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Exhibit 4.1
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
Waterlink, Inc.
and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
Rights Agent
Rights Agreement
DATED AS of May 23, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1. Certain Definitions
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates
Section 4. Form of Right Certificate
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificate
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number
of Rights
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares
Section 15. Rights of Action
Section 16. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder
Section 17. Concerning the Rights Agent
Section 18. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent
Section 19. Duties of Rights Agent
Section 20. Change of Rights Agent
Section 21. Issuance of New Right Certificates
Section 22. Redemption and Termination
Section 23. Exchange
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events
Section 25. Notices
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments
Section 27. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
Section 28. Successors
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement
Section 30. Severability
Section 31. Governing Law
Section 32. Counterparts
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Section 33. Descriptive Headings
Signatures
Exhibit A--Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights
Exhibit B--Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C--Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of May 23, 1997 (the "Agreement"),
between Waterlink, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the "Rights Agent").
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has authorized and
declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each
Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Corporation outstanding at the
close of business on the day on which the SEC declares the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 effective (the "Record Date"), each Right
representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth 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 with
respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record
Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the
Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined); provided,
however, that Rights may be issued with respect to Common Shares that shall
become outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the
Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date in accordance with the provisions
of Section 22 of this Agreement.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares (other than as a
result of a Permitted Offer) or was such a Beneficial Owner at any time after
the date hereof, whether or not such person continues to be the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (A) the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include (i) the
Corporation, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Corporation, (iii) any employee benefit
plan of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary of the Corporation, (iv) any
Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Corporation for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan, (v) any Person, who or which together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares as a result of the
acquisition of Common Shares directly from the Corporation, or (vi) an Exempt
Person, and (B) no Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" either
(X) as a result of the acquisition of Common Shares by the Corporation which,
by reducing the number of Common Shares outstanding, increases the proportional
number of shares beneficially owned by such Person together with all Affiliates
and Associates of such Person; except that if (i) a Person would become an
Acquiring Person (but for the operation of this subclause X) as a result of the
acquisition
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of Common Shares by the Corporation, and (ii) after such share acquisition by
the Corporation, such Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of such Person,
becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares, then such Person
shall be deemed an Acquiring Person, or (Y) if (i) within 8 days after such
Person would otherwise have become an Acquiring Person (but for the operation
of this subclause Y), such Person notifies the Board of Directors that such
Person did so inadvertently and (ii) within 2 days after such notification,
such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less than 10% of the outstanding Common
Shares.
The phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a Person's
Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Corporation, 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.
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and as in
effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act.
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), or upon the exercise
of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants
or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed
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 (whether or not in writing); 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 (I) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent
given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made
pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations
promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable on
Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
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(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person (or
any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) (other than customary agreements with
and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities) relating to the acquisition, holding, voting
(except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section l(d)(ii)(B)) or
disposing of any securities of the Corporation.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
U.S. federal holiday.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New
York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business
Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the next succeeding Business
Day.
(g) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Corporation shall
mean the shares of Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Corporation
or, in the event of a subdivision, combination or consolidation with respect to
such shares of Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock resulting from such
subdivision, combination or consolidation. "Common Shares" when used with
reference to any Person other than the Corporation 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, the Person or Persons
which. ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(h) "Disinterested Director" shall mean any member of the
Corporation's Board of Directors who is not an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate, Associate, nominee, or representative of an Acquiring Person and who
was a member of the Corporation's Board of Directors prior to the time that the
Acquiring Person became an Acquiring Person or is recommended to succeed a
Disinterested Director by a majority of Disinterested Directors.
(i) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
(j) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(k) "Exempt Person" shall mean any Person who is the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares on the date of this Rights
Agreement, provided, that, if (i) the Exempt Person, together with its
Affiliates and Associates, increases its Beneficial Ownership of the then
outstanding Common Shares by 1% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares;
(ii) there is any change in the Beneficial Ownership or management control of
such Exempt Person, other than a change of Beneficial Ownership of 40% or less
of interests in the Exempt Person, which interests have no management control
or voting rights with respect to the Exempt Person; (iii) such Exempt Person,
or any of the Affiliates or Associates of such Exempt Person, commence or
publicly announce the intention to commence a tender or exchange offer
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the consummation of which would increase the number of outstanding Common
Shares Beneficially Oned by such Exempt Person's, or any of its Affiliates or
Associates; or (iv) the Corporation shall enter into an event which would
constitute a Section 13 Event, but for the fact that the Exempt Person is not
considered to be an Acquiring Person, then in any such case the Exempt Person
shall immediately cease to be an Exempt Person and shall be considered to be an
Acquiring Person for all purposes of this Agreement.
(l) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the tenth anniversary of the
Record Date.
(m) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean any Acquiring Person or any
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any other Person in which any
such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate has an interest, or any other
Person acting directly or indirectly on behalf of or in concert with any such
Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate.
(n) "Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender or exchange offer which is
for all outstanding Common Shares at a price and on terms determined, prior to
the purchase of shares under such tender or exchange offer, by at least a
majority of the Disinterested Directors, to be adequate (taking into account
all factors that such Directors deem relevant including, without limitation,
prices that could reasonably be achieved if the Corporation or its assets were
sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value) and otherwise in
the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders (other than the
Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof on whose basis the offer is being
made) taking into account all factors that such directors may deem relevant.
(o) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership,
corporation, trust, association, joint venture or other entity, and shall
include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(p) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock,
with a par value of $.001 per share of the Corporation.
(q) "Redemption Date" shall mean the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 22 hereof.
(r) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(s) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause (x) or
(y) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(t) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to the Exchange Act) by the Corporation or
an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such; provided, that,
if such Person is determined not to
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have become an Acquiring Person pursuant to Section l(a)(Y) hereof, then no
Shares Acquisition Date shall be deemed to have occurred.
(u) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
Person of which a majority of the voting power or equity interest is owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person, or which is otherwise controlled by
such Person.
(v) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Corporation hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Corporation and the holders
of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the
Distribution Date also be the holders of Common Shares) in accordance with the
terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. The Corporation may from time to time appoint such co-Rights
Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issuance of Right Certificates. (a) Until the earlier of
(i) the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth day
(or such later date as may be determined by action of the Disinterested
Directors) after the date any Person (other than the Corporation, any
Subsidiary of the Corporation, any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or
of any Subsidiary of the Corporation or any Person or entity organized,
appointed or established by the Corporation for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan) commences, or first publicly announces its intention to commence
(which intention to commence remains in effect for five Business Days after
such announcement), a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would
result in any Person becoming an Acquiring Person (including, in the case of
both (i) and (ii), 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 (which
certificates shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate
Right Certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection
with the transfer of the underlying Common Shares (including a transfer to the
Corporation); provided, however, that if a tender offer is abandoned prior to
the occurrence of a Distribution Date, then no Distribution Date shall occur as
a result of such tender offer. As soon as practicable after the Distribution
Date, the Corporation will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will
countersign, and the Corporation will send or cause to be sent 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 Corporation, a Right Certificate, substantially in the form of
Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each Common
Share so held. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
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(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Corporation will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (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 Corporation. With respect to certificates for Common
Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by the certificates for Common Shares with or without a
copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto. 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 attached thereto, shall
also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such Common Shares.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares issued after the Record Date
(including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the
last sentence of this paragraph (c)) but prior to the earliest of the
Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, shall be
deemed also to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Waterlink,
Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of May 23,
1997 (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 Waterlink, 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. Waterlink, Inc. will mail to the holder of this
certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after
receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set
forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any
Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and certain
related persons, whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person
or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
In the event that the Corporation 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
Corporation shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the
Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.
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Section 4. Form of Right Certificate. (a) The Right Certificates (and
the forms of election to purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse
thereof) shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and
may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries
or endorsements printed thereon as the Corporation may deem appropriate and 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 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall
entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the amount
and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the
Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section
22 hereof that represents Rights which are null and void pursuant to Section
7(e) of this Agreement and any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6
or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Right Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the
extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Right Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Right Certificate
and the Rights represented hereby are null and void.
Provisions of Section 7(e) of this Rights Agreement shall be operative whether
or not the foregoing legend is contained on any such Right Certificate.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Right Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chairman of the Board,
its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents, or its
Treasurer, either manually or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed
thereto the Corporation's seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, either manually or
by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In
case any officer of the Corporation who shall have signed any of the Right
Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Corporation before
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the
Corporation, such Right Certificates may nevertheless be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Corporation with the same force
and effect as though the person who signed such Right Certificates had not
ceased to be such officer of the Corporation.
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Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause
to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the appropriate
place for surrender of such Right Certificate or transfer, 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 certificate number and the date of each of the Right
Certificates.
Subject to Section 6 and Section 7(c) hereof, the Corporation and the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Right Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, the 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 Certificate
or the associated Common Shares certificate made by anyone other than the
Corporation or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the
Corporation nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e)
hereof, shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificate.. Subject
to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and 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 may be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or
Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number
of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event,
other securities, as the case may be) as the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the
case of a transfer) 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 designated
for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Corporation shall be
obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any
such surrendered Right Certificate until the registered holder shall have
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the
reverse side of such Right Certificate and shall have provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner)
or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Corporation shall reasonably
request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section
7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled
thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so
requested. The Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer,
split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.
Upon receipt by the Corporation and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation
of a Right Certificate, and,
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in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably
satisfactory to them, and, at the Corporation's request, reimbursement to the
Corporation and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto,
and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right
Certificate if mutilated, the Corporation will execute and deliver a new Right
Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery
to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights. (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, 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
and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the principal office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for the total number of
one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or other securities, as the case may
be) as to which such surrendered Rights are exercised, at or prior to the
earliest of (i) the close of business on the Final Expiration Date, or (ii) the
Redemption Date.
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $65.00, shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in the next sentence and in
Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph
(c) below. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event that at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Distribution Date, the Corporation 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, each Common Share
outstanding following such subdivision, combination or consolidation shall
continue to have a Right associated therewith and the Purchase Price following
any such event shall be proportionately adjusted to equal the result obtained
by multiplying the Purchase Price immediately prior to such event by a fraction
the numerator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding immediately following
the occurrence of such event. The adjustment provided for in the preceding
sentence shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or
paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly
executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the Preferred Shares
(or other securities, as the case may be) 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 6 hereof by certified check, cashier's
check or money order payable to the order of the Corporation, the Rights
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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 Corporation hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent
to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Corporation, in its sole
discretion, shall have elected to deposit the Preferred Shares issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder into a depositary, requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of Preferred
Shares 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 Corporation will direct the depositary agent
to comply with such requests, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the
Corporation the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional
shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) 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 thereof, deliver such cash to or upon the order of
the registered holder of such Right Certificate. In the event that the
Corporation is obligated to issue other securities (including Common Shares) of
the Corporation pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Corporation will make all
arrangements necessary so that such other securities are available for
distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. Neither the Rights
Agent nor the Corporation shall be obligated to undertake any action with
respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise of
the Rights unless such registered holder shall have provided such evidence of
the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates
or Associates thereof as the Corporation shall reasonably request.
In addition, in the case of an exercise of the Rights by a holder
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii), the Rights Agent shall return such Right
Certificate to the registered holder thereof after imprinting, stamping or
otherwise indicating thereon that the rights represented by such Right
Certificate no longer include the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii) of the
Rights Agreement and if less than all the Rights represented by such Right
Certificate were so exercised, the Rights Agent shall indicate on the Right
Certificate the number of Rights represented thereby which continue to include
the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii).
(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, or the Rights Agent shall place an appropriate notation on the Right
Certificate with respect to those Rights exercised.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any
Affiliate or Associate thereof) who becomes a transferee
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after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring
Person (or of any Affiliate or Associate thereof) who becomes a transferee
prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives
such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has a
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Disinterested Directors have determined is
part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or
effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void without
any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights
whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this
Agreement or otherwise. The Corporation shall use all reasonable efforts to
insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are
complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Right Certificates
or other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with
respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees
hereunder.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Corporation or to any of
its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in 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 Corporation
shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the
Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased
or acquired by the Corporation otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The
Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Right Certificates to the Corporation,
or shall, at the written request of the Corporation, destroy such cancelled
Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Corporation.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares. The
Corporation covenants and agrees that at all times prior to the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of
its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares, or any authorized and issued
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 and,
after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, shall, to the extent
reasonably practicable, so reserve and keep available a sufficient number of
Common Shares (and/or other securities) which may be required to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights.
So long as the Preferred Shares (and, after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, Common Shares or any other securities) issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange,
the Corporation shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time
as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be
listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
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The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (or Common Shares
and/or other securities, as the case may be) delivered upon exercise of Rights
shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares or other
securities (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly
authorized and issued and fully paid and non-assessable shares or securities.
The Corporation further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all U.S. 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 (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the
case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Corporation 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 depository receipts for the Preferred
Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) 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 (or Common Shares and/or other
securities, as the case may be) 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 Corporation's reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due.
The Corporation shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the Shares Acquisition Date, a registration statement
under the Act, with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder)
until the date of the expiration of the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii).
The Corporation will also take such action as may be appropriate under the blue
sky laws of the various states.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each person in whose name
any certificate for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities,
as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares
(or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) 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 (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be)
transfer books of the Corporation are closed, such person shall be deemed to
have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next
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succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or
other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Corporation are
open.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Corporation 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 Corporation is the continuing or surviving
corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section
7(e) hereof, 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 Corporation 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 Corporation issuable
upon exercise of one Right. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), the adjustment
provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be
made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) In the event any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates
and Associates, shall become an Acquiring Person, then proper provision shall
be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section
7(e) hereof) shall, for a period of 60 days after the later of the occurrence
of any such event or the effective date of an appropriate registration
statement under the Act pursuant to Section 9 hereof, have a right to receive,
upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of Common Shares (or,
in the discretion of the Disinterested Directors, one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share) as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the then number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and dividing that product by (y) 50%
of the then current per share market price of the Corporation's Common Shares
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of such first
occurrence (such number of shares being referred to as the "Adjustment
Shares"); provided, however, that if the transaction that would otherwise give
rise to the foregoing
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adjustment is also subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof, then only
the provisions of Section 13 hereof shall apply and no adjustment shall be made
pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii). The exercise of Rights under this Section
11(a)(ii) shall only result in the loss of rights under Section 11(a)(ii) to
the extent so exercised and shall not otherwise affect the rights represented
by the Rights under this Rights Agreement, including the rights represented by
Section 13.
(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient treasury shares
or authorized but unissued (and unreserved) Common Shares to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph
(ii) and the Rights become so exercisable, notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement, to the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law,
each Right shall thereafter represent the right to receive, upon exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price, (x) a number of (or fractions of)
Common Shares (up to the maximum number of Common Shares which may permissibly
be issued) and (y) one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share or a number of, or
fractions of other equity securities of the Corporation (or, in the discretion
of the Disinterested Directors, debt) which the Disinterested Directors have
determined to have the same aggregate current market value (determined pursuant
to Section-11(d)(i) and (ii) hereof, to the extent applicable,) as one Common
Share (such number of, or fractions of, Preferred Shares, debt, or other equity
securities or debt of the Corporation being referred to as a "capital stock
equivalent"), equal in the aggregate to the number of Adjustment Shares;
provided, however, if sufficient Common Shares and/or capital stock equivalents
are unavailable, then the Corporation shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Common Shares or capital stock equivalents for issuance upon
exercise of the Rights, including the calling of a meeting of stockholders; and
provided, further, that if the Corporation is unable to cause sufficient Common
Shares and/or capital stock equivalents to be available for issuance upon
exercise in full of the Rights, then each Right shall thereafter represent the
right to receive the Adjusted Number of Shares upon exercise at the Adjusted
Purchase Price (as such terms are hereinafter defined). As used herein, the
term "Adjusted Number of Shares" shall be equal to that number of (or fractions
of) Common Shares (and/or capital stock equivalents) equal to the product of
(x) the number of Adjustment Shares and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of Common Shares (and/or capital stock equivalents) available for
issuance upon exercise of the Rights and the denominator of which is the
aggregate number of Adjustment Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise in full
of all Rights (assuming there were a sufficient number of Common Shares
available) (such fraction being referred to as the "Proration Factor"). The
"Adjusted Purchase Price" shall mean the product of the Purchase Price and the
Proration Factor. The Disinterested Directors may, but shall not be required
to, establish procedures to allocate the right to receive Common Shares and
capital stock equivalents upon exercise of the Rights among holders of Rights.
(b) If the Corporation shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights (other than the 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
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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 preferred shares) less than the then current per share market price
of the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on
such record date, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted 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 per share 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). In case such subscription price may be paid
in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the
value of such consideration shall be determined in good faith by the
Disinterested Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent. Preferred
Shares owned by or held for the account of the Corporation shall not be deemed
outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be
made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that
such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(c) If the Corporation 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
Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a
dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price shall
be adjusted 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 (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
of the Preferred Shares on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Disinterested Directors, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
binding on 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 the Preferred Shares and the denominator of which shall be such
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares. 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.
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(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 thirty (30) consecutive
Trading Days (as 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 on such Security
payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares,
or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security and
prior to the expiration of thirty (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 day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in
either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the 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 Disinterested Directors. If on any such date no
such market maker is making market in the Security, the fair value of the
Security on such date as determined in good faith by the Disinterested Directors
shall be used and shall be binding on the Rights Agent. The term "Trading Day"
shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which
the Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) If the Preferred Shares are not publicly traded, the "current per
share market price" of a Preferred Share shall be conclusively deemed to be the
current per share market price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(i) multiplied by one hundred.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in
the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least 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-hundredth of a Preferred
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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 (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such adjustment
or (ii) the Final Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall
become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Corporation other
than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of 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, 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 Corporation subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) The Corporation may elect on or after the date of any adjustment
of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment
in the number of Preferred Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each
of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which
a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of
record prior to such adjustment 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
Corporation 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 ten (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(h), the Corporation 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 Corporation, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of
record in substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such
holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required
by the Corporation, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which
such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to
be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner
provided for herein and shall be registered in the names of
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the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date specified in the
public announcement.
(i) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share 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 one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial Right
Certificates issued hereunder.
(j) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the par value, if any, of the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share, Common Shares or other securities issuable
upon exercise of the Rights, the Corporation shall take any corporate action
which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the
Corporation may validly and legally issue such number of fully paid and
non-assessable one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share, Common Shares or other
securities at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(k) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Corporation may elect to defer until the occurrence of
such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record
date the Preferred Shares, Common Shares or other securities of the
Corporation, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred
Shares, Common Shares or other securities of the Corporation, if any, issuable
upon exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such
adjustment; provided, however, that the Corporation shall deliver to such
holder a due xxxx or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's
right to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.
(l) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Corporation shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in
order that (i) any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii)
issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares at less than the current market
price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which
by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv)
stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in
this Section 11, hereafter made by the Corporation to holders of its Preferred
Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(m) The Corporation shall not, at any time after the Distribution
Date, (x) (i) consolidate with, (ii) merge with or into, or (iii) sell,
mortgage or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell, mortgage or transfer),
in one or more transaction, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50%
of the assets or earning power of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (taken
as a whole) (y) to any other Person or Persons (other than in each case, the
Corporation and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of
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which does not violate Section 11(n) hereof), if (x) at the time of or
immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer there are any
charter or by-law provisions or any rights, warrants or other instruments or
securities outstanding or agreements in effect or other actions taken, which
would materially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately
after such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section
13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates. The Corporation shall not
consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior
thereto the Corporation and such other Person shall have executed and delivered
to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement evidencing compliance with this
Section 11(m).
(n) The Corporation shall not at any time after the Distribution Date,
except as permitted by Section 22 or Section 26 hereof, take (or permit any
Subsidiary to take) any action the purpose or effect of which is to materially
diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 13
hereof, the Corporation shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth
such adjustment, and a brief statement of the facts resulting in such
adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the
Common Shares and 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 26 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on
any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and shall not be
deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it shall have
received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power. (a) In the event that, on or following the Shares Acquisition
Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Corporation shall consolidate with, or
merge with and into, any Interested Stockholder, or if in such merger or
consolidation all holders of Common Shares are not treated alike, any other
Person (whether or not the Corporation shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger) (other than a merger or
consolidation which would result in all of the securities generally entitled to
vote in the election of directors ("voting securities") of the Corporation
outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into securities of the surviving
entity) all of the voting securities of the Corporation or such surviving
entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and the
holders of such securities not having changed as a result of such merger or
consolidation), or (y) the Corporation shall sell, mortgage or otherwise
transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell, mortgage or otherwise
transfer), in one or more transactions other than in the ordinary course of
business, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or
earning power of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
Interested Stockholder(s) or, if in such transaction
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all holders of Common Shares are not treated alike, any other Person (other
than the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation in one or more
transactions each of which does not violate Section 11(n) hereof), then, and in
each such case (except as provided in Section 13(d) hereof), proper provision
shall be made so that (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section
7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price, and in lieu of Preferred Shares,
such number of freely tradable Common Shares of the Principal Party (as
hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first
refusal or other adverse claims, as shall equal the result obtained by (A)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable (without taking into
account any adjustment previously made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)) and
dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then current per share market price of
the Common Shares of such Principal Party (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such
Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of
such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Corporation
pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Corporation" shall thereafter be
deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that
the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party
following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; and (iv) such Principal
Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of
a sufficient number of its Common Shares) in connection with the consummation
of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions
hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in
relation to the Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the
Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of any
securities into which Common Shares of the Corporation are converted in such
merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is
the other party to such merger or consolidation (including, if applicable, the
Corporation if it is the surviving corporation); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in either case described in subclause (i) or (ii)
above, (1) if the Common Shares of such Person are not at such time and have
not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12) month period registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of another Person the Common Shares of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) in case
such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person,
the Common Shares of two or more of which are and have been so registered,
"Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the
Common
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Shares having the greatest aggregate market value; and (3) in case such Person
is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or more
Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the
rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the chains of
ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if such party were a
"Subsidiary" of both or all of such joint venturers and the Principal Parties
in each such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in
the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear to the
total of such interests.
(c) The Corporation shall not consummate any Section 13 Event unless
the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of its authorized Common
Shares which have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless
prior thereto the Corporation and such Principal Party shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms
set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing
that, as soon as practicable after the date of any Section 13 Event the
Principal Party at its own expense shall:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act with
respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after
such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting
the requirements of the Act) until the Final Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights and the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the blue sky laws of
such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements
for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. The rights under this
Section 13 shall be in addition to the rights to exercise Rights and
adjustments under Section 11(a)(ii) and shall survive any exercise thereof.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs
(x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if: (i) such transaction is consummated with a
Person or Persons who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or
a wholly owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons); (ii) the price per
Common Share offered in such transaction is not less than the price per Common
Share paid to all holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant
to such Permitted Offer; and (iii) the form of consideration offered in such
transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such
Permitted
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Offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section
13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) The
Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute
Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. 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 (as determined
pursuant to the provisions set forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable.
(b) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are one one-hundredth or integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the
Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares
(other than fractions which are one one-hundredth or integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the
Corporation, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate
agreement between the Corporation and a depositary selected by it; provided
that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts
shall have 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 one one-hundredth
or integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, the
Corporation 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,
determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the
Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of shares or units of such
Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or other securities upon exercise of
the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractions of such
Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or other securities. In lieu of
fractional shares or units of such Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or
other securities, the Corporation may pay to the registered holders of Right
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a share or
unit of such Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or other securities. For
purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value shall be determined in
the manner set forth in Section 1l(d) hereof for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise and, if such capital stock equivalent is not
traded, each such capital stock equivalent shall have the value of one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share.
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(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional share 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, in his own behalf and for
his own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against the Corporation to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of,
his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the
manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it
is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an
adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to
specific performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against
actual or threatened violations of the obligations of any Person subject to,
this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Corporation nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of
a Right or a beneficial interest in a Right or other Person as a result of its
inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of
any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued
by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or
executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority,
prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; provided,
however, the Corporation must use its best efforts to have any such order.
decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 16. 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 Corporation 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
Corporation or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold
consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other
actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 24 hereof), or to
receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive 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.
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Section 17. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Corporation agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the
administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance
of its duties hereunder. The Corporation also agrees to indemnify the Rights
Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense,
incurred without 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 arising therefrom. The
indemnity provided for herein shall survive the expiration of the Rights and
the termination of this Agreement.
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 Common Shares or for other securities of the
Corporation, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney,
endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate,
statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be
signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper
Person or Persons.
Section 18. 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 all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the
Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper
or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such
corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under
the provisions of Section 20 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 a 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 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; and in case at that time
any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Right Certificates
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either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such
Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates
and in this Agreement.
Section 19. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes only
those duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms
and conditions, by all of which the Corporation and the holders of Right
Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Corporation), 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
(including, without limitation, the identity of an Acquiring Person and the
determination of the current market price of any Security) be proved or
established by the Corporation prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof 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 Corporation 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 only for its own
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Corporation only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Corporation of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall
it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including
the Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) or any adjustment
required under the provisions of Section 11 or Section 13 hereof or responsible
for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of
the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with
respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after receipt
of the certificate described in Section
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12 hereof); 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 or Common Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or
any Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares or Common Shares
will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
(f) The Corporation agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge
and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all
such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be
required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights
Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Corporation, and to
apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties, and shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good
faith or lack of action in accordance with instructions of any such officer or
for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application
by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Corporation may, at the
option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be
taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement and the date
on or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be
effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or
omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any
such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date
shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any officer of the
Corporation actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall
have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such
action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent
shall have received written instruction in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or
other securities of the Corporation or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Corporation may be interested, or contract with or
lend money to the Corporation or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it
were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the
Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Corporation or for any
other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable
or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such
attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Corporation resulting from any such
act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in
the selection and continued employment thereof.
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(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has not been
completed, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to
such requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the
Corporation.
Section 20. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Corporation 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 Corporation may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the
Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to
holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the
Corporation shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Corporation
shall fail to make such appointment within a period of sixty (60) days after
giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by
the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Right Certificate for inspection by the Corporation), then the registered
holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights
Agent, whether appointed by the Corporation or by such a court, shall be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States
(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 Ohio), in
good standing, having an office in the State of Ohio, 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 $100,000,000. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be
vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had
been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver
any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not
later than the effective date of any such appointment the Corporation shall
file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each
transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, and mail a notice
thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure
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to give any notice provided for in this Section 20, 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 21. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Corporation may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights
in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any
adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of
shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates
made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares following the
Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date and the Final
Expiration Date, the Corporation (a) shall with respect to Common Shares so
issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee
plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
securities, notes or debentures issued by the Corporation, and (b) may, in any
other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of
Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i)
the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue any such Right Certificates if,
and to the extent that, the Corporation shall be advised by counsel that such
issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences
to the Corporation or the Person to whom such Right Certificate would be
issued, and (ii) no Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent
that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the
issuance thereof.
Section 22. Redemption and Termination.
(a) (i) The Disinterested Directors may, at their option, redeem all
but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01
per Right, as such amount may be 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"), at any time prior to the earlier of (x) the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, or (y) the Final Expiration Date. The Corporation may, at its
option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares (based on the "current
per share market price," as defined in Section 11(d) hereof, of the Common
Share at the time of redemption) or cash; provided that if the Corporation
elects to pay the Redemption Price in Common Shares, the Corporation shall not
be required to issue any fractional Common Shares and the number of Common
Shares issuable to each holder of Rights shall be rounded down to the next
whole share.
(ii) In addition, the Disinterested Directors may, at their option, at
any time following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and the
expiration of any period during which the holder of Rights may exercise the
rights under Section 11(a)(ii) but prior to any Section 13 Event, redeem all
but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price
(x) in connection with any merger, consolidation or sale
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or other transfer (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions)
of assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the earning power of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) in which all holders of
Common Shares are treated alike and not involving (other than as a holder of
Common Shares being treated like all other such holders) an Interested
Stockholder or (y) if and for so long as the Acquiring Person is not thereafter
the Beneficial Owner of 15% of the Common Shares, and at the time of redemption
no other Persons are Acquiring Persons.
(b) In the case of a redemption permitted under Section 22(a)(i),
immediately upon the date for redemption set forth (or determined in the manner
specified in) in a resolution of the Disinterested Directors ordering the
redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the
Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any notice, the right
to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the
holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so
held. In the case of a redemption permitted only under Section 22(a)(ii),
evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and represent only the right to receive the
Redemption Price upon the later of ten Business Days following the giving of
such notice or the expiration of any period during which the rights may be
exercised under Section 11(a)(ii). The Corporation shall promptly give public
notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the failure to give, or
any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such
redemption. Within ten (l0) days after such date for redemption set forth in a
resolution of the Disinterested Directors ordering the redemption of the
Rights, the Corporation 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
Corporation 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 22 and other than in connection with the
purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
(c) The Corporation may, at its option, discharge all of its
obligations with respect to the Rights by (i) issuing a press release
announcing the manner of redemption of the Rights in accordance with this
Agreement and (ii) mailing payment of the Redemption Price to the registered
holders of the Rights at their last addresses as they appear on the registry
books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry
books of the Transfer Agent of the Common Shares, and upon such action, all
outstanding Rights and Right Certificates shall be null and void without any
further action by the Corporation.
Section 23. Exchange. (a) The Disinterested Directors may, at their
option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all
or part of the then
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outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have
become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common
Shares of the Corporation at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Disinterested Directors shall not be empowered to effect such
exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Corporation, any
Subsidiary of the Corporation, any employee benefit plan of the Corporation, or
any such Subsidiary, any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the
terms of any such a plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of
this Section 23 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 Corporation 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 Corporation shall promptly
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 7(e) hereof ) held by each holder of
Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 23, the Corporation may
substitute Preferred Shares (or equivalent preferred shares, as such term is
defined in Section 11 (b) hereof ) for some or all of the Common Shares
exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share (or equivalent preferred share) for each Common Share, as
appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the
Preferred Shares pursuant to the terms thereof, so that the fraction of a
Preferred Share delivered in lieu of each Common Share shall have the same
voting rights as one Common Share.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares or
Preferred Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to
permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section
23, the Corporation shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Common Shares or Preferred Shares for issuance upon exchange of the
Rights.
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Section 24. Notice of Certain Events. (a) In case the Corporation
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 regularly 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, mortgage or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its
Subsidiaries to effect any sale, mortgage or other transfer) in one or more
transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Corporation
and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other
than, in each case, the Corporation and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or
more transactions each of which does not violate Section 11(m) hereof), or (v)
to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, then,
in each such case, the Corporation shall give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed
action and file a certificate with the Rights Agent to that effect, which
notice and certificate 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 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 twenty (20) 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 twenty (20) days prior to the date
of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by
the holders of the Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, then (i) the Corporation
shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of the occurrence
of such event, which notice shall describe such event and the consequences of
such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all
references in the preceding paragraph (a) to Preferred Shares shall be deemed
thereafter to refer also to Common Shares and/or. if appropriate, other
securities of the Corporation.
Section 25. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right
Certificate to or on the Corporation shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
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34
Waterlink, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X. - Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
-------------------------
Subject to the provisions of Section 20 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Corporation or by the holder of
any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or
made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing with the Corporation) as follows:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
-------------------------------
Attention:__________
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Corporation or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
Common Shares shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as
shown on the registry books of the Corporation.
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution
Date, the Corporation and the Rights Agent shall, if the Corporation so
directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of certificates representing Common Shares. From and
after the Distribution Date, the Corporation and the Rights Agent shall, if the
Corporation so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval
of any holders of Right Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii)
to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective
or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen
any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions
hereunder in any manner which the Corporation may deem necessary or desirable
and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Right
Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person); provided, however, that this Agreement may not be
supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence,
(A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as
the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such
lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the
rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of
a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Corporation which states that
the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this
Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment,
provided that such supplement or amendment does not adversely affect the rights
or obligations of the Rights Agent under Section 17 or Section 19 of this
Agreement. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common
Shares.
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35
Section 27. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
The Disinterested Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board, or the Corporation, or as may be necessary or advisable
in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the
right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii)
make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of
this Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement and whether any proposed amendment
adversely affects the interests of the holders of Right Certificates). For all
purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common Shares or
other securities outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares or any
other securities of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in
accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this
Agreement. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Disinterested Directors in good faith,
shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Corporation, the Rights
Agent, the holders of the Right Certificates and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board or the Disinterested Directors to any liability to the
holders of the Right Certificates.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Corporation or the Rights Agent shall
bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns
hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the
Corporation, 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 Corporation, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Right
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance
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36
with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed
entirely within such State.
Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and attested, all as of the date and year first above written.
WATERLINK, INC.
Attest:
By________________________________ By________________________________________
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Secretary Title: President & Chief Executive Officer
Attest: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
By________________________________ By________________________________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
34
37
PREFERRED
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND
RIGHTS OF SERIES 1 PREFERRED STOCK
of
WATERLINK, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
Waterlink, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 103 thereof, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of
the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the said
Corporation, the said Board of Directors on May 23, 1997, adopted the
following resolution creating a series of Preferred Stock designated as Series
1 Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors
of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its Fifth Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock of the
Corporation is hereby created and that the designation and amount thereof and
the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other
special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series 1 Preferred Stock" (the "Series 1 Preferred Stock"), and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 40,000; provided,
however, that, if more than a total of 40,000 shares of Series 1 Preferred
Stock shall be issuable upon the exercise of Rights (the "Rights") issued
pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated as of May 23, 1997, between the
Corporation and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (as
amended from time to time) (the "Rights Agreement"), the Board of Directors of
the Corporation, pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, shall direct by resolution or resolutions that a certificate
be properly executed, acknowledged and filed providing for the total number of
shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock authorized to be issued to be increased (to
the extent that the Certificate of Incorporation then permits) to the largest
number of whole shares (rounded up to the nearest whole number) issuable upon
exercise of the Rights.
38
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares
of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of
Series 1 Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of
Series 1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared
by the Board of Directors out of assets legally available for the purpose,
quarterly dividends payable in cash on the fifteenth business day of January,
April, July and October in each year (each such date being referred to herein
as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a
share of Series 1 Preferred Stock, 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 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 shares of Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, of the
Corporation (the "Common Stock") or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock
since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with
respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance
of any share or fraction of a share of Series 1 Preferred Stock.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series
1 Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above immediately after it
declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or
distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period
between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series 1 Preferred
Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock,
unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares
shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date
of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record
date for the determination of holders of shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock
entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue
and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series 1
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at
the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board
of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares
of Series 1 Preferred Stock 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.
2
39
Section 3. Voting Rights The holders of shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock
shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Except as provided in paragraph C of this Section 3 and subject to the
provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series 1
Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters
submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of shares
of Series 1 Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall
vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders
of the Corporation.
(C) (i) If, on the date used to determine stockholders of record for any
meeting of stockholders for the election of directors, a default in preference
dividends (as defined in subparagraph (v) below) on the Series 1 Preferred
Stock shall exist, the holders of the Series 1 Preferred Stock shall have the
right, voting as a class as described in subparagraph (ii) below, to elect two
directors (in addition to the directors elected by holders of Common Stock or
any other class or series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation). Such right
may be exercised until there is no longer a default in preference dividends (a)
at any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors or (b) at a
meeting of the holders of shares of the Series 1 Preferred Stock, called for
such purpose. Upon the occurrence of a default in preference dividends on the
Series 1 Preferred Shares, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary shall
call a special meeting of the holders of the Series 1 Preferred Shares for the
purpose of the exercise of the voting rights described in this Section 3(C),
unless the next annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors is
scheduled to be held within sixty (60) days of the date on which the default in
preference dividends occurred.
(ii) The right of the holders of Series 1 Preferred Stock to elect two
directors, as described above, shall be exercised as a class independently of
any rights of holders of any other series of Preferred Stock upon which voting
rights to elect such directors have been conferred and are then exercisable.
(iii) Each director elected by the holders of shares of Series 1 Preferred
Stock shall be referred to herein as a "Series 1 Preferred Director." A Series
1 Preferred Director so elected shall continue to serve as such director for a
term of one year, except that upon any termination of the right of all of such
holders to vote as a class for Series 1 Preferred Directors, the term of office
of such directors shall terminate. Any Series 1 Preferred Director may be
removed by, and shall not be removed except by, the vote of the holders of
record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock then
entitled to vote for the election of directors, present (in person or by proxy)
and voting together as a single class (a) at a meeting of the stockholders, or
(b) at a meeting of the holders of shares of such Series 1 Preferred Stock,
called for the purpose in accordance with the By-laws of the Corporation, or
(c) by written consent signed by the holders of a majority of the then
outstanding shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock then entitled to vote for the
election of directors, taken together as a single class.
(iv) So long as a default in any preference dividends on the Series 1
Preferred Stock shall exist or the holders of any other series of Series 1
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect Series
3
40
1 Preferred Directors, (a) any vacancy in the office of a Series 1 Preferred
Director may be filled (except as provided in the following clause (b)) by an
instrument in writing signed by the remaining Series 1 Preferred Director and
filed with the Corporation and (b) in the case of the removal of any Series 1
Preferred Director, the vacancy may be filled by the vote or written consent of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock
then entitled to vote for the election of directors, present (in person or by
proxy) and voting together as a single class, at such time as the removal shall
be effected. Each director appointed as aforesaid by the remaining Series 1
Preferred Director shall be deemed, for all purposes hereof, to be a Series 1
Preferred Director. Whenever no default in preference dividends on the Series 1
Preferred Stock shall exist, then the number of directors constituting the
Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be reduced by two.
(v) For purposes hereof, a "default in preference dividends" on the Series
1 Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have occurred whenever the amount of
cumulative and unpaid dividends on the Series 1 Preferred Stock shall be
equivalent to six full quarterly dividends or more (whether or not
consecutive), and, having so occurred, such default shall be deemed to exist
thereafter until, but only until, all cumulative dividends on all shares of the
Series 1 Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been paid through the last
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or until, but only until, non-cumulative
dividends have been paid regularly for at least one year.
(E) Except as set forth herein (or as otherwise required by applicable
law), holders of Series 1 Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights
and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled
to vote with the holders of the Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking
any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series 1 Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in
arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock
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 1 Preferred Stock;
(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 1 Preferred Stock,
except dividends paid ratably on the Series 1 Preferred Stock and all such
parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration (except as
provided in (iv) below) shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series 1
Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase
or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of
4
41
any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series 1 Preferred Stock;
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of Series 1 Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series
1 Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing
or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of
such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of
the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences
of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result
in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section
4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the
Certificate of Incorporation, in any other Certificate of Amendment creating a
series of Preferred Stock or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of holders of any shares of
any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of
Series 1 Preferred Stock with respect to rights upon liquidation, dissolution
or winding up (voluntary or otherwise), no distribution shall be made (x) to
the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series 1 Preferred Stock unless,
prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock shall have
received an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions
thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, plus an amount
equal to the greater of (1) $100 per share, or (2) an aggregate amount per
share equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to
the holders of Common Stock, or (y) to the holders of stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with
the Series 1 Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series 1
Preferred Stock and all other 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 (the "Series 1 Liquidation Preference").
Following the payment of the full amount of the Series 1 Liquidation
Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares
of Series 1 Preferred Stock.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available
to permit payment in full of the Series 1 Liquidation Preference and the
liquidation preferences of all other series of
5
42
preferred stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series 1 Preferred
Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders
of Series 1 Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in proportion
to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event, however, that there
are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Capital
Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the
holders of Common Stock.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter
into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series 1 Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth) equal to 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 share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock shall not
be redeemable.
Section 9. Ranking. The Series 1 Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all
other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the payment of
dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series
shall provide otherwise.
Section 10. Amendment. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation
shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series 1 Preferred
Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority or more of the outstanding shares of Series 1 Preferred
Stock, voting separately as a class.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate is executed on behalf of the
Corporation by its Chairman of the Board and attested by its Secretary this _
day of ______________, 1997.
WATERLINK, INC.
-----------------------------------
Attest:
-----------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Secretary
6
43
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
CERTIFICATE
NO. R- _____ RIGHTS
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER _________, ___________ OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE
CORPORATION. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT ON THE
TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS
CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED TO A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON,
THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME VOID UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
WATERLINK, INC.
This certifies that ________, or registered assigns, is the registered
owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner
thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of May 23, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement "), between
Waterlink, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Corporation
at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., New York time, on _______, 2007, unless the
Rights evidenced hereby shall have been previously redeemed by the Corporation,
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth
of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series 1 Preferred Stock, without par
value (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Corporation, at a purchase price of
$65.00 per one one-hundredth of Preferred Share (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 one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share 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 ___________, 1997,
based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is defined
in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement),
(ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate who
becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) under
certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of any
such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate who becomes a transferee prior to
or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such, such Rights shall
become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to
such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
44
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of
one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share or other securities 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, including Triggering Events (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement).
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Corporation and the holders of the Right Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices
of the Corporation and the principal office or 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 or other securities as the Rights evidenced by the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder
to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder
shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or
Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Corporation at a redemption price of
$.01 per Right (subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement)
payable in cash.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are one
one-hundredth or integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share,
which may, at the election of the Corporation, 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 Corporation 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 Corporation or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive or subscription rights, or
otherwise, until the
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45
Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised
as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Corporation
and its corporate seal. Dated as of __________, 1997.
[SEAL
ATTEST:] WATERLINK, INC.
___________________________________ By:________________________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
By:________________________________
Authorized Signatory
Name:
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)
________________________________________________________________________________
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
Corporation, 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.
The undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf
of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as such terms are defined in the Right Agreement) and (2) after due
inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned did not
acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is
or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement).
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Signature
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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed by the registered holder
if such holder desires to exercise Rights
represented by the Right Certificate.)
To the Rights Agent:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ____ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares, Common
Shares or other securities issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares, Common Shares or other
securities be issued in the name of: Please insert social security or other
identifying number _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
_____________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social ecurity
or other identifying number_________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
____________________________________________________________________________
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.
The undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or
was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement) and (2) after due inquiry and to the best
knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire the
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Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement).
---------------------------------
Signature
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NOTICE
The signature on the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election and
certificates 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
Corporation 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 such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) and
such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
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PREFERRED
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On May 23, 1997, the Board of Directors of Waterlink, Inc. (the
"Corporation") declared a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase
right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $.001
per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Corporation. The dividend is payable to
the stockholders of record on the day on which the SEC declares the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 effective, (the "Record Date"), and with
respect to Common Shares issued thereafter until the Distribution Date (as
defined below) and, in certain circumstances, with respect to Common Shares
issued after the Distribution Date. Except as set forth below, each Right, when
it becomes exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Corporation one one-hundredth of a share of Series 1 Preferred Stock, without
par value (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Corporation at a price of $65.00
per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Corporation and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), dated as of May
23, 1997.
Initially, the Rights will attach to all certificates representing Common
Shares then outstanding, and no separate Right Certificates will be
distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares upon the earliest
to occur of (i) a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
(excluding certain Exempt Persons, as defined in the Rights Agreement) having
acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
(except pursuant to a Permitted Offer, as hereinafter defined); or (ii) 10 days
(or such later date as the Board may determine) following the commencement of,
or announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring
Person (as hereinafter defined) (the earliest of such dates being called the
"Distribution Date"). A person or group whose acquisition of Common Shares
causes a Distribution Date pursuant to clause (i) above is an "Acquiring
Person." The date that a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person is the
"Shares Acquisition Date."
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights) new
Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new
issuance of Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation 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 ("Right Certificates") will be
mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on
the Distribution Date (and to each initial record holder of certain Common
Shares issued after the Distribution Date), and such separate Right
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
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The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
at the close of business on _____, 2007, unless earlier redeemed by the
Corporation as described below.
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person (except pursuant
to a tender or exchange offer which is for all outstanding Common Shares at a
price and on terms which a majority of certain members of the Board of
Directors determines to be adequate and in the best interests of the
Corporation, its stockholders and other relevant constituencies, other than
such Acquiring Person, its affiliates and associates (a "Permitted Offer")),
each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right (the "Flip-In Right") to
receive upon exercise the number of Common Shares or of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share (or, in certain circumstances, other securities of the
Corporation) having a value (immediately prior to such triggering event) equal
to two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
following the occurrence of the event described above, all Rights that are, or
(under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate
thereof will be null and void.
In the event that, at any time following the Shares Acquisition Date, (i)
the Corporation is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares
immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction are not the holders of
all of the surviving corporation's voting power, or (ii) more than 50% of the
Corporation's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, in either case
with or to an Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate or any other
person in which such Acquiring Person, affiliate or associate has an interest
or any person acting on behalf of or in concert with such Acquiring Person,
affiliate or associate, or, if in such transaction all holders of Common Shares
are not treated alike, any other person, then each holder of a Right (except
Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter
have the right (the "Flip-Over Right") to receive, upon exercise, common
shares of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise
price of the Right. The holder of a Right will continue to have the Flip-Over
Right whether or not such holder exercises or surrenders the Flip-In Right.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares, Common
Shares or other securities 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 quarterly cash dividends) 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.
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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, if greater, will be entitled
to an aggregate dividend per share 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 an amount
equal to accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, plus an amount equal to the
greater of (1) $100 per share, or (2) 100 times all amounts distributed per
share to the holders of 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 100 times the amount received per
Common Share. These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
In the event that the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred
Shares is equivalent to six full quarterly dividends or more, the holders of
the Preferred Shares shall have the right, voting as a class, to elect two
directors in addition to the directors elected by the holders of the Common
Shares until all cumulative dividends on the Preferred Shares have been paid
through the last quarterly dividend payment date or until non-cumulative
dividends have been paid regularly for at least one year.
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 one one-hundredth or integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the
Corporation, be evidenced by depositary receipts) and in lieu thereof, an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred
Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the earlier to occur of (i) a person becoming an
Acquiring Person or (ii) the expiration of the Rights, and under certain other
circumstances, the Corporation may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price") which redemption shall be
effective upon the action of the Board of Directors. Additionally, following
the Shares Acquisition Date, the Corporation may redeem the then outstanding
Rights in whole, but not in part, at the Redemption Price, provided that such
redemption is in connection with a merger or other business combination
transaction or series of transactions involving the Corporation in which all
holders of Common Shares are treated alike but not involving an Acquiring
Person or its affiliates or associates.
All of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board
of Directors of the Corporation prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to make changes
which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the
interests of any Acquiring Person), or, subject to certain limitations, to
shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights
will not be taxable to stockholders of the Corporation, stockholders
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may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income should the
Rights become exercisable or upon the occurrence of certain events thereafter.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form S-1. A
copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Corporation.
This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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