Exhibit 4
MARQUETTE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
MARQUETTE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
AND
FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SECTION PAGE
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1 Certain Definitions.......................................... 1
2 Appointment of Rights Agent.................................. 5
3 Issue of Right Certificates.................................. 5
4 Form of Right Certificates................................... 7
5 Countersignature and Registration............................ 7
6 Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange
of Right Certificates: Mutilated, Destroyed,
Lost or Stolen Right Certificates............................ 8
7 Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration
Date of Rights............................................... 8
8 Cancellation of Certificates and Destruction
of Right Certificates........................................ 9
9 Availability of Preferred Shares............................. 10
10 Preferred Shares Record Date................................. 10
11 Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind
of Shares or Number of Rights................................ 11
12 Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or
Number of Shares............................................. 18
13 Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
Assets or Earning Power...................................... 18
14 Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares...................... 19
15 Rights of Action............................................. 20
16 Agreement of Right Holders................................... 21
17 Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
Stockholder.................................................. 21
18 Concerning the Rights Agent.................................. 21
19 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of
Rights Agent................................................. 22
20 Duties of Rights Agent....................................... 22
21 Change of Rights Agent....................................... 25
22 Issuance of New Right Certificates........................... 25
23 Redemption of Rights......................................... 26
24 Exchange..................................................... 26
25 Notice of Certain Events..................................... 28
26 Notices...................................................... 29
27 Supplements and Amendments................................... 29
28 Determination and Actions by the Board of
Directors.................................................... 30
29 Successors................................................... 30
30 Benefits of this Agreement................................... 30
31 Severability................................................. 31
32 Governing Law................................................ 31
33 Counterparts................................................. 31
34 Descriptive Headings......................................... 31
Exhibit A Designation of Series A Preferred Stock
Exhibit B Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit C Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares
MARQUETTE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 18th day of December,
1996 between MARQUETTE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., a Wisconsin corporation (the
"Company"), and FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY (the "Rights Agent");
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared
a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common
Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding on January 3, 1997
(the "Record Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase a unit
(subject to adjustment) of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter defined) upon the
terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has further authorized
and directed the issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment) 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);
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 20% or more of the Common Shares of the
Company then outstanding, but shall not include any Exempt Person (as such term
is hereinafter defined). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become
an "Acquiring Person" as the 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 20% or more
of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if
a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding 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, 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 have "beneficial ownership" of or "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 promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also
then reportable on Schedule 13D
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under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);
or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other Person with which such Person or any such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona
fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated
by the proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of 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; provided, however, that no Person who
is an officer, director or employee of an Exempt Person shall
be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, have
"beneficial ownership of or to own" any securities that are
"beneficially owned" (as defined in this Section 1(c)),
including without limitation, in a fiduciary capacity, by an
Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director or
employee of an Exempt Person.
(d) "Board of Directors" shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
(e) "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.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., Milwaukee
time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day
it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Milwaukee time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean the
Class A Common Shares, ten cent par value per share, of the Company. "Common
Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean
the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such
other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person,
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the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(h) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
(i) "Exempt Person" shall mean (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary (as
such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit
plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iv) any Person holding
Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan, or
(v) Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, his Affiliates or Associates, his heirs, and any trust or
foundation to which he has transferred or may transfer Common Shares.
(j) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
(k) "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, trust or
other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.
(l) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of the Series A Preferred Stock,
without par value, of the Company having the rights and preferences set forth in
form of that of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock attached to this
Agreement as EXHIBIT A.
(m) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7 hereof.
(n) "Removal Event" shall mean the removal of any director of the Company
(hereinafter referred to as the "Triggering Removal") by written consent of the
stockholders of the Company resulting from, directly or indirectly, a written
consent solicitation conducted by, on behalf of or with the assistance of, any
Person who has commenced or has made a public announcement of such Person's
intent to commence, a tender or exchange offer, the consummation of which would
result in any Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares aggregating
20% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares if, concurrently with the
Triggering Removal or during the 120-day period preceding the Triggering
Removal, any other director of the Company is or was removed by written consent
of the stockholders of the Company and the number of such removed directors
(including the director or directors whose removal is deemed to be a "Triggering
Removal") equals or exceeds the number of directors of the Company which
constituted a majority of the full Board of Directors of the Company at the time
immediately preceding the Triggering Removal.
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(o) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such.
(p) "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.
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) 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-Right Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.
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 Board of Directors prior
to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of the
commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or of the first
public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than an Exempt Person)
to commence, a tender or exchange offer, the consummation of which would result
in any Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares aggregating 20% or
more of the then outstanding Common Shares (including any such date which is
after the date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights; 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 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. 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, 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 B hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right (subject
to adjustment) for each Common Share so held. As of the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company
will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in
substantially the form of EXHIBIT C hereto
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(the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record
holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the Record Date, at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to
certificates for 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 together with a copy of the Summary of
Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date or
the 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, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Shares represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding (including,
without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last sentence of
this paragraph (c)) more than 20 days 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 the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in the Marquette Medical Systems, Inc.
Rights Plan Agreement between Marquette Medical Systems, Inc. and
Firstar Trust Company, as Rights Agent, dated as of the 18th day of
December, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein
by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive
offices of Marquette Medical Systems, 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. Marquette Medical Systems, 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, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights owned by
any Person who is or becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the
Rights Agreement) and certain transferees thereof may become null and
void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Share 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
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any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.
SECTION 4. FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. The Certificates (and the forms of
election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be printed on the
reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as EXHIBIT C hereto and may
have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate 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 one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share as shall be set forth therein at the price per Unit of a Preferred Share
set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the number of such Units of a
Preferred Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as
provided herein.
SECTION 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION. The Right Certificates shall
be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief
Executive Officer, its President or any of its Vice Presidents, either manually
or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a
facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by 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 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 Rights Certificate, although at the date of
the execution of this Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept,
at its principal 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.
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SECTION 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHT
CERTIFICATES: MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT CERTIFICATES. 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 Units of a
Preferred Share 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. 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 muti lated.
SECTION 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF RIGHTS.
(a) 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 one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
(each one one-hundredth being a "Unit") as to which the Rights are exercised, at
or prior to the earliest of (i) the close of business on the tenth anniversary
of the date of this Agreement (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at
which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption
Date"), or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in
Section 24 hereof.
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(b) The Purchase Price for each Unit purchasable pursuant to the exercise
of a Right shall initially be $80.00, and shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in Section 11 or 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 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 by certified check, cashier's
check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall
thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred
Shares certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be purchased and the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests, or (B) requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts
representing interests in such number of Units as are to be purchased (in which
case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company
hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu
of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii)
after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be
delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such 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 such Right Certificate.
(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 14 hereof.
SECTION 8. CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATES 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
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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. AVAILABILITY OF PREFERRED SHARES. The Company covenants and
agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its
authorized and unissued Preferred Shares or any Preferred Shares held in its
treasury, the number of Preferred Shares that will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with Section 7. The
Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be
necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares delivered upon exercise of Rights
shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such Preferred Shares
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
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 Preferred 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 or depositary receipts for the Preferred
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 or depositary receipts for Preferred 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.
SECTION 10. PREFERRED SHARES RECORD DATE. Each person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred
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) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the Preferred 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
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise
of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be
entitled to any rights of a holder of
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Preferred Shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without
limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions, or
to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any
notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
SECTION 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER AND KIND OF SHARES OR
NUMBER OF RIGHTS. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares or other
securities 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 Preferred Shares payable in Preferred
Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine the
outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or (D)
issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
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
Preferred 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.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right shall have the right to
receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase
Price multiplied by the number of Units for which a Right is then exercisable
(whether or not such right was then exercisable), in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares
of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the number of Units for which a Right is then
exercisable (whether or not such Right was then exercisable) and dividing that
product by (y) 50% of the then current per share market price of the Company's
Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of the
occurrence of such event; provided, however, that the Purchase
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Price and the number of Common Shares so purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right shall, following the occurrence of such event, be subject to further
adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof. In the event
that any Person shall become an Acquiring Person and the Rights shall then be
outstanding, the Company shall not take any action (except as permitted under
Sections 24 and 27 hereof) which would eliminate or diminish the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.
From and after the occurrence of such event, any Rights that are or were
acquired or beneficially owned by any 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.
(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued
but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the exercise in full of
the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Company shall
take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares
for issuance upon exercise of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after
good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall substitute, for each
Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise of a Right, a number
of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the current per share market
price of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to
the current per share market price of one Common Share as of the date of
issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights,
options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them (for a
period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for
or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same rights, privileges and
preferences as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent preferred shares")) or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares at a
price per Preferred Share or equivalent preferred share (or having a conversion
price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent
12
preferred shares) less than the then current per share market price of the
Preferred 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 Preferred Shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of Preferred Shares which the
aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares and/or
equivalent preferred shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such current market price and the denominator of which shall be the number of
Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional
Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the 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, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent. Preferred 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 fi xed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the Preferred 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
Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred
to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such
record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such
record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed
with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness
so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to
one Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be such current per share
market price of the Preferred Shares; provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon
13
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) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per
share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose of this
Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such Security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days
(as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided,
however, that in the event that the current per share market price of the
Security is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer
of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution of such Security payable in
shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security and prior to the
expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or
distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per share market
price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per
share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such date,
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 Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is
not listed or admitted to trading on any national 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 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 Security is not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished
by a professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the
Board of Directors. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the
principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Security
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a
Business Day.
14
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current
per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in
accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred
Shares are not publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market
price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)
(appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof), multiplied by one hundred. If
neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so
listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per
share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one one-millionth of a
Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of any other share or security as the case
may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three
years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii)
the 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) hereof,
the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive
any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Preferred Shares,
thereafter the Purchase Price and 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 Preferred Shares contained in Section 11(a) through (c),
inclusive, (e), (h), (i) and (m) hereof, as applicable, and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred 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 Units 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
15
Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 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
Units (calculated to the nearest one one-millionth of a Preferred Share)
obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of Units 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 Units 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 Units 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 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 Units 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 Units
16
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 Unit of the then par value, if any, of the Preferred 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 Preferred
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
Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred 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.
(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 the Board of Directors in its sole discretion shall determine to
be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred
Shares, issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the
current market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities
which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares,
dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter made by
the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such
stockholders.
(n) In the event that at any time after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (ii) effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares)
into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case (A) the
number of Units purchasable after such event upon proper exercise of each Right
shall be determined by multiplying the number of Units so purchasable
immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before such event and the
denominator of which is the
17
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event, and (B) each
common share outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued with
respect to it that number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding
immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments
provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a
dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation
is effected.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or the
Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power. In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after a Person has
become an Acquiring Person, (a) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge
with and into, any other Person, (b) any Person shall consolidate with the
Company, or merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such
merger, all or part of the 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 (c) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or
more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries, 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 the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Units for which a
Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in
lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of such other Person
(including the Company as successor thereto or as the surviving corporation) as
shall equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the number of Units for which a Right is then exercisable and dividing
that product by (B) 50% of the then current per share market price of the Common
Shares of such other Person (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the
date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (ii) the
issuer of such Common Shares shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,
by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or
18
transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this
Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such
issuer; and (iv) such issuer shall take such steps (including, but not limited
to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares in accordance
with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation as may be necessary
to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly
as reasonably may be, in relation to the Common Shares thereafter deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights. The Company shall not consummate any such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and
such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement so providing. The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the
kind referred to in this Section 13 if at the time of such transaction there are
any rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or
arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would
eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights. The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.
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, 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. If on any such date
no such market maker is making a
19
market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of Unit) upon exercise
of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of Unit). Interests in
fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of a Unit may, at the
election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an
appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it;
provided that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary
receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are
entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such
depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not
integral multiples of a Unit, 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
Preferred Share. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of
a Preferred Share shall be the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) 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
such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares
upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common 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, on such holder's behalf and for
such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit,
action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect
of, such holder's 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
20
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; and
(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 certificates 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.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder,
as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred 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 stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in 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. 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 administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder.
21
The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it
harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability.
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 Preferred Shares or 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 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.
Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from
any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the stock transfer or
corporate trust powers of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall
be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution
or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties
hereto; provided that such corporation 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.
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, the Right Agent may countersign
such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name;
22
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 imposed by this Agreement 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 opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent 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 any one of the Chairman
of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice
President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company and delivered to
the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the
Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the
provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be
deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
to the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due execution hereby 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
23
(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 receipt of 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 Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any
Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares 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.
(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 or any Vice President of the Company, and to apply to such
officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it
shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in
accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting
while waiting for those instructions.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or
other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or
lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it
were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude
the Rights Agent form acting in any other capacity for the Company or for
any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the right 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 resulting from
any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was
exercised in the selection and continued employment or retention thereof.
24
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 or Preferred 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 five 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 or Preferred 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 Rights Agent. Any successor
Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of 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 Wisconsin), in good standing, having an office in the State of
Wisconsin, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or
stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or
state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred 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
25
Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right
Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the 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 of Rights. (a) The Board of Directors may, at its
option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) such time as any Person becomes
an Acquiring Person or (ii) the occurrence of a Removal Event, redeem all but
not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 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.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the
redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 23, and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the
Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights
shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The 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 such action of the Board of Directors ordering the
redemption of the Rights, 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 at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per
Right,
26
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 an Exempt Person), 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 paragraph (a) of this Section 24
and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise
such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of 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.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares 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 for
issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after good
faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
such additional Common Shares, the Company shall substitute, for each Common
Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of
Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the current per share market
price of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to
the current per share market price of one Common Share as of the date of
issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.
(d) 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
27
Shares would otherwise be issuable 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 (d), 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)(i) 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 (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of
its Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of its
Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer
to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to
purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any
other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its
Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision
of outstanding Preferred Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger
into or 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, (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay
any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares),
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, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein
by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred 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 the Preferred 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 and/or Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the
earlier.
(b) In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall occur,
then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of
a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event and the
28
consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Each notice, request, demand, approval or other
communication which may be or is required to be given under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been properly given when delivered
personally at the address set forth below for the intended party during normal
business hours at such address, when sent by facsimile or other electronic
transmission to the respective facsimile transmission numbers of the parties set
forth below with telephone confirmation of receipt, or when sent by recognized
overnight courier or by the United States registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to the Company:
Marquette Medical Systems, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: President
Facsimile: 414/362-3553
If to the Rights Agent:
Firstar Trust Company
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Stock Transfer Department
Facsimile: 414/276-4226
Notices shall be given to such other addressee or address, or both, or by way of
such other facsimile transmission number, as a particular party may from time to
time designate by written notice to the other party hereto. Each notice,
request, demand, approval or other communication which is sent in accordance
with this Section shall be deemed given and received for all purposes of this
Agreement as of three business days after the date of deposit thereof for
mailing in a duly constituted United States post office or branch thereof, one
business day after deposit with a recognized overnight courier service or upon
confirmation of receipt of any facsimile transmission. Notice given to a party
hereto by any other method shall only be deemed to be given and received when
actually received in writing by such party.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to time
supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right
Certificates in order to cure any
29
ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other
provisions with respect to the Rights which the Company may deem necessary or
desirable, any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed
by the Company and the Rights Agent; provided, however, that from and after such
time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall not be
amended in any manner which would adversely affect the interests of the holders
of Rights. 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 Section 1(a) and 3(a) to not less than the
greater of (i) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding
Common Shares then known by the Company to be beneficially owned by any Person
(other than an Exempt Person) and (ii) 10%.
Section 28. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer
this Agreement and to exercise the rights and powers specifically granted to the
Board of Directors or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the
administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and
power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination to redeem or not to
redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the Board
of Directors in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights, as such, and all other
parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors to any liability to the
holders of the Rights.
Section 29. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the 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).
30
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Wisconsin and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
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.
MARQUETTE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Attest:
By:____________________________
By:____________________________ Title: President
Title: Secretary
FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY
Attest:
By:____________________________
By:_____________________________ Title:______________________
Title:_______________________
31
EXHIBIT A
DESIGNATION OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
OF
MARQUETTE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series A Preferred Shares" (hereinafter referred to as the
"Series A Preferred Shares") and the number of shares constituting the
Series A Preferred Shares shall be 200,000. Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors, provided
that no decrease shall reduce the number of Series A Preferred Shares to
less than the number of such shares then outstanding, plus the number of
such shares received for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options,
rights or warrants, or upon conversion of any outstanding securities issued
by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Shares.
SECTION 2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. (A) Subject to the rights of
the holders of any Preferred Shares of any series (or any similar stock)
ranking prior to and superior to the Series A Preferred Shares with respect
to dividends, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares, in preference to
the holders of Common Shares, par value $1.00 per share (hereinafter
referred to as the "Common Shares"), of the Corporation, and of any other
junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the
Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose,
quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first days of May, August,
November and February in each year, each such date being referred to herein
as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a Series A Preferred
Share or fraction thereof, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate
32
per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per
share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other
distributions, other than a dividend payable in Common Shares or a
subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or
otherwise), declared on the Common Shares since the immediately preceding
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any Series A Preferred
Shares or fraction thereof. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares,
or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding
Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a
dividend in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common
Shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of Series A
Preferred Shares were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause
(b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of Common Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A Preferred Shares as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Shares (other than a dividend payable in Common Shares); provided that, in
the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the
Common Shares during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of
$1.00 per share on the Series A Preferred Shares shall nevertheless be
payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
Series A Preferred Shares from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of
such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue
from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the
determination of holders of Series A Preferred Shares entitled to receive a
quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in
either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the Series A Preferred
Shares in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the
time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The
Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders
of Series A Preferred Shares entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60
days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
33
SECTION 3. VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of Series A Preferred Shares
shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each Series A Preferred Share shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes
on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend
on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in Common
Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in each such
case the number of votes per share to which holders of Series A Preferred
Shares were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by
multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of Common Shares that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Amendment to
this Corporation's Articles of Incorporation creating a series of Preferred
Shares or any similar shares, or by law, the holders of Series A Preferred
Shares and the holders of Common Shares and any other capital stock of the
Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class
on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall have no special voting rights
and their consent shall not be required except to the extent they are
entitled to vote with holders of Common Shares as set forth herein) for the
taking of any corporate action.
SECTION 4. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS. (A) Whenever quarterly dividends or
other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Shares
as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued
and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on Series
A Preferred Shares outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on
any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Shares;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions,
on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Preferred Shares, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A
Preferred Shares and all such parity
34
stock on which dividends are payable to in arrears in proportion to
the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then
entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Shares, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase
or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for
shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Shares; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any Series A Preferred Shares, or any shares of stock ranking on a
parity with the Series A Preferred Shares, except in accordance with a
purchase offer made in writing or by publication, as determined by the
Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual
dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will
result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation
to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this
Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
SECTION 5. REACQUIRED SHARES. Any Series A Preferred Shares purchased
or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be
retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued
Preferred Shares and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred
Shares subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein or in the Articles of Incorporation.
SECTION 6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution
shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Shares unless, prior thereto, the holders of Series A
Preferred Shares shall have received $100.00 per share, plus an amount
equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or
not declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of
Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount
per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to
holders of Common Shares, or (2) to the holders of stock ranking on a
parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up) with the Series A Preferred Shares, except distributions made ratably
35
on the Series A Preferred Shares and all such parity stock in proportion to
the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon
such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable
in Common Shares, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation
of the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of
Common Shares, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders
of Series A Preferred Shares were entitled immediately prior to such event
under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted
by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of Common Shares that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
SECTION 7. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in
which the Common Shares are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each
Series A Preferred Share shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case
may be, into which or for which each Common Share is changed or exchanged.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend
on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in Common
Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in each such
case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the
exchange or change of Series A Preferred Shares shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of Common Shares that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
SECTION 8. NO REDEMPTION. The Series A Preferred Shares shall not be
redeemable.
SECTION 9. RANK. The Series A Preferred Shares shall rank, with
respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior
to all other series of Preferred Shares of the Corporation.
36
SECTION 10. AMENDMENT. The Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter
or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A
Preferred Shares so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the of Series A Preferred
Shares, voting together as a single class.
37
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R-_____ _______Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER DECEMBER 18, 2006, OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR
EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER
RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT,
RIGHTS OWNED BY ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
MARQUETTE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, 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 Marquette Medical Systems, Inc. Rights Agreement, dated as of December 18,
1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"),
between Marquette Medical Systems, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the
"Company"), and Firstar Trust 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 time, on December 18, 2006,
at the principal office of the Rights Agent, or at the office of its successor
as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid non-assessable share (a
"Unit") of Series A Preferred Stock, without par value (the "Preferred Shares"),
of the Company, at a purchase price of $80.00 per Unit (the "Purchase Price"),
upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of
Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate (and the number of Units 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 December 18, 1996, based on the Preferred Shares as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase
Price and the number of Units 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
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of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities
hereunder of 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
Preferred 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 Certificate 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
$0.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for Preferred
Shares or shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock, par value $0.10 per
share.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of Units which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by
depositary receipts, but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred 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
stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights
Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until
the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
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This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Dated as of ____________________.
Attest: MARQUETTE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
By: ______________________________ By: ____________________________
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY
Attest:
By: _________________________
Title:
By: __________________________
Title:
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ______________________________, hereby sells, assigns
and transfers unto _____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
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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:
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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.
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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).
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Signature
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Right Certificate.)
To: MARQUETTE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _____________________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares
issuable upon the exercise of such rights and requests that certificates for
such shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
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(Please print name and address)
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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
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(Please print name and address)
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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.
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
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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).
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Signature
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NOTICE
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to Purchase, as
the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or
the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, 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.
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EXHIBIT C
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS
OWNED BY ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF MAY BECOME NULL AND
VOID.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED SHARES
On December 18, 1996, the Board of Directors of Marquette Medical Systems,
Inc., (the "Company"), declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right
(a "Right") for each outstanding share of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.10
per share (the "Common Shares), of the Company. The dividend is payable on
January 3, 1997 (the "Record Date"), to the stockholders of record on that date.
Each Right entitles the registered holder thereof to purchase from the Company
one one-hundredth of a share (a "Unit") of Series A Preferred Stock, without par
value (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of $80.00 "Purchase
Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set
forth in a Marquette Medical Systems, Inc. Rights Plan Agreement (the "Rights
Agreement") between the Company and Firstar Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent"). The following summarizes the Rights Agreement.
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring
Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined
by action of the Board of Directors of the Company prior to such time as any
person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the
commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or
exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in the beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the 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 with a copy
of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.
The Company, any subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or a subsidiary, any person holding Common Shares for or pursuant to
the terms of any employee benefit plan of the Company or a subsidiary or Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, his affiliates or associates, his heirs and any trust or foundation
to which he has transferred or may transfer Common Shares are exempt from the
applicability of the Rights Agreement as it relates to the acquisition of 20% or
more of the outstanding Common Shares.
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The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), 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 or a copy of this Summary of Rights being
attached thereto, 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
("Rights 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.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire on December 18, 2006 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred 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 Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than
the then-current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share but will be entitled to an
aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the
event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a
minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100.00 per share but will be
entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share.
Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common
Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction
in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to
receive
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100 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by
customary anti-dilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares dividend, liquidation and
voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a Preferred Share
purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one
Common Share.
In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning
power is sold after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price
of the Right 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
exercise price of the Right. In the event that any person or group of affiliated
or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be
made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the
Acquiring Person (which Rights will thereafter be void), will thereafter have
the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares having a market
value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the acquisition by such person or group 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 such person or group which will have become void),
in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or one one-
hundredth of a Preferred Share (or of a share of a class or series of the
Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges),
per Right (subject to adjustment).
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 Preferred Shares will be issued other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at
the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts and in lieu
thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the
Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the earlier of (i) the acquisition by a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 20% or more
of the outstanding Common Shares or (ii) a majority of the Board of Directors of
the Company being removed by the written consent of the stockholders of the
Company under certain circumstances, the Board of Directors of the Company may
redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 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 of the
Company 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.
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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 certain thresholds described above to not less than the greater of (i)
the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Shares
then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by any person or group of
affiliated or associated persons and (ii) 10%, except that from and after such
time as any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Rights.
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.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is 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.
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