AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT DATED AS OF APRIL 21, 2010 BETWEEN ENCANA CORPORATION AND CIBC MELLON TRUST COMPANY AS RIGHTS AGENT
Exhibit 99.2
Execution Copy –April 21, 2010
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DATED AS OF APRIL 21, 2010
BETWEEN
ENCANA CORPORATION
AND
CIBC MELLON TRUST COMPANY
AS RIGHTS AGENT
Execution Copy –April 21, 2010
AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1 INTERPRETATION |
1 | |||
1.1 Certain Definitions |
1 | |||
1.2 Currency |
13 | |||
1.3 Headings |
13 | |||
1.4 Calculation of Number and Percentage of Beneficial Ownership of Outstanding Voting Shares |
13 | |||
1.5 Acting Jointly or in Concert |
13 | |||
1.6 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles |
13 | |||
ARTICLE 2 THE RIGHTS |
14 | |||
2.1 Issue of Rights; Legend on Common Share Certificates |
14 | |||
2.2 Initial Exercise Price; Exercise of Rights; Detachment of Rights |
14 | |||
2.3 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights |
17 | |||
2.4 Date on Which Exercise is Effective |
21 | |||
2.5 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates |
21 | |||
2.6 Registration, Transfer and Exchange |
22 | |||
2.7 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates |
22 | |||
2.8 Persons Deemed Owners of Rights |
23 | |||
2.9 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates |
23 | |||
2.10 Agreement of Rights Holders |
23 | |||
2.11 Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder |
24 | |||
ARTICLE 3 ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS |
25 | |||
3.1 Flip-in Event |
25 | |||
ARTICLE 4 THE RIGHTS AGENT |
26 | |||
4.1 General |
26 | |||
4.2 Merger, Amalgamation or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent |
27 | |||
4.3 Duties of Rights Agent |
27 | |||
4.4 Change of Rights Agent |
29 | |||
ARTICLE 5 MISCELLANEOUS |
29 | |||
5.1 Redemption and Waiver |
29 | |||
5.2 Expiration |
31 | |||
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates |
31 | |||
5.4 Supplements and Amendments |
31 | |||
5.5 Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares |
32 | |||
5.6 Rights of Action |
33 | |||
5.7 Regulatory Approvals |
33 | |||
5.8 Declaration as to Non-Canadian or Non-U.S. Holders |
33 | |||
5.9 Notices |
33 | |||
5.10 Costs of Enforcement |
34 | |||
5.11 Successors |
34 | |||
5.12 Benefits of this Agreement |
34 | |||
5.13 Governing Law |
35 | |||
5.14 Severability |
35 | |||
5.15 Coming Into Effect |
35 | |||
5.16 Reconfirmation |
35 | |||
5.17 Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors |
35 | |||
5.18 Time of the Essence |
35 | |||
5.19 Execution in Counterparts |
35 | |||
ATTACHMENT 1 |
37 | |||
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT |
39 | |||
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE |
40 | |||
CERTIFICATE |
41 | |||
NOTICE |
41 |
Execution Copy –April 21, 2010
AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT dated as of April 21, 2010 between Encana Corporation (the
“Corporation”), a corporation incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act, and CIBC
Mellon Trust Company, a trust company incorporated under the laws of Canada (the “Rights Agent”)
which amends and restates the agreement dated as of July 30, 2001 and as previously amended and
restated as of September 13, 2001 and April 28, 2004 respectively, between such parties;
WHEREAS in connection with the spin out of the Corporation from Canadian Pacific Limited in
2001, the Board of Directors determined that it was in the best interests of the Corporation to
adopt a shareholder rights plan to ensure, to the extent possible, that all shareholders of the
Corporation are treated fairly in connection with any take-over bid for the Corporation;
AND WHEREAS the Corporation and the Rights Agent entered into a Shareholder Rights Plan
Agreement dated as of July 30, 2001 and amended and restated as of September 13, 2001 and as of
April 28, 2004 (the “Original Agreement”) which was approved by the shareholders of the Corporation
at the special meeting held on September 26, 2001, at the annual and special meeting held on April
28, 2004 respectively and was reconfirmed by the shareholders of the Corporation at the annual and
special meeting held on April 25, 2007;
AND WHEREAS the Original Agreement was to be reconfirmed by the shareholders of the
Corporation at every third annual meeting of shareholders;
AND WHEREAS the Corporation and the Rights Agent wish to effect certain amendments to update
and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety to be on the terms and conditions and in the
form of this Agreement to take effect immediately upon receipt of approval of the shareholders of
the Corporation and the reconfirmation of this Agreement by the shareholders of the Corporation at
the annual and special meeting of shareholders held on April 21, 2010 or any adjournment or
postponement thereof;
AND WHEREAS each Right entitles the holder thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase
securities of the Corporation pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
AND WHEREAS the Corporation desires to confirm its appointment of the Rights Agent to act on
behalf of the Corporation and the holders of Rights and the Rights Agent is willing to continue to
so act, in connection with the issuance, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates,
the exercise of Rights and other matters referred to herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective covenants and agreements
set forth herein, and subject to such covenants and agreements, the parties hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION
INTERPRETATION
1.1 | Certain Definitions |
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) | “Acquiring Person” means any Person who is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more
of the outstanding Voting Shares provided, however, that the term “Acquiring Person”
shall not include: |
(i) | the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation; |
(ii) | any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of
the outstanding Voting Shares as a result of one or any combination of (A) a
Voting Share Reduction, (B) Permitted Bid Acquisitions, (C) an Exempt
Acquisition or (D) Pro Rata Acquisitions; provided, however, that if a Person
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares by
reason of one or any combination of the operation of (A), (B), (C) or (D) above
and such Person’s Beneficial Ownership of Voting Shares thereafter increases by
more than 1.0% of the number of Voting Shares outstanding (other than pursuant
to one or any combination of a Voting Share Reduction, a Permitted Bid
Acquisition, an Exempt Acquisition or a Pro Rata Acquisition), then as of the
date such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of such additional Voting Shares,
such Person shall become an “Acquiring Person”; |
(iii) | for a period of ten days after the Disqualification Date (as
defined below), any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of
the outstanding Voting Shares as a result of such Person becoming disqualified
from relying on Paragraph 1.1(f)(v) solely because such Person or the
Beneficial Owner of such Voting Shares is making or has announced an intention
to make a Take-over Bid, either alone or by acting jointly or in concert with
any other Person. For the purposes of this definition, “Disqualification Date”
means the first date of public announcement that any Person is making or has
announced an intention to make a Take-over Bid; |
(iv) | an underwriter or member of a banking or selling group that
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Voting Shares in connection
with a distribution of securities of the Corporation; or |
(v) | a Person (a “Grandfathered Person”) who is the Beneficial Owner
of 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Corporation determined
as at the Record Time, provided, however, that this exception shall not be, and
shall cease to be, applicable to a Grandfathered Person in the event that such
Grandfathered Person: (a) became the Beneficial Owner of any Voting Shares as a
result of any when issued trades; or (b) shall after the Record Time, become
the Beneficial Owner of additional Voting Shares of the Corporation that
increases its Beneficial Ownership of Voting Shares by more than 1% of the
number of Voting Shares outstanding as at the Record Time (other than pursuant
to one or any combination of a Voting Share Reduction, a Permitted Bid
Acquisition, an Exempt Acquisition or a Pro Rata Acquisition). |
(b) | “Affiliate” when used to indicate a relationship with a Person, means a Person
that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person; |
(c) | “Agreement” means the shareholder rights plan agreement dated as of July 30,
2001 between the Corporation and the Rights Agent, as amended and restated as of
September 13, 2001, as of April 28, 2004 and as of April 21, 2010, as the same may be
further amended or supplemented from time to time; “hereof”, “herein”, “hereto” and
similar expressions mean and refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular part of this Agreement; |
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(d) | “annual cash dividend” means cash dividends paid in any fiscal year of the
Corporation to the extent that such cash dividends do not exceed, in the aggregate on a
per share basis in any fiscal year, the greatest of: |
(i) | 200 per cent of the aggregate amount of cash dividends declared
payable by the Corporation on its Common Shares in its immediately preceding
fiscal year; |
(ii) | 300 per cent of the arithmetic mean of the aggregate amounts of
the annual cash dividends, on a per share basis, declared payable by the
Corporation on its Common Shares in its three immediately preceding fiscal
years; and |
(iii) | 100 per cent of the aggregate consolidated net income of the
Corporation, before extraordinary items, for its immediately preceding fiscal
year divided by the number of Common Shares outstanding at the end of such
fiscal year; |
(e) | “Associate” means, when used to indicate a relationship with a specified
Person, a spouse of that Person, any Person of the same or opposite sex with whom that
Person is living in a conjugal relationship outside marriage, a child of that Person or
a relative of that Person if that relative has the same residence as that Person; |
(f) | A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, and to have “Beneficial
Ownership” of, and to “Beneficially Own”, |
(i) | any securities as to which such Person or any of such Person’s
Affiliates or Associates is the owner at law or in equity; |
(ii) | any securities as to which such Person or any of such Person’s
Affiliates or Associates has the right to become the owner at law or in equity
(whether such right is exercisable immediately or within a period of 60 days
thereafter and whether or not on condition or the happening of any contingency
or the making of any payment) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, pledge or
understanding, whether or not in writing (other than (x) customary agreements
with and between underwriters and/or banking group members and/or selling group
members with respect to a public offering or private placement of securities
and (y) pledges of securities in the ordinary course of business), or upon the
exercise of any conversion right, exchange right, share purchase right (other
than the Rights), warrant or option or pursuant to any when issued trades; and |
(iii) | any securities which are Beneficially Owned within the meaning
of Clauses 1.1(f)(i) and (ii) by any other Person with whom such Person is
acting jointly or in concert; |
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, or
to have “Beneficial Ownership” of, or to “Beneficially Own”, any security:
(iv) | where such security has been deposited or tendered pursuant to
any Take-over Bid or where the holder of such security has agreed pursuant to a
Lock-up Agreement to deposit or tender such security pursuant to a Take-over
Bid, in each case made by such Person, made by any of such Person’s Affiliates
or Associates or made by any other Person acting jointly or in concert with
such Person until such deposited or tendered security has been taken up or paid
for, whichever shall first occur; |
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(v) | where such Person, any of such Person’s Affiliates or
Associates or any other Person acting jointly or in concert with such Person
holds such security provided that: |
(A) | the ordinary business of any such Person (the
“Investment Manager”) includes the management of mutual funds or
investment funds for others (which others, for greater certainty, may
include or be limited to one or more employee benefit plans or pension
plans) and such security is held by the Investment Manager in the
ordinary course of such business in the performance of such Investment
Manager’s duties for the account of any other Person (a “Client”),
including the acquisition or holding of securities in a
non-discretionary account held on behalf of a Client by a broker or
dealer registered under applicable securities laws; |
(B) | such Person (the “Trust Company”) is licensed
to carry on the business of a trust company under applicable laws and,
as such, acts as trustee or administrator or in a similar capacity in
relation to the estates of deceased or incompetent Persons (each an
“Estate Account”) or in relation to other accounts (each an “Other
Account”) and holds such security in the ordinary course of such duties
for such Estate Account or for such Other Accounts; |
(C) | such Person is established by statute for
purposes that include, and the ordinary business or activity of such
Person (the “Statutory Body”) includes, the management of investment
funds for employee benefit plans, pension plans, insurance plans or
various public bodies; |
(D) | such Person (the “Administrator”) is the
administrator or trustee of one or more pension funds or plans (a
“Plan”), or is a Plan, registered or qualified under the laws of Canada
or any Province thereof or the laws of the United States of America or
any State thereof; or |
(E) | such Person (the “Crown Agent”) is a Crown
agent or agency; |
provided, in any of the above cases, that the Investment Manager, the Trust
Company, the Statutory Body, the Administrator, the Plan or the Crown Agent,
as the case may be, is not then making a Take-over Bid or has not then
announced an intention to make a Take-over Bid alone or acting jointly or in
concert with any other Person, other than an Offer to Acquire Voting Shares
or other securities (x) pursuant to a distribution by the Corporation, (y)
by means of a Permitted Bid or (z) by means of ordinary market transactions
(including prearranged trades entered into in the ordinary course of
business of such Person) executed through the facilities of a stock exchange
or organized over-the-counter market;
(vi) | where such Person is (A) a Client of the same Investment
Manager as another Person on whose account the Investment Manager holds such
security, (B) an Estate Account or an Other Account of the same Trust Company
as another Person on whose account the Trust Company holds such security or (C)
a Plan with the same Administrator as another Plan on whose account the
Administrator holds such security; |
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(vii) | where such Person is (A) a Client of an Investment Manager and
such security is owned at law or in equity by the Investment Manager, (B) an
Estate Account or an Other Account of a Trust Company and such security is
owned at law or in equity by the Trust Company or (C) a Plan and such security
is owned at law or in equity by the Administrator of the Plan; or |
(viii) | where such Person is a registered holder of such security as a result of
carrying on the business of, or acting as a nominee of, a securities
depositary; |
(g) | “Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Corporation or any
duly constituted and empowered committee thereof; |
(h) | “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which
banking institutions in Calgary are authorized or obligated by law to close; |
(i) | “CBCA” means the Canada Business Corporations Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 44, as
amended, and the regulations made thereunder, and any comparable or successor laws or
regulations thereto; |
(j) | “Canadian Dollar Equivalent” of any amount which is expressed in United States
Dollars means, on any date, the Canadian dollar equivalent of such amount determined by
multiplying such amount by the U.S. — Canadian Exchange Rate in effect on such date; |
(k) | “Canadian — U.S. Exchange Rate” means, on any date, the inverse of the U.S. -
Canadian Exchange Rate in effect on such date; |
(l) | “close of business” on any given date means the time on such date (or, if such
date is not a Business Day, the time on the next succeeding Business Day) at which the
principal transfer office in Calgary of the transfer agent for the Common Shares (or,
after the Separation Time, the principal transfer office in Calgary of the Rights
Agent) is closed to the public; |
(m) | “Common Shares” means the common shares in the capital of the Corporation; |
(n) | “Competing Permitted Bid” means a Take-over Bid that: |
(i) | is made after a Permitted Bid has been made and prior to the
expiry of the Permitted Bid; |
(ii) | satisfies all components of the definition of a Permitted Bid
other than the requirements set out in Subparagraph 1.1(jj)(ii)(A) of the
definition of a Permitted Bid; and |
(iii) | contains, and the take-up and payment for securities tendered
or deposited is subject to, an irrevocable and unqualified condition that no
Voting Shares will be taken up or paid for pursuant to the Take-over Bid prior
to the close of business on a date that is no earlier than the later of: (A)
the 60th day after the date on which the earliest Permitted Bid which preceded
the Competing Permitted Bid was made; and (B) 35 days after the date of the
Take-over Bid constituting the Competing Permitted Bid; |
(o) | a Person is “controlled” by another Person or two or more other Persons acting
jointly or in concert if: |
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(i) | in the case of a body corporate, securities entitled to vote in
the election of directors of such body corporate carrying more than 50% of the
votes for the election of directors are held, directly or indirectly, by or for
the benefit of the other Person or Persons and the votes carried by such
securities are entitled, if exercised, to elect a majority of the board of
directors of such body corporate; or |
(ii) | in the case of a Person which is not a body corporate, more
than 50% of the voting or equity interests of such entity are held, directly or
indirectly, by or for the benefit of the other Person or Persons; |
and “controls”, “controlling” and “under common control with” shall be interpreted
accordingly;
(p) | “Co-Rights Agents” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Subsection 4.1(a); |
(q) | “Disposition Date” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Subsection 5.1(h); |
(r) | “Dividend Reinvestment Acquisition” means an acquisition of Voting Shares
pursuant to a Dividend Reinvestment Plan; |
(s) | “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” means a regular dividend reinvestment or other
plan of the Corporation made available by the Corporation to holders of its securities
or holders of securities of a Subsidiary where such plan permits the holder to direct
that some or all of: |
(i) | dividends paid in respect of shares of any class of the
Corporation or a Subsidiary; |
(ii) | proceeds of redemption of shares of the Corporation or a
Subsidiary; |
(iii) | interest paid on evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation
or a Subsidiary; or |
(iv) | optional cash payments; |
be applied to the purchase from the Corporation of Voting Shares;
(t) | “Election to Exercise” has the meaning ascribed thereto in
Paragraph 2.2(d)(ii); |
(u) | “Exempt Acquisition” means a share acquisition in respect of which the Board of
Directors has waived the application of Section 3.1 pursuant to the provisions of
Subsections 5.1(a) or (h); |
(v) | “Exercise Price” means, as of any date, the price at which a holder may
purchase the securities issuable upon exercise of one whole Right which, until
adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, shall be: (i) until the
Separation Time, an amount equal to three times the Market Price, from time to time,
per Common Share; and (ii) from and after the Separation Time, an amount equal to three
times the Market Price, as at the Separation Time, per Common Share; |
(w) | “Expansion Factor” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Paragraph 2.3(a)(x); |
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(x) | “Expiration Time” means the close of business on that date on which a
Reconfirmation Meeting occurs and at which this Agreement is not reconfirmed or
presented for reconfirmation as contemplated in Section 5.16; |
(y) | “Flip-in Event” means a transaction or other event, in or pursuant to which any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person; |
(z) | “holder” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.8; |
(aa) | “Independent Shareholders” means holders of Voting Shares, other than: |
(i) | any Acquiring Person; |
(ii) | any Offeror (other than any Person who, by virtue of Paragraph
1.1(f)(v), is not deemed to Beneficially Own the Voting Shares held by such
Person); |
(iii) | any Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person or Offeror; |
(iv) | any Person acting jointly or in concert with any Acquiring
Person or Offeror; and |
(v) | any employee benefit plan, deferred profit sharing plan, stock
participation plan and any other similar plan or trust for the benefit of
employees of the Corporation or a Subsidiary of the Corporation unless the
beneficiaries of the plan or trust direct the manner in which the Voting Shares
are to be voted or withheld from voting or direct whether the Voting Shares are
to be tendered to a Take-over Bid; |
(bb) | “Lock-up Agreement” means an agreement between an Offeror, any of its
Affiliates or Associates or any other Person acting jointly or in concert with the
Offeror and a Person (the “Locked-up Person”) who is not an Affiliate or Associate of
the Offeror or a Person acting jointly or in concert with the Offeror whereby the
Locked-up Person agrees to deposit or tender the Voting Shares held by the Locked-up
Person to the Offeror’s Take-over Bid or to any Take-over Bid made by any of the
Offeror’s Affiliates or Associates or made by any other Person acting jointly or in
concert with the Offeror (the “Subject Bid”) provided that: |
(i) | the terms of such agreement are publicly disclosed and a copy
of such agreement is made available to the public (including the Corporation)
not later than the date of the Subject Bid or, if the Subject Bid has been made
prior to the date on which such agreement is entered into, not later than the
first business day following the date of such agreement; |
(ii) | the agreement permits: |
(A) | the Locked-up Person to withdraw the Voting
Shares from the agreement in order to tender or deposit the Voting
Shares to another Take-over Bid or to support another transaction that
in either case will provide greater value to the Locked-up Person than
the Subject Bid; or |
(B) | the Locked-up Person to withdraw the Voting
Shares from the agreement in order to tender or deposit the Voting
Shares to another Take-over Bid or to support another transaction that
contains an offering price for each Voting Share that exceeds by as
much as or more than a specified amount (the “Specified Amount”) the
offering price for each Voting |
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Share contained in or proposed to be contained in the Subject Bid;
and (b) the agreement does not by its terms provide for a Specified
Amount that is greater than 7% of the offering price contained in or
proposed to be contained in the Subject Bid;
and, for greater clarity, an agreement may contain a right of first refusal
or require a period of delay to give an Offeror an opportunity to match a
higher price in another Take-over Bid or other similar limitation on a
Locked-up Person as long as the Locked-up Person can accept another bid or
tender to another transaction; and
(iii) | no “break-up” fees, “top-up” fees, penalties, expenses or
other amounts that exceed in the aggregate the greater of: |
(A) | 21/2% of the price or value of the consideration
payable under the Subject Bid to the Locked-up Person; and |
(B) | 50% of the amount by which the price or value
of the consideration payable under another Take-over Bid or transaction
to the Locked-up Person exceeds the price or value of the consideration
that such Locked-up Person would have received under the Subject Bid; |
shall be payable by such Locked-up Person pursuant to the agreement in the
event such Locked-up Person fails to deposit or tender the Voting Shares to
the Subject Bid or withdraws the Voting Shares previously tendered thereto
in order to deposit or tender such Voting Shares to another Take-over Bid or
support another transaction.
(cc) | “Market Price” per share of any securities on any date of determination means
the average of the daily closing prices per share of the securities (determined as
described below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days through and including the
Trading Day immediately preceding such date; provided, however, that if an event of a
type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.3 hereof shall have caused
the closing prices used to determine the Market Price on any Trading Days not to be
fully comparable with the closing price on the date of determination or, if the date of
determination is not a Trading Day, on the immediately preceding Trading Day, each
closing price so used shall be appropriately adjusted in a manner analogous to the
applicable adjustment provided for in Section 2.3 hereof in order to make it fully
comparable with the closing price on the date of determination or, if the date of
determination is not a Trading Day, on the immediately preceding Trading Day. The
closing price per share of any securities on any date shall be: |
(i) | the closing board lot sale price or, in case no such sale takes
place on such date, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for each of
the securities as reported by the principal Canadian stock exchange (as
determined by volume of trading) on which the securities are listed or admitted
to trading; |
(ii) | if for any reason none of such prices is available on such day
or the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on a Canadian stock
exchange, the last sale price or, in case no such sale takes place on the date,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices for each of the securities as
reported by the principal national United States securities exchange (as
determined by volume of trading) on which the securities are listed or admitted
to trading; |
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(iii) | if for any reason none of such prices is available on such day
or the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on a Canadian stock
exchange or a national United States securities exchange, the last sale price
or, in case no sale takes place on such date, the average of the high bid and
low asked prices for each of the securities in the over-the-counter market, as
quoted by any recognized reporting system then in use; or |
(iv) | if for any reason none of such prices is available on such day
or the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on a Canadian stock
exchange or a national United States securities exchange or quoted by any
reporting system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished
by a recognized professional market maker making a market in the securities; |
provided, however, that if for any reason none of such prices is available on such
day, the closing price per share of the securities on such date means the fair value
per share of the securities on such date as determined by an internationally
recognized investment dealer or investment banker; provided further that if an event
of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.3 hereof has caused
any price used to determine the Market Price on any Trading Day not to be fully
comparable with the price as so determined on the Trading Day immediately preceding
such date of determination, each price so used shall be appropriately adjusted in a
manner analogous to the applicable adjustment provided for in Section 2.3 hereof in
order to make it fully comparable with the price on the Trading Day immediately
preceding such date of determination. The Market Price shall be expressed in
Canadian dollars and, if initially determined in respect of any day forming part of
the 20 consecutive Trading Day period in question in United States dollars, such
amount shall be translated into Canadian dollars on that date at the Canadian Dollar
Equivalent thereof;
(dd) | “1933 Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as now in effect or as the same may
from time to time be amended, re-enacted or replaced; |
(ee) | “1934 Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the United
States, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder as now in effect or as the
same may from time to time be amended, re-enacted or replaced; |
(ff) | “Nominee” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Subsection 2.2(c); |
(gg) | “Offer to Acquire” includes: |
(i) | an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell
Voting Shares; and |
(ii) | an acceptance of an offer to sell Voting Shares, whether or not
such offer to sell has been solicited; |
or any combination thereof, and the Person accepting an offer to sell shall be
deemed to be making an Offer to Acquire to the Person that made the offer to sell;
(hh) | “Offeror” means a Person who has announced, and has not withdrawn, an intention
to make or who has made, and has not withdrawn, a Take-over Bid, other than a Person
who has completed a Permitted Bid, a Competing Permitted Bid or an Exempt Acquisition; |
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(ii) | “Offeror’s Securities” means Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by an Offeror on
the date of the Offer to Acquire; |
(jj) | “Permitted Bid” means a Take-over Bid made by an Offeror by way of take-over
bid circular which also complies with the following additional provisions: |
(i) | the Take-over Bid is made to all holders of Voting Shares as
registered on the books of the Corporation, other than the Offeror; |
(ii) | the Take-over Bid contains, and the take-up and payment for
securities tendered or deposited is subject to, an irrevocable and unqualified
provision that no Voting Shares will be taken up or paid for pursuant to the
Take-over Bid: |
(A) | prior to the close of business on the date
which is not less than 60 days following the date of the Take-over Bid;
and |
(B) | only if at such date more than 50% of the
Voting Shares held by Independent Shareholders shall have been
deposited or tendered pursuant to the Take-over Bid and not withdrawn; |
(iii) | unless the Take-over Bid is withdrawn, the Take-over Bid
contains an irrevocable and unqualified provision that Voting Shares may be
deposited pursuant to such Take-over Bid at any time during the period of time
described in Subparagraph 1.1(jj)(ii)(A) and that any Voting Shares deposited
pursuant to the Take-over Bid may be withdrawn until taken up and paid for; and |
(iv) | unless the Take-over Bid is withdrawn, the Take-over Bid
contains an irrevocable and unqualified provision that in the event that the
deposit condition set forth in Subparagraph 1.1(jj)(ii)(B) is satisfied the
Offeror will make a public announcement of that fact and the Take-over Bid will
remain open for deposits and tenders of Voting Shares for not less than ten
Business Days from the date of such public announcement; |
(kk) | “Permitted Bid Acquisition” means an acquisition of Voting Shares made pursuant
to a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted Bid; |
(ll) | “Person” includes any individual, firm, partnership, association, trust,
trustee, executor, administrator, legal personal representative, body corporate,
corporation, unincorporated organization, syndicate, governmental entity or other
entity; |
(mm) | “Pro Rata Acquisition” means an acquisition by a Person of Voting Shares
pursuant to: |
(i) | a Dividend Reinvestment Acquisition; |
(ii) | a stock dividend, stock split or other event in respect of
securities of the Corporation of one or more particular classes or series
pursuant to which such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of Voting Shares on
the same pro rata basis as all other holders of securities of the particular
class, classes or series; |
(iii) | the acquisition or the exercise by the Person of only those
rights to purchase Voting Shares distributed by the Corporation to that Person
in the course of a distribution to all holders of securities of the Corporation
of one or more particular classes or series pursuant to a rights offering or
pursuant to a |
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prospectus, provided that such rights are acquired directly from the
Corporation and not from any other Person and the Person does not thereby
acquire a greater percentage of such Voting Shares so distributed than the
Person’s percentage of Voting Shares Beneficially Owned immediately prior to
such acquisition; or
(iv) | a distribution of Voting Shares, or securities convertible into
or exchangeable for Voting Shares (and the conversion or exchange of such
convertible or exchangeable securities), made pursuant to a prospectus or by
way of a private placement, provided that the Person does not thereby acquire a
greater percentage of such Voting Shares, or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for Voting Shares, so offered than the Person’s percentage of
Voting Shares Beneficially Owned immediately prior to such acquisition; |
(nn) | “Record Time” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Subsection 2.1(a); |
(oo) | “Reconfirmation Meeting” has the meaning ascribed in Section 5.16; |
(pp) | “Redemption Price” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Subsection 5.1(b); |
(qq) | “Right” means a right to purchase a Common Share upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement; |
(rr) | “Rights Certificate” means the certificates representing the Rights after the
Separation Time, which shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Attachment
1; |
(ss) | “Rights Register” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Subsection 2.6(a); |
(tt) | “Rights Registrar” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Subsection 2.6(a); |
(uu) | “Securities Act” means the Securities Act, R.S.A. 2000, c.S-4, as amended, and
the regulations thereunder, and any comparable or successor laws or regulations
thereto; |
(vv) | “Separation Time” means the close of business on the tenth Trading Day after
the earlier of: |
(i) | the Stock Acquisition Date; |
(ii) | the date of the commencement of or first public announcement of
the intent of any Person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the
Corporation) to commence a Take-over Bid (other than a Permitted Bid or a
Competing Permitted Bid), or such later time as may be determined by the Board
of Directors, provided that, if any Take-over Bid referred to in this Clause
(ii) expires, is cancelled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the
Separation Time, such Take-over Bid shall be deemed, for the purposes of this
definition, never to have been made; and |
(iii) | the date on which a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid
ceases to be such; |
(ww) | “Stock Acquisition Date” means the first date of public announcement (which,
for purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed
pursuant to Section 182.1 of the Securities Act or Section 13(d) of the 1934 Exchange
Act) by the Corporation or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such
or such later date as determined by the Board of Directors; |
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(xx) | “Subsidiary” a corporation is a Subsidiary of another Person if: |
(i) | it is controlled by: |
(A) | that other; or |
(B) | that other and one or more Persons, each of
which is controlled by that other; or |
(C) | two or more Persons, each of which is
controlled by that other; or |
(ii) | it is a Subsidiary of a Person that is that other’s Subsidiary; |
(yy) | “Take-over Bid” means an Offer to Acquire Voting Shares, or securities
convertible into Voting Shares if, assuming that the Voting Shares or convertible
securities subject to the Offer to Acquire are acquired and are Beneficially Owned at
the date of such Offer to Acquire by the Person making such Offer to Acquire, such
Voting Shares (including Voting Shares that may be acquired upon conversion of
securities convertible into Voting Shares) together with the Offeror’s Securities,
constitute in the aggregate 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares at the date of
the Offer to Acquire; |
||
(zz) | “TSX” means the Toronto Stock Exchange; |
||
(aaa) | “Trading Day”, when used with respect to any securities, means a day on which
the principal Canadian stock exchange on which such securities are listed or admitted
to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the securities are not listed
or admitted to trading on any Canadian stock exchange, a Business Day; |
||
(bbb) | “U.S.-Canadian Exchange Rate” means, on any date: |
(i) | if on such date the Bank of Canada sets an average noon spot
rate of exchange for the conversion of one United States dollar into Canadian
dollars, such rate; and |
(ii) | in any other case, the rate for such date for the conversion of
one United States dollar into Canadian dollars calculated in such manner as may
be determined by the Board of Directors from time to time acting in good faith; |
(ccc) | “U.S. Dollar Equivalent” of any amount which is expressed in Canadian dollars
means, on any date, the United States dollar equivalent of the amount determined by
multiplying the amount by the Canadian-U.S. Exchange Rate in effect on such date; |
(ddd) | “Voting Share Reduction” means an acquisition or redemption by the Corporation
of Voting Shares which, by reducing the number of Voting Shares outstanding, increases
the proportionate number of Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by any Person to 20% or
more of the Voting Shares then outstanding; and |
(eee) | “Voting Shares” means the Common Shares and any other shares in the capital of
the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of all directors. |
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1.2 | Currency |
All sums of money which are referred to in this Agreement are expressed in lawful money of
Canada, unless otherwise specified.
1.3 | Headings |
The division of this Agreement into Articles, Sections, Subsections, Paragraphs, Subparagraphs
or other portions hereof and the insertion of headings, subheadings and a table of contents are for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement.
1.4 | Calculation of Number and Percentage of Beneficial Ownership of Outstanding Voting Shares |
For purposes of this Agreement, the percentage of Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by any
Person, shall be and be deemed to be the product (expressed as a percentage) determined by the
formula:
100 x A/B
where:
A | = | the number of votes for the election of all directors generally attaching to
the Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person; and |
B | = | the number of votes for the election of all directors generally attaching to
all outstanding Voting Shares. |
Where any Person is deemed to Beneficially Own unissued Voting Shares, such Voting Shares shall be
deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of calculating the percentage of Voting Shares
Beneficially Owned by such Person.
1.5 | Acting Jointly or in Concert |
For the purposes hereof, a Person is acting jointly or in concert with every Person who, as a
result of any agreement, commitment or understanding, whether formal or informal, with the first
Person or any Affiliate thereof, acquires or offers to acquire Voting Shares (other than (i)
customary agreements with and between underwriters and/or banking group members and/or selling
group members with respect to a public offering or private placement of securities and (ii) pledges
of securities in the ordinary course of business).
1.6 | Generally Accepted Accounting Principles |
Wherever in this Agreement reference is made to generally accepted accounting principles, such
reference shall be deemed to be the recommendations at the relevant time of the Canadian Institute
of Chartered Accountants, or any successor institute, applicable on a consolidated basis (unless
otherwise specifically provided herein to be applicable on an unconsolidated basis) as at the date
on which a calculation is made or required to be made in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of revenue
or expense is required to be determined, or any consolidation or other accounting computation is
required to be made for the purpose of this Agreement or any document, such determination or
calculation shall, to the extent applicable and except as otherwise specified herein or as
otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, be made in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis.
-13-
ARTICLE 2
THE RIGHTS
THE RIGHTS
2.1 | Issue of Rights; Legend on Common Share Certificates |
(a) | One Right has been issued, effective at 12:01 a.m. (Calgary time) on July 30,
2001, in respect of each Common Share outstanding at 12:01 a.m. (Calgary time) on July
30, 2001 (the “Record Time”) and one Right shall be issued in respect of each Common
Share issued after the Record Time and prior to the earlier of the Separation Time and
the Expiration Time; and |
(b) | Certificates representing Common Shares which are issued after the Record Time
but prior to the earlier of the Separation Time and the Expiration Time, shall also
evidence one Right for each Common Share represented thereby and shall have impressed
on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them, prior to the date hereof the
legend set forth in Subsection 2.1(c) of the Original Agreement, which legend shall be
deemed to be amended for all purposes to read the same as the legend set forth below,
and after the date hereof the following legend: |
Until the Separation Time (defined in the Agreement below), this certificate
also evidences the holder’s rights described in a Shareholder Rights Plan
Agreement dated as of July 30, 2001, as amended and restated as of September
13, 2001 and as further amended and restated as of April 28, 2004 and as of
April 21, 2010 and as such may from time to time be amended, restated,
varied or replaced (the “Agreement”) between Encana Corporation (the
“Corporation”) and CIBC Mellon Trust Company (the “Rights Agent”), the terms
of which are incorporated herein and a copy of which is available on demand
without charge. Under certain circumstances set out in the Agreement, the
rights may expire, may become null and void or may be evidenced by separate
certificates and no longer evidenced by this certificate.
Certificates representing Common Shares that are issued and outstanding at the Record Time, if
any, shall also evidence one Right for each Common Share represented thereby, notwithstanding the
absence of the foregoing legend, until the close of business on the earlier of the Separation Time
and the Expiration Time.
2.2 | Initial Exercise Price; Exercise of Rights; Detachment of Rights |
(a) | Subject to adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will entitle the holder
thereof, from and after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, to
purchase one Common Share for the Exercise Price (and the Exercise Price and number of
Common Shares are subject to adjustment as set forth below). Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, any Rights held by the Corporation or any of its
Subsidiaries shall be void. |
||
(b) | Until the Separation Time: |
(i) | the Rights shall not be exercisable and no Right may be
exercised; and |
(ii) | each Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the
associated Common Share of the Corporation registered in the name of the holder
thereof (which certificate shall also be deemed to represent a Rights
Certificate) and will be transferable only together with, and will be
transferred by a transfer of, such associated Common Share. |
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(c) | From and after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time: |
(i) | the Rights shall be exercisable; and |
(ii) | the registration and transfer of Rights shall be separate from
and independent of Common Shares of the Corporation. |
Promptly following the Separation Time, the Corporation will prepare and the Rights
Agent will mail to each holder of record of Common Shares as of the Separation Time
(other than an Acquiring Person and, in respect of any Rights Beneficially Owned by
such Acquiring Person which are not held of record by such Acquiring Person, the
holder of record of such Rights (a “Nominee”)) at such holder’s address as shown by
the records of the Corporation (the Corporation hereby agreeing to furnish copies of
such records to the Rights Agent for this purpose):
(x) | a Rights Certificate appropriately completed, representing the
number of Rights held by such holder at the Separation Time and having such
marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Corporation may deem appropriate and as are
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required
to comply with any law, rule or regulation or with any rule or regulation of
any self-regulatory organization, stock exchange or quotation system on which
the Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage;
and |
||
(y) | a disclosure statement prepared by the Corporation describing the Rights, |
provided that a Nominee shall be sent the materials provided for in (x) and (y) in
respect of all Common Shares of the Corporation held of record by it which are not
Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person.
(d) | Rights may be exercised, in whole or in part, on any Business Day after the
Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time by submitting to the Rights Agent: |
(i) | the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights; |
(ii) | an election to exercise such Rights (an “Election to Exercise”)
substantially in the form attached to the Rights Certificate appropriately
completed and executed by the holder or his executors or administrators or
other personal representatives or his or their legal attorney duly appointed by
an instrument in writing in form and executed in a manner satisfactory to the
Rights Agent; and |
(iii) | payment by certified cheque, banker’s draft or money order
payable to the order of the Corporation, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price
multiplied by the number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to
cover any transfer tax or governmental charge which may be payable in respect
of any transfer involved in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or
the issuance or delivery of certificates for Common Shares in a name other than
that of the holder of the Rights being exercised. |
(e) | Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, together with a completed Election to
Exercise executed in accordance with Paragraph 2.2(d)(ii), which does not indicate that
such Right is null and void as provided by Subsection 3.1(b), and payment as set forth
in Paragraph 2.2(d)(iii), the Rights Agent (unless otherwise instructed by the
Corporation in the event |
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that the Corporation is of the opinion that the Rights cannot be exercised in
accordance with this Agreement) will thereupon promptly:
(i) | requisition from the transfer agent certificates representing
the number of such Common Shares to be purchased (the Corporation hereby
irrevocably authorizing its transfer agent to comply with all such
requisitions); |
(ii) | when appropriate, requisition from the Corporation the amount
of cash to be paid in lieu of issuing fractional Common Shares in accordance
with Subsection 5.5(b); |
(iii) | after receipt of the certificates referred to in Paragraph
2.2(e)(i), deliver the same to or upon the order of the registered holder of
such Rights Certificates, registered in such name or names as may be designated
by such holder; |
(iv) | when appropriate, after receipt, deliver the cash referred to
in Paragraph 2.2(e)(ii) to or to the order of the registered holder of such
Rights Certificate; and |
(v) | tender to the Corporation all payments received on exercise of
Rights. |
(f) | In case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the Rights
evidenced by such holder’s Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the
Rights remaining unexercised (subject to the provisions of Subsection 5.5(a)) will be
issued by the Rights Agent to such holder or to such holder’s duly authorized assigns. |
||
(g) | The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will: |
(i) | take all such action as may be necessary and within its power
to ensure that all Common Shares delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at
the time of delivery of the certificates for such Common Shares (subject to
payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized, executed,
issued and delivered as fully paid and non-assessable; |
(ii) | take all such action as may be necessary and within its power
to comply with the requirements of the CBCA, the Securities Act, the securities
laws or comparable legislation of each of the provinces of Canada, the 1933
Securities Act and the 1934 Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in connection with
the issuance and delivery of the Rights Certificates and the issuance of any
Common Shares upon exercise of Rights; |
(iii) | use reasonable efforts to cause all Common Shares issued upon
exercise of Rights to be listed on the TSX or other principal stock exchanges
on which such Common Shares were traded immediately prior to the Stock
Acquisition Date; |
(iv) | cause to be reserved and kept available out of the authorized
and unissued Common Shares, the number of Common Shares that, as provided in
this Agreement, will from time to time be sufficient to permit the exercise in
full of all outstanding Rights; |
(v) | pay when due and payable, if applicable, any and all federal,
provincial and municipal transfer taxes and charges (not including any income
or capital taxes of the holder or exercising holder or any liability of the
Corporation to withhold |
-16-
tax) which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of
the Rights Certificates, or certificates for Common Shares to be issued upon
exercise of any Rights, provided that the Corporation shall not be required
to pay any transfer tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any
transfer involved in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the
issuance or delivery of certificates for Common Shares in a name other than
that of the holder of the Rights being transferred or exercised; and
(vi) | after the Separation Time, except as permitted by Section 5.1,
not take (or permit any Subsidiary of the Corporation to take) any action if at
the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action
will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights. |
2.3 | Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights |
The Exercise Price, the number and kind of securities subject to purchase upon exercise of
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in this Section 2.3.
(a) | In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement: |
(i) | declare or pay a dividend on Common Shares payable in Common
Shares (or other securities exchangeable for or convertible into or giving a
right to acquire Common Shares or other securities of the Corporation) other
than pursuant to any optional stock dividend program; |
(ii) | subdivide or change the then outstanding Common Shares into a
greater number of Common Shares; |
(iii) | consolidate or change the then outstanding Common Shares into
a smaller number of Common Shares; or |
(iv) | issue any Common Shares (or other securities exchangeable for
or convertible into or giving a right to acquire Common Shares or other
securities of the Corporation) in respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for
existing Common Shares except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.3, |
the Exercise Price and the number of Rights outstanding, or, if the payment or
effective date therefor shall occur after the Separation Time, the securities
purchasable upon exercise of Rights shall be adjusted as of the payment or effective
date in the manner set forth below.
If the Exercise Price and number of Rights outstanding are to be adjusted:
(x) | the Exercise Price in effect after such adjustment will be
equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment
divided by the number of Common Shares (or other capital stock) (the “Expansion
Factor”) that a holder of one Common Share immediately prior to such dividend,
subdivision, change, consolidation or issuance would hold thereafter as a
result thereof; and |
(y) | each Right held prior to such adjustment will become that
number of Rights equal to the Expansion Factor, |
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and the adjusted number of Rights will be deemed to be distributed among the Common
Shares with respect to which the original Rights were associated (if they remain
outstanding) and the shares issued in respect of such dividend, subdivision, change,
consolidation or issuance, so that each such Common Share (or other capital stock)
will have exactly one Right associated with it.
For greater certainty, if the securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights are to
be adjusted, the securities purchasable upon exercise of each Right after such
adjustment will be the securities that a holder of the securities purchasable upon
exercise of one Right immediately prior to such dividend, subdivision, change,
consolidation or issuance would hold thereafter as a result of such dividend,
subdivision, change, consolidation or issuance.
If, after the Record Time and prior to the Expiration Time, the Corporation shall
issue any shares of capital stock other than Common Shares in a transaction of a
type described in Paragraph 2.3(a)(i) or (iv), shares of such capital stock shall be
treated herein as nearly equivalent to Common Shares as may be practicable and
appropriate under the circumstances and the Corporation and the Rights Agent agree
to amend this Agreement in order to effect such treatment. If an event occurs which
would require an adjustment under both this Section 2.3 and Subsection 3.1(a)
hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 2.3 shall be in addition to and
shall be made prior to any adjustment required pursuant to Subsection 3.1(a) hereof.
Adjustments pursuant to Subsection 2.3(a) shall be made successively, whenever an
event referred to in Subsection 2.3(a) occurs.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to
the Separation Time issue any Common Shares otherwise than in a transaction referred
to in this Subsection 2.3(a), each such Common Share so issued shall automatically
have one new Right associated with it, which Right shall be evidenced by the
certificate representing such associated Common Share.
(b) | In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and prior
to the Separation Time fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or
warrants to all holders of Common Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within
45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares (or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for or carrying a right to purchase Common
Shares) at a price per Common Share (or, if a security convertible into or exchangeable
for or carrying a right to purchase or subscribe for Common Shares, having a
conversion, exchange or exercise price, including the price required to be paid to
purchase such convertible or exchangeable security or right per share) less than the
Market Price per Common Share on such record date, the Exercise Price to be in effect
after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction: |
(i) | the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of Common Shares that the
aggregate offering price of the total number of Common Shares so to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion, exchange or exercise price of the
convertible or exchangeable securities or rights so to be offered, including
the price required to be paid to purchase such convertible or exchangeable
securities or rights) would purchase at such Market Price per Common Share; and |
(ii) | the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional Common Shares to
be offered for |
-18-
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible or exchangeable
securities or rights so to be offered are initially convertible,
exchangeable or exercisable).
In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration, part or
all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall
be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall
be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
Rights Agent and the holders of Rights. 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, or if issued, are not exercised prior to the expiration
thereof, the Exercise Price shall be readjusted to the Exercise Price which would
then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed, or to the Exercise Price
which would be in effect based upon the number of Common Shares (or securities
convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Shares) actually issued
upon the exercise of such rights, options or warrants, as the case may be.
For purposes of this Agreement, the granting of the right to purchase Common Shares
(whether from treasury or otherwise) pursuant to any Dividend Reinvestment Plan or
any employee benefit, stock option or similar plans shall be deemed not to
constitute an issue of rights, options or warrants by the Corporation; provided,
however, that, in all such cases, the right to purchase Common Shares is at a price
per share of not less than 95 per cent of the current market price per share
(determined as provided in such plans) of the Common Shares.
(c) | In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and prior
to the Separation Time fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all
holders of Common Shares (including any such distribution made in connection with a
merger or amalgamation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than an annual cash
dividend or a dividend referred to in Paragraph 2.3(a)(i), but including any dividend
payable in other securities of the Corporation other than Common Shares), assets or
rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Subsection 2.3(b)), the
Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a
fraction: |
(i) | the numerator of which shall be the Market Price per Common
Share on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent
and the holders of Rights), on a per share basis, of the portion of the cash,
assets, evidences of indebtedness, rights, options or warrants so to be
distributed; and |
(ii) | the denominator of which shall be such Market Price per Common
Share. |
Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed,
and in the event that such a distribution is not so made, the Exercise Price shall
be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(d) | Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment in the Exercise
Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of
at least one per cent in the Exercise Price; provided, however, that any adjustments
which by reason of this Subsection 2.3(d) are not required to be made shall be carried
forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under
Section 2.3 shall |
-19-
be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Subsection 2.3(d), any adjustment
required by Section 2.3 shall be made no later than the earlier of:
(i) | three years from the date of the transaction which gives rise
to such adjustment; or |
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(ii) | the Expiration Time. |
(e) | In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and prior
to the Separation Time issue any shares of capital stock (other than Common Shares), or
rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any such capital stock, or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such capital stock, in a
transaction referred to in Paragraphs 2.3(a)(i) or (iv), if the Board of Directors
acting in good faith determines that the adjustments contemplated by Subsections
2.3(a), (b) and (c) in connection with such transaction will not appropriately protect
the interests of the holders of Rights, the Board of Directors may determine what other
adjustments to the Exercise Price, number of Rights and/or securities purchasable upon
exercise of Rights would be appropriate and, notwithstanding Subsections 2.3(a), (b)
and (c), such adjustments, rather than the adjustments contemplated by Subsections
2.3(a), (b) and (c), shall be made. The Corporation and the Rights Agent shall have
authority to amend this Agreement in accordance with Subsections 5.4(b) and 5.4(c), as
the case may be, to provide for such adjustments. |
(f) | Each Right originally issued by the Corporation subsequent to any adjustment
made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the
adjusted Exercise Price, the number of Common Shares purchasable from time to time
hereunder upon exercise of a Right immediately prior to such issue, all subject to
further adjustment as provided herein. |
(g) | Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the number of
Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates
theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Exercise Price per Common
Share and the number of Common Shares which were expressed in the initial Rights
Certificates issued hereunder. |
(h) | In any case in which this Section 2.3 shall require that an adjustment in the
Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the
Corporation may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the
holder of any Right exercised after such record date the number of Common Shares and
other securities of the Corporation, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above
the number of Common Shares and other securities of the Corporation, if any, issuable
upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise Price in effect prior to such
adjustment; provided, however, that the Corporation shall deliver to such holder an
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares
(fractional or otherwise) or other securities upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment. |
(i) | Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 2.3 to the contrary, the
Corporation shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Exercise Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 2.3, as and to the
extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of Directors determines to be
advisable, in order that any: |
(i) | consolidation or subdivision of Common Shares; |
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(ii) | issuance (wholly or in part for cash) of Common Shares or
securities that by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Common
Shares; |
||
(iii) | stock dividends; or |
(iv) | issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this
Section 2.3, |
hereafter made by the Corporation to holders of its Common Shares, shall not be
taxable to such shareholders.
(j) | Whenever an adjustment to an Exercise Price or a change in the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights is made pursuant to this Section 2.3, the
Corporation shall promptly: |
(i) | file with the Rights Agent and with the transfer agent for the
Corporation a certificate specifying the particulars of such adjustment or
change; and |
(ii) | cause notice of the particulars of such adjustment or change to
be given to the holders of the Rights. |
Failure to file such certificate or to cause such notice to be given as aforesaid,
or any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of any such adjustment or
change.
2.4 | Date on Which Exercise is Effective |
Each Person in whose name any certificate for Common Shares or other securities, if
applicable, is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become
the holder of record of the Common Shares or other securities, if applicable, represented thereon,
and such certificate shall be dated the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such
Rights was duly surrendered in accordance with Subsection 2.2(d) (together with a duly completed
Election to Exercise) and payment of the Exercise Price for such Rights (and any applicable
transfer taxes and other governmental charges payable by the exercising holder hereunder) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Common
Share transfer books of the Corporation are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the
record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business
Day on which the Common Share transfer books of the Corporation are open.
2.5 | Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates |
(a) | The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by its
Chairman of the Board, President or any Vice-President and by its Corporate Secretary
or any Assistant Secretary under the corporate seal of the Corporation reproduced
thereon. The signature of any of these officers on the Rights Certificates may be
manual or by facsimile. Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures
of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Corporation shall bind
the Corporation, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices either before or after the countersignature and delivery of such
Rights Certificates. |
(b) | Promptly after the Corporation learns of the Separation Time, the Corporation
will notify the Rights Agent of such Separation Time and will deliver a disclosure
statement and Rights Certificates executed by the Corporation to the Rights Agent for
countersignature, and the Rights Agent shall countersign (manually or by facsimile
signature in a manner satisfactory to the Corporation) and send such disclosure
statement and Rights |
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Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to Subsection 2.2(c) hereof. No
Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until countersigned by the Rights
Agent as aforesaid.
(c) | Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature thereof. |
2.6 | Registration, Transfer and Exchange |
(a) | After the Separation Time, the Corporation will cause to be kept a register
(the “Rights Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, the Corporation will provide for the registration and transfer of Rights.
The Rights Agent is hereby appointed registrar for the Rights (the “Rights Registrar”)
for the purpose of maintaining the Rights Register for the Corporation and registering
Rights and transfers of Rights as herein provided and the Rights Agent hereby accepts
such appointment. In the event that the Rights Agent shall cease to be the Rights
Registrar, the Rights Agent will have the right to examine the Rights Register at all
reasonable times. |
After the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon surrender for
registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate, and subject to the
provisions of Subsection 2.6(c), the Corporation will execute, and the Rights Agent
will countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee
or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new
Rights Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights
Certificates so surrendered.
(b) | All Rights issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights
Certificates shall be the valid obligations of the Corporation, and such Rights shall
be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon
such registration of transfer or exchange. |
(c) | Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange
shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer
satisfactory in form to the Corporation or the Rights Agent, as the case may be, duly
executed by the holder thereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.
As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this Section 2.6,
the Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses
(including the reasonable fees and expenses of the Rights Agent) connected therewith. |
2.7 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates |
(a) | If any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior to
the Expiration Time, the Corporation shall execute and the Rights Agent shall
countersign and deliver in exchange therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the
same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered. |
(b) | If there shall be delivered to the Corporation and the Rights Agent prior to
the Expiration Time: |
(i) | evidence to their reasonable satisfaction of the destruction,
loss or theft of any Rights Certificate; and |
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(ii) | such security or indemnity as may be reasonably required by
them to save each of them and any of their agents harmless; |
then, in the absence of notice to the Corporation or the Rights Agent that such
Rights Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Corporation shall
execute and upon the Corporation’s request the Rights Agent shall countersign and
deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new
Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the destroyed, lost
or stolen Rights Certificate.
(c) | As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this Section
2.7, the Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of the Rights Agent) connected
therewith. |
(d) | Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.7 in lieu of any
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence the contractual obligation
of the Corporation, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate
shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits
of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Rights duly issued
hereunder. |
2.8 | Persons Deemed Owners of Rights |
The Corporation, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Corporation or the Rights Agent may
deem and treat the Person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, the
associated Common Share certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever. As used in this Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires, the term “holder” of any Rights shall mean the registered holder of such Rights
(or, prior to the Separation Time, of the associated Common Shares).
2.9 | Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates |
All Rights Certificates surrendered upon exercise or for redemption, registration of transfer
or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Rights Agent, be delivered to the
Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent. The Corporation
may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation any Rights Certificates previously
countersigned and delivered hereunder which the Corporation may have acquired in any manner
whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights
Agent. No Rights Certificate shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights
Certificates cancelled as provided in this Section 2.9, except as expressly permitted by this
Agreement. The Rights Agent shall, subject to applicable laws, and its ordinary business
practices, destroy all cancelled Rights Certificates and deliver a certificate of destruction to
the Corporation.
2.10 | Agreement of Rights Holders |
Every holder of Rights, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Corporation and
the Rights Agent and with every other holder of Rights:
(a) | to be bound by and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as amended from
time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, in respect of all Rights held; |
(b) | that prior to the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable only
together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated Common Share
certificate representing such Right; |
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(c) | that after the Separation Time, the Rights Certificates will be transferable
only on the Rights Register as provided herein; |
(d) | that prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Common Share certificate) for registration of transfer,
the Corporation, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Corporation or the Rights Agent
may deem and treat the Person in whose name the Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Common Share certificate) is registered as the absolute
owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on such Rights Certificate or the associated Common Share
certificate made by anyone other than the Corporation or the Rights Agent) for all
purposes whatsoever, and neither the Corporation nor the Rights Agent shall be affected
by any notice to the contrary; |
(e) | that such holder of Rights has waived his right to receive any fractional
Rights or any fractional shares or other securities upon exercise of a Right (except as
provided herein); |
(f) | that, subject to the provisions of Section 5.4, without the approval of any
holder of Rights or Voting Shares and upon the sole authority of the Board of
Directors, acting in good faith, this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from
time to time to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein which may be inconsistent with the intent of this Agreement or is otherwise
defective, as provided herein; and |
(g) | notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the
Corporation nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or
any other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its obligations under
this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order,
decree or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental,
regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or
executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or
otherwise restraining performance of such obligation. |
2.11 | Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder |
No holder, as such, of any Rights or Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose whatsoever the holder of any Common Share or any other share
or security of the Corporation which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed
or deemed or confer upon the holder of any Right or Rights Certificate, as such, any right, title,
benefit or privilege of a holder of Common Shares or any other shares or securities of the
Corporation or any right to vote at any meeting of shareholders of the Corporation whether for the
election of directors or otherwise or upon any matter submitted to holders of Common Shares or any
other shares of the Corporation at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
action of the Corporation, or to receive notice of any meeting or other action affecting any holder
of Common Shares or any other shares of the Corporation except as expressly provided herein, or to
receive dividends, distributions or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by Rights Certificates shall have been duly exercised in accordance with the terms and
provisions hereof.
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ARTICLE 3
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS
3.1 | Flip-in Event |
(a) | Subject to Subsection 3.1(b) and Section 5.1, if prior to the Expiration Time a
Flip-in Event occurs, each Right shall constitute, effective at the close of business
on the tenth Trading Day after the Stock Acquisition Date, the right to purchase from
the Corporation, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, that number
of Common Shares having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or
occurrence of such Flip-in Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in
cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately adjusted in a manner
analogous to the applicable adjustment provided for in Section 2.3 in the event that
after such consummation or occurrence, an event of a type analogous to any of the
events described in Section 2.3 shall have occurred). |
(b) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, upon the occurrence
of any Flip-in Event, any Rights that are or were Beneficially Owned on or after the
earlier of the Separation Time or the Stock Acquisition Date by: |
(i) | an Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person or any Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); or |
(ii) | a transferee of Rights, directly or indirectly, from an
Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any
Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person), where such transferee becomes a
transferee concurrently with or subsequent to the Acquiring Person becoming
such in a transfer that the Board of Directors has determined is part of a
plan, arrangement or scheme of an Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person or any Person acting jointly or in concert
with an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person),
that has the purpose or effect of avoiding Paragraph 3.1(b)(i), |
shall become null and void without any further action, and any holder of such Rights
(including transferees) shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under
any provision of this Agreement and further shall thereafter not have any other
rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this
Agreement or otherwise.
(c) | From and after the Separation Time, the Corporation shall do all such acts and
things as shall be necessary and within its power to ensure compliance with the
provisions of this Section 3.1, including without limitation, all such acts and things
as may be required to satisfy the requirements of the CBCA, the Securities Act and the
securities laws or comparable legislation of each of the provinces of Canada and of the
United States and each of the states thereof in respect of the issue of Common Shares
upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with this Agreement. |
(d) | Any Rights Certificate that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by a Person
described in either Paragraph 3.1(b)(i) or (ii) or transferred to any nominee of any
such Person, and any Rights Certificate issued upon transfer, exchange, replacement or
adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain
the following legend: |
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The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate were issued to a Person
who was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or an Associate of an Acquiring
Person (as such terms are defined in the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement)
or a Person who was acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person. This Rights Certificate
and the Rights represented hereby are void or shall become void in the
circumstances specified in Subsection 3.1(b) of the Shareholder Rights Plan
Agreement.
provided, however, that the Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility to
ascertain the existence of facts that would require the imposition of such legend
but shall impose such legend only if instructed to do so by the Corporation in
writing or if a holder fails to certify upon transfer or exchange in the space
provided on the Rights Certificate that such holder is not a Person described in
such legend.
ARTICLE 4
THE RIGHTS AGENT
THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 | General |
(a) | The Corporation hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the
Corporation and the holders of the Rights in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Corporation may from
time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents (“Co-Rights Agents”) as it may deem
necessary or desirable, subject to the approval of the Rights Agent. In the event the
Corporation appoints one or more Co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights
Agent and Co-Rights Agents shall be as the Corporation may determine, with the approval
of the Rights Agent and the Co-Rights Agent. The Corporation agrees to pay all
reasonable fees and expenses of the Rights Agent in respect of the performance of its
duties under this Agreement. The Corporation also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent
for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or wilful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against
any claim of liability, which right to indemnification will survive the termination of
this Agreement or the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent. |
(b) | The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its
administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any certificate for Common Shares,
Rights Certificate, certificate for other securities of the Corporation, instrument of
assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice,
direction, consent, certificate, opinion, statement, or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified
or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons. |
(c) | The Corporation shall inform the Rights Agent in a reasonably timely manner of
events which may materially affect the administration of this Agreement by the Rights
Agent and, at any time upon request, shall provide to the Rights Agent an incumbency
certificate certifying the then current officers of the Corporation. |
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4.2 | Merger, Amalgamation or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent |
(a) | Any corporation into which the Rights Agent may be merged or amalgamated or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
amalgamation, statutory arrangement or consolidation to which the Rights Agent is a
party, or any corporation succeeding to the shareholder or stockholder services
business of the Rights Agent, will be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part
of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 4.4 hereof.
If, at the time such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this
Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered,
the successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights
Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and if, at that time, any
of the Rights have not been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign
such Rights Certificates in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of
the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates will have
the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. |
(b) | If, at any time, the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at such time any
of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent
may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so
countersigned; and if, at that time, any of the Rights Certificates have not been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its
prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. |
4.3 | Duties of Rights Agent |
The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the
following terms and conditions, all of which the Corporation and the holders of certificates for
Common Shares and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) | the Rights Agent, at the expense of the Corporation, may consult with and
retain legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Corporation) and such other
experts as it reasonably considers necessary to perform its duties hereunder, and the
opinion of such counsel or other expert will be full and complete authorization and
protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith
and in accordance with such opinion; |
(b) | whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Rights
Agent deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established
by the Corporation prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or
matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein) is
deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by a Person
believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, any Vice-President, Treasurer, Corporate
Secretary, or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate will be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any
action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in
reliance upon such certificate; |
(c) | the Rights Agent will be liable hereunder for its own negligence, bad faith or
wilful misconduct; |
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(d) | the Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements
of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the certificates for Common
Shares or the Rights Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required
to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have
been made by the Corporation only; |
(e) | the Rights Agent will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity of
this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due authorization,
execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any certificate for a Common Share or Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor will it be responsible for any breach by the Corporation
of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate;
nor will it be responsible for any change in the exerciseability of the Rights
(including the Rights becoming void pursuant to Subsection 3.1(b) hereof) or any
adjustment required under the provisions of Section 2.3 hereof or responsible for the
manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of
facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of
Rights after receipt of the certificate contemplated by Section 2.3 describing any such
adjustment); nor is it deemed by any act hereunder to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization of any Common Shares to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement or any Rights or as to whether any Common Shares will, when issued, be duly
and validly authorized, executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and
non-assessable; |
(f) | the Corporation agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver
or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and
other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights
Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this
Agreement; |
(g) | the Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions in
writing with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any individual
believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, any Vice-President, Treasurer, Corporate
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, and to apply to such
individuals for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not
be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with
instructions of any such individual; |
(h) | the Rights Agent and any shareholder or stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Shares, Rights or other
securities of the Corporation or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Corporation may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Corporation or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement and nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in
any other capacity for the Corporation or for any other legal entity; and |
(i) | the Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby
vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys
or agents, and the Rights Agent will not be answerable or accountable for any act,
default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the
Corporation resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided
reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof. |
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4.4 | Change of Rights Agent |
The Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 60
days’ notice (or such lesser notice as is acceptable to the Corporation) in writing mailed to the
Corporation and to each transfer agent of Common Shares by registered or certified mail. The
Corporation may remove the Rights Agent upon 60 days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent
and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares by registered or certified mail. If the Rights
Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise become incapable of acting, the Corporation will
appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Corporation fails to make such appointment within
a period of 60 days after removal or after it has been notified in writing of the resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent, then by prior written notice to the
Corporation the resigning Rights Agent or the holder of any Rights (which holder shall, with such
notice, submit such holder’s Rights Certificate, if any, for inspection by the Corporation), may
apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent, at the
Corporation’s expense. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Corporation or by such
a court, shall be a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province thereof
authorized to carry on the business of a trust company in the Province of Alberta. After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent will be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed;
but the predecessor Rights Agent, upon receipt of all outstanding fees and expenses owing to it,
shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it
hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the
purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Corporation will file
notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common
Shares and mail a notice thereof in writing to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section
5.9. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4, however, or any defect therein,
shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the
appointment of any successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
ARTICLE 5
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 | Redemption and Waiver |
(a) | The Board of Directors acting in good faith may, until the occurrence of a
Flip-in Event, upon prior written notice delivered to the Rights Agent, waive the
application of Section 3.1 to a particular Flip-in Event that would result from a
Take-over Bid made by way of take-over bid circular to all holders of Voting Shares
(which for greater certainty shall not include the circumstances described in
Subsection 5.1(h)); provided that if the Board of Directors waives the application of
Section 3.1 to a particular Flip-in Event pursuant to this Subsection 5.1(a), the Board
of Directors shall be deemed to have waived the application of Section 3.1 to any other
Flip-in Event occurring by reason of any Take-over Bid which is made by means of a
take-over bid circular to all holders of Voting Shares prior to the expiry of any
Take-over Bid (as the same may be extended from time to time) in respect of which a
waiver is, or is deemed to have been, granted under this Subsection 5.1(a). |
(b) | Subject to the prior consent of the holders of the Voting Shares or the Rights
as set forth in Subsections 5.4(b) or (c), the Board of Directors acting in good faith
may, at its option, at any time prior to the provisions of Section 3.1 becoming
applicable as a result of the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, elect to redeem all but
not less than all of the outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.000001 per
Right appropriately adjusted in a manner analogous to the applicable adjustment
provided for in Section 2.3 if an event of the type |
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analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.3 shall have occurred (such
redemption price being herein referred to as the “Redemption Price”).
(c) | Where, pursuant to a Permitted Bid, a Competing Permitted Bid or an Exempt
Acquisition under Subsection 5.1(a), a Person acquires outstanding Voting Shares, other
than Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person at the date of the Permitted Bid,
the Competing Permitted Bid or the Exempt Acquisition under Subsection 5.1(a), then the
Board of Directors shall immediately upon the consummation of such acquisition without
further formality and without any approval under Subsection 5.4(b) or (c) be deemed to
have elected to redeem the Rights at the Redemption Price. |
(d) | Where a Take-over Bid that is not a Permitted Bid Acquisition is withdrawn or
otherwise terminated after the Separation Time has occurred and prior to the occurrence
of a Flip-in Event, the Board of Directors may elect to redeem all the outstanding
Rights at the Redemption Price. |
(e) | If the Board of Directors is deemed under Subsection 5.1(c) to have elected, or
elects under either of Subsection 5.1(b) or (d), to redeem the Rights, the right to
exercise the Rights will thereupon, without further action and without notice,
terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive
the Redemption Price. |
(f) | Within ten days after the Board of Directors is deemed under Subsection 5.1(c)
to have elected, or elects under Subsections 5.1(b) or (d), to redeem the Rights, the
Corporation shall give notice of redemption to the holders of the then outstanding
Rights by mailing such notice to each such holder at his last address as it appears
upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation Time, on the
registry books of the transfer agent for the Voting Shares. Any notice which is mailed
in the manner provided herein shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives
the notice. Each notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of
the Redemption Price will be made. |
(g) | Upon the Rights being redeemed pursuant to Subsection 5.1(d), all the
provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply as if the Separation Time had not
occurred and Rights Certificates representing the number of Rights held by each holder
of record of Common Shares as of the Separation Time had not been mailed to each such
holder and for all purposes of this Agreement the Separation Time shall be deemed not
to have occurred and the Rights shall remain attached to the outstanding Common Shares,
subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. |
(h) | The Board of Directors may waive the application of Section 3.1 in respect of
the occurrence of any Flip-in Event if the Board of Directors has determined within ten
Trading Days following a Stock Acquisition Date that a Person became an Acquiring
Person by inadvertence and without any intention to become, or knowledge that it would
become, an Acquiring Person under this Agreement and, in the event that such a waiver
is granted by the Board of Directors, such Stock Acquisition Date shall be deemed not
to have occurred. Any such waiver pursuant to this Subsection 5.1(h) must be on the
condition that such Person, within 14 days after the foregoing determination by the
Board of Directors or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors may
determine (the “Disposition Date”), has reduced its Beneficial Ownership of Voting
Shares so that the Person is no longer an Acquiring Person. If the Person remains an
Acquiring Person at the close of business on the Disposition Date, the Disposition Date
shall be deemed to be the date of occurrence of a further Stock Acquisition Date and
Section 3.1 shall apply thereto. |
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(i) | The Corporation shall give prompt written notice to the Rights Agent of any
waiver of the application of Section 3.1 made by the Board of Directors under this
Section 5.1. |
5.2 | Expiration |
No Person shall have any rights whatsoever pursuant to this Agreement or in respect of any
Right after the Expiration Time, except the Rights Agent as specified in Subsection 4.1(a) of this
Agreement.
5.3 | Issuance of New Rights Certificates |
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, or the Rights to the contrary, the
Corporation may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may
be approved by the Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the number or kind or
class of securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights made in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement.
5.4 | Supplements and Amendments |
(a) | The Corporation may make amendments to this Agreement to correct any clerical
or typographical error or, subject to Subsection 5.4(e), which are required to maintain
the validity of this Agreement as a result of any change in any applicable legislation,
rules or regulations thereunder. The Corporation may, prior to the next Reconfirmation
Meeting, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Rights or Voting Shares in order to make any changes which the Board of Directors
acting in good faith may deem necessary or desirable. Notwithstanding anything in this
Section 5.4 to the contrary, no such supplement or amendment shall be made to the
provisions of Article 4 except with the written concurrence of the Rights Agent to such
supplement or amendment. |
(b) | Subject to Subsection 5.4(a), the Corporation may, with the prior consent of
the holders of Voting Shares obtained as set forth below, at any time prior to the
Separation Time, amend, vary or rescind any of the provisions of this Agreement and the
Rights, (whether or not such action would materially adversely affect the interests of
the holders of Rights generally). Such consent shall be deemed to have been given if
the action requiring such approval is authorized by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the votes cast by Independent Shareholders present or represented at and entitled to
be voted at a meeting of the holders of Voting Shares duly called and held in
compliance with applicable laws and the articles and by-laws of the Corporation. |
(c) | The Corporation may, with the prior consent of the holders of Rights, at any
time on or after the Separation Time, amend, vary or delete any of the provisions of
this Agreement and the Rights (whether or not such action would materially adversely
affect the interests of the holders of Rights generally), provided that no such
amendment, variation or deletion shall be made to the provisions of Article 4 except
with the written concurrence of the Rights Agent thereto. Such consent shall be deemed
to have been given if such amendment, variation or deletion is authorized by the
affirmative votes of the holders of Rights present or represented at and entitled to be
voted at a meeting of the holders and representing 50% plus one of the votes cast in
respect thereof. |
(d) | Any approval of the holders of Rights shall be deemed to have been given if the
action requiring such approval is authorized by the affirmative votes of the holders of
Rights present or represented at and entitled to be voted at a meeting of the holders
of Rights and representing a majority of the votes cast in respect thereof. For the
purposes hereof, each outstanding Right (other than Rights which are void pursuant to
the provisions hereof) |
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shall be entitled to one vote, and the procedures for the calling, holding and
conduct of the meeting shall be those, as nearly as may be, which are provided in
the Corporation’s by-laws and the CBCA with respect to meetings of shareholders of
the Corporation.
(e) | Any amendments made by the Corporation to this Agreement pursuant to Subsection
5.4(a) which are required to maintain the validity of this Agreement as a result of any
change in applicable legislation, rule or regulation thereunder shall: |
(i) | if made before the Separation Time, be submitted to the
shareholders of the Corporation at the next meeting of shareholders and the
shareholders may, by the majority referred to in Subsection 5.4(b), confirm or
reject such amendment; or |
(ii) | if made after the Separation Time, be submitted to the holders
of Rights at a meeting to be called for on a date not later than immediately
following the next meeting of shareholders of the Corporation and the holders
of Rights may, by resolution passed by the majority referred to in Subsection
5.4(d), confirm or reject such amendment. |
Any such amendment shall be effective from the date of the resolution of the Board
of Directors adopting such amendment, until it is confirmed or rejected or until it
ceases to be effective (as described in the next sentence) and, where such amendment
is confirmed, it continues in effect in the form so confirmed. If such amendment is
rejected by the shareholders or the holders of Rights or is not submitted to the
shareholders or the holders of Rights as required, then such amendment shall cease
to be effective from and after the termination of the meeting at which it was
rejected or to which it should have been but was not submitted or from and after the
date of the meeting of holders of Rights that should have been but was not held, and
no subsequent resolution of the Board of Directors to amend this Agreement to
substantially the same effect shall be effective until confirmed by the shareholders
or holders of Rights as the case may be.
5.5 | Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares |
(a) | The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. After the Separation
Time, in lieu of issuing fractional Rights, the Corporation shall pay to the holders of
record of the Rights Certificates (provided the Rights represented by such Rights
Certificates are not void pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 3.1(b), at the time
such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable), an amount in cash equal to the
fraction of the Market Price of one whole Right that the fraction of a Right that would
otherwise be issuable is of one whole Right. |
(b) | The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares upon
exercise of Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common
Shares. In lieu of issuing fractional Common Shares, the Corporation shall pay to the
registered holders of Rights Certificates, at the time such Rights are exercised as
herein provided, an amount in cash equal to the fraction of the Market Price of one
Common Share that the fraction of a Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon
the exercise of such Right is of one whole Common Share at the date of such exercise. |
(c) | The Rights Agent shall have no obligation to make any payments in lieu of
issuing fractions of Rights or Common Shares pursuant to Subsection 5.5(a) or 5.5(b),
respectively, unless and until the Corporation shall have provided to the Rights Agent
the |
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amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuing such fractional Rights or Common
Shares, as the case may be.
5.6 | Rights of Action |
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all rights of action in respect of this Agreement,
other than rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective holders
of the Rights. Any holder of Rights, without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of
any other Rights, may, on such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own benefit and the
benefit of other holders of Rights, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against the Corporation to enforce such holder’s right to exercise such holder’s Rights,
or Rights to which such holder is entitled, in the manner provided in such holder’s Rights
Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an
adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations
of the obligations of any Person subject to, this Agreement.
5.7 | Regulatory Approvals |
Any obligation of the Corporation or action or event contemplated by this Agreement shall be
subject to the receipt of requisite approval or consent from any governmental or regulatory
authority, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, necessary approvals of the TSX and
other exchanges shall be obtained, in relation to the issuance of Common Shares upon the exercise
of Rights under Subsection 2.2(d).
5.8 | Declaration as to Non-Canadian or Non-U.S. Holders |
If in the opinion of the Board of Directors (who may rely upon the advice of counsel) any
action or event contemplated by this Agreement would require compliance by the Corporation with the
securities laws or comparable legislation of a jurisdiction outside Canada, the Board of Directors
acting in good faith shall take such actions as it may deem appropriate to ensure such compliance.
In no event shall the Corporation or the Rights Agent be required to issue or deliver Rights or
securities issuable on exercise of Rights to persons who are citizens, residents or nationals of
any jurisdiction other than Canada or the United States, in which such issue or delivery would be
unlawful without registration of the relevant Persons or securities for such purposes.
5.9 | Notices |
(a) | Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Corporation shall be
sufficiently given or made if delivered, sent by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent), or sent by
facsimile or other form of recorded electronic communication, charges prepaid and
confirmed in writing, as follows: |
Encana Corporation
1800, Bankers Hall East
000 – 0xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Fax No. (000) 000-0000
1800, Bankers Hall East
000 – 0xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Fax No. (000) 000-0000
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(b) | Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Corporation or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights Agent shall be
sufficiently given or made if delivered, sent by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid (until another address is filed in writing with the Corporation), or sent by
facsimile or other form of recorded electronic communication, charges prepaid and
confirmed in writing, as follows: |
CIBC Mellon Trust Company
000, 000-0xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx, XX X0X 0X0
Attention: Manager
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
000, 000-0xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxx, XX X0X 0X0
Attention: Manager
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
(c) | Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Corporation or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights shall be
sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as it appears upon the register
of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation Time, on the register of the
Corporation for its Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed or sent in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. |
(d) | Any notice given or made in accordance with this Section 5.9 shall be deemed to
have been given and to have been received on the day of delivery, if so delivered, on
the third Business Day (excluding each day during which there exists any general
interruption of postal service due to strike, lockout or other cause) following the
mailing thereof, if so mailed, and on the day of telegraphing, telecopying or sending
of the same by other means of recorded electronic communication (provided such sending
is during the normal business hours of the addressee on a Business Day and if not, on
the first Business Day thereafter). Each of the Corporation and the Rights Agent may
from time to time change its address for notice by notice to the other given in the
manner aforesaid. |
5.10 | Costs of Enforcement |
The Corporation agrees that if the Corporation fails to fulfil any of its obligations pursuant
to this Agreement, then the Corporation will reimburse the holder of any Rights for the costs and
expenses (including legal fees) incurred by such holder to enforce his rights pursuant to any
Rights or this Agreement.
5.11 | Successors |
All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Corporation or
the Rights Agent shall bind and enure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns
hereunder.
5.12 | Benefits of this Agreement |
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Corporation,
the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
this Agreement; further, this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Corporation, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
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5.13 | Governing Law |
This Agreement and each Right issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the Province of Alberta and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such Province applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely
within such Province.
5.14 | Severability |
If any term or provision hereof or the application thereof to any circumstance shall, in any
jurisdiction and to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be
ineffective only as to such jurisdiction and to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability
in such jurisdiction without invalidating or rendering unenforceable or ineffective the remaining
terms and provisions hereof in such jurisdiction or the application of such term or provision in
any other jurisdiction or to circumstances other than those as to which it is specifically held
invalid or unenforceable.
5.15 | Coming Into Effect |
This Agreement replaces and supersedes the Original Agreement and is effective and in full
force and effect in accordance with its terms from and after the reconfirmation by resolution
passed by a majority of greater than 50 percent of the votes cast by all holders of Voting Shares
of the Corporation who vote in respect of reconfirmation of this Agreement at the annual and
special meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders held on April 21, 2010 or any adjournment or
postponement thereof.
5.16 | Reconfirmation |
This Agreement must be reconfirmed by a resolution passed by a majority of greater than 50
percent of the votes cast by all holders of Voting Shares who vote in respect of such
reconfirmation at the annual meeting of the Corporation to be held in 2010 and at every third
annual meeting of the Corporation thereafter (each such annual meeting being a “Reconfirmation
Meeting”). If the Agreement is not so reconfirmed or is not presented for reconfirmation at each
such Reconfirmation Meeting, the Agreement and all outstanding Rights shall terminate and be void
and of no further force and effect on and from the date of termination of any such Reconfirmation
Meeting; provided that termination shall not occur if a Flip-in Event has occurred (other than a
Flip-in Event which has been waived pursuant to Subsections 5.1(a) or (h) hereof), prior to the
date upon which this Agreement would otherwise terminate pursuant to this Section 5.16.
5.17 | Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors |
All actions, calculations and determinations (including all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done, made or approved by the Board of Directors, in good faith, for the
purposes hereof shall not subject the Board of Directors or any director of the Corporation to any
liability to the holders of the Rights.
5.18 | Time of the Essence |
|
Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement. |
||
5.19 | Execution in 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 one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the date first above written.
ENCANA CORPORATION |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||||
Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Corporate Secretary | ||||
c/s | ||||
CIBC MELLON TRUST COMPANY |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
By: | /s/ Simon Law | |||
c/s |
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ATTACHMENT 1
ENCANA CORPORATION
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. | Rights |
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE CORPORATION, AND AMENDMENT OR
TERMINATION ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES (SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION 3.1(b) OF THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AGREEMENT),
RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR CERTAIN RELATED PARTIES, OR
TRANSFEREES OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR CERTAIN RELATED PARTIES, MAY BECOME VOID.
Rights Certificate
This certifies that , or
registered assigns, is the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the
Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2001, as amended and restated as of
September 13, 2001, as of April 28, 2004 and as further amended and restated as of April 21, 2010,
as the same may be amended, restated, varied or replaced from time to time (the “Shareholder Rights
Plan Agreement”), between Encana Corporation (the “Corporation”), a corporation duly incorporated
under the Canada Business Corporations Act and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, a trust company
incorporated under the laws of Canada (the “Rights Agent”) (which term shall include any successor
Rights Agent under the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement), to purchase from the Corporation at any
time after the Separation Time (as such term is defined in the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement)
and prior to the Expiration Time (as such term is defined in the Shareholder Rights Plan
Agreement), one fully paid common share of the Corporation (a “Common Share”) at the Exercise Price
referred to below, upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of
Election to Exercise (in the form provided hereinafter) duly executed and submitted to the Rights
Agent at its principal office in any of the cities of Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Montreal. The Exercise
Price shall initially be $• (Cdn.) per Right and shall be subject to adjustment in certain
events as provided in the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement.
In certain circumstances described in the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement, the number of
Common Shares which each Right entitles the registered holder thereof to purchase shall be adjusted
as provided in the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Shareholder
Rights Plan Agreement, which terms and provisions are incorporated herein by reference and made a
part hereof and to which Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement reference is hereby made for a full
description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of
the Rights Agent, the Corporation and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of the
Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement are available at the registered office of the Corporation.
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This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at any of
the offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing an aggregate number of Rights
equal to the aggregate number of Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
surrendered. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder shall be
entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for
the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Corporation at a redemption price of $0.000001 per Right,
subject to adjustment in certain events, under certain circumstances at its option.
No fractional Common Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Rights evidenced hereby,
but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Shareholder Rights Plan
Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Common Shares or of any other securities which may at
any time be issuable upon the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Shareholder
Rights Plan Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the
Rights of a shareholder of the Corporation or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to
any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders
(except as provided in the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement), or to receive dividends or
subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have
been exercised as provided in the Shareholder Rights Plan 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 Corporation and its corporate
seal.
Date:
|
||||
ENCANA CORPORATION | ||||
By: |
||||
By: |
||||
Countersigned: | ||||
CIBC MELLON TRUST COMPANY | ||||
By: |
||||
By: |
||||
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FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Rights
Certificate.) FOR VALUE RECEIVED hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto
(Please print name and address of transferee.)
the Rights represented by this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest
therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint , as attorney, to transfer the within Rights on the books of the Corporation,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: |
||||
Signature Guaranteed:
|
Signature | |
(Signature must correspond to name as written upon
the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any
change whatsoever.) |
Signature must be guaranteed by a major Schedule 1 Canadian chartered bank, a member of a
recognized stock exchange or a member of a recognized Medallion Guarantee Program.
CERTIFICATE
(To be completed if true.)
The undersigned party transferring Rights hereunder, hereby represents, for the benefit of all
holders of Rights and Common Shares, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not,
and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a Person acting jointly or in concert with an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof. Capitalized terms shall have the meaning
ascribed thereto in the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement.
Signature |
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FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
(To be exercised by the registered holder if such holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.)
TO: |
||||
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
whole Rights represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the Common Shares or other
securities, if applicable, issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates
for such securities be issued in the name of:
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new
Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered
to:
Dated: |
||||
Signature Guaranteed:
|
Signature | |
(Signature must correspond to name as written upon
the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any
change whatsoever.) |
Signature must be guaranteed by a major Schedule 1 Canadian chartered bank, a member of a
recognized stock exchange or a member of a recognized Medallion Guarantee Program.
-40-
CERTIFICATE
(To be completed if true.)
(To be completed if true.)
The undersigned party exercising Rights hereunder, hereby represents, for the benefit of all
holders of Rights and Common Shares, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not,
and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a Person acting jointly or in concert with an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof. Capitalized terms shall have the meaning
ascribed thereto in the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement.
Signature |
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above in the Forms of Assignment and Election is not
completed, the Corporation will deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof. No Rights Certificates
shall be issued in exchange for a Rights Certificate owned or deemed to have been owned by an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof, or by a Person acting jointly or in concert
with an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof.
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