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AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES L.L.C., as Rights Agent
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of July 31, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights, Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares and Number
of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Section 15. Rights of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 23. Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 24. Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Section 26. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 28. Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 31. Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 32. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 33. Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Section 34. Descriptive Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Rights Agreement, dated as of July 31, 1998 ("Agreement"), between
American Management Systems, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the
"Corporation"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services L.L.C., as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Corporation has authorized and declared
a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each share of
Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Corporation outstanding as of the
Close of Business (as defined below) on August 10, 1998 (the "Record Date"),
each Right representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth (subject to
adjustment) of a share of Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined), upon the
terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has further
authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as
provided herein) with respect to each share of Common Stock that shall become
outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date
and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined); provided,
however, that Rights may be issued with respect to shares of Common Stock that
shall become outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior to the
Expiration Date in accordance with Section 22.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meaning indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term
is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include an Exempt Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined); provided, however, that (i) if the Board of Directors of
the Corporation determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be
an "Acquiring Person" became such inadvertently (including, without limitation,
because (A) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of
Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person"
or (B) such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of
Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial
Ownership under this Agreement) and without any intention of changing or
influencing control of the Corporation, and if such Person as promptly as
practicable divested or divests itself of Beneficial Ownership of a sufficient
number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an
"Acquiring Person," then such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have
become an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement; (ii) if, as of
the date hereof or prior to the first public announcement of the adoption of
this Agreement, any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the shares of Common Stock outstanding, such Person shall not be deemed to be
or to become an "Acquiring Person" unless and until such time as such Person
shall, after the first public announcement of the adoption of this Agreement,
become the Beneficial Owner of additional shares of Common Stock (other than
pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Corporation on the
outstanding Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the
outstanding Common Stock), unless,
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upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of Common Stock,
such Person is not then the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding; and (iii) no Person shall become an "Acquiring
Person" as the result of an acquisition of shares of Common Stock by the
Corporation which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the
proportionate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such
Person to 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, provided,
however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the shares of Common Stock then outstanding by reason of such share
acquisitions by the Corporation and shall thereafter become the Beneficial
Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock (other than pursuant to a
dividend or distribution paid or made by the Corporation on the outstanding
Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common
Stock), then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" unless
upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of Common Stock
such Person does not beneficially own 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including
for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding
shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be
made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General
Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date hereof.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, shall be
deemed to have "Beneficial Ownership" of and shall be deemed to "beneficially
own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates is deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, within the
meaning of Rule l3d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange
Act as in effect on the date hereof;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (x)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf
of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase, (y) securities which such Person
has a right to acquire upon the exercise of Rights at any time prior to the
time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (z) securities issuable
upon the exercise of Rights from and after the time that any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person if such Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to
Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof ("Original Rights") or pursuant to Section
11(i) or Section 11(n) with respect to an adjustment to Original Rights; or (B)
the right to vote pursuant
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to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any
security by reason of such agreement, arrangement or understanding if the
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely
from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public
proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is
not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
by any other Person and with respect to which such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters
and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of
securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent
contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of such
securities of the Corporation;
provided, however, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned" (as defined in this Section l(c)), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director
or employee of an Exempt Person.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the
city in which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
New York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" when used with reference to the Corporation
shall mean the Common Stock, presently par value $.01 per share, of the
Corporation. "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than
the Corporation shall mean the common stock (or, in the case of an
unincorporated entity, the equivalent equity interest) with the greatest voting
power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a subsidiary of another
Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned
Person.
(g) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(h) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(i) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
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(j) "equivalent preferred shares" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(b) hereof.
(k) "Exempt Person" shall mean the Corporation or any Subsidiary
(as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Corporation, in each case
including, without limitation, in its fiduciary capacity, or any employee
benefit plan of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary of the Corporation, or any
Person or trustee holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan or for the purpose of funding any such plan or funding other employee
benefits for employees of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary of the
Corporation.
(l) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
24 hereof.
(m) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7 hereof.
(n) "Flip-In Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(o) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7 hereof.
(p) "NASDAQ" shall mean The Nasdaq Stock Market.
(q) "New York Stock Exchange" shall mean the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc.
(r) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity, and shall
include any successor (by merger or otherwise) to such entity.
(s) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Corporation having the rights
and preferences set forth in the Form of Certificate of Designation attached to
this Agreement as Exhibit A.
(t) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(b) hereof.
(u) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4
hereof.
(v) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7 hereof.
(w) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23 hereof.
(x) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(y) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(z) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(aa) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(bb) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by
the Corporation or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become
such, or such earlier date as a majority of the Board of Directors shall become
aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person.
(cc) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons
performing similar functions are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person, and any corporation or other entity that is otherwise controlled
by such Person.
(dd) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ee) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) hereof.
(ff) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) hereof.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Corporation hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Corporation in accordance
with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. The Corporation may from time to time appoint such co-Rights
Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) the tenth
day after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth Business Day (or such
later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to
such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of the
commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or of the first
public announcement of the intention of such Person (other than an Exempt
Person) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would
result in any Person (other than an Exempt Person) becoming the Beneficial
Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 15% or more of the Common Stock
then outstanding (the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the
"Distribution Date", provided, however, that if either of such dates occurs
after the date of this Agreement and on or prior to the Record Date, then the
Distribution Date shall be the Record Date), (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for
Common Stock registered in the names of the holders thereof and not by separate
Right Certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection
with the transfer of Common Stock. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, the Corporation will notify the Rights Agent thereof, will
prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign and the Corporation will
send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested and presented
with a shareholder list by the Transfer Agent of the Common
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Stock, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record
holder of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date
(other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person), at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Corporation,
a Right Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right
Certificate"), evidencing one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein)
for each share of Common Stock so held. As of the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Corporation will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of
Preferred Stock, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of
Rights"), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common
Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record Date (other than any Acquiring
Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person), at the address
of such holder shown on the records of the Corporation. With respect to
certificates for Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered
in the names of the holders thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until
the Distribution Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for
transfer of any certificate for Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date,
with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented thereby.
(c) Certificates issued for Common Stock (including, without
limitation, upon transfer of outstanding Common Stock, disposition of Common
Stock out of treasury stock or issuance or reissuance of Common Stock out of
authorized but unissued shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier
of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date shall have impressed on,
printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between American
Management Systems, Incorporated (the "Corporation") and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services L.L.C., as Rights Agent, dated as of July 31,
1998 and as amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the
terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy
of which is on file at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and
will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Corporation will
mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement
without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under
certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights
owned by or transferred to any Person who is or becomes an Acquiring
Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and certain transferees
thereof will become null and void and will no longer be transferable.
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With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate, except as otherwise provided
herein, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented thereby. In the event that the Corporation purchases
or otherwise acquires any Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the
Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Stock shall be deemed
canceled and retired so that the Corporation shall not be entitled to exercise
any Rights associated with the Common Stock which are no longer outstanding.
Notwithstanding this paragraph (c), the omission of a legend shall not
affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any
holder of the Rights.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and
the forms of election to purchase shares and of assignment to be printed on the
reverse thereof) shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B
hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Corporation may deem
appropriate and which do not affect the duties or responsibilities of the
Rights Agent and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed or quoted, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of
this Agreement, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to
purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as
shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the number of
such one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and the Purchase Price
shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Corporation by the President of the Corporation, either manually or by
facsimile signature, shall have affixed thereto the Corporation's seal or a
facsimile thereof and shall be attested by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary
of the Corporation, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right
Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not
be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the
Corporation who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to
be such officer of the Corporation before countersignature by the Rights Agent
and issuance and delivery by the Corporation, such Right Certificates,
nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered
by the Corporation with the same force and effect as though the Person who
signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the
Corporation; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the
Corporation by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of such
Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Corporation to sign such
Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any
such Person was not such an officer.
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(b) Following the Distribution Date and receipt by the Rights
Agent of the list of record holders of Rights, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at an office or agency designated for such purpose, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right
Certificates and the date of each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at any time after
the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, any Right Certificate
or Right Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the registered
holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled
such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the
Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case
may be, as so requested. The Corporation may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right
Certificates. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation under this
Section unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charges
have been paid.
(b) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at any time after
the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, upon receipt by the
Corporation and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of
the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case
of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory
to them, and, at the Corporation's request, reimbursement to the Corporation
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate if
mutilated, the Corporation will make and deliver a new Right Certificate of
like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of
the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights, Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall become
exercisable on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the registered holder of
any Right Certificate may, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and except as
otherwise provided herein, exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in
part upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to
purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the
office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
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Stock (or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to
which the Rights are exercised, at any time which is both after the
Distribution Date and prior to the time (the "Expiration Date") that is the
earliest of (i) the Close of Business on July 30, 2008 (the "Final Expiration
Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section
23 hereof (the "Redemption Date") or (iii) the time at which such Rights are
exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price shall be initially $185 for each one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. The Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock or other securities or property to be acquired upon exercise of
a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United
States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 7.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, upon receipt of a Right
Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to
purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the aggregate Purchase Price
for the shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax or governmental charge required to be paid by the
holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof, in cash
or by certified check, cashier's check or money order payable to the order of
the Corporation, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition
from any transfer agent of the Preferred Stock certificates for the number of
shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Corporation hereby
irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or
(B) requisition from a depositary agent appointed by the Corporation depositary
receipts representing interests in such number of one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for
the Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the
transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Corporation hereby directs
any such depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate,
requisition from the Corporation the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of
issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii)
promptly after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the
same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by
such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt, promptly deliver such
cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) Except as otherwise provided herein, in case the registered
holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all of the Rights
evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the
exercisable Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to
the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized
assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Corporation shall be obligated to undertake
any action with respect to a registered holder of Rights upon the occurrence of
any purported transfer or exercise of Rights pursuant to Section 6 hereof or
this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) properly completed
and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment or form of
election to
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purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered
for such transfer or exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) thereof as the
Corporation or Rights Agent shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Corporation or to any of
its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled
form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no
Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Corporation shall
deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights
Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or
acquired by the Corporation otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The
Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Corporation,
or shall, at the written request of the Corporation, destroy such canceled
Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Corporation.
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock.
(a) The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock or any shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury, the
number of shares of Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the
exercise of Rights may be listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ, the Corporation shall use its best
efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable,
all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed or admitted to trading on
such exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ, upon official notice of issuance upon such
exercise.
(c) From and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, the
Corporation shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to permit the
issuance of shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights, to register
and qualify such shares of Preferred Stock under the Securities Act and any
applicable state securities or "Blue Sky" laws (to the extent exemptions
therefrom are not available), cause such registration statement and
qualifications to become effective as soon as possible after such filing and
keep such registration and qualifications effective until the earlier of the
date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities and
the Expiration Date. The Corporation may temporarily suspend, for a period of
time not to exceed 90 days, the exercisability of the Rights in order to
prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act and permit
it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Corporation shall issue
a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been
temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect and shall promptly provide the Rights Agent a
copy of such announcements. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless
the
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requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until
a registration statement under the Securities Act (if required) shall have been
declared effective.
(d) The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will take all
such action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock
delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the
certificates therefor (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and
validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
(e) The Corporation further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all transfer taxes and charges which may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of
any shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights. The Corporation
shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax or charge which may be
payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a
Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary
receipts for the Preferred Stock in a name other than that of, the registered
holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or
to issue or deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Stock
upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any
such tax being payable by that holder of such Right Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Corporation's reasonable
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name
any certificate for Preferred Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall
for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares of
Preferred Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated,
the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer
taxes or charges) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such
surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock 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 Preferred Stock transfer books of the
Corporation are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby,
the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a
holder of Preferred Stock for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including,
without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends or other
distributions, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any
proceedings of the Corporation, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares
and Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of each Right
and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to
time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the date
of this Agreement (A) declare and pay a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable
in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock,
(C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares of
Preferred Stock or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Corporation is the
continuing or
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surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the
Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of
the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and
the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such
time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of
capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such
date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Corporation
were open, the holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to
receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration
to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value
of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation issuable upon exercise of one
Right.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person (the first occurrence of such event being
referred to hereinafter as the "Flip-In Event"), then (A) the Purchase Price
shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the
Flip-In Event multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
Flip-In Event, whether or not such Right was then exercisable, and (B) each
holder of a Right, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a)(ii) and
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price equal to the Purchase Price (as so adjusted), in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred
Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained
by dividing the Purchase Price (as so adjusted) by 50% of the current per share
market price of the Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
on the date of such Flip-In Event; provided, however, that the Purchase Price
(as so adjusted) and the number of shares of Common Stock so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall, following the Flip-In Event, be subject to further
adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, however, from and
after the Flip-In Event, any Rights that are beneficially owned by (x) any
Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person), (y) a
transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who
becomes a transferee after the Flip-In Event or (z) a transferee of any
Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who became a transferee
prior to or concurrently with the Flip-In Event pursuant to either (I) a
transfer from the Acquiring Person to holders of its equity securities or to
any Person with whom it has any continuing agreement, arrangement or
understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (II) a transfer which the
Corporation's Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement
or understanding which has the purpose or effect of avoiding the provisions of
this paragraph, and subsequent transferees of such Persons, shall be null and
void without any further action and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter
have no rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights under any provision of
this Agreement. The Corporation shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure
that the provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii) are complied with, but shall have
no liability nor shall the Rights Agent have any liability to any holder of
Right Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any
determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder. From and after the Flip-In Event, no
Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 6 hereof
that represents Rights that are or have become null and void pursuant to the
provisions of this paragraph, and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights
Agent that represents Rights that
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are or have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph
(with a notice of such delivered therewith) shall be canceled. From and after
the occurrence of an event specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that
theretofore have not been exercised pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii) shall
thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and not pursuant
to this Section 11(a)(ii).
(iii) The Corporation may at its option substitute for a share of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii) a number of shares of Preferred Stock or fraction
thereof such that the current per share market price of one share of Preferred
Stock multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current per share
market price of one share of Common Stock. In the event that there shall not
be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized
but unissued to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with
the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Corporation's Board of Directors shall, to
the extent permitted by applicable law and any material agreements then in
effect to which the Corporation is a party (A) determine the excess (such
excess, the "Spread") of (1) the value of the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of a Right in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii)
(the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance
with the foregoing subparagraph (ii)), and (B) with respect to each Right
(other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the foregoing
subparagraph (ii)), make adequate provision to substitute for the shares of
Common Stock issuable in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) upon
exercise of the Right and payment of the Purchase Price (as adjusted in
accordance therewith), (1) cash, (2) a reduction in such Purchase Price, (3)
shares of Preferred Stock or other equity securities of the Corporation
(including, without limitation, shares or fractions of shares of preferred
stock which, by virtue of having dividend, voting and liquidation rights
substantially comparable to those of the shares of Common Stock, are deemed in
good faith by the Corporation's Board of Directors to have substantially the
same value as the shares of Common Stock (such shares of Preferred Stock and
shares or fractions of shares of preferred stock are hereinafter referred to as
"Common Stock Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Corporation, (5) other
assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having a value which, when
added to the value of the shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of such
Right, shall have an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the
amount of any reduction in such Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has
been determined by the Board of Directors upon the advice of a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected in good faith by the Board of
Directors; provided, however, that if the Corporation shall not make adequate
provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days
following the Flip-In Event (the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the
Corporation shall be obligated to deliver, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to which the
Corporation is a party, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without
requiring payment of such Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent
available), and then, if necessary, such number or fractions of shares of
Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which
shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If, upon the
occurrence of the Flip-In Event, the Board of Directors shall determine in good
faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could
be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, then, if the
Board of Directors so elects, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be
extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the
Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Corporation may seek
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stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such
thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended, is herein called the
"Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Corporation determines that
some action need be taken pursuant to the second and/or third sentence of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the Corporation (x) shall provide, subject to Section
11(a)(ii) hereof and the last sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, that
such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend
the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution
Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide
the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such second
sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such
suspension, the Corporation shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as issue a
public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect and
shall promptly provide the Rights Agent a copy of such announcements. For
purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the shares of Common Stock
shall be the current per share market price (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d)(i)) on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the per share or fractional
value of any "Common Stock Equivalent" shall be deemed to equal the current per
share market price of the Common Stock. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation may, but shall not be required to, establish procedures to allocate
the right to receive shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Rights
among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(a)(iii).
(b) In case the Corporation shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock
entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record
date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or shares having the same
rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock ("equivalent
preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or
equivalent preferred shares at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
equivalent preferred shares (or having a conversion price per share, if a
security convertible into shares of Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred
shares) less than the then current per share market price of the Preferred
Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date, the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of
Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred shares
which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred
Stock and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be
the number of shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of
Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation issuable
upon exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the
value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board
of Directors of the Corporation, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent. Shares of Preferred Stock and
equivalent preferred shares owned by or held for the account of the
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Corporation shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such
computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record
date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not
so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Corporation shall fix a record date for the making
of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Stock (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a
dividend payable in Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be
in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the then current per share market price of the
Preferred Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record
date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or
evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights
or warrants applicable to one share of Preferred Stock, and the denominator of
which shall be such current per share market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) of the Preferred Stock; provided, however, that in no
event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less
than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation
to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be
the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d)(i) Except as otherwise provided herein, for the purpose of any
computation hereunder, the "current per share market price " of any security (a
"Security " for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be
deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security
for the 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined)
immediately prior to but not including such date; provided, however, that in
the event that the current per share market price of the Security is determined
during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of
(A) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such
Security or securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any subdivision,
combination or reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration
of 30 Trading Days after but not including the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination
or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per share market
price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per
share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported by the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national
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securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported
by NASDAQ or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the
Security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid
and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in
the Security selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The term
"Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities
exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the
transaction of business or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, if the Preferred
Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred
Stock shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in Section
11(d)(i). If the Preferred Stock is not publicly traded but the Common Stock
is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred Stock
shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market price of the
Common Stock as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) multiplied by the then
applicable Adjustment Number (as defined in and determined in accordance with
the Certificate of Designation for the Preferred Stock). If neither the Common
Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly traded, "current per share market
price" shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation, whose determination shall be described
in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless
such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the
Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this
Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken
into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section
11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one hundred-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock or one-hundredth of a share of Common Stock or
other share or security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence
of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made
no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction
which requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock of the Corporation other than the Preferred
Stock, thereafter the Purchase Price and the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a),
11(b), 11(c), 11(e), 11(h), 11(i) and 11(m) hereof, as applicable, and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred
Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Corporation subsequent to
any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of
a share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon
exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
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(h) Unless the Corporation shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and 11(c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
one hundred-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share purchasable upon
the exercise of a Right immediately prior to such adjustment by (y) the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment and (ii) dividing
the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment.
(i) The Corporation may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price pursuant to Sections 11(b) or 11(c) hereof to
adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number
of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the
exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of
the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately
prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment
of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the
nearest one-hundredth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Corporation
shall make a public announcement (and promptly deliver a copy of such
announcement to the Rights Agent) of its election to adjust the number of
Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the
time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. Such record date may be the
date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the
Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the
date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon
each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Corporation may, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders
of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Corporation, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Corporation, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of
Right Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price
or the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable
upon the exercise of a Right, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock which were expressed in the
initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the fraction
of Preferred Stock or other shares
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of capital stock issuable upon exercise of a Right, the Corporation shall take
any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in
order that the Corporation may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock or other such shares at such adjusted
Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Corporation may elect to defer, and shall provide the
Rights Agent with notice of such election, until the occurrence of such event
issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the
Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Corporation, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Stock and other
capital stock or securities of the Corporation, if any, issuable upon such
exercise on the basis of the Purchase 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 shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Corporation shall be entitled to make such adjustments in the Purchase
Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11,
as and to the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be
advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred
Stock, issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than
the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Stock or
securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for
Preferred Stock, dividends on Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred
Stock or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in
Section 11(b), hereafter made by the Corporation to holders of its Preferred
Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in
the event that at any time after the date of this Rights Agreement and prior to
the Distribution Date, the Corporation shall (i) declare and pay any dividend
on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or (ii) effect a subdivision,
combination or consolidation of the Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of a dividend payable in Common Stock) into a greater
or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then, in each such case, the number
of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or
issued or delivered thereafter, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the
number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock
following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior
to such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the
event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
(o) The Corporation agrees that, after the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date, it will not, except as
permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to
take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably
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foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or eliminate the
benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 13 hereof,
the Corporation shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment, and a brief statement of the facts and computations accounting for
such adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent
for the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock a copy of such certificate and (c)
mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in
accordance with Section 25 hereof (if so required under Section 25 hereof).
The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate
and on any adjustment therein contained and shall have no duty with respect to
and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and
until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after the
Flip-In Event (i) the Corporation shall consolidate with or shall merge into
any other Person, (ii) any Person shall merge with and into the Corporation and
the Corporation shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger
and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Stock shall be
changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or
of the Corporation) or cash or any other property, or (iii) the Corporation
shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell
or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Corporation and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person (other than the
Corporation or one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Corporation), then
upon the first occurrence of such event, proper provision shall be made so
that: (A) each holder of a Right (other than Rights which have become void
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at the Purchase Price (as theretofore
adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof), in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock or Common
Stock of the Corporation, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully
paid, non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the
Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject to any
liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall
equal the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price (as theretofore
adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) by 50% of the current per
share market price of the Common Stock of such Principal Party (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; provided, however, that the Purchase
Price (as theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) and
the number of shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in
accordance with Section 11(f) hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect
of the Common Stock of such Principal Party after the occurrence of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (B) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Corporation
pursuant to this Rights Agreement; (C) the term "Corporation" shall thereafter
be deemed to refer to such
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Principal Party; and (D) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its shares of
Common Stock in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such
consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may
be, in relation to the shares of its Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon
the exercise of the Rights; provided that, upon the subsequent occurrence of
any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets or other extraordinary
transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall
thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the
Purchase Price as provided in this Section 13(a), such cash, shares, rights,
warrants and other property which such holder would have been entitled to
receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the Common
Stock of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of a Right pursuant
to this Section 13(a), and such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be
necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with
the terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (i) or
(ii) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the
issuer of the securities into which the shares of Common Stock are converted in
such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the
issuer the shares of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market
value of shares outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the
Person that is the other party to the merger, if such Person survives said
merger, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person the shares of
Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding or (y) if the Person that is the other party to the merger does not
survive the merger, the Person that does survive the merger (including the
Corporation if it survives) or (z) the Person resulting from the consolidation;
and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (iii) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred
pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a
party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the
assets or earning power so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such
Persons is the issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market
value of shares outstanding;
provided, however, that in any such case described in the foregoing clause
(b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time or
has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so
registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person, or (2)
if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one
Person, the Common Stock of all of which is and has been so registered, the
term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer
of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding, or (3) if such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint
venture formed by
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two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same
Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of
the owners having an interest in the venture as if the Person owned by the
joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint venturers, and the
Principal Party in each such case shall bear the obligations set forth in this
Section 13 in the same ratio as its interest in such Person bears to the total
of such interests.
(c) The Corporation shall not consummate any consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer referred to in Section 13(a) hereof unless prior
thereto the Corporation and the Principal Party involved therein shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent an agreement confirming that the
requirements of Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof shall promptly be performed in
accordance with their terms and that such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer of assets shall not result in a default by the Principal Party under
this Agreement as the same shall have been assumed by the Principal Party
pursuant to Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof and providing that, as soon as
practicable after executing such agreement pursuant to this Section 13, the
Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date and
similarly comply with applicable state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the
Principal Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or on another national securities exchange, to list or admit to
trading (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities
exchange, or, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities
exchange, to cause the Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of
the Rights to be authorized for quotation on NASDAQ or on such other system
then in use;
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act; and
(iv) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or
preemptive rights in respect of the Common Stock of the Principal Party subject
to purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
(d) In case the Principal Party has provision in any of its
authorized securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or
other instrument governing its affairs, which provision would have the effect
of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights
pursuant to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the
consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common
Stock or
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Common Stock Equivalents of such Principal Party at less than the then current
market price per share thereof (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) or
securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock or Common Stock
Equivalents of such Principal Party at less than such then current market
price, or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar provision in
connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such Principal Party
pursuant to the provisions of Section 13, then, in such event, the Corporation
hereby agrees with each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate any such
transaction unless prior thereto the Corporation and such Principal Party shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing that the provision in question of such Principal Party shall have
been canceled, waived or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be
redeemed, so that the applicable provision will have no effect in connection
with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) The Corporation covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Flip-In Event, enter into any transaction of the type described
in clauses (i) through (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof if (i) at the time of or
immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other
transaction there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities
outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii)
prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer or other transaction, the stockholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section
13(b) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature
of organization of the Principal Party would preclude or limit the
exercisability of the Rights.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights
(except prior to the Distribution Date in accordance with Section 11(n)
hereof). In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes
of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the
closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date
on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing
price for any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no
such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are
listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not
so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use
or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a
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market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. If
on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the
fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board
of Directors of the Corporation shall be used.
(b) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock)
upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. Interests in fractions of Preferred
Stock in integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock
may, at the election of the Corporation, be evidenced by depositary receipts,
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Corporation and a depositary
selected by it; provided, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of
such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences
to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Stock
represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of
Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall pay to the registered holders
of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised or exchanged as
herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current
market value of a whole share of Preferred Stock (as determined in accordance
with Section 14(a) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
such exercise or exchange.
(c) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. In lieu of
such fractional shares of Common Stock, the Corporation shall pay to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of
Common Stock (as determined in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise or exchange of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of
this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of
the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or,
prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of
the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), on his own behalf and for his own
benefit, may enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against the Corporation to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of,
his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, such Common Stock) in the manner provided therein 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
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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.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Corporation and the Rights
Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Corporation and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
Person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
the Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and
of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or
writing on the Right Certificates or the Common Stock 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.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Stock or any
other securities of the Corporation which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise or exchange of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of
the Corporation or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold
consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other
actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in this Agreement), or to
receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights
evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) 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 incurred in the preparation, delivery, administration,
execution and any amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and performance
of its duties hereunder. The Corporation also agrees to indemnify the Rights
Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability damage,
judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense, incurred
without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the
Rights Agent, for any action taken, suffered or omitted
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by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of
this Agreement, including without limitation the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or
indirectly. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the
Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect, consequential or incidental loss
or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits),
even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or
damage.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be authorized and protected and shall
incur no liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it in connection with, its acceptance and administration of this Agreement
in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Stock
or Common Stock or 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, or otherwise upon
the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
Agent.
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the stock
transfer or corporate trust powers of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without
the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of
the parties hereto; provided, that such Person would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor
Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such
cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right
Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not
have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name and in all such
cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right
Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes only
the duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement upon the
following terms and conditions, by all of which the Corporation and the holders
of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
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(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Corporation), and the advice or opinion of such counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and
the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of, any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established by the
Corporation prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by the President and the Secretary of the
Corporation and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be
full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent
shall incur no liability for or in respect of, any action taken or suffered, or
omitted to be taken in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement
in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Corporation
and any other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any
of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed
to have been made by the Corporation only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not have any liability for, nor be
under any responsibility in respect of, the validity of this Agreement or the
execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights
Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate
(except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any
breach by the Corporation of any covenant or condition contained in this
Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any
transfer to an Acquiring Person or any change in the exercisability of the
Rights (including the Rights becoming null and void pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights provided for in
Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 and 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts
that would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the
exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after receipt of a
certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12, describing such change or
adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares
of Preferred Stock or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement
or any Right Certificate or as to whether any shares of Preferred Stock or
other securities will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Corporation agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing
by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
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(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be one of the President or
the Secretary of the Corporation, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken, omitted to be taken or suffered by it in good faith in
accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting
while waiting for those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for
written instructions from the Corporation may, at the option of the Rights
Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken, suffered, or
omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on and/or after
which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The
Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by, or
omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any
such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date
shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any officer of the
Corporation actually receives such application unless any such officer shall
have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such
action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent
shall have received written instructions in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, affiliate, director,
officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the
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 Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable
or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such
attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Corporation or any other Person
resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided
reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment
thereof.
(j) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate contained in the form of
assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse
thereof, as the case may be, has not been completed to certify the holder is
not an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate thereof), the Rights
Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise
or transfer without first consulting with the Corporation.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Corporation and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or
certified mail, and, following the Distribution Date, to the holders of the
Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Corporation may remove the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to
the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred
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Stock by registered or certified mail, and, following the Distribution Date, to
the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the
Corporation shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Corporation
shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after giving
notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by
the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Right Certificate for inspection by the Corporation), then the registered
holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights
Agent, whether appointed by the Corporation or by such a court, shall be a
Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or the
laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, in good
standing, having an office in the Commonwealth of Virginia or the State of New
York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock
transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or
state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and
transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it
hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or
deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment the Corporation shall file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock or
Preferred Stock, and, following the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give
any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein,
shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the
Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Corporation may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights
in such forms as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any
adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of
shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates
made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Corporation may with respect to
shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to (i) the exercise of stock
options, (ii) under any employee plan or arrangement, (iii) upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of securities, notes or debentures issued by the
Corporation or (iv) a contractual obligation of the Corporation, in each case
existing prior to the Distribution Date, issue Rights Certificates representing
the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale.
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, at any time
prior to the Flip-In Event, redeem all but not less than all the then
outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
28
32
transaction occurring after the date hereof (the redemption price being
hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the
Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. The
Redemption Price shall be payable, at the option of the Corporation, in cash,
shares of Common Stock, or such other form of consideration as the
Corporation's Board of Directors shall determine.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 23 (or
at such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the
effectiveness of such redemption), and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price.
The Corporation shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption;
provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice
shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Within 10 days after such
action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights (or such
later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the effectiveness of
such redemption), the Corporation shall mail a notice of redemption to the
Rights Agent and to all the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their
last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or,
prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for
the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each
such notice of redemption shall state the method by which the payment of the
Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, at its option,
at any time after the Flip-In Event, exchange all or part of the then
outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have
become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof)
for Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such amount per Right being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such
exchange at any time after an Acquiring Person shall have become the Beneficial
Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 50% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding. From and after the occurrence of an event specified in
Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that theretofore have not been exchanged
pursuant to this Section 24(a) shall thereafter be exercisable only in
accordance with Section 13 and may not be exchanged pursuant to this Section
24(a). The exchange of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made
effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board
of Directors of the Corporation ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
paragraph (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right
thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder
multiplied
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by the Exchange Ratio. The Corporation shall promptly give public notice
(including prompt notice to the Rights Agent) of any such exchange; provided,
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
affect the validity of such exchange. The Corporation shall promptly mail a
notice of any such exchange to the Rights Agent and to all of the holders of
the Rights so exchanged at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the
exchange of the shares of Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the
event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged.
Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights
(other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section
11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) The Corporation may at its option substitute, and, in the
event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not
outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit an exchange of Rights for
Common Stock as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the
Corporation shall substitute to the extent of such insufficiency, for each
share of Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a
Right, a number of shares of Preferred Stock or fraction thereof (or equivalent
preferred shares, as such term is defined in Section 11(b)) such that the
current per share market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of
one share of Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred share) multiplied by such
number or fraction is equal to the current per share market price of one share
of Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) as of the date of
such exchange.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Corporation shall at any time after the earlier of
the Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date propose (i) to pay any
dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Stock or
to make any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Stock (other
than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its
Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any
additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any
other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of
its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the
subdivision or combination of outstanding Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or (v) to pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or to effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Stock),
then, in each such case, the Corporation shall give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof and to the Rights Agent, a
notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the
purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the
date on which such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is to take place and
the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or
Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so
given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10
days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Stock
for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least
10 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation
30
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therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock, whichever
shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13
shall occur then the Corporation shall as soon as practicable thereafter give
to each holder of a Right Certificate (or if occurring prior to the
Distribution Date, the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with Section
26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall
describe such event and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights
under Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 13 hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right
Certificate to or on the Corporation shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
American Management Systems, Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxxx
0000 X Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Corporation or by the holder of
any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or
made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing with the Corporation) as follows:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services L.L.C.
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Relationship Manager
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Corporation or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Corporation.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Except as provided in the
penultimate sentence of this Section 27, for so long as the Rights are then
redeemable, the Corporation may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the
Rights Agent shall if the Corporation so directs, supplement or amend any
provision in this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders
of the Rights. At any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, except as
provided in the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, the Corporation may,
and the
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35
Rights Agent shall, if the Corporation so directs, supplement or amend this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights, and such supplement or
amendment does not change or increase the Rights Agent's duties, liabilities or
obligations, provided that no such supplement or amendment may (a) adversely
affect the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person), (b) cause this
Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence
or (c) cause the Rights again to become redeemable. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) no supplement or amendment
shall be made which changes the Redemption Price, and (ii) no supplement or
amendment which adversely changes or increases the duties of the Rights Agent
shall become effective without the consent of the Rights Agent. Upon the
delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Corporation which
states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the
terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or
amendment.
Section 28. 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.
Section 29. 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 registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Corporation, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the
Common Stock).
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise the rights and powers
specifically granted to the Board of Directors of the Corporation or to the
Corporation, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret
the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on
the Corporation, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights, as such, and all
other Persons and (y) not subject the Board of Directors to any liability to
the holders of the Rights. The Rights Agent is entitled to always assume the
Corporation's Board of Directors acted in good faith and shall be fully
protected and incur no liability in reliance thereon.
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
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Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and
performed entirely within such State; provided, however, that all provisions
regarding the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
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37
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------
Title: Executive Vice President
-------------------------------
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES L.L.C.
as Rights Agent
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Title: Relationship Manager
-----------------------------
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Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED, a corporation organized and
existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors in
accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the said
Corporation, the said Board of Directors on July 31, 1998 adopted the following
resolution creating a series of 85,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as
"Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock":
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board
of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of
the Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock, par
value $.10 per share, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and
that the designation and number of shares thereof and the voting and
other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or
other rights of the shares of such series and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof are as follows:
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preferred
Stock that shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock," and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 85,000.
Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board
of Directors; provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock to less than the
number of shares then issued and outstanding plus the number of shares issuable
upon exercise of outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of
outstanding securities issued by the Corporation.
2. Dividends and Distribution.
A-1
39
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the
holders of any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation
ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares
of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock in respect thereof, shall be entitled to
receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds
legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the
first business day of April, July, October and January, in each year (each such
date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"),
commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first
issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to
the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) the Adjustment Number (as defined below) times
the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and the Adjustment Number
times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash
dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of
Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock, par value $.01
per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the immediately
preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The
"Adjustment Number" shall initially be 1000. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time after August 10, 1998 (i) declare and pay any dividend on
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding
Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect
immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such
Adjustment Number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or
distribution on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided
in paragraph (A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution
on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of
such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from
the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination
of holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled
to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of
such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be
allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time
outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix
A-2
40
a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 60 days
prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to a number of votes equal to the
Adjustment Number on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation.
(B) Except as required by law and by Section 10 hereof,
holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special
voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent
they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for
taking any corporate action.
4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as
provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid
in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other
distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on
which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; or
(iii) purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or
any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or
by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or to such holders and holders
of any such shares ranking on a parity therewith, upon such terms as the Board
of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and
other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes,
shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among
the respective series or classes.
A-3
41
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of
the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A)
of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and
in such manner.
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the
Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their retirement become
authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part
of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions
of the Board of Directors, subject to any conditions and restrictions on
issuance set forth herein.
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, voluntary or
otherwise, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall have received an amount per share (the "Series A Liquidation Preference")
equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment, or (ii) the Adjustment Number times the per share amount of all
cash and other property to be distributed in respect of the Common Stock upon
such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient
assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation
Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of
stock of the Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets
available for such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of such
parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the
Corporation into or with another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of
any other corporation into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of
this Section 6.
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the outstanding shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other
stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each
share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time
be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to the
Adjustment Number times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or
any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for
which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.
8. No Redemption. Shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall not be subject to redemption by the Corporation.
A-4
42
9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall rank junior to all other series of the Preferred Stock as to the payment
of dividends and as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution
or winding up, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and
shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely
without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a
class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in
proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights,
receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all
other rights of holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate
this 31st day of July, 1998.
AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
A-5
43
Exhibit B
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. R-______
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY 30, 2008 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR
EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER
RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT,
RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN
TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE
TRANSFERABLE.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
This certifies that ____________________________ or registered
assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each
of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of July 31, 1998, as the same may
be amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between American
Management Systems, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"),
and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent"), to purchase from the Corporation at any time after the Distribution
Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M.,
New York City time, on July 30, 2008 at the office or agency of the Rights
Agent designated for such purpose, or of its successor as Rights Agent, one
one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share (the "Preferred
Stock"), of the Corporation at a purchase price of $185 per one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and
surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly
executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock which may be
purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set
forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of July 31, 1998, based on
the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights
Agreement, the Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock (or other securities or property) which may be purchased upon
the exercise of the Rights and the number of Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of
certain events.
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This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Corporation and the holders of the Right Certificates.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices
of the Corporation and the above-mentioned office or agency of the Rights
Agent. The Corporation will mail to the holder of this Right Certificate a
copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request
therefor.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates
of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a
like aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by
the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled
such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part,
the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right
Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Corporation at a
redemption price of $.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part
for shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, or
shares of Preferred Stock.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock will be issued
upon the exercise or exchange of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other
than fractions of Preferred Stock which are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the
Corporation, be evidenced by depository receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Corporation which may at any
time be issuable on the exercise or exchange 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 stockholder of the Corporation
or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted
to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement) or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
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WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Corporation and its corporate seal. Dated as of _________ __, ____.
AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
By:
----------------------------------
[Title]
ATTEST:
------------------------------------
[Title]
Countersigned:
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES L.L.C., as Rights Agent
By
----------------------------------
[Title]
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto ______________________________________________
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
_______ Rights represented by this Right Certificate, together with all right,
title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
___________________________ Attorney, to transfer said Rights on the books of
the within-named Corporation, with full power of substitution.
Dated:
----------------------------
------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a bank, trust Corporation, broker,
dealer or other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature
guarantee medallion program.
............................................................
(To be completed)
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by, were not acquired by the
undersigned from, and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
--------------------------------
Signature
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate)
To American Management Systems, Incorporated:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
(or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock (or such other
securities) be issued in the name of:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated:
------------------------
------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must conform to holder specified on Right Certificate)
Signature Guaranteed:
Signature must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer
or other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed)
The undersigned certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not beneficially owned by, and were not acquired by the
undersigned from, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
defined in the Rights Agreement).
------------------------------------
Signature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to
Purchase, as the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face
of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or
enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not
completed, such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
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Exhibit C
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT,
RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN
TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE
TRANSFERABLE.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK OF
AMERICAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
On July 31, 1998, the Board of Directors of American Management
Systems, Incorporated (the "Corporation") declared a dividend of one preferred
share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock,
par value $.01 per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock"). The
dividend is payable to the stockholders of record on August 10, 1998 (the
"Record Date"). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Corporation one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Corporation (the "Preferred
Stock") at a price of $185 per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock
(the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of
the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of July 31, 1998, as
the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between the
Corporation and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (with
certain exceptions, an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of
15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days
(or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors
prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an
intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which
would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called
the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of
the Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common
Stock certificate together with a copy of this Summary of Rights.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only
with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of
the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon
transfer or new issuances of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating
the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
expiration
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of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a
copy of this Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate. As
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates
evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of
record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date
and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The
Rights will expire on July 30, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the
Final Expiration Date is advanced or extended or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Corporation, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a
price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price,
less than the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon
the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights is subject to adjustment in the event
of a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or
subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in
any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will
not be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as and
if declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per
share but will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 1000 times the dividend
declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be
entitled to a minimum preferential payment of $1.00 per share (plus any accrued
but unpaid dividends) but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 1000
times the payment made per share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred
Stock will have 1000 votes, voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in
the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
outstanding shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged, each share of
Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1000 times the amount received per
share of Common Stock. These rights are protected by customary antidilution
provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a share of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one share of Common Stock.
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In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void),
will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right that number
of shares of Common Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price
of the Right.
In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring
Person, the Corporation is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are
sold, proper provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than
Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void)
will thereafter have the right to receive upon the exercise of a Right that
number of shares of common stock of the person with whom the Corporation has
engaged in the foregoing transaction (or its parent) that at the time of such
transaction have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraph
or the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which will have
become void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred
Stock (or a series of the Corporation's preferred stock having equivalent
rights, preferences and privileges), at an exchange ratio of one share of
Common Stock, or a fractional share of Preferred Stock (or other preferred
stock) equivalent in value thereto, per Right.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock
will be issued (other than fractions of Preferred Stock which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at
the election of the Corporation, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in
lieu thereof an adjustment in cash will be made based on the current market
price of the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock.
At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the
Board of Directors of the Corporation may redeem the Rights in whole, but not
in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price") payable, at the
option of the Corporation, in cash, shares of Common Stock or such other form
of consideration as the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall determine.
The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis
and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights
will be to receive the Redemption Price.
For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Corporation may,
except with respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any
manner. After the Rights are
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no longer redeemable, the Corporation may, except with respect to the
Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not
adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such,
will have no rights as a stockholder of the Corporation, including, without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. A
copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Corporation.
This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, as the same may
be amended from time to time, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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