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Exhibit 4.1
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FORM OF STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
dated as of
o, 1999
between
▇▇▇▇▇▇ WORLDWIDE, INC.
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.,
as Rights Agent
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STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Table of Contents
Page
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ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions..................................................2
ARTICLE II
THE RIGHTS
2.1 Legend on Common Stock Certificates.................................11
2.2 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights............................12
2.3 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights.....................15
2.4 Date on Which Exercise is Effective.................................18
2.5 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights
Certificates........................................................18
2.6 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.................19
2.7 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates...........20
2.8 Persons Deemed Owners...............................................21
2.9 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates...........................22
2.10 Agreement of Rights Holders.........................................23
ARTICLE III
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN
THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.1 Flip-in.............................................................24
3.2 Flip-over...........................................................28
ARTICLE IV
THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 General.............................................................29
4.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent...........30
4.3 Duties of Rights Agent..............................................31
4.4 Change of Rights Agent..............................................34
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ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Redemption..........................................................36
5.2 Expiration..........................................................36
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates.................................37
5.4 Supplements and Amendments..........................................37
5.5 Fractional Shares...................................................38
5.6 Rights of Action....................................................38
5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder...........................39
5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions..........................................39
5.9 Notices.............................................................40
5.10 Suspension of Exercisability........................................41
5.11 Costs of Enforcement................................................41
5.12 Successors..........................................................42
5.13 Benefits of this Agreement..........................................42
5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc............42
5.15 Descriptive Headings................................................43
5.16 Governing Law.......................................................43
5.17 Counterparts........................................................43
5.18 Severability........................................................43
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Rights Certificate
(Together with Form of
Election to Exercise)
[Exhibit B Form of Certificate of
Designation and Terms of
Participating Preferred Stock]
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STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as amended
from time to time, this "Agreement"), dated as of o, 1999, between ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company, a o, as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent", which term shall include any successor Rights
Agent hereunder).
WITNESSETH:
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WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has (a)
authorized and declared a dividend of one right ("Right") in respect of each
share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) held of record as of the Close of
Business on o, 1999 (the "Record Time") and (b) as provided in Section 2.3,
authorized the issuance of one Right in respect of each share of Common Stock
issued on or after the date hereof and prior to the Separation Time (as
hereinafter defined) and, to the extent provided in Section 5.3, each share of
Common Stock issued after the Separation Time;
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each
Right entitles the holder thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase
securities or assets of the Company (or, in certain cases, securities of certain
other entities) pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the Rights Agent to
act on behalf of the Company, and the Rights Agent is willing so to act, in
connection with the
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issuance, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates (as
hereinafter defined), the exercise of Rights and other matters referred to
herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
respective agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who is or becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock after
the effective date of the distribution of shares of Common Stock by ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Corporation ("▇▇▇▇▇▇") as contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of
Distribution, dated as of o, 1999, between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the Company; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include any Person (i) who
is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
on the date of this Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock solely as a result of an
acquisition by the Company of shares of Common Stock, until such time hereafter
or thereafter as any of such Persons shall become the Beneficial Owner (other
than by means of a stock dividend or stock split) of any additional shares of
Common Stock, (ii) who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock but who acquired Beneficial Ownership of
shares of Common Stock without any plan or intention to seek or affect control
of the Company, if such Person promptly divests, or enters
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into an agreement with the Company satisfactory to the Company, in its sole
discretion, to divest, and thereafter promptly divests (without exercising or
retaining any power, including voting power, with respect to such shares),
sufficient shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable
into or exercisable for Common Stock) so that such Person ceases to be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or
(iii) who Beneficially Owns shares of Common Stock consisting solely of one or
more of (A) shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned pursuant to the grant or
exercise of an option granted to such Person (an "Option Holder") by the Company
in connection with an agreement to merge with, or acquire, the Company entered
into prior to a Stock Acquisition Date, (B) shares of Common Stock (or
securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock),
Beneficially Owned by such Option Holder or its Affiliates or Associates at the
time of grant of such option or (C) shares of Common Stock (or securities
convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) acquired by
Affiliates or Associates of such Option Holder after the time of such grant
which, in the aggregate, amount to less than 1% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock. In addition, the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company and any
employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Company or a
Subsidiary of the Company (or any entity or trustee holding shares of Common
Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or for the purpose of
funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits for employees of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company) shall not be an Acquiring Person.
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"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, as such Rule is in
effect on the date of this Agreement.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner", and to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own", any securities as to which
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed
to be the beneficial owner of pursuant to Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the
Exchange Act, as such Rules are in effect on the date of this Agreement, as well
as any securities as to which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has the right to become Beneficial Owner (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of
conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than
customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members
with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the exercise
of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants
or options, or otherwise; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall not be deemed
the "Beneficial Owner", or to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, or to
"Beneficially Own", any security (i) solely because such security has been
tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered security is accepted
for payment or exchange or (ii) solely because such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates has or shares the power to vote or direct the
voting of such security pursuant to a revocable proxy given in response to a
public proxy or consent solicitation made to more than ten holders of shares of
a class of stock of the Company registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act
and pursuant to,
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and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange
Act, except if such power (or the arrangements relating thereto) is then
reportable under Item 6 of Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any similar
provision of a comparable or successor report). For purposes of this Agreement,
in determining the percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock with
respect to which a Person is the Beneficial Owner, all shares as to which such
Person is deemed the Beneficial Owner shall be deemed outstanding.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are
generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m. New
York City time on such date or, if such date is not a Business Day, 5:00 p.m.
New York City time on the next succeeding Business Day.
"Common Stock" shall mean the shares of Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
"Exchange Time" shall mean the time at which the right to
exercise the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c) hereof.
"Exercise Price" shall mean, as of any date, the price at
which a holder may purchase the securities issuable upon exercise of one whole
Right. Until adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the
Exercise Price shall equal $o.
"Expiration Time" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange
Time, (ii) the Redemption Time, (iii) the Close of Business on the tenth
anniversary of the Record Time,
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unless extended by action of the Board of Directors, and (iv) immediately prior
to the effective time of a consolidation, merger or share exchange (each, a
"Business Combination) of the Company (A) into another corporation or (B) with
another corporation in which the Company is the surviving corporation but Common
Stock is converted into cash and/or securities of another corporation, in either
case pursuant to an agreement entered into by the Company prior to a Stock
Acquisition Date.
"Flip-in Date" shall mean any Stock Acquisition Date or such
later date and time as the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to
time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Flip-in Date that would otherwise
have occurred.
"Flip-over Entity," for purposes of Section 3.2, shall mean
(i) in the case of a Flip-over Transaction or Event described in clause (i) of
the definition thereof, the Person issuing any securities into which shares of
Common Stock are being converted or exchanged and, if no such securities are
being issued, the other party to such Flip-over Transaction or Event and (ii) in
the case of a Flip-over Transaction or Event referred to in clause (ii) of the
definition thereof, the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets,
operating income or cash flow being transferred in such Flip-over Transaction or
Event, provided in all cases if such Person is a subsidiary of a corporation,
the parent corporation shall be the Flip-Over Entity.
"Flip-over Stock" shall mean the capital stock (or similar
equity interest) with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of
directors (or other persons similarly responsible for direction of the business
and affairs) of the Flip-Over Entity.
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"Flip-over Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or
series of transactions on or after a Flip-in Date in which, directly or
indirectly, (i) the Company shall consolidate or merge or participate in a
statutory share exchange with any other Person if, at the time of consummation
of the consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange or at the time the
Company enters into any agreement with respect to any such consolidation, merger
or statutory share exchange, the Acquiring Person is the Beneficial Owner of 90%
or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or controls the Board of
Directors of the Company and either (A) any term of or arrangement concerning
the treatment of shares of capital stock in such consolidation, merger or share
exchange relating to the Acquiring Person is not identical to the terms and
arrangements relating to other holders of the Common Stock or (B) the Person
with whom the transaction or series of transactions occurs is the Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of the Acquiring Person or (ii) the Company
shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell
or otherwise transfer) assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets
(measured by either book value or fair market value) or (B) generating more than
50% of the operating income or cash flow, of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any Person (other than the Company or one or more of its
wholly owned Subsidiaries) or to two or more such Persons which are Affiliates
or Associates or otherwise acting in concert, if, at the time of the entry by
the Company (or any such Subsidiary) into an agreement with respect to such sale
or transfer of assets, the Acquiring Person controls the Board of Directors of
the Company. An Acquiring Person shall be deemed to control the Company's Board
of Directors when, on or following a Flip-in Date, the persons who were
directors of the Company (or
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persons nominated and/or appointed as directors by vote of a majority of such
persons) before the Stock Acquisition Date shall cease to constitute a majority
of the Company's Board of Directors.
"Market Price" per share of any securities on any date shall
mean the average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities
(determined as described below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days
through and including the Trading Day immediately preceding such date; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that if any event described in Section 2.3 hereof, or any analogous
event, shall have caused the closing prices used to determine the Market Price
on any Trading Days during such period of 20 Trading Days not to be fully
comparable with the closing price on such date, each such closing price so used
shall be appropriately adjusted in order to make it fully comparable with the
closing price on such date. The closing price per share of any securities on any
date shall be the last reported sale price, regular way, or, in case no such
sale takes place or is quoted on such date, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, for each share of such securities, 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, Inc.
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the securities are listed or admitted to trading
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, as reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or such other system then in use, or,
if on any such date the securities are not listed or ad-
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mitted to trading on any national securities exchange or 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 securities selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if on any such date
the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities
exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, the closing price per share
of such securities on such date shall mean the fair value per share of
securities on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company, after consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking
firm, and set forth in a certificate delivered to the Rights Agent.
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, limited
liability company, association, group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as such Rule is in effect on the date of
this Agreement), corporation or other entity.
"Preferred Stock" shall mean the series of Participating
Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company created by a Certificate of
Designation and Terms in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto
appropriately completed.
"Redemption Price" shall mean an amount equal to one cent,
$0.01.
"Redemption Time" shall mean the time at which the right to
exercise the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof.
"Separation Time" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as the Board of Directors
of the Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the
Separation Time that would otherwise
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have occurred) after the date on which any Person commences a tender or exchange
offer which, if consummated, would result in such Person's becoming an Acquiring
Person and (ii) the Flip-in Date; PROVIDED, that if any tender or exchange offer
referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph is canceled, terminated or otherwise
withdrawn prior to the Separation Time without the purchase of any shares of
Common Stock pursuant thereto, such offer shall be deemed, for purposes of this
paragraph, never to have been made.
"Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company (by any means) that a Person has become an Acquiring
Person or the date on which any Person who has made a tender or exchange offer
for more than 15% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock becomes an Acquiring
Person by the purchase of shares pursuant to the tender or exchange offer (or by
any other means within 180 days following the expiration of such tender or
exchange offer).
"Subsidiary" of any specified Person shall mean any
corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the
equity securities or a majority of the equity or membership interest is
Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
"Trading Day," when used with respect to any securities, shall
mean a day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for the
transaction of business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., a day on which the principal
national securities exchange on which such securities are listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such securities are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business
Day.
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ARTICLE II
THE RIGHTS
2.1 LEGEND ON COMMON STOCK CERTIFICATES. Certificates for the
Common Stock issued on or after the date of this Agreement but prior to the
Separation Time shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock
represented thereby and shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or
otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
Until the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement referred
to below), this certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Stockholder Protection
Rights Agreement, dated as of o, 1999 (as such may be amended from time
to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Worldwide, Inc. (the
"Company") and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights
Agent, the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference
and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of
the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights may be redeemed, may become exercisable for
securities or assets of the Company or securities of another entity,
may be exchanged for shares of Common Stock or other securities or
assets of the Company, may expire, may become void (if they are
"Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring Person" or an "Affiliate" or
"Associate" thereof, as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement,
or by any transferee of any of the foregoing) or may be evidenced by
separate certificates and may no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. The Company will mail or arrange for the mailing of a copy
of the Rights Agreement to the holder of this certificate without
charge after the receipt of a written request therefor.
Certificates representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding
at the Record Time shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock
evidenced thereby notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend.
If the Common Stock issued after the Record Time but prior to the
Separation Time shall be uncertificated, the registration of such Common Stock
on the stock transfer books of the Company shall evidence one Right for each
share of Common Stock
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represented thereby and the Company will mail to every Person that holds such
Common Stock a confirmation of the registration of such Common Stock on the
stock transfer books of the Company, which confirmation will have impressed,
printed, written or stamped thereon or otherwise affixed thereto the above
legend. The Company will mail or arrange for the mailing of a copy of this
Agreement to any Person that holds Common Stock, as evidenced by the
registration of the Common Stock in the name of such Person on the stock
transfer books of the Company, without charge after the receipt of a written
request therefor.
2.2 EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; SEPARATION OF RIGHTS. (a) Subject to
Sections 3.1, 3.2, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment as herein set forth,
each Right will entitle the holder thereof, on or after the Separation Time and
prior to the Expiration Time, to purchase, for the Exercise Price, one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock.
(b) Until the Separation Time, (i) no Right may be exercised
and (ii) each Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated
share of Common Stock (or, if the Common Stock shall be uncertificated, by the
registration of the associated Common Stock on the stock transfer books of the
Company) and will be transferable only together with, and will be transferred by
a transfer of, such associated share.
(c) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, on or after
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, the Rights (i) may be
exercised and (ii) may be transferred independent of shares of Common Stock.
Promptly following the Separation Time, the Rights Agent will mail to each
holder of record of Common Stock as of the Separation Time (other than any
Person whose Rights have become void
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pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), at such holder's address as shown by the records of
the Company (the Company hereby agreeing to furnish, or causing to be furnished,
copies of such records to the Rights Agent for this purpose), (x) a certificate
(a "Rights Certificate") in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto
appropriately completed, representing the number of Rights held by such holder
at the Separation Time and having such marks of identification or designation
and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may
deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any national
securities exchange or quotation system on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and (y) a disclosure statement
describing the Rights.
(d) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Rights may be
exercised on any Business Day on or after the Separation Time and prior to the
Expiration Time by submitting to the Rights Agent the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights with an Election to Exercise (an "Election to Exercise")
substantially in the form attached to the Rights Certificate duly completed,
accompanied by payment in cash, or by certified or official bank check or money
order payable to the order of the Company, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price
multiplied by the number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover
any transfer tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer
involved in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or
delivery of certificates (or, if uncertificated, the registration on the stock
transfer books of
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the Company) for shares or depositary receipts (or both) in a name other than
that of the holder of the Rights being exercised.
(e) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, with an Election to
Exercise accompanied by payment as set forth in Section 2.2(d), and subject to
the terms and conditions hereof, the Rights Agent will thereupon promptly (i)(A)
requisition from a transfer agent stock certificates evidencing such number of
shares or other securities to be purchased or, in the case of uncertificated
shares or other securities, requisition from a transfer agent a notice setting
forth such number of shares or other securities to be purchased for which
registration will be made on the stock transfer books of the Company (the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizing its transfer agents to comply with all
such requisitions) and (B) if the Company elects pursuant to Section 5.5 not to
issue certificates (or effect registration on the stock transfer books of the
Company) representing fractional shares, requisition from the depositary
selected by the Company depositary receipts representing the fractional shares
to be purchased or requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in
lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 5.5 and (ii) after receipt
of such certificates, depositary receipts, notices and/or cash, deliver the same
to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate,
registered (in the case of certificates, depositary receipts or notices) in such
name or names as may be designated by such holder.
(f) In case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than
all the Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing
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the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent to such
holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.
(g) The Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all
such action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares delivered (or
evidenced by registration on the stock transfer books of the Company) upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates (or
registration) for such shares (subject to payment of the Exercise Price), be
duly and validly authorized, executed, issued and delivered (or registered) and
fully paid and nonassessable; (ii) take all such action as may be necessary to
comply with any applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 or the
Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any other applicable
law, rule or regulation, in connection with the issuance of any securities upon
exercise of Rights; and (iii) pay when due and payable any and all federal and
state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the original
issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or of any shares issued upon the
exercise of Rights, PROVIDED, that the Company shall not be required to pay any
transfer tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved
in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery
of certificates (or the registration) for shares in a name other than that of
the holder of the Rights being transferred or exercised.
2.3 ADJUSTMENTS TO EXERCISE PRICE; NUMBER OF RIGHTS. (a) In
the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the
Separation Time (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock payable in Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a
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smaller number of shares of Common Stock, (x) the Exercise Price in effect after
such adjustment will be equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior
to such adjustment divided by the number of shares of Common Stock (the
"Expansion Factor") that a holder of one share of Common Stock immediately prior
to such dividend, subdivision or combination would hold thereafter as a result
thereof and (y) each Right held prior to such adjustment will become that number
of Rights equal to the Expansion Factor, and the adjusted number of Rights will
be deemed to be distributed among the shares of Common Stock with respect to
which the original Rights were associated (if they remain outstanding) and the
shares issued in respect of such dividend, subdivision or combination, so that
each such share of Common Stock will have exactly one Right associated with it.
Each adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph shall be made as of the payment
or effective date for the applicable dividend, subdivision or combination.
In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record
Time and prior to the Separation Time issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise
than in a transaction referred to in the preceding paragraph, each such share of
Common Stock so issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with
it, which Right shall be evidenced by the certificate representing such share
(or, if the Common Stock shall be uncertificated, such Right shall be evidenced
by the registration of such Common Stock on the stock transfer books of the
Company). Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect of shares of Common
Stock that are issued or sold by the Company after the Separation Time only to
the extent provided in Section 5.3.
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(b) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
Record Time and prior to the Separation Time issue or distribute any securities
or assets in respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than
pursuant to any non-extraordinary periodic cash dividend or a dividend paid
solely in Common Stock) whether by dividend, in a reclassification or
recapitalization (including any such transaction involving a merger,
consolidation or share exchange), or otherwise, the Company shall make such
adjustments, if any, in the Exercise Price, number of Rights and/or securities
or other property purchasable upon exercise of Rights as the Board of Directors
of the Company, in its sole discretion, may deem to be appropriate under the
circumstances in order to adequately protect the interests of the holders of
Rights generally, and the Company and the Rights Agent shall amend this
Agreement as necessary to provide for such adjustments.
(c) Each adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to
this Section 2.3 shall be calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment
to the Exercise Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.3, the Company shall
(i) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment and (ii) promptly file
with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy
of such certificate.
(d) Rights certificates shall represent the securities
purchasable under the terms of this Agreement, including any adjustment or
change in the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, even though
such certificates may continue to express the securities purchasable at the time
of issuance of the initial Rights Certificates.
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2.4 DATE ON WHICH EXERCISE IS EFFECTIVE. Each Person in whose
name any certificate for shares is issued (or registration on the stock transfer
books of the Company is effected) upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented
thereby on the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was
duly surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price for such Rights (and any
applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the exercising holder
hereunder) was made; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed,
such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on,
and such certificate (or registration) shall be dated, the next succeeding
Business Day on which the stock transfer books of the Company are open.
2.5 EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING OF RIGHTS
CERTIFICATES. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President,
Treasurer, Chief Operating Officer or one of its Vice Presidents, under its
corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary or one of its
Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Rights
Certificates may be manual or facsimile.
Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures
of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall
bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have
ceased to hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of such
Rights Certificates.
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Promptly after the Separation Time, the Company will notify
the Rights Agent of such Separation Time and will deliver Rights Certificates
executed by the Company to the Rights Agent for counter-signature, and, subject
to Section 3.1(b), the Rights Agent shall manually countersign and deliver such
Rights Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to Section 2.2(c)
hereof. No Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless manually
countersigned by the Rights Agent.
(b) Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of
countersignature thereof.
2.6 REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE. (a)
After the Separation Time, the Company will cause to be kept a register (the
"Rights Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, the Company will provide for the registration and transfer of Rights.
The Rights Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar" for the purpose of
maintaining the Rights Register for the Company and registering Rights and
transfers of Rights after the Separation Time as herein provided. In the event
that the Rights Agent shall cease to be the Rights Registrar, the Rights Agent
will have the right to examine the Rights Register at all reasonable times after
the Separation Time.
After the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time,
upon surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights
Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 2.6(c) and (d), the
Company will execute, and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver, in the
name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required
pursuant to the holder's instructions, one or more new Rights
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Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights
Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1(b), all Rights
issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates
shall be the valid obligations of the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled
to the same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
(c) Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of
transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent,
as the case may be, duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's
attorney duly authorized in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new
Rights Certificate under this Section 2.6, the Company may require the payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in relation thereto.
(d) The Company shall not register the transfer or exchange of
any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section 3.1(b), been
exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or been redeemed under Section 5.1.
2.7 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) If any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior
to the Expiration Time, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1, the
Company shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in
exchange therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights
as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
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(b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights
Agent prior to the Expiration Time (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Rights Certificate and (ii) such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any of their
agents harmless, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1 and in the
absence of notice to the Company or the Rights Agent that such Rights
Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall
execute and upon its request the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver, in
lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate
so destroyed, lost or stolen.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights
Certificate under this Section 2.7, the Company may require the payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the
Rights Agent) connected therewith.
(d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this
Section 2.7 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall
evidence an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether
or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time
enforceable by anyone, and, subject to Section 3.1(b) shall be entitled to all
the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all
other Rights duly issued hereunder.
2.8 PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. Prior to due presentment of a
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common
Stock certificate or
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notice of transfer, if uncertificated) for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may
deem and treat the person in whose name such Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Separation Time, such Common Stock certificate or Common Stock registration,
if uncertificated) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, including the payment of the
Redemption Price and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected
by any notice to the contrary. As used in this Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires, the term "holder" of any Rights shall mean the registered
holder of such Rights (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated shares
of Common Stock).
2.9 DELIVERY AND CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATES. All Rights
Certificates surrendered upon exercise or for registration of transfer or
exchange shall, if surrendered to any person other than the Rights Agent, be
delivered to the Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly canceled by
the Rights Agent. The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for
cancellation any Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered
hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all
Rights Certificates so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Rights Agent.
No Rights Certificates shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any
Rights Certificates canceled as provided in this Section 2.9, except as
expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall destroy all
canceled Rights Certificates and deliver a certificate of destruction to the
Company.
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2.10 AGREEMENT OF RIGHTS HOLDERS. Every holder of Rights by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of Rights that:
(a) prior to the Separation Time, each Right will be
transferable only together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the
associated share of Common Stock;
(b) after the Separation Time, the Rights Certificates will be
transferable only on the Rights Register as provided herein;
(c) prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or,
prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate or Common
Stock registration, if uncertificated) for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may
deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate or Common Stock
registration, if uncertificated) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and
of the Rights evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the
Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary;
(d) Rights beneficially owned by certain Persons will, under
the circumstances set forth in Section 3.1(b), become void; and
(e) this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to
time pursuant to Section 2.3(b) or 5.4 hereof.
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ARTICLE III
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN
THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.1 FLIP-IN. (a) In the event that prior to the Expiration
Time a Flip-in Date shall occur, except as provided in this Section 3.1, each
Right shall constitute the right to purchase from the Company, upon exercise
thereof in accordance with the terms hereof (but subject to Section 5.10), that
number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market Price on the Stock
Acquisition Date that gave rise to the Flip-in Date equal to twice the Exercise
Price for an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be
appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of
Rights generally in the event that on or after such Stock Acquisition Date any
of the events described in Section 2.3(a) or (b), or any analogous event, shall
have occurred with respect to the Common Stock).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Rights that are or were
Beneficially Owned on or after the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any transferee, direct or indirect,
of any of the foregoing shall become void and any holder of such Rights
(including transferees) shall thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer
such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. If any Rights Certificate is
presented for assignment or exercise and the Person presenting the same will not
complete the certification set forth at the end of the form of assignment or
notice of election to exercise and provide such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner and its Affiliates and Associates (or former
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Beneficial Owners and their Affiliates and Associates) as the Company shall
reasonably request, then the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the
Beneficial Owner thereof to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced thereby to be void and not transferable or exercisable.
(c) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time after a Flip-in Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person
becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock elect to exchange all (but not less than all) the then outstanding
Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 3.1(b)) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of
one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted in order to protect
the interests of holders of Rights generally in the event that after the
Separation Time any of the events described in Section 2.3(a) or (b), or any
analogous event, shall have occurred with respect to the Common Stock (such
exchange ratio, as adjusted from time to time, being hereinafter referred to as
the "Exchange Ratio").
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company electing to exchange the Rights, without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right
(other than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), whether or
not previously exercised, will thereafter represent only the right to receive a
number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the
action of the Board of Directors electing to
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exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice thereof (specifying the steps
to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange for Rights) to the
Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights (other than Rights that have become
void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) outstanding immediately prior thereto by
mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.
Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued
(or for whom any registration on the stock transfer books of the Company is
made) upon the exchange of Rights pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) or Section
3.1(d) shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of
the shares represented thereby on, and such certificate (or registration on the
stock transfer books of the Company) shall be dated (or registered as of), the
date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of any applicable taxes and other governmental charges
payable by the holder was made; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the date of such
surrender and payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares on, and such certificate (or registration on the stock transfer
books of the Company) shall be dated (or registered as of), the next succeeding
Business Day on which the stock transfer books of the Company are open.
(d) Whenever the Company shall become obligated under Section
3.1(a) or (c) to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of or in exchange
for Rights, the Company, at its option, may substitute therefor shares of
Preferred Stock,
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at a ratio of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock for each share of
Common Stock so issuable.
(e) In the event that there shall not be sufficient treasury
shares or authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of
the Company to permit the exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in
accordance with Section 3.1(a) or if the Company so elects to make the exchange
referred to in Section 3.1(c), the Company shall either (i) call a meeting of
stockholders seeking approval to cause sufficient additional shares to be
authorized (provided that if such approval is not obtained the Company will take
the action specified in clause (ii) of this sentence) or (ii) take such action
as shall be necessary to ensure and provide, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any agreements or instruments in effect on the Stock
Acquisition Date to which it is a party, that each Right shall thereafter
constitute the right to receive, (x) at the Company's option, either (A) in
return for the Exercise Price, debt or equity securities or other assets (or a
combination thereof) having a fair value equal to twice the Exercise Price, or
(B) without payment of consideration (except as otherwise required by applicable
law), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof)
having a fair value equal to the Exercise Price, or (y) if the Board of
Directors of the Company elects to exchange the Rights in accordance with
Section 3.1(c), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination
thereof) having a fair value equal to the product of the Market Price of a share
of Common Stock on the Flip-in Date times the Exchange Ratio in effect on the
Flip-in Date, where in any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the fair value of
such debt or equity securities or other assets shall be as determined in good
faith by the
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Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with a nationally
recognized investment banking firm.
3.2 FLIP-OVER. (a) Prior to the Expiration Time, the Company
shall not enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to
occur any Flip-over Transaction or Event unless and until it shall have entered
into a supplemental agreement with the Flip-over Entity, for the benefit of the
holders of the Rights, providing that, upon consummation or occurrence of the
Flip-over Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall thereafter constitute the
right to purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance
with the terms hereof, that number of shares of Flip-over Stock of the Flip-over
Entity having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or
occurrence of such Flip-over Transaction or Event equal to twice the Exercise
Price for an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be
appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of
Rights generally in the event that after such date of consummation or
occurrence any of the events described in Section 2.3(a) or (b), or any
analogous event, shall have occurred with respect to the Flip-over Stock) and
(ii) the Flip-over Entity shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by
virtue of such Flip-over Transaction or Event and such supplemental agreement,
all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The
provisions of this Section 3.2 shall apply to successive Flip-over Transactions
or Events.
(b) Prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall not enter
into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any Flip-over
Transaction or Event if at the time thereof there are any rights, warrants or
securities outstanding or any
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other arrangements, agreements or instruments that would eliminate or otherwise
diminish in any material respect the benefits intended to be afforded by this
Rights Agreement to the holders of Rights upon consummation of such transaction.
ARTICLE IV
THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 GENERAL. (a) The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent
to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company agrees
to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by
it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its
reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the
administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance
of its duties hereunder. The Company 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 to be done 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. In no event shall the
Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect, incidental or consequential loss
or damage of any kind whatsoever, even if the Rights Agent has been advised of
the possibility of such loss or damage.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with its adminis-
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tration of this Agreement in reliance upon any certificate for securities (or
registration on the stock transfer books of the Company) purchasable upon
exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate, certificate for other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper person or persons.
4.2 MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT.
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any
merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
is a party, or any Person succeeding to the shareholder services business of the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, will be the successor to the Rights
Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such
corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under
the provisions of Section 4.4 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights
Agent succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement any of the Rights
Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates have not been countersigned, any successor Rights
Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor Rights Agent or in the name
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of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates
will have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this
Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
4.3 DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may
be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel will be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any
action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof
be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by a person
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believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the President or
any Vice President and by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer or the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate will be full authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
certificates, if any, for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or the
Rights Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and will be deemed to
have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights
Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any certificate, if any,
for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or Rights Certificate (except
its countersignature thereof); nor will it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor will it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to
Section 3.1(b) hereof) or any adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 2.3, 3.1 or 3.2 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount
of any such adjustment or
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the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights after receipt of the
certificate contemplated by Section 2.3 describing any such adjustment); nor
will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as
to the authorization or reservation of any securities purchasable upon exercise
of Rights or any Rights or as to whether any securities purchasable upon
exercise of Rights will, when issued, be duly and validly authorized, executed,
issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by
the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
any person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the
President or any Vice President or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary or
the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such
persons for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall
not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance
with instructions of any such person.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Stock, Rights or
other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which
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the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or
otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this
Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any
other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself
or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent will not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such
act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in
the selection and continued employment thereof.
4.4 CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent may resign and be
discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 90 days' notice (or such
lesser notice as is acceptable to the Company) in writing mailed to the Company
and to each transfer agent of Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and
to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. If the
Rights Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company
fails to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after 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 any Rights (which
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holder shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Rights may apply to any court
of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be a Person (or an affiliate of such a Person) organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States,
in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise the powers of
the Rights Agent contemplated by this Agreement and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent will be vested with
the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company will file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the holders of the
Rights. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4, however, or
any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation
or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent,
as the case may be.
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ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 REDEMPTION. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may,
at its option, at any time prior to the Flip-in Date, elect to redeem all (but
not less than all) the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price and the
Company, at its option, may pay the Redemption Price either in cash or shares of
Common Stock or other securities of the Company deemed by the Board of
Directors, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to be at least equivalent in
value to the Redemption Price.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company electing to redeem the Rights (or, if the resolution of the Board of
Directors electing to redeem the Rights states that the redemption will not be
effective until the occurrence of a specified future time or event, upon the
occurrence of such future time or event), without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right,
whether or not previously exercised, will thereafter represent only the right to
receive the Redemption Price in cash or securities, as determined by the Board
of Directors. Promptly after the Rights are redeemed, the Company shall give
notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then
outstanding Rights by mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.
5.2 EXPIRATION. The Rights and this Agreement shall expire at
the Expiration Time and no Person shall have any rights pursuant to this
Agreement or any Right after the Expiration Time, except, if the Rights are
exchanged or redeemed, as provided in Section 3.1 or 5.1 hereof, respectively.
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5.3 ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change in the number or kind or class of shares of stock purchasable upon
exercise of Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In
addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock by
the Company following the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time
pursuant to the terms of securities convertible or redeemable into shares of
Common Stock or to options, in each case issued or granted prior to, and
outstanding at, the Separation Time, the Company shall issue to the holders of
such shares of Common Stock, Rights Certificates representing the appropriate
number of Rights in connection with the issuance or sale of such shares of
Common Stock; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, in each case, (i) no such Rights Certificate
shall be issued, if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by
counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse
tax consequences to the Company or to the Person to whom such Rights
Certificates would be issued, (ii) no such Rights Certificates shall be issued
if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall have otherwise been
made in lieu of the issuance thereof, and (iii) the Company shall have no
obligation to distribute Rights Certificates to any Acquiring Person or
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any transferee of any of the
foregoing.
5.4 SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Company and the Rights
Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the
approval
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of any holders of Rights (i) prior to the Flip-in Date, in any respect and (ii)
on or after the Flip-in Date, to make any changes that the Company may deem
necessary or desirable and which shall not materially adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights generally or in order to cure any ambiguity
or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be
inconsistent with any other provisions herein or otherwise defective. The Rights
Agent will duly execute and deliver any supplement or amendment hereto requested
by the Company which satisfies the terms of the preceding sentence.
5.5 FRACTIONAL SHARES. If the Company elects not to issue
certificates representing (or register on the stock transfer books of the
Company) fractional shares upon exercise or redemption of Rights, the Company
shall, in lieu thereof, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, either
(a) evidence such fractional shares by depositary receipts issued pursuant to an
appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it,
providing that each holder of a depositary receipt shall have all of the rights,
privileges and preferences to which such holder would be entitled as a
beneficial owner of such fractional share, or (b) pay to the registered holder
of such Rights the appropriate fraction of the Market Price per share in cash.
5.6 RIGHTS OF ACTION. Subject to the terms of this Agreement
(including Sections 3.1(b) and 5.14), rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, other than rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are
vested in the respective holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights,
without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights,
may, on such holder's own behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the
benefit of other holders of Rights, enforce, and may institute and
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maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or
otherwise act in respect of, such holder's right to exercise such holder's
Rights in the manner provided in such holder's Rights Certificate and in this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and
will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations of
any Person subject to this Agreement.
5.7 HOLDER OF RIGHTS NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER. No holder, as
such, of any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed
for any purpose the holder of shares or any other securities which may at any
time be issuable on the exercise of such Rights, nor shall anything contained
herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of
any Rights, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 5.8 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until such Rights shall have been
exercised or exchanged in accordance with the provisions hereof.
5.8 NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTIONS. In case the Company shall
propose on or after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time (i) to
effect or permit a Flip-over Transaction or Event or (ii) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up
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of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder
of a Right, in accordance with Section 5.9 hereof, a notice of such proposed
action, which shall specify the date on which such Flip-over Transaction or
Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place, and such
notice shall be so given at least 20 Business Days prior to the date of the
taking of such proposed action.
5.9 NOTICES. Notices or demands authorized or required by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Worldwide, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Any notice or demand authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights Agent
shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) as follows:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Vice President - Administration
Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights shall be
sufficiently given
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or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
such holder at the address of such holder as it appears upon the registry books
of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation Time, on the registry books of
the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives
the notice.
5.10 SUSPENSION OF EXERCISABILITY. To the extent that the
Company determines in good faith that some action will or need be taken pursuant
to Section 3.1 or to comply with federal or state securities laws, the Company
may suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a reasonable period in order
to take such action or comply with such laws. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall issue as promptly as practicable a public
announcement stating that the exercisability or exchangeability of the Rights
has been temporarily suspended. Notice thereof pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not
be required.
Failure to give a notice pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity of any action taken hereunder.
5.11 COSTS OF ENFORCEMENT. The Company agrees that if the
Company or any other Person the securities of which are purchasable upon
exercise of Rights fails to fulfill any of its obligations pursuant to this
Agreement, then the Company or such Person will reimburse the holder of any
Rights for the costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by such holder
in actions to enforce such holder's rights pursuant to any Rights or this
Agreement.
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5.12 SUCCESSORS. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
5.13 BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights
Agent and the holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement and this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights.
5.14 DETERMINATION AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ETC.
The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers
specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or
advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Agreement. All such actions, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) done or made by the Board shall (x) be final,
conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the
Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of the
Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
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5.15 DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. Descriptive headings appear herein
for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction
of any of the provisions hereof.
5.16 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT 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
WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS TO BE MADE AND PERFORMED
ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE.
5.17 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.
5.18 SEVERABILITY. If any term or provision hereof or the
application thereof to any circumstance shall, in any jurisdiction and to any
extent, be invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be ineffective
as to such jurisdiction to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability
without invalidating or rendering unenforceable the remaining terms and
provisions hereof or the application of such term or provision to circumstances
other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ WORLDWIDE, INC.
By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES, L.L.C.
By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
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