AXONYX INC. and The Nevada Agency and Trust Company, as Rights Agent Rights Agreement Dated as of May 13, 2005
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and The Nevada Agency and Trust Company, as Rights Agent Dated as of May 13, 2005 |
| Section 21 | Duties of Rights Agent | 24 |
| Section 22 | Change of Rights Agent | 26 |
| Section 23 | Issuance of New Rights Certificates | 26 |
| Section 24 | Redemption, Termination and Exchange | 27 |
| Section 25 | Notice of Certain Events | 30 |
| Section 26 | Notices | 31 |
| Section 27 | Supplements and Amendments | 31 |
| Section 28 | Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc | 32 |
| Section 29 | Successors | 32 |
| Section 30 | Benefits of This Agreement | 32 |
| Section 31 | Severability | 32 |
| Section 32 | Governing Law | 32 |
| Section 33 | Counterparts | 33 |
| Section 34 | Descriptive Headings | 33 |
| Signatures | 33 | |
| Exhibit A | - Form of Certificate of Designation | |
| Exhibit B | - Form of Rights Certificate | |
| Exhibit C | - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock |
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THIS AGREEMENT is dated as of May 13, 2005 between AXONYX INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and THE NEVADA AGENCY AND TRUST COMPANY, a Nevada corporation (the “Rights Agent”). WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, effective May 13, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) outstanding as of the close of business on May 27, 2005 (the “Record Date”), and contemplates the issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, as such terms are hereinafter defined (with Rights also to be issued in connection with certain issuances of Common Stock after the Distribution Date, as provided more fully herein), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designation attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the “Rights”): NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated: (a) “Acquiring Person” shall mean any Person (as such term is hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates (as such term is hereinafter defined) and Associates (as such term is hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding or who was such a Beneficial Owner at any time after the date hereof, whether or not such Person continues to be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in no event shall a Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, is the Beneficial Owner of less than 15% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock become an Acquiring Person solely as a result of a reduction of the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock, including repurchases of outstanding shares of Common Stock by the Company, which reduction increases the percentage of outstanding shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person (provided that any subsequent increase in the amount of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, without the prior approval of the Company shall cause such Person to be an Acquiring Person); (ii) the term Acquiring Person shall not mean (A) the Company, (B) any subsidiary of the Company (as such term is hereinafter defined), (C) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (D) any |
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entity holding securities of the Company organized, appointed or established by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan; and (iii) no Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person if (A) within five business days after such Person would otherwise have become an Acquiring Person (but for the operation of this clause (iii)), such Person notifies the Board of Directors that such Person did so inadvertently and, within two business days after such notification, such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less than 15% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (B) by reason of such Person’s Beneficial Ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the date hereof if, prior to the Record Date, such Person notifies the Board of Directors that such Person is no longer the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or (C) the Board of Directors determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests Beneficial Ownership as promptly as practicable of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a). (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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as in effect on the date of this Agreement. (c) A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, and shall be deemed to beneficially own, any securities: |
| (i) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; | |
| (ii) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right or obligation to acquire (whether such right or obligation is exercisable or effective immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed under this clause (A) the “Beneficial Owner” of, or to “beneficially own,” securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for payment or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing); provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed under this clause (B) the “Beneficial Owner” of, or to “beneficially own,” any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or |
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| (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or with which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates have otherwise formed a group, for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in clause (B) of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (c)) or disposing of any securities of the Company. |
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| (i) the Close of business on the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date, or | |
| (ii) the tenth Business Day (or such specified or unspecified later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors of the Company prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement by any Person (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries) of a tender or exchange offer which would result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person (including any such date which is on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights (or if the tenth Business Day (or such later date) after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the Close of business on the Record Date))(the earlier of such dates in clauses (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the “Distribution Date”), |
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(x) the Rights shall be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section 3) by the certificates for Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights (and the right to receive certificates therefor) shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent shall send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a certificate for Rights, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the “Rights Certificates”), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates. |
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As soon as practicable following the Record Date, and in any event no later than 30 days after the Record Date, the Company shall send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Summary of Rights”), by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration or termination of the Rights), the Rights shall be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration or termination of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any of the certificates for the Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, even without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate. (c) Certificates issued for Common Stock (including, without limitation, certificates issued upon transfer or exchange of Common Stock) after the Record Date, but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, shall have impressed, printed, stamped, written or otherwise affixed onto them the following legend: |
| THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES THE HOLDER HEREOF TO CERTAIN RIGHTS AS SET FORTH IN A RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN AXONYX INC. (THE “COMPANY”) AND THE NEVADA AGENCY AND TRUST COMPANY DATED AS OF MAY 13, 2005 (THE “RIGHTS AGREEMENT”), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF THE COMPANY. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, SUCH RIGHTS MAY BE REDEEMED, MAY EXPIRE, OR MAY BE EVIDENCED BY SEPARATE CERTIFICATES AND WILL NO LONGER BE EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE. THE COMPANY WILL MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE WITHIN FIVE DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS ISSUED TO ACQUIRING PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR CERTAIN RELATED PERSONS AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. |
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With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration or termination of the Rights), 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 of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate. Notwithstanding the requirements of this paragraph 3(c), neither the omission of this legend nor the inclusion of a legend that refers to a rights agreement other than the Rights Agreement shall affect the enforceability of any part of this Rights Agreement or the rights of any holder of Rights. |
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| THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE WERE HELD BY A PERSON WHO WAS AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR AN ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME VOID UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. |
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principal office of the Rights Agent, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or such other number of shares or other securities) as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the close of business on tenth anniversary of this agreeement (the “Final Expiration Date”), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 24 hereof, (iii) the consummation of a transaction contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof or (iv) the time at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24(c) hereof (such earliest time being herein referred to as the “Expiration Date”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Person who prior to the Distribution Date becomes a record holder of shares of Common Stock may exercise all of the rights of a registered holder of a Rights Certificate with respect to the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof, as of the date such Person becomes a record holder of shares of Common Stock. (b) The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right initially shall be $15.00, 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) below. (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the appropriate form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares (or other securities or property) to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax (as determined by the Rights Agent) in the form of a certified check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 21(k), thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent) certificates for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company, in its sole discretion, shall have elected to deposit the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder into a depositary, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company shall direct the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 15, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate after receipt, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the Company and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a), the Company shall make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities and/or property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. In addition, in the case of an exercise of the Rights by a holder pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii), the Rights Agent shall return such Rights Certificate to the registered holder thereof after imprinting, stamping or otherwise indicating thereon that the rights represented by such Rights Certificate no longer include the |
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of the Company and its stockholders (other than the Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof on whose behalf the offer is being made) (a “Permitted Offer”)), then, promptly following the first occurrence of an event described in this Section 11(a)(ii), proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall, for a period of sixty (60) days after the later of the occurrence of any such event and the effective date of an appropriate registration statement pursuant to Section 9, have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is then exercisable and (y) dividing that product by fifty percent (50%) of the current market price per one share of Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the date of the occurrence of the event set forth in this subparagraph (ii) (such number of shares being referred to as the “number of Adjustment Shares”); provided, however, that if the transaction that would otherwise give rise to the foregoing adjustment is also subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof, then only the provisions of Section 13 hereof shall apply and no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii); and provided, further, that such 60 day period shall not be deemed to run during any period in which the exercise of the Rights or the fulfillment by the Company or the Rights Agent of its or their obligations under their Agreement shall be enjoined or otherwise prohibited in full or in part by any court or other governmental agency or body. (iii) In lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if a majority of the Board of Directors then in office determines that such action is necessary or appropriate and not contrary to the interests of holders of Rights, elect to (and, in the event that the Board of Directors has not exercised the exchange right contained in Section 24(c) hereof and there are not sufficient treasury shares and authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Company shall) take all such action as may be necessary to authorize, issue or pay, upon the exercise of the Rights, cash (including by way of a reduction of the Purchase Price), property, shares of Common Stock, other securities or any combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the value of the shares of Common Stock which otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii), which aggregate value shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by a majority of the Board of Directors. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the value of the Common Stock shall be determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof and the value of any preferred stock or preference stock which a majority of the Board of Directors determines to be a “common stock equivalent” shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock. Any such election by the Board of Directors must be made and publicly announced within sixty (60) days following the date on which the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) shall have occurred. Following the occurrence of the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, a majority of the Board of Directors then in office may suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to sixty (60) days following the date on which the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) shall have occurred to the extent that such directors have not determined whether to exercise their rights of election under this Section 11(a)(iii). In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended. |
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(b) If the Company 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 forty five (45) calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or shares having the same or more favorable rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock (“equivalent preferred stock”)) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock) less than the current market price (as defined in Section 11(d)) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market price and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be determined reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and conclusive for all purposes. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed. (c) If the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market price (as defined in Section 11(d)) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and conclusive for all purposes) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights, options or warrants distributable in respect of one share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be the current market price (as defined in Section 11(d)) per share of the Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in |
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the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would be in effect if such record date had not been fixed. (d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than in Section 11(a)(iii), the current market price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current per share market price of the Common Stock is determined in whole or in part during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of thirty (30) Trading Days after the exdividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current market price shall be properly adjusted to take into account exdividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined reasonably and with good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used and shall be binding on the Rights Agent. The term Trading Day shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, current market price per share shall mean the fair value per share determined reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent. (ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the current market price per share (or one one-thousandth of a share) of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in Section 11(d) (i) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the current market price per share (or one one-thousandth of a share) of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in Section 11(d)(i), the current market price per share of |
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Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to one thousand (1,000) (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalization with respect to the Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the current market price per share of the Common Stock and the current market price per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be equal to the current market price per share of the Common Stock (as appropriately adjusted). If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, current market price per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. (e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest hundredth of a share of Common Stock or other share or one millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date. (f) If as a result of any provision of Section 11(a), the holder of any Right shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the shares contained in Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 15 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares. (g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. (h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one one-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price. |
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(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandth 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 millionth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 15 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement. (j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per share and the number of shares which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder. (k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the shares of Preferred Stock, Common Stock or other securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its legal counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock, Common Stock or other securities at such adjusted Purchase Price. If upon any exercise of the Rights, a holder is to receive a combination of Common Stock and common stock equivalents, a portion of the consideration paid upon such exercise, equal to at least the then par value of a share of Common Stock of the Company, shall be allocated as the payment for each share of Common Stock of the Company so received. (l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the shares of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if |
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| (i) in the case of any transaction described in (x) or (y) of the first sentence of this Section 13, the Person that is the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to the merger or consolidation (including, if applicable, the Company, if it is the surviving corporation); and |
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| (ii) in the case of any transaction described in (z) of the first sentence in this Section 13, the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions; |
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provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect subsidiary or Affiliate of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered, “Principal Party” shall refer to such other Person; (2) in case such Person is a subsidiary, directly or indirectly, or Affiliate of more than one Person, the Common Stock of two or more of which are and have been so registered, “Principal Party” shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value; and (3) in case such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the chains of ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if such joint venture were a Subsidiary of each such joint venturer and the Principal Parties in each such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear to the total of such interests. (c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock that have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and each Principal Party and each other Person who may become a Principal Party as a result of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party at its own expense shall: |
| (i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the Expiration Date; | |
| (ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate; and | |
| (iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply in all material respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act. |
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in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used and shall be binding on the Rights Agent. (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock). Fractions of shares of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it, provided that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the shares of 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 Company may pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 15(b), the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-thousandth of the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise. (c) Following the occurrence of one of the transactions or events specified in Section 11 or Section 13 giving rise to the right to receive common stock equivalents (other than Preferred Stock) or other securities upon the exercise of a Right, the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares or units of such common stock equivalents or other securities upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of such common stock equivalents or other securities. In lieu of fractional shares or units of such common stock equivalents or other securities, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a share or unit of such common stock equivalent or other securities. For purposes of this Section 15(c), the current market value shall be the closing price thereof determined in the same manner set forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof with respect to Common Stock for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise, provided that, if such common stock equivalent or other security is not traded, the current market value thereof shall instead equal the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock for such Trading Day as determined pursuant to Section 15(b) hereof. (d) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives such holders right to receive (other than as provided in |
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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 Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Preferred Stock or other securities will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable. (f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performance by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement. (g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder and certificates delivered pursuant to any provision hereof from the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and is authorized to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with written instructions of any such officer. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent with respect to its duties or obligations under this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or omitted and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified therein (which date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date any such officer actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking or omitting any such action, the Rights Agent has received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted. (h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity. (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents. (j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. (k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the Certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as |
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| (ii) In addition, and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 24(a)(i), the Board of Directors of the Company, at its option at any time after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, after the expiration of any period during which the holder of Rights may exercise the rights under Section 11(a)(ii) and before any event described in clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof, may redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price on or after the Stock Acquisition Date: | |
| (x) in connection with any event specified in Section 13(a) in which all holders of Common Stock are treated alike and not involving (other than as a holder of Common Stock being treated like all other such holders) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or any other Person in which such Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate thereof has any interest, or any other Person acting directly or indirectly on behalf of or in association with any such Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate thereof, or | |
| (y) if and for as long as any Acquiring Person having triggered such event is not thereafter the Beneficial Owner of securities representing fifteen percent |
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| (15%) or more of the outstanding shares, and at the time of redemption there are no other Persons who are Acquiring Persons. | |
| The Redemption Price may be paid either in cash or in Common Stock or other securities of the Company deemed by the Board of Directors, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to be at least equivalent in value to the Redemption Price. |
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(b) In the case of a redemption permitted under Section 24(a)(i), immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price, in the form determined by the Board of Directors. In the case of a redemption permitted only under Section 24(a)(ii), evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and represent only the right to receive the Redemption Price, in the form determined by the Directors, only after ten (10) days following the giving of notice of such redemption to the holders of such Rights. Within ten (10) days after the action of the Board of Directors ordering any such redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to the Rights Agent and to all such holders at 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 will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. In the case of a redemption permitted under Section 24(a)(i) or (ii), the Company may, at its option, discharge all of its obligations with respect to the Rights by (i) issuing a press release announcing the manner of redemption of the Rights and (ii) mailing payment of the Redemption Price to the registered holders of the Rights at their last addresses as they appear on the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Transfer Agent of the Common Stock, and upon such action, all outstanding Rights Certificates shall be null and void without any further action by the Company. (c) (i) Subject to the limitations of applicable law, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for (A) shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (the “Exchange Shares”) or (B) Substitute Consideration (as that term is defined below). The Board of Directors may determine, in its sole discretion, whether to deliver Exchange Shares or Substitute Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with |
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all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Common Stock then outstanding. |
| (ii) In the event the Board of Directors shall determine to deliver Substitute Consideration in exchange for Rights, the Company shall (1) determine the value of the Exchange Shares (the “Exchange Value”), and (2) with respect to each Right to be exchanged, make adequate provision to substitute for Exchange Shares the following (the “Substitute Consideration”): (v) cash, (w) Common Stock or common stock equivalents (as that term is defined in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) or Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock (as that term is defined in Section 11(b) hereof), (x) debt securities of the Company, (y) other assets or (z) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Exchange Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. For purposes of this Section 24(c), the value of a share of Common Stock shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the day that is the later of (x) the first occurrence of an event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and (y) the date on which the Company’s right of redemption pursuant to Section 24(a) expires; and the value of any common stock equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock on such date. | |
| (iii) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to this Section 24(c), 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 Exchange Shares or Substitute Consideration for each Right exchanged by such holder. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last address 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 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 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights. | |
| (iv) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24(c), the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights. | |
| (v) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In |
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| lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this Section 24(c)(v), the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24(c). |
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| Axonyx Inc. | |
| 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx | |
| Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | |
| Attention: Secretary |
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Subject to the provisions of Section 22, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows: |
| The Nevada Agency and Trust Company | |
| 00 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000 | |
| Xxxx, Xxxxxx 00000 | |
| Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
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or greater than the Reduced Threshold shall become an Acquiring Person unless such Person shall, after the public announcement of the Reduced Threshold, increase its beneficial ownership of the then outstanding Common Stock (other than as a result of an acquisition of Common Stock by the Company) to an amount equal to or greater than the greater of (x) the Reduced Threshold or (y) the sum of (i) the lowest beneficial ownership of such Person as a percentage of the outstanding Common Stock as of any date on or after the date of the public announcement of such Reduced Threshold plus (ii) .001%. 28. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other securities of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board, or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights Certificates and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights Certificates. 29. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder. 30. Benefits of This Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights 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 Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock). 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. 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Nevada and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such state |
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applicable to contracts to be made and to be performed entirely within such state; provided, however, that all provisions regarding the rights, duties and obligations of a Rights Agent not located in the State of Nevada 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. 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. 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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| AXONYX INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ S. Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
| Name: S. Xxxxx Xxxxx | |||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |||
| THE NEVADA AGENCY AND TRUST COMPANY, | |||
| as Rights Agent | |||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
| Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |||
| Title: President | |||
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CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION Certificate of Designation Pursuant to Sections 78.195 and 78.1955 of the Axonyx Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Nevada (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY: 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be designated as Series A Participating Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, and the number of shares constituting such series shall be One Hundred Thousand (100,000). Such number of shares may be increased |
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or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock to a number less than that of the shares then outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of any outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock. 2. Dividends and Distributions. (A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock in preference to the holders of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Corporation and any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June, September and December 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 Participating Preferred Stock in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $10.00, or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, one thousand (1,000) times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and one thousand (1,000) times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all noncash 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, 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 Participating Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the close of business on May 13, 2005 (the “Rights Declaration Date”) (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, by reclassification or otherwise, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event. (B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A 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); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $10.00 per share on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. |
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(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A 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 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 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 record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof. 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights: (A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one thousand (1,000) votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, by reclassification or otherwise, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event. (B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation. (C) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series A 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 Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until |
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all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A 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 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 Participating Preferred Stock except dividends paid ratably on the Series A 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; | |
| (iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Participating Preferred Stock; or |
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(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A 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 such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes. (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 Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Articles of Incorporation or in any other Certificate of Designation creating a series of Preferred Stock or as otherwise required by law. |
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6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall have received $1,000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event. 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to one thousand (1,000) 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. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately prior to such event. 8. Redemption. The shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable. |
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9. Ranking. The Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise. 10. Amendment. The Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock voting separately as a class. 11. Fractional Shares. Series A Participating Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holders 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 Participating Preferred Stock. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Certificate of Designation Of the Voting Powers, Designation, Preferences and Relative, Participating, Optional or Other Special Rights and Qualifications, Limitations and Restrictions of the Series A Preferred Stock of AXONYX INC. on this __ day of May, 2005. |
| S. Xxxxx Xxxxx, | |||
| CFO and Secretary | |||
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| EXHIBIT B |
| FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE |
| Certificate No. R-_____ | _____ Rights |
| Rights | |
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NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER MAY 13, 2015 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE IS GIVEN. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.0005 PER RIGHT, AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED TO A PERSON WHO WAS AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN ASSOCIATE OR AFFILIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME VOID UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]* RIGHTS CERTIFICATE 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 May 13, 2005 (the “Rights Agreement”) between Axonyx Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and The Nevada Agency and Trust Company, a Nevada corporation (the “Rights Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M. Eastern time on May 13, 2015 unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as set forth in the Rights Agreement, at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, one one-thousandth of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”) of the Company, at a purchase price of $15.00 per one one-thousandth of a share (the “Purchase Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the appropriate Form of Election to purchase and certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of the close of business on May 27, 2005 based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. * The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable. |
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As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events. This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are also available upon written request to the Company. This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised (other than pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement) in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in whole or in part pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement to purchase Common Stock, par value $0.001 (“Common Stock”) in lieu of Preferred Stock, the holder shall be entitled to receive this Rights Certificate duly marked to indicate that such exercise has occurred as set forth in the Rights Agreement. Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $0.0005 per Right (in cash or shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company deemed by the Company’s Board of Directors to be at least equivalent in value) or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of Common Stock or substitute consideration. Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Company, at its option, may elect to mail payment of the redemption price to the registered holder of the Right at the time of redemption, in which event this certificate may become void without any further action by the Company. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement. No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of |
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directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement. This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent. WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal. |
| Dated:______________, 20__. | ||
| ATTEST: | AXONYX INC. | |
| By: ________________________ | By: ________________________ | |
| Title: ________________________ | Title: ________________________ | |
| Countersigned: | ||
| THE NEVADA AGENCY AND | ||
| TRUST COMPANY, | ||
| as Rights Agent | ||
| By: ________________________ |
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[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate] FORM OF ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _______________________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto _______________________________________________________________________ (please print name and address of transferee) this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _____________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution. |
| Dated:______________, 20__. | |
| ________________________ | |
| Signature | |
| ________________________ | |
| Signature | |
| Signature(s) Guaranteed: | |
| ________________________ |
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CERTIFICATE The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that: (1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate o are o are not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it o did o did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person. |
| Dated:______________, 20__. | |
| ________________________ | |
| Signature |
NOTICE The signature to the foregoing Assignment must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. |
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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE (To be executed if holder desires to To AXONYX INC.: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ______________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Common Stock (or such other securities of the Company) issuable upon the exercise of the Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of: |
| __________________________________________________________________________ |
| (Please insert social security or other identifying number) |
| __________________________________________________________________________ |
| (Please print name and address) |
| The Rights Certificate indicating the balance, if any, of such Rights which may still be exercised pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement shall be returned to the undersigned unless such Person requests that the Rights Certificate be registered in the name of and delivered to: (Complete only if Rights Certificate is to be registered in a name other than the undersigned.) |
| __________________________________________________________________________ |
| Please insert social security or other identifying number |
| __________________________________________________________________________ |
| (Please print name and address) |
| Dated:______________, 20__. | |
| ________________________ | ________________________ |
| Signature | Signature |
| Signature(s) Guaranteed: | |
| ________________________ |
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CERTIFICATE The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that: (1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate o are o are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement); (2) this Rights Certificate o is o is not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); (3) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it o did o did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person. |
| Dated:______________, 20__. | |
| ________________________ | |
| Signature |
NOTICE The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. |
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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE (To be executed if holder desires to exercise To AXONYX INC.: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ______________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock (or such other securities of the Company or any other Person) issuable upon the exercise of the Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of: |
| __________________________________________________________________________ |
| (Please insert social security or other identifying number) |
| __________________________________________________________________________ |
| (Please print name and address) |
| The Rights Certificate indicating the balance, if any, of such Rights which may still be exercised pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement shall be returned to the undersigned unless such Person requests that the Rights Certificate be registered in the name of and delivered to: (Complete only if Rights Certificate is to be registered in a name other than the undersigned.) |
| __________________________________________________________________________ |
| Please insert social security or other identifying number |
| __________________________________________________________________________ |
| (Please print name and address) |
| Dated:______________, 20__. | |
| ________________________ | ________________________ |
| Signature | Signature |
| Signature(s) Guaranteed: | |
| ________________________ |
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CERTIFICATE The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that: (1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate o are o are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement); (2) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate o are o are not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); (3) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it o did o did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person. |
| Dated:______________, 20__. | |
| ________________________ | |
| Signature |
NOTICE The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase must correspond to the name as written upon the fact of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. |
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Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock Introduction On May 13, 2005, the Board of Directors of our Company, Axonyx Inc., a Nevada corporation, declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. The dividend is payable on May 27, 2005 (the “Record Date”) to the stockholders of record on such date. Our Board has adopted this Rights Agreement to protect stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics. In general terms, it works by imposing a significant penalty upon any person or group that acquires 15% or more of our outstanding common stock without the approval of our Board. The Rights Agreement should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by our Board. For those interested in the specific terms of the Rights Agreement as made between our Company and The Nevada Agency and Trust Company, as the Rights Agent, on May 13, 2005, we provide the following summary description. Please note, however, that this description is only a summary, and is not complete, and should be read together with the entire Rights Agreement, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated May 13, 2005. A copy of the agreement is available free of charge from our Company. The Rights Our Board authorized the issuance of a Right with respect to each outstanding share of common stock on the Record Date. The Rights will initially trade with, and will be inseparable from, the common stock. The Rights are evidenced only by certificates that represent shares of common stock. New Rights will accompany any new shares of common stock we issue after the Record Date until the Distribution Date described below, and in certain circumstances, new shares of common stock we issue after the Distribution Date. New common stock certificates we issue after the Record Date as a result of transfers of stock by existing stockholders or of new issuances by us will contain a notation referring to the Rights and the Rights Agreement. Exercise Price Each Right will allow its holder to purchase from our Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock (“Preferred Stock”) for $15.00, once the Rights become exercisable. This portion of a share of Preferred Stock will give the stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting, and liquidation rights as would one share of common |
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stock. Prior to exercise, the Right does not give its holder any dividend, voting, or liquidation rights as a stockholder of our Company. Exercisability |
| The Rights will not be exercisable until: | ||
| • | 10 days after the public announcement that a person or group has become an “Acquiring Person” by obtaining beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock, or, if earlier, | |
| • | 10 business days (or a later date determined by our Board before any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person) after a person or group begins a tender or exchange offer which, if completed, would result in that person or group becoming an Acquiring Person. | |
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We refer to the date when the Rights become exercisable as the “Distribution Date.” Until that date, the common stock certificates will also evidence the Rights, and any transfer of shares of common stock will constitute a transfer of Rights. After that date, the Rights will separate from the common stock and be evidenced by book-entry credits or by Rights certificates that we will mail to all eligible holders of common stock. Any Rights held by an Acquiring Person are void and may not be exercised. Our Board may reduce the threshold at which a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person from 15% to not less than 10% of the outstanding common stock. Consequences of a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person |
| • | Flip In. If a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, all holders of Rights except the Acquiring Person may, for a period of 60 days, for $15.00, purchase shares of our common stock with a market value of $30.00, based on the market price of the common stock prior to such acquisition. | |
| • | Flip Over. If our Company is later acquired in a merger or similar transaction after the Rights Distribution Date, all holders of Rights except the Acquiring Person may, for $15.00, purchase shares of the acquiring corporation with a market value of $30.00 based on the market price of the acquiring corporation’s stock, prior to such merger. |
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Preferred Stock Provisions |
| Each one one-thousandth of a share Preferred Stock, if issued: | ||
| • | will not be redeemable; | |
| • | will be junior to any other series of preferred stock we may issue; | |
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| • | will entitle holders to quarterly dividend payments of $0.01, or an amount equal to the dividend paid on one share of common stock, whichever is greater, so that one full share of Preferred Stock would entitle the holder to receive a quarterly dividend payment of the greater of $10.00 per share or 1,000 times the dividend paid on one share of common stock; | |
| • | will entitle holders upon liquidation either to receive $1, or an amount equal to the payment made on one share of common stock, whichever is greater, so that one full share of Preferred Stock would entitle to holder to receive upon liquidation the greater of $1,000 per share or 1,000 times the payment made on one share of common stock; | |
| • | will have the same voting power as one share of common stock, so that one full share of Preferred Stock would have 1,000 times the votes of one share of common stock; and | |
| • | if shares of our common stock are exchanged via merger, consolidation, or a similar transaction, will entitle holders to a per share payment equal to the payment made on one share of common stock, so that one full share of Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive a payment 1,000 times greater than the per share payment to a share of common stock. |
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The value of one one-thousandth interest in a share of Preferred Stock should approximate the value of one share of common stock. Expiration The Rights will expire on May 13, 2015 or on an earlier date if we redeem or exchange them, as discussed below. The Rights will also expire on an earlier date if our Company enters into a merger transaction approved by a majority of our disinterested directors and the form of consideration received by any remaining stockholders is the same as that received in the transaction approved by our Board of Directors. Redemption Our Board may redeem the Rights for $0.0005 per Right at any time before any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person. If our Board redeems any Rights, it must redeem all of the Rights. Once the Rights are redeemed, the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price of $0.0005 per Right, in cash, common stock or other securities, as determined by our Board. The redemption price will be adjusted if we have a stock split or stock dividends of our common stock. Our Board may also redeem all outstanding Rights for the same redemption price after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person. This will only affect holders of Rights who failed to purchase shares of common stock during the 60 day period following the “flip in” event |
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described above. For those holders, our ability to redeem their Rights can only occur if we are entering into a merger transaction with a party other than the original Acquiring Person, of if the original Acquiring Person no longer is a beneficial owner of 15% of our outstanding common stock and there are no other such Acquiring Persons at the time. Exchange After a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, but before an Acquiring Person owns 50% or more of our outstanding common stock, our Board may extinguish the Rights by exchanging one share of common stock or an equivalent security for each Right, other than Rights held by the Acquiring Person. Anti-dilution provisions Our Board may adjust the purchase price of the Preferred Stock, the number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that may occur from a stock dividend, a stock split, a reclassification of the Preferred Stock or common stock, or otherwise. No adjustments to the Exercise Price of less than 1% will be made. Amendments The terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by our Board without the consent of the holders of the Rights. However, our Board may not amend the Rights Agreement to lower the threshold at which a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person to below 10% of our outstanding common stock. In addition, the Board may not cause a person or group to become an Acquiring Person by lowering this threshold below the percentage interest that such person or group already owns. After a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, our Board may not amend the agreement in a way that adversely affects holders of the Rights. |
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