip-in Event provided that the
following conditions are satisfied:
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(i)
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the
Board of Directors has determined that the Acquiring Person became an
Acquiring Person by inadvertence and without any intention to become, or
knowledge that it would become, an Acquiring Person;
and
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(ii)
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such
Acquiring Person has reduced its Beneficial Ownership of Voting Shares
such that, at the time of the waiver pursuant to this Subsection 5.2(c), it is no longer an Acquiring
Person.
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5.3 Expiration
No Person
shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement or in respect of any Right
after the Expiration Time, except the Rights Agent as specified in Subsection 4.1(a).
5.4 Issuance
of New Rights Certificates
Notwithstanding
any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Corporation may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights
in such form as may be approved by the Board of Directors to reflect any
adjustment or change in the number or kind or class of shares purchasable upon
exercise of Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement.
5.5 Supplements
and Amendments
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(a)
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The
Corporation may from time to time prior to or after the Separation Time
amend, supplement or restate this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Rights or Voting Shares in order to correct any clerical or
typographical error or, subject to Subsection 5.5(d), to maintain the validity and
effectiveness of this Agreement as a result of any change in applicable
laws, rules or regulatory requirements. The Corporation may,
prior to the date of the shareholders’ meeting referred to in Subsection
5.19(b), amend, supplement or restate this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Voting Shares or Rights
in order to make any changes which the Board of Directors acting in good
faith may deem necessary or desirable. Notwithstanding anything
in this Section 5.5 to the contrary, no such
amendment, supplement or restatement shall be made to the provisions of Article 4 except with the written
concurrence of the Rights Agent to such amendment, supplement or
restatement.
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(b)
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Subject
to Subsection 5.5(a), the Corporation may,
with the prior consent of the holders of Voting Shares obtained as set
forth below, at any time prior to the Separation
Time, amend, supplement, restate or rescind any of the provisions of this
Agreement and the Rights (whether or not such action would materially
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights
generally). Such consent shall be deemed to have been given if
the action requiring such approval is authorized by the affirmative vote
of a majority of the votes cast by Independent Shareholders present or
represented at and entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of Voting
Shares duly called and held in compliance with applicable laws and the
articles and by-laws of the
Corporation.
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(c)
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Subject
to Subsection 5.5(a), the Corporation may,
with the prior consent of the holders of Rights obtained as set forth
below, at any time after the Separation Time, amend, supplement, restate
or rescind any of the provisions of this Agreement and the Rights (whether
or not such action would materially adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights generally). Such consent shall be deemed to
have been given if the action requiring such approval is authorized by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Rights
(other than any holder of Rights whose Rights have become null and void
pursuant to the provisions hereof) present or represented at and entitled
to vote at a meeting of the holders of Rights. For the purposes
hereof, the procedures for the calling, holding and conduct of a meeting
of the holders of Rights shall be those, as nearly as may be, which are
provided in the Corporation’s by-laws with respect to meetings of its
shareholders and each Right shall be entitled to one vote at any such
meeting.
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(d)
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Any
amendments, supplements or restatements made by the Corporation to this
Agreement pursuant to Subsection 5.5(a) which
are required to maintain the validity and effectiveness of this Agreement
as a result of any change in any applicable laws, rules or regulatory
requirements shall:
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(i)
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if
made before the Separation Time, be submitted to the holders of Voting
Shares at the next meeting of holders of Voting Shares and the holders of
Voting Shares may, by the majority referred to in Subsection 5.5(b), confirm or reject such amendment,
supplement or restatement; and
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(ii)
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if
made after the Separation Time, be submitted to the holders of Rights at a
meeting to be called and held in accordance with the provisions of
Subsection 5.5(c) and the holders of Rights
may, by a majority referred to in Subsection 5.5(c), confirm or reject such amendment,
supplement or restatement.
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Any such
amendment, supplement or restatement shall, unless the Board of Directors
otherwise stipulates, be effective from the date of the resolution of the Board
of Directors adopting such amendment, supplement or restatement, until it is
confirmed or rejected or until it ceases to be effective (as described in the
next sentence) and, where such amendment, supplement or restatement is
confirmed, it shall continue in effect in the form so confirmed. If
such amendment, supplement or
restatement is rejected by the holders of Voting Shares or the holders of Rights
or is not submitted to the holders of Voting Shares or holders of Rights as
required, then such amendment, supplement or restatement shall cease to be
effective from and after the termination of the meeting at which it was rejected
or to which it should have been but was not submitted or if such a meeting of
the holders of Rights is not called within 90 days after the date of the
resolution of the Board of Directors adopting such amendment, supplement or
restatement, at the end of such period, and no subsequent resolution of the
Board of Directors to amend, supplement or restate this Agreement to
substantially the same effect shall be effective until confirmed by the holders
of Voting Shares or holders of Rights as the case may be.
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(e)
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The
Corporation shall give notice in writing to the Rights Agent of any
amendment, supplement or restatement to this Agreement pursuant to Section
5.5 within five Business Days of the date of
any such amendment, supplement or restatement, provided that failure to
give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of
any such amendment, supplement or
restatement.
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5.6 Fractional
Rights and Fractional Shares
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(a)
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The
Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional
Rights. Subject to Section 5.3,
after the Separation Time there shall be paid to the registered holders of
the Rights Certificates with regard to which fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
Market Price at the Separation Time of a whole Right in lieu of such
fractional Rights. The Rights Agent shall have no obligation to
make any payments in lieu of fractional Rights unless the Corporation
shall have provided the Rights Agent with the necessary funds to pay in
full all amounts payable in accordance with Subsection 2.2(e).
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(b)
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The
Corporation shall not be required to issue fractional Common Shares upon
exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional Common Shares. In lieu of issuing fractional Common
Shares, the Corporation shall pay to the registered holder of Rights
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided, an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Market Price at the date
of such exercise of one Common Share. The Rights Agent shall
have no obligation to make any payments in lieu of fractional Voting
Shares unless the Corporation shall have provided the Rights Agent with
the necessary funds to pay in full all amounts payable in accordance with
Subsection 2.2(e).
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5.7 Rights
of Action
Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, rights of action in respect of this Agreement,
other than rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the
respective holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the
consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of
any other Rights, may, on such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own
benefit and the benefit of other holders of Rights, enforce, and may institute
and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Corporation to enforce,
or otherwise act in respect of, such holder’s right to exercise such holder’s
Rights, or Rights to which such holder is entitled, in the manner provided in
such holder’s 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 will be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of, the obligations of any Person subject to this
Agreement.
5.8 Holder
of Rights Not Deemed a Shareholder
No
holder, as such, of any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or
be deemed for any purpose the holder of Common Shares or any other securities
which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of such Rights, nor shall
anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer
upon the holder of any Rights, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of
the Corporation or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold
consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other
actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 5.9), or to receive dividends or subscription rights
or otherwise, until such Rights, or Rights to which such holder is entitled,
shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
5.9 Notice
of Proposed Actions
If after
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time:
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(i)
|
there
shall occur an adjustment in the rights attaching to the Rights pursuant
to Section 3.1 as a result of the occurrence
of a Flip-in Event; or
|
|
(ii)
|
the
Corporation proposes to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the
Corporation’s assets;
|
then, in
each such case, the Corporation shall give to each holder of a Right, in
accordance with Section 5.10, a notice of such
event or proposed action, which shall specify the date on which such adjustment
to the Rights occurred or liquidation, dissolution or winding up is to take
place, and such notice shall be so given within 10 Business Days after the
occurrence of an adjustment to the Rights and not less than 20 Business Days
prior to the date of taking such proposed action by the
Corporation.
5.10 Notices
Notices
or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Corporation shall be
sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by mail, postage prepaid or by
fax (with, in the case of fax, an original
copy of the notice or demand sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the
Corporation following the giving of the notice or demand by fax) or addressed
(until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as
follows:
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx. Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx
X0X
0X0
Attention: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Fax
No.: 000-000-0000
Notices
or demands to be given or made in connection with this Agreement by the
Corporation or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights Agent shall be
sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by mail, postage prepaid, or by
fax (with, in the case of fax, an original copy of the notice or demand sent by
first class mail, postage prepaid, to the Rights Agent following the giving of
the notice or demand by fax), addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Corporation) as follows:
CIBC
Mellon Trust Company
000 Xxx
Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx
X0X
0X0
Attention: Vice-President
Trust Services
Eastern Region
Fax
No.: 000-000-0000
Notices
or demands to be given or made in connection with this Agreement by the
Corporation or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights shall be
sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first class mail, postage
prepaid, or by fax (with, in the case of fax, an original copy of the notice or
demand sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such holder following the
giving of the notice or demand by fax), addressed to such holder at the address
of such holder as it appears upon the register of the Rights Agent or, prior to
the Separation Time, on the register of the Corporation for the Common
Shares.
Any
notice given or made in accordance with this Section 5.10 shall be deemed to have been given and to have
been received on the day of delivery, if so delivered, on the third Business Day
(excluding each day during which there exists any general interruption of postal
service due to strike, lockout or other cause) following the mailing thereof, if
so mailed, and on the day of faxing (provided such sending is during the normal
business hours of the addressee on a Business Day and if not, on the first
Business Day thereafter). Each of the Corporation and the Rights
Agent may from time to time change its address for notice by notice to the other
given in the manner aforesaid.
If mail
service is or is threatened to be interrupted at a time when the Corporation or
the Rights Agent wishes to give a notice or demand hereunder to or on the
holders of the Rights, the Corporation or the Rights Agent may, notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.10, give
such notice by means, of publication once in each of two successive weeks in the
business section of the Financial Post and, so long as the Corporation has a
transfer agent in the United States, in a daily publication in the United States
designated by the Corporation, or in such other publication or publications as
may be designated by the Corporation and notice so published shall be deemed to
have been given on the date on which the first publication of such notice in any
such publication has taken place.
5.11 Costs
of Enforcement
The
Corporation agrees that, if the Corporation fails to fulfil any of its
obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then the Corporation will reimburse the
holder of any Rights for the costs and expenses (including legal fees)
reasonably incurred by such holder in actions to enforce his rights pursuant to
any Rights or this Agreement.
5.12 Successors
All the
covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the
Corporation or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their
respective successors and assigns hereunder.
5.13 Benefits
of this Agreement
Nothing
in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the
Corporation, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; this Agreement shall be
for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Corporation, the Rights Agent and the
holders of the Rights.
5.14 Governing
Law
This
Agreement and each Right issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the laws of the Province of Ontario and for all purposes shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of such province applicable to
contracts to be made and performed entirely within such province.
5.15 Language
Les parties aux présentes ont exigé
que la présente convention ainsi que tous les documents et avis qui s’y
rattachent et/ou qui en découleront soient rédigés en langue
anglaise. The parties hereto have required that this Agreement
and all documents and notices related thereto and/or resulting therefrom be
drawn up in the English language.
5.16 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.
5.17 Severability
If any
term or provision hereof or the application thereof to any circumstance shall,
in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, such term or
provision shall be ineffective as to such jurisdiction to the extent of such
invalidity or unenforceability without invalidating or rendering unenforceable
the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the application of such term or
provision to circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or
unenforceable.
5.18 Determinations
and Actions by the Board of Directors
All
actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including all
omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board of
Directors in good faith pursuant to this Agreement, shall not subject the Board
of Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
5.19 Effective
Date and Expiration Time
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(a)
|
Notwithstanding
its amendment and restatement as at the date hereof, and subject to
Subsection 5.19(b), this
Agreement:
|
|
(i)
|
shall
be effective and in full force and effect in accordance with its terms
from and after the Effective Date and shall replace and supercede the 2006
Plan, and shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties
pertaining to the subject matter hereof as of the Effective Date;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
shall
expire and be of no further force or effect from and after the Close of
Business on the date (the “Expiration Time”) that
is the earlier of (x) the Termination Time, and (y) the date upon which
the annual meeting of the holders of Voting Shares terminates in
2012.
|
|
(b)
|
Notwithstanding
Subsection 5.19(a) this Agreement is not
approved by a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast by
Independent Shareholders who vote in respect of approval of this Agreement
at the annual meeting of holders of Voting Shares schedule to be held on
March 12, 2009, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, then the
2006 Plan, this Agreement and all outstanding Rights shall terminate and
be void and of no further force and effect from and after the Effective
Date.
|
5.20
|
Regulatory
Approval
|
Any
obligation of the Corporation or action or event contemplated by this Agreement,
or any amendment, supplement or restatement of this Agreement, shall be subject
to applicable law and to the receipt of any requisite approval or consent from
any governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction including, while
any securities of the Corporation are listed and admitted to trading thereon,
the TSX. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any
issuance or delivery of Common Shares upon the exercise of Rights and any
amendment to this Agreement shall be subject to any required prior consent of
the stock exchange(s) on which the Corporation is from time to time
listed.
5.21 Time
of the Essence
Time
shall be of the essence of this Agreement.
5.22 Declaration
as to Non-Canadian Holders
If in the
opinion of the Board of Directors (who may rely on the advice of counsel) any
action or event contemplated by this Agreement would require compliance with the
securities laws or comparable legislation of a jurisdiction outside of Canada or
the United States, the Board of Directors acting in good faith may take such
actions as it may deem appropriate to ensure such compliance. In no
event shall the Corporation or the Rights Agent be required to issue or deliver
Rights or securities issuable on the exercise of Rights to Persons who are
citizens, residents or nationals of any jurisdiction other than Canada or the
United States in which such issue or delivery would be unlawful without
registration or the relevant Persons or securities for such purposes, or (until
such notice is given as required by law) without advance notice to any
regulatory or self-regulatory body.
5.23 Fiduciary
Duties of the Directors
Nothing
contained herein shall be construed to suggest or imply that the Board of
Directors shall not be entitled to recommend that holders of the Voting Shares
and/or Convertible Securities reject or accept any Take-over Bid or take any
other action including the commencement, prosecution, defence or settlement of
any litigation and the solicitation of additional or alternative Take-over Bids
or other proposals to shareholders that the directors believe are necessary or
appropriate in the exercise of their fiduciary duties.
5.24 Privacy
Legislation
The
parties acknowledge that federal and/or provincial legislation that addresses
the protection of individual’s personal information (collectively, “Privacy Laws”) applies to
obligations and activities under this Agreement. Despite any other
provision of this Agreement, neither party shall take or direct any action that
would contravene, or cause the other to contravene, applicable Privacy
Laws. The Corporation shall, prior to transferring or causing to be
transferred personal information to the Rights Agent, obtain and retain required
consents of the relevant individuals to the collection, use and disclosure of
their personal information, or shall have determined that such consents either
have previously been given upon which the parties
can rely or are not required under the Privacy Laws. The Rights Agent
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that its services hereunder
comply with Privacy Laws.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date
first above written.
By:
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/s / Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
||
Title:
Senior Vice-President, Legal & Corporate
Secretary
|
||
By:
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||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
||
CIBC
MELLON TRUST COMPANY
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Xxx Xxx | |
Name:
Xxx Xxx
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||
Title:
Authorized Signatory
|
||
By:
|
/s/ X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Name:
T. Taccacogna
|
||
Title:
Authorized Signatory
|
EXHIBIT
A
(Form of
Rights Certificate)
Certificate
No. Rights
THE
RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE CORPORATION, ON THE TERMS
SET FORTH IN THE SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES (SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION 3.1(b) OF THE SHAREHOLDER
PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT), RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON
OR ITS AFFILIATES OR ASSOCIATES OR ANY PERSON ACTING JOINTLY OR IN CONCERT WITH
ANY OF THEM (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID
WITHOUT FURTHER ACTION.
Rights
Certificate
This
certifies
that ,
or registered assigns, is the registered holder of the number of Rights set
forth above, each of which entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to
the terms, provisions and conditions of the Amended and Restated Shareholder
Protection Rights Agreement dated as of March 12, 2009, amending and restating
the Amended and Restated Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement dated as of
March 9, 2006, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the
“Rights Agreement”)
between MDS Inc., a
corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada (the “Corporation”), and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, a
trust company incorporated under the laws of Canada, as Rights Agent (the
“Rights Agent”, which term shall include any successor Rights Agent under the
Rights Agreement), to purchase from the Corporation at any time after the
Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement), one fully paid common share of the Corporation (a “Common
Share”) at the Exercise Price referred to below, upon presentation and surrender
of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Exercise duly executed
and submitted to the Rights Agent at its principal office in Toronto, Ontario
or, with the approval of the Rights Agent, at any other office of the Rights
Agent in the cities designated from time to time by the
Corporation. Until adjustment thereof in certain events as provided
in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price shall be $<*> (Canadian)
per Right.
In
certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, each Right evidenced
hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase more or less than
one Common Share, all as provided in the Rights Agreement.
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 thereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Corporation and the holders of the Rights. Copies
of the Rights Agreement are on file at the registered office of the Corporation
and are available upon written request.
This
Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at
any of the 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 an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number
of Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
surrendered. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part,
the registered 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 be, and under certain circumstances are required to be, redeemed
by the Corporation at a redemption price of $0.00001 (Canadian) per Right,
subject to adjustment in certain events.
No
fractional Common Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights
evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof, a cash payment will be made, as provided
in the Rights Agreement.
No holder
of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Common Shares or any other
securities which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise hereof, nor shall
anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon
the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the
Corporation or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold
consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meeting or other
actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or
to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the 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 by the Rights Agent.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Certificate to be duly executed as
of , .
By:
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||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
CIBC
MELLON TRUST COMPANY
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
(To be
attached to each Rights Certificate)
FORM
OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
TO:
The
undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to
exercise whole
Rights represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the Common
Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates
for such shares be issued in the name of:
________________________
Name
________________________
Address
Social
Insurance, Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification
Number ________________
DATED:
______________________________________
Signature
(Signature
must correspond to name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever)
_____________________________
Signature
Guaranteed
In Canada and the US: a
Medallion Guarantee obtained from a member of an acceptable Medallion Guarantee
Program (STAMP, SEMP or MSP). Many banks, credit unions and broker dealers are
members of a Medallion Guarantee Program. The guarantor must affix a stamp in
the space above bearing the actual words “Medallion Guaranteed”.
In Canada: a Signature
Guarantee obtained from a major Canadian Schedule I bank that is not a member of
a Medallion Guarantee Program. The guarantor must affix a stamp in the space
above bearing the actual words “Signature Guaranteed”.
Outside Canada and the US:
holders must obtain a guarantee from a local financial institution that has a
corresponding affiliate in Canada or the US that is a member of an acceptable
Medallion Guarantee Program. The corresponding affiliate must over-guarantee the
guarantee provided by the local financial institution.
(To be
completed if true)
The
undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
Common Shares, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not,
and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially Owned by
an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any Person acting
jointly or in concert with any of the foregoing (all as defined in the Rights
Agreement).
______________________
Signature
NOTICE
In the
event the certification set forth above is not completed, the Corporation will
deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to
be an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, accordingly,
such Rights shall be null and void and not transferable or
exercisable.
(To be
executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate.)
FORM
OF ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE
RECEIVED __________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
_________________________________________________
(please
print name and address of transferee)
the
Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and
interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________________________
attorney, to transfer the within Rights on the books of the within-named
Corporation, with full power of substitution.
DATED:
____________________________________
Signature
(Signature
must correspond to name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever)
__________________________
Signature
Guaranteed
In Canada and the US: a
Medallion Guarantee obtained from a member of an acceptable Medallion Guarantee
Program (STAMP, SEMP or MSP). Many banks, credit unions and broker dealers are
members of a Medallion Guarantee Program. The guarantor must affix a stamp in
the space above bearing the actual words “Medallion Guaranteed”.
In Canada: a Signature
Guarantee obtained from a major Canadian Schedule I bank that is not a member of
a Medallion Guarantee Program. The guarantor must affix a stamp in the space
above bearing the actual words “Signature Guaranteed”.
Outside Canada and the US:
holders must obtain a guarantee from a local financial institution that has a
corresponding affiliate in Canada or the US that is a member of an acceptable
Medallion Guarantee Program. The corresponding affiliate must over-guarantee the
guarantee provided by the local financial institution.
(To be
completed if true)
The
undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
Common Shares, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not,
and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially Owned by
an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any Person acting
jointly or in concert with any of the foregoing (as defined in the Rights
Agreement).
_____________________________________
Signature
NOTICE
In the
event the certification set forth above is not completed, the Corporation will
deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to
be an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, accordingly,
such Rights shall be null and void and not transferable or
exercisable.