WICOR, INC.
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES LLC
Rights Agent
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of July 27, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1. Certain Definitions.............................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent.....................................4
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.....................................4
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates......................................5
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration...............................6
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Right Certificates..............................................6
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights...7
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates..............8
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Common Shares...................8
Section 10. Common Shares Record Date......................................10
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number
of Rights......................................................10
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.....16
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger, Share Exchange or Sale or Transfer of
Assets or Earning Power........................................17
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares........................19
Section 15. Rights of Action...............................................20
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders.....................................20
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder..............21
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent....................................21
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent......22
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.........................................22
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.........................................24
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates.............................25
Section 23. Redemption.....................................................25
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Section 24. Exchange.......................................................26
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.......................................27
Section 26. Notices........................................................28
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments.....................................28
Section 28. Successors.....................................................29
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement.....................................29
Section 30. Severability...................................................29
Section 31. Governing Law..................................................29
Section 32. Counterparts...................................................29
Section 33. Descriptive Headings...........................................30
Section 34. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors...........30
Exhibit A - Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit B - Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Shares
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of July 27, 1999, between WICOR, INC., a
Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (the "Rights Agent").
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Rights
Agreement, dated as of August 29, 1989 (the "1989 Rights Agreement"), between
the Company and Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, declared a dividend of one
common share purchase right (a "1989 Right") for each Common Share (as
hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding on September 14, 1989 (the "1989
Record Date"), and authorized the issuance of one 1989 Right for each Common
Share issued between the 1989 Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution
Date, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are
defined in the 1989 Rights Agreement), each 1989 Right representing the right to
purchase one Common Share of the Company, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the 1989 Rights Agreement, all such 1989 Rights and the
1989 Rights Agreement expiring in accordance with their terms on August 29,
1999;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined it is
desirable and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders for the
Company to extend the benefits afforded by the 1989 Agreement and to implement
such extension by execution of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and
declared a dividend of one common share purchase right (a "Right") for each
Common Share of the Company outstanding upon the close of business on August 29,
1999 (the "Record Date") payable on such date (the "Payment Date"), and has
authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common
Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of
the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date (as
such terms are hereinafter defined), each Right representing the right to
purchase one-half of one Common Share of the Company upon the terms and subject
to the conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates
(as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding, but shall not include the Company, any
Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, any entity holding
Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or any trustee,
administrator or fiduciary of such a plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as a result of an acquisition of
Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of
shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially
owned by such Person to 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person would, but for the foregoing,
become an Acquiring Person by reason of share purchases by the Company and
shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of
any additional Common Shares of the Company at any time that the Person is or
thereby becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the
Company then outstanding (other than Common Shares acquired solely as a result
of corporate action of the Company not caused, directly or indirectly, by such
Person), then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person".
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person", as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a),
has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as
practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no
longer be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions
of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in
effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with
respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than
these Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted
for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially
own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to
vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent
given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations of the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then
reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report); or
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(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities) for the purpose of, or with respect to,
acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the
proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the
Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to
the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a
Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the
number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number
of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person
would be deemed to own beneficially hereunder.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Wisconsin are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is
not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Milwaukee, Wisconsin time, on the
next succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
the shares of common stock, par value $1.00, of the Company, or shares having
equivalent rights, privileges and preferences to common stock. "Common Shares"
when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the
capital stock (or equivalent equity interest) with the greatest voting power of
such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person,
the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(g) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
(h) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7 hereof.
(i) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, limited
liability company, trust or other entity, and shall include any successor (by
merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(j) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
(k) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) under the
Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such.
(l) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
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Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also
be the holders of the Common Shares of the Company) in accordance with the terms
and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable. No such appointment shall change or increase the Rights
Agent's duties, liabilities or obligations under this Agreement. The Rights
Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and in no event shall the Rights Agent be
liable for, the acts of omissions of any such co-Rights Agent appointed by the
Company.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition
Date or (ii) the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by
action of the Company's Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement of, or of the
first public announcement of the intention of any Person to commence, a tender
or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person (other
than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, any entity holding Common
Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or any trustee,
administrator, or fiduciary of such a plan) becoming the Beneficial Owner of
Common Shares of the Company aggregating 15% or more of the then outstanding
Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the
"Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for Common Shares
registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates shall also be
deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate Right Certificates, and (y)
the right to receive Right Certificates will be transferable only in connection
with the transfer of Common Shares. If the Rights Agent is not then the Transfer
Agent and Registrar of the Common Shares, then upon the occurrence of a
Distribution Date, the Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent and
request a stockholder list from the Company's Transfer Agent. As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute,
the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent
(and the Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by first-class, insured,
postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, a Right Certificate, in substantially the form of
Exhibit A hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each Common
Share so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely
by such Right Certificates.
(b) The Company has prepared a Summary of Rights to Purchase Common
Shares, attached as Exhibit B hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), a copy of which
is available free of charge from the Company. With respect to certificates for
Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date,
the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof. Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption
Date or Final Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate
for Common Shares outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the
Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the
Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
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(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding (including,
without limitation, certificates for reacquired Common Shares referred to in the
last sentence of this paragraph (c) and certificates issued on the transfer of
Common Shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the
Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall have
impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them a legend in
substantially the following form (provided, however, that certificates for
Common Shares in existence on the Record Date may bear the legend required by
the 1989 Rights Agreement):
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between WICOR,
Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services LLC, dated as of July 27,
1999, and as such agreement may be amended (the "Rights Agreement"),
the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a
copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of WICOR,
Inc.. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and
will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. WICOR, Inc. will mail
to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement
without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under
certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued
to, or held by, an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether
held by such person or any subsequent holder, shall become null and
void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In
the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such
Common Shares shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall
not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which
are no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
forms of election to purchase Common Shares and of assignment to be printed on
the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit A hereto and may
have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (which do not
affect the duties or responsibilities of the Rights Agent) and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights
may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the
provisions of Section 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the
holders thereof to purchase such number of Common Shares as shall be set forth
therein at the price per Common Share set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"),
but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon exercise of each Right
and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
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Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by its Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or any Vice
President either manually or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed thereto
the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by the
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates
shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for
any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and
effect as though the person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to
be such officer of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its designated office, books for registration and transfer
of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of
Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of
each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, at any time after
the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of
business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any
Right Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right Certificates
representing Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred,
split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of
Common Shares as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then
entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer,
split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall
make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender
the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent. Thereupon the
Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a
Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.
The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split
up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates. The Rights Agent shall have
no duty or obligation to take any action under any Section of this Agreement
which requires the payment by a Rights holder of applicable taxes and
governmental charges unless and until the Rights Agent is satisfied that all
such taxes and/or charges have been paid.
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(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Right Certificate and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new
Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the
registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) Each Right shall be exercisable to purchase one-half of one Common
Share, subject to further adjustment as provided herein. The registered holder
of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the principal office of the Rights Agent, together with payment of the
Purchase Price for each Common Share as to which the Rights are exercised, at or
prior to the earliest of (i) the close of business on August 29, 2009, subject
to extension (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights
are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date"), and (iii)
the time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof;
provided, however, that if the number of Rights exercised would entitle the
holder thereof to receive any fraction of a Common Share greater than one-half
of a Common Share, then the holder thereof shall not be entitled to exercise
such Rights unless such holder concurrently purchases from the Company (and in
such event the Company shall sell to such holder), at a price in proportion to
the Purchase Price, an additional fraction of a Common Share which, when added
to the number of Common Shares to be received upon such exercise, will equal an
integral number of Common Shares.
(b) The Purchase Price for each full Common Share pursuant to the
exercise of a Right shall initially be $75.00 (equivalent to $37.50 for each
one-half of one Common Share), shall be subject to adjustment from time to time
as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of
the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Purchase Price for the Common Shares to be purchased and an
amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of
such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof, as set forth below,
the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) requisition from any transfer
agent of the Common Shares certificates for the number of Common Shares to be
purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to
comply with all such requests, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the
Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional Common
Shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such
certificates, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as
may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt,
deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of
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such Right Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be
reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) shall be made by certified check,
cashier's check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company,
except that, if so provided by the Board of Directors of the Company, the
payment of the Purchase Price following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event (as hereinafter defined) and until the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event (as hereinafter defined) may be made wholly or in part by delivery of a
certificate or certificates (with appropriate stock powers executed in blank
attached thereto) evidencing a number of Common Shares of the Company equal to
the then Purchase Price divided by the closing price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per Common Share on the Trading Day (as such term is
hereinafter defined) immediately preceding the date of such exercise. If the
Company is obligated to issue other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or
distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will
make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other
property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when
appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his
duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 6 and Section 14
hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action with
respect to a registered holder of a Right Certificate upon the occurrence of any
purported transfer, assignment or exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless
such registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate
following the form of assignment or election to purchase set forth on the
reverse of the Right Certificate surrendered for such transfer, assignment or
exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver
all cancelled Right Certificates to the Company or shall, at the written request
of the Company, destroy such cancelled Right Certificates, and in such case
shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Common Shares.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved
and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Common Shares or any
authorized and issued
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Common Shares held in its treasury, the number of Common Shares that will be
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in
accordance with Section 7.
(b) So long as the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of Rights
may be listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its
best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become
exercisable, all Common Shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such
exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all Common Shares delivered upon exercise of
Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares (except as otherwise provided by
any corporation law applicable to the Company).
(d) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may
be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or
of any Common Shares upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of
any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of certificates for the Common Shares in a name other than
that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates for Common
Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid
(any such tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time
of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's reasonable
satisfaction that no such tax is due. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or
obligation to take any action under any Section of this Agreement which requires
the payment by a Rights holder of applicable taxes and governmental charges
unless and until the Rights Agent is satisfied that all such taxes and/or
charges have been paid.
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Section 10. Common Shares Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for Common Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Common Shares
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which
the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of
the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes and other governmental
charges) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the Common Shares transfer books of the Company 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 Shares transfer books of the Company are open.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of
Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of Common Shares covered by each Right
and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time
as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Shares
payable in Common Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares,
(C) combine the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of
Common Shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Common Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect
at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective
date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall
be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised
after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and
kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised
immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Common Shares
transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned
upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the
exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the
shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one
Right. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both
Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), the adjustment provided for in
this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior
to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event any
Person shall become an Acquiring Person, other than pursuant to any
transaction set forth in Section 13(a), each holder of a Right shall
thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price
equal to two times the then current Purchase Price per full Common
Share multiplied by the number of Common Shares for which a Right is
then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such
10
number of Common Shares as shall equal the result obtained by (x)
multiplying two times the then current Purchase Price per full Common
Share by the number of Common Shares for which a Right is then
exercisable and dividing that product by (y) 50% of the then current
per share market price of the Common Shares (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)) on the date the Person became an Acquiring Person (such
number of shares, the "Adjustment Shares").
From and after such time as a Person becomes an Acquiring
Person (a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), any Rights that are or were
acquired or beneficially owned by such Acquiring Person (or any
Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) shall be void and any
holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such
Rights under any provision of this Agreement. No Right Certificate
shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void
pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate
thereof; no Right Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the
transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be
void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate
thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or
Affiliate; and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for
transfer to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to
the preceding sentence shall be cancelled. The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this paragraph are
complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Right
Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any
determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder.
(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common
Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued (and not
reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the
Rights) to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with
the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Company shall: (A) determine the
excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the
exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price
payable with respect to such Right (such excess, the "Spread"), and (B)
with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for
the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price,
(1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Shares or
other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation,
shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock, if any, which the Board
of Directors of the Company has deemed to have the same value as Common
Shares (such shares of preferred stock, hereinafter referred to as
"common stock equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5)
other assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an
aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value
has been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon
the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected
by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the
Company shall not have made adequate provision to substitute for the
Adjustment Shares pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days
following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (the "Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger
11
Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the
surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of any
portion of the Purchase Price, Common Shares (to the extent available)
and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an
aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the
Company shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient
additional Common Shares might be authorized for issuance for exercise
in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may
be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days
after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may
seek shareholder approval for the authorization of such additional
shares (such period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution Period").
To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be
taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this Section
11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to the last
paragraph of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, that such action shall apply
uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the
exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution
Period to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide
the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first
sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that
the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as
well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no
longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of
the Common Shares shall be the current per share market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the Common Shares on
the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any "common stock
equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares
on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall 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 Common Shares) at
a price per Common Share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Common Shares) less than the then current per share market
price of the Common Shares (as defined in Section 11(d)) on such record date,
the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of Common Shares which the
aggregate offering price of the total number of Common Shares so to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so
to be offered) would purchase at such current market price and the denominator
of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of additional Common Shares to be offered for subscription or
purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are
initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall the
consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon
exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent. Common
12
Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed
outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be
made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that
such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the Common Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Common Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to
in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date
shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
then current per share market price of the Common Shares (as defined in Section
11(d)) on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the
assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription
rights or warrants applicable to one Common Share and the denominator of which
shall be such current per share market price of the Common Shares; provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise
of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock
of the Company to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall
be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that
such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to
be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per
share market price" of the Common Shares on any date shall be deemed to be the
average of the daily closing prices per Common Share for the 30 consecutive
Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to and not
including such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current per
share market price of the Common Shares is determined during a period following
the announcement by the issuer of such Common Shares of (i) a dividend or
distribution on such Common Shares payable in Common Shares or securities
convertible into Common Shares, or (ii) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of Common Shares and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days
after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date
for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such
case, the current per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to
reflect the current market price per Common Share. The closing price for each
Trading Day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Shares are not listed
or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Shares
are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Shares are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price
or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
13
over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System ("Nasdaq") or such other system then
in use, or, if on any such date the Common Shares are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Common Shares selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on
which the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are
listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, a Business Day.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share as
the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier
of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which requires such
adjustment or (ii) the date of the expiration of the right to exercise any
Rights.
(f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a),
the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive
any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Common Shares, thereafter
the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall
be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly
equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Common Shares
contained in Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive, and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with respect to the Common Shares shall apply on like
terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Common Shares
purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject
to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in
Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Section 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately
prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of Common Shares
(calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth of a Common Share) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of Common Shares covered by a Right immediately prior
to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any
adjustment in the number of Common Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall be exercisable for the number of Common Shares
14
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each
Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall
become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth)
obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately
after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public
announcement (and contemporaneously deliver a copy of such announcement to the
Rights Agent) of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the
record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right
Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to
be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the
Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be registered in
the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the
Purchase Price and the number of Common Shares which were expressed in the
initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the par value, if any, of the Common Shares issuable
upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which
may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may
validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable (except as otherwise
provided by any corporation law applicable to the Company) Common Shares at such
adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of
the Common Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of Common Shares and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise
on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due xxxx or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional
shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment. The Company
shall contemporaneously provide the Rights Agent with a copy of any such
election.
15
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in
order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Common Shares, issuance
wholly for cash of any Common Shares at less than the current market price,
issuance wholly for cash of Common Shares or securities which by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares, dividends on Common Shares
payable in Common Shares or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to
in Section 11(b), hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Common Shares
shall not be taxable to such shareholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Shares Acquisition Date, (i)
consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into
any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any
Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries
in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof) or
(iv) consummate a share exchange with any other Person, if at the time of or
immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or share exchange (A) there
are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or
agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (B) prior to, simultaneously
with or immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or share exchange the
shareholders of the Person who constitute, or would constitute, the "Principal
Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution
of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and
Associates or (C) the form or nature of organization of the Principal Party
would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date,
it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section 24 or Section 27 hereof,
take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is
taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially
or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief, reasonably detailed statement of the facts and computations
accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each
transfer agent for the Common Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail
(or, if deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company, make
available at no charge) a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be
fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained, and shall have no duty with respect to and shall not be deemed to
have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such
certificate.
16
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger, Share Exchange or Sale or Transfer
of Assets or Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Shares Acquisition Date, directly
or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into,
any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing
or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the Company, and
the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger, or any Person or Persons (other than a Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall
consummate a share exchange with the Company, and, in connection with such
consolidation, merger or share exchange, all or part of the outstanding Common
Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any
other Person (or the Company) or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company
shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell
or otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons
(other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in
each such case, proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a
Right (except as otherwise provided herein) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at a price equal to two times the then
current Purchase Price per full Common Share multiplied by the number of Common
Shares for which a Right is then exercisable (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
has occurred prior to the first occurrence of any of the events described in
clauses (x), (y) or (z) above (a "Section 13 Event"), two times the Purchase
Price per full Common Share in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence
of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event multiplied by the number of Common Shares for which
a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such first occurrence), in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized
and issued, fully paid, nonassessable (except as otherwise required by any
corporation law applicable to the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter
defined)) and freely tradable Common Shares of the Principal Party, not subject
to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as
shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying two times the then
current Purchase Price per full Common Share by the number of Common Shares for
which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the
first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying two times the number of such
shares for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price per full Common
Share in effect immediately prior to such first occurrence), and dividing that
product (which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be
referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this
Agreement) by (2) 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per Common Share of such Principal Party on the date of
consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event,
all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii)
the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party,
it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall
apply only to such Principal Party following the first
17
occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such
steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of
its Common Shares) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction
as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first occurrence
of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the
issuer of any securities into which Common Shares of the Company are
converted in such merger, consolidation or share exchange, and if no
securities are so issued, (A) the Person that is the other party to the
merger, consolidation or share exchange and that survives such merger
or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person
the Common Shares of which have the greatest aggregate market value of
shares outstanding or (B) if the Person that is the other party to the
merger or consolidation does not survive the merger or consolidation,
the Person that does survive the merger or consolidation (including the
Company if it survives); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Shares of such
Person are not at such time and have not been continuously over the preceding
twelve (12) month-period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and
such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common
Shares of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer
to such other Person; and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Shares of two or more of which
are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of
such Persons is the issuer of the Common Shares having the greatest aggregate
market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
share exchange, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a
sufficient number of authorized Common Shares which have not been issued or
reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal
Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of
any consolidation, merger, share exchange or sale of assets mentioned in
paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), with respect to the
Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
appropriate form, and will use its
18
best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain
effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of
the Act) until the Final Expiration Date; and
(ii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which
comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form
10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers,
consolidations, share exchanges, sales or other transfers. In the event that a
Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall
thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or
to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional Common Shares. In lieu of fractional Common Shares, equal to one-half
of a Common Share or less, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of
Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one
Common Share. Any exercise of Rights that would entitle the holder thereof to
receive any fraction of a Common Share greater than one-half of a Common Share
shall be governed by Section 7(a) hereof. For purposes of this Section 14(b),
the current market value of a Common
19
Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to
the second sentence of Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
(d) The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation with respect to
this Section 14 and any other Section of this Agreement relating to fractional
shares unless and until it has received specific instructions (and sufficient
cash if required) from the Company with respect to its duties and obligations
under such Sections.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided
in such Right 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.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a
proper instrument of transfer;
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in
whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the
associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common Shares
certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all
purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary; and
20
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a
Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree, judgment or ruling (whether interlocutory or
final) issued by a court or competent jurisdiction or by a governmental,
regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule,
regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental
authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation;
provided, however, the Company must use its best efforts to have any such order,
decree, judgment or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or other distributions or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
Common Shares or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of
the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold
consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other
actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to
receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or
Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery, amendment,
administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance
of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent
for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, judgment,
fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, loss or expense (including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the
acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability in the premises. The indemnity provided for herein shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and the exercise or expiration of the Rights. Any
reasonable costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of
indemnification shall be paid by the Company.
(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 Right
Certificate or certificate for the Common Shares or for other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or
21
acknowledged, by the proper person or persons, or otherwise upon the advice of
counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the
shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto, provided that such Person would be eligible for appointment as a
successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the
time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this
Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the
predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned;
and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name
of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates
shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this
Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time
any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations, and only the duties and obligations, expressly imposed
by this Agreement (and no implied duties and obligations) upon the following
terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right
Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the written advice or opinion of such counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent with
respect to, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of,
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with
such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or
any Assistant Treasurer or the
22
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate shall be full and complete authorization and
protection to the Rights Agent for any action taken, suffered, or omitted in
good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. In no
case will the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect, punitive, incidental
or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever (including without
limitation lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the
possibility of such damages. In the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct by the Rights Agent, any liability of the Rights Agent under
this Agreement shall be limited to the aggregate amount of fees paid by the
Company to the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any liability or 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 Right
Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible
for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this
Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any
change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the
Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Section
3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of
Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after actual notice that such change or
adjustment is required); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Common
Shares or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right
Certificate or as to whether any Common Shares or other securities will, when
issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
23
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any
Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, such instructions shall be full
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall
incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by
it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any
delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. The Rights Agent shall be
fully authorized and protected in relying upon the most recent advice or
instructions received from any such officer.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, affiliate, director, officer
or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in, or act as the transfer
agent for, any of the Rights, Common Shares or other securities of the Company
or become pecuniary interested in any transaction in which the Company may be
interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as
fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement.
Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent or any such shareholder,
affiliate, director, officer or employee from acting in any other capacity for
the Company or for any other Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company or any other Person resulting from any
such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised
in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or incur any financial liability in the performance
of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if it believes
that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the
Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the
Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders
of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign
or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall
appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or
after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the
resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate
(who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the
Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new
24
Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by
such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the
laws of the United States or of the State of New York or the State of Wisconsin
(or of any other state of the United States so long as such corporation is
authorized to do business as a banking institution in the State of New York or
the State of Wisconsin), in good standing, having an office or agency in the
State of Wisconsin or the State of New York, which is authorized under such laws
to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the
time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50 million, or (b) an Affiliate of a corporation described in clause (a)
of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested
with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall 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 registered
holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in
this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality
or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) The Rights may be redeemed by action of the Board of Directors
pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 23 and shall not be redeemed in any
other manner.
(b) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all
but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.001
per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being
hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights
by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time on such basis and
with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary,
the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder
has expired.
(c) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to
subsection (b) of this Section 23, and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights
25
will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be
to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly give public notice
of any such redemption; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any
defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption.
Within 10 days after the effectiveness of the action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to subsection (b), the Company
shall mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding
Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its
Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at
any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23
or in Section 24 hereof, and other than in connection with the purchase of
Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the
then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for
Common Shares of the Company at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any
time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, any entity
holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or any
trustee, administrator or fiduciary of such a plan), together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or
more of the Common Shares then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder
of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the
number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The
Company shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided,
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice
of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the
method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected
and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number
of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
26
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its
option, may substitute common stock equivalents (as such term is defined in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) for some or all of the Common Shares exchangeable for
Rights.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares or
common stock equivalents issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued
to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section
24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Common Shares or common stock equivalents for issuance upon exchange
of the Rights.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In
lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common
Shares would otherwise be issued an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of
the current market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this
paragraph (e), the current market value of a whole Common Share shall be the
closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence
of Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, after the Distribution Date, (i)
to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Common
Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of Common Shares (other
than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of Common
Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Common
Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or
options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of Common Shares (other than a
reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Common Shares),
(iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with (other than a merger of
a Subsidiary into or with the Company), to effect any share exchange with or to
effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries
to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or
more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken
as a whole) to, any other Person, or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to
each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the
purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the
date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange,
sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the
date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares if any such
date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 days prior to the record date
for determining holders of Common Shares for purposes of such action, and in the
case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the date of the taking
of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of
the Common Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any of Section 11(a)(ii) Event or Section 13 Event shall
occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable
thereafter give to each holder of a
27
Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which notice shall include a brief summary of the
Section 11(a)(ii) Event or Section 13 Event, as the case may be, and the
consequences thereof to holders of Rights.
Section 26. Notices.
(a) Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the
Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights
Agent) as follows:
WICOR, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or
demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the
holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently
given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until
another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services LLC
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
(c) Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall
be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date
and subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, the Company may and
the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any
provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of certificates
representing Common Shares. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company may at
any time prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person amend this
Agreement to lower the thresholds set forth in Sections 1(a) and 3(a) hereof
from 15% to not less than 10%, with appropriate exceptions for persons then
beneficially owning Common Shares of the Company constituting a percentage of
the number of Common Shares then outstanding equal to or in excess of the new
threshold. From and after the Distribution Date and subject to the penultimate
sentence of this Section 27, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the
Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of
any holders of Right Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to
correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provision herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any
time period hereunder, or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions
28
hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and
which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Right
Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person); provided, that from and after the Distribution Date this
Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause
(iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be
redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other
time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing
or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon
the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which
states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms
of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any supplement or amendment
that affects the Rights Agent's own rights, duties, obligations or immunities
under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made which reduces the then
effective Redemption Price or moves to an earlier date the then effective Final
Expiration Date. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common
Shares.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to
the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Wisconsin and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and
performed entirely within such State; except that all provisions regarding the
rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York applicable to
contracts made and to be performed entirely within such state.
Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
29
Section 33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
Section 34. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors. For
all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common Shares
outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the
particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is
the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule
13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right
and power to (a) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (b) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend the Agreement and any determination as to whether actions or any Person
shall be such as to cause such Person to beneficially own shares held by another
Person). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (ii) below, all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Board of the Company in good faith (the
Rights Agent may assume the Board acted in good faith), shall (i) be final,
conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the
Rights and all other parties, and (ii) not subject the Board of the Company to
any liability to the holders of the Rights.
30
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
WICOR, INC.
Attest:
By:/s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx By:/s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Secretary Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES LLC
Attest:
By: /s/Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx By: /s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President & Title: Assistant Vice President
Regional Manager
31
==================
EXHIBIT A
==================
[Form of Right Certificate]
Certificate No. R- _______ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER AUGUST 29, 2009 (SUBJECT TO EXTENSION) OR EARLIER
IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION
AT $.001 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT.
Right Certificate
WICOR, INC.
This certifies that ________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of July 27, 1999, and as such agreement may be amended (the
"Rights Agreement"), between WICOR, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the
"Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services LLC, a New Jersey limited
liability company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time
after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement)
and prior to 5:00 P.M., Milwaukee, Wisconsin time, on August 29, 2009, subject
to extension, at the principal office of the Rights Agent, or at the office of
its successor as Rights Agent, one-half of one fully paid nonassessable (except
as otherwise provided by any corporation law applicable to the Company) share of
common stock, par value $1.00 ("Common Shares"), of the Company, at a purchase
price of $75.00 per Common Share (the "Purchase Price") (equivalent to $37.50
for each one-half of a Common Share), upon presentation and surrender of this
Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of Common
Shares which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the
Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of August
29, 1999, based on the Common Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in
the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of Common Shares which
may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of
certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of
A-1
the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies
of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company and the above-mentioned offices of the Rights Agent.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date
evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of
Common Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this
Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of
$.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for Common Shares.
The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time after any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person, but prior to such Person's acquisition of
50% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, exchange the Rights evidenced by
the Certificate for Common Shares, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per
Right, subject to adjustment, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No fractional Common Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement. No Rights may be exercised that would
entitle the holder to any fraction of a Common Share greater than one-half of a
Common Share unless concurrently therewith such holder purchases an additional
fraction of a Common Share which, when added to the number of Common Shares to
be received upon such exercise, equals an integral number of Common Shares, as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common Shares
or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on
the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or
herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights
of a shareholder of the Company 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
Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise,
until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
A-2
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of ____________, ____.
ATTEST: WICOR, INC.
_____________________________________ By: ________________________________
Title: _________________________
Countersigned:
_____________________________________
By: _______________________________
Authorized Signature
A-3
[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _______________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto _____________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
_____________________________________________________________ this Right
Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does
hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: ____________, ____
------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
------------------------------------
Signature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-4
[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued]
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate.)
To WICOR, Inc.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
__________________ Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the
Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that
certificates for such Common Shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: ____________, ____
------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
A-5
[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
------------------------------------
Signature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must
conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not
completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of
the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such
Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
A-6
==================
EXHIBIT B
==================
WICOR, INC.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
COMMON SHARES
On July 27, 1999, the Board of Directors of WICOR, Inc. (the "Company")
declared a dividend of one common share purchase right (a "Right") for each
outstanding share of common stock, $1.00 par value (the "Common Shares"), of the
Company. The dividend is payable on August 29, 1999 to the shareholders of
record on that date (the "Record Date"). Each Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase from the Company one-half of one Common Share, at a price of
$75.00 per Common Share (equivalent to $37.50 for each one-half of a Common
Share), subject to adjustment (the "Purchase Price"). The description and terms
of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services LLC, as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (other
than the Company, a subsidiary of the Company or an employee benefit plan of the
Company or a subsidiary) (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (the "Shares
Acquisition Date") or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Company's Board of Directors prior to such time as
any person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or
announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or
group (other than the Company, a subsidiary of the Company or an employee
benefit plan of the Company or a subsidiary) of 15% or more of such outstanding
Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"),
the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share
certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share
certificate.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new
Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date, upon transfer or new
issuance of Common Shares, will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Shares, outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation,
will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common
Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the
Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of
the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
B-1
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on August 29, 2009 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Rights
are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, or the Rights Agreement is
amended, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Common Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Common
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Common Shares of certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares at a price, or securities
convertible into Common Shares with a conversion price, less than the then
current market price of the Common Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to
holders of the Common Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding
regular quarterly cash dividends or dividends payable in Common Shares) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person (a "Flip-In
Event"), each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided in the Rights
Agreement) will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number
of Common Shares (or, in certain circumstances cash, property or other
securities of the Company or a reduction in the Purchase Price) having a market
value of two times the then current Purchase Price. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, following the occurrence of a Flip-In Event all Rights that are, or
(under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, or
subsequently become beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person, related persons
and transferees will be null and void.
In the event that, at any time following the Shares Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or (ii) 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are
sold (the events described in clauses (i) and (ii) are herein referred to as
"Flip-Over Events"), proper provision will be made so that holders of Rights
(except as otherwise provided in the Rights Agreement) will thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price,
that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time
of such transaction will have a market value of two times the then current
Purchase Price.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Common Shares will be issued. In lieu of
fractional Common Shares equal to one-half of a Common Share or less, an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Shares
on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise. No Rights may be
exercised that would entitle the holder thereof to any fractional Common Share
greater than one-half of a Common Share unless concurrently therewith such
holder purchases an additional fraction of a Common Share which when added to
the number of Common Shares to be received upon such exercise, equals an
integral number of Common Shares.
The Purchase Price is payable by certified check, cashier's check, bank
draft or money order or, if so provided by the Company, the Purchase Price
following the occurrence of a Flip-In Event and until the first occurrence of a
Flip-Over Event may be paid in Common Shares having an equivalent value.
B-2
At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the
acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other
than Rights owned by any Acquiring Person which have become void), in whole or
in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share (or of a share of a class or
series of the Company's preferred stock, if any, having equivalent rights,
preferences and privileges) per Right (subject to adjustment).
At any time prior to a person becoming an Acquiring Person, the Board
of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at
a price of $.001 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the
Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive
the Redemption Price.
Other than provisions relating to certain principal economic terms of
the Rights, the terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of
the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an
amendment to lower the threshold for exercisability of the Rights from 15% to
not less than 10%, with appropriate exceptions for any person then beneficially
owning a percentage of the number of Common Shares then outstanding equal to or
in excess of the new threshold, except that from and after the Distribution Date
no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the
Rights. The Rights may also be amended to extend the expiration date thereof.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
The Company has filed a copy of the Rights Agreement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on
Form 8-A filed with respect to the Rights. A copy of the Rights Agreement is
also available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the
Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
B-3
