RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of September 21, 2009 between BFC FINANCIAL CORPORATION and AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC Rights Agent
Exhibit 4.1
dated as of
September 21, 2009
between
BFC FINANCIAL CORPORATION
and
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC
Rights Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
Section 1. Certain Definitions |
3 | |||
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent |
8 | |||
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates |
9 | |||
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates |
10 | |||
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration |
11 | |||
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates |
11 | |||
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights |
12 | |||
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates |
13 | |||
Section 9. Company Covenants Concerning Securities and Rights |
13 | |||
Section 10. Record Date |
15 | |||
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Securities
or Number of Rights |
15 | |||
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares |
22 | |||
Section 13. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares |
22 | |||
Section 14. Rights of Action |
24 | |||
Section 15. Agreement of Rights Holders |
24 | |||
Section 16. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder |
25 | |||
Section 17. Concerning the Rights Agent |
25 | |||
Section 18. Merger, Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent |
26 | |||
Section 19. Duties of Rights Agent |
26 | |||
Section 20. Change of Rights Agent |
29 | |||
Section 21. Issuance of New Rights Certificates |
29 | |||
Section 22. Redemption |
30 | |||
Section 23. Exchange |
30 | |||
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events |
31 | |||
Section 25. Notices |
32 | |||
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments |
32 | |||
Section 27. Successors |
33 | |||
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board |
33 | |||
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement |
34 |
i
Section 30. Severability |
34 | |||
Section 31. Governing Law |
34 | |||
Section 32. Counterparts |
34 | |||
Section 33. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation |
34 |
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A: Form of Articles of Amendment |
Exhibit B: Form of Rights Certificate |
Exhibit C: Summary of Rights |
ii
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of September 21, 2009 (the “Agreement”), between BFC
Financial Corporation, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), and American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, LLC (the “Rights Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and rules
promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service, the Company may use available net operating loss
carryforwards (“NOLs”) in certain circumstances to offset future earnings, and thus reduce the
Company’s federal income tax liability (subject to certain requirements and restrictions);
WHEREAS, if the Company experiences an “Ownership Change,” as defined in Section 382 of the
Code, its ability to use the NOLs could be substantially jeopardized or limited;
WHEREAS, the Company believes that the NOLs are a substantial asset and that it is in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders that the Company provide for the protection of the
NOLs and other Tax Benefits (as hereinafter defined) on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
and
WHEREAS, on September 21, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”)
authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase right (a
“Right”) for each share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(the “Class A Common Stock”), and Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
“Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common
Stock”) outstanding at the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on September 21, 2009
(the “Record Date”), each Right initially representing the right to purchase one
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, and further authorized and directed
the issuance of one Right with respect to each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding
after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined)
and the Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby
agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
(a) “Acquiring Person” shall mean any Person (other than any Related Person or any
Exempt Person) that has become, in itself or, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, the Beneficial Owner of 5.0% or more of the shares of Common Stock then-outstanding;
provided, however, that any Person who would otherwise qualify as an Acquiring Person as of the
Close of Business on the Record Date will not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for any purpose
of this Agreement on and after such date unless and until such time as such Person or Affiliates or
Associates of such Person acquires the beneficial ownership of one additional share of Class A
Common Stock or
3
Class B Common Stock; and provided, further, that a Person will not be deemed
to have become an Acquiring Person solely as a result of (i) a reduction in the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding, (ii) the grant by the Company of any options, warrants, rights or similar
interests (including restricted stock) to the Company’s (or any of its subsidiaries’) directors,
officers and employees and/or the exercise by any such director, officer or employee of any such
option, warrant, right or similar interest, (iii) any other unilateral grant of any security by the
Company or (iv) an Exempt Transaction, unless and until such time as such Person or Affiliates or
Associates of such Person acquires the Beneficial Ownership of one additional share of Class A
Common Stock or Class B Common Stock. The Board shall not make any determination with respect to a
potential Acquiring Person until five (5) Business Days after the date on which all Board members
first received notice of the change of beneficial ownership at issue. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the Board determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an Acquiring
Person has become such inadvertently and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a
sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an Acquiring
Person, then such Person shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this
Agreement. In addition, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 1(a) or anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that any Person shall
not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement.
(b) “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to
such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this
Agreement, and to the extent not included within the foregoing clause of this Section 1(b), shall
also include, with respect to any Person, any other Person (whether or not a Related Person or an
Exempt Person) whose shares of Common Stock would be deemed constructively owned by such first
Person, owned by a single “entity” as defined in Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations
or otherwise aggregated with shares owned by such first Person pursuant to the provisions of the
Code, or any successor provision or replacement provision, and the Treasury Regulations thereunder;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed to be the Affiliate or
Associate of another Person solely because either or both Persons are or were directors of the
Company.
(c) “Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
(d) “Authorized Officer” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice
President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.
(e) A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, and to “beneficially
own” any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates, directly or
indirectly, has 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, warrants, options or other
rights (in each case, other than upon exercise or exchange of the Rights); provided,
however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own,
securities (including rights, options or warrants) which are convertible or exchangeable into Class
A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock until such time as the convertible or exchangeable
securities are exercised and converted or exchanged into Class A Common Stock or Class B Common
Stock, as the case may be, except to the
4
extent the acquisition or transfer of such rights, options or warrants would be treated as
exercised on the date of its acquisition or transfer under Section 1.382-4(d) of the Treasury
Regulations; and, provided, further, 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 such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates, directly or
indirectly, has or shares the right to vote or dispose of, or has “beneficial ownership” of (as
defined under Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), including pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) if the effect of such agreement,
arrangement or understanding is to treat such Persons as an “entity” under Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of
the Treasury Regulations; or
(iii) of which any other Person is the Beneficial Owner, if such Person or any of such
Person’s Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not
in writing) with such other Person (or any of such other Person’s Affiliates or Associates) with
respect to acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any securities of the Company if the effect
of such agreement, arrangement or understanding is to treat such Persons as an “entity” under
Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations; provided, however, that a Person shall
not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security (A) if such Person has
the right to vote such security pursuant to an agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or
not in writing) which (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy given to such Person in response to
a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations of the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under
the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report or schedule) or (B) if such beneficial
ownership arises solely as a result of such Person’s status as a “clearing agency” (as defined in
Section 3(a)(23) of the Exchange Act); provided, further, however, that
nothing in this Section 1(e) shall cause a Person engaged in business as an underwriter of
securities or member of a selling to group to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own,
any securities acquired through such Person’s participation in good faith in an underwriting
syndicate until the expiration of forty (40) calendar days after the date of such acquisition, or
such later date as the Board may determine in any specific case. Notwithstanding anything contained
herein to the contrary, to the extent not within the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(e), a
Person shall be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, and shall be deemed to beneficially own, securities
which such Person would be deemed to constructively own or which otherwise would be aggregated with
shares owned by such pursuant to Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision or replacement
provision, and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
(f) “Board” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
(g) “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which
banking institutions in the state in which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(h) “Class A Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
5
(i) “Class B Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
(j) “Close of Business” on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on
such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New
York City time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(k) “Code” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
(l) “Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
(m) “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
(n) “Company’s Articles of Incorporation” shall mean the Amended and Restated Articles
of Incorporation of the Company, as amended.
(o) “Current Per Share Market Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) or Section 11(d)(ii) hereof, as applicable.
(p) “Current Value” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(q) “Distribution Date” shall mean the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the
tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth
Business Day (or, unless the Distribution Date shall have previously occurred, such later date as
may be specified by the Board) after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by any Person
(other than any Related Person or any Exempt Person), if upon the consummation thereof, such Person
would be the Beneficial Owner of 5.0% or more of the then-outstanding Common Stock.
(r) “Equivalent Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b)
hereof.
(s) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(t) “Exchange Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a) hereof.
(u) “Exempt Person” shall mean (i) a Person whose Beneficial Ownership (together with
all Affiliates and Associates of such Person) of 5.0% or more of the then-outstanding Common Stock
would not, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, jeopardize or limit the availability
to the Company of its Tax Benefits and (ii) any Person that beneficially owns, as of the Record
Date, 5.0% or more of the outstanding Common Stock; provided, however, that, with
respect to clause (ii) of this Section 1(u), any such Person shall only be deemed to be an Exempt
Person for so long as it beneficially owns no more than the amount of Common Stock it owned on the
Record Date; and provided, further, that, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) of
this paragraph, any Person shall cease to be an Exempt Person as of the date that such Person
ceases to beneficially own 5.0% or more of the then-outstanding Common Stock. Additionally, a
Person shall cease to be an Exempt Person if the Board, in its sole
6
discretion, makes a contrary determination with respect to the effect of such Person’s
Beneficial Ownership (together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person) with respect to
the availability to the Company of its Tax Benefits.
(v) “Exempt Transaction” shall mean the merger of Woodbridge Holdings Corporation with
and into WDG Merger, Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and the related issuance
of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock (the “Woodbridge Merger”), as well as any
other transaction that the Board determines, in its sole discretion, is exempt, which determination
shall be irrevocable.
(w) “Expiration Date” shall mean the earliest of (i) September 21, 2019, (ii) the time
at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 22 hereof, (iii) the time at which the
Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 23 hereof, (iv) the repeal of Section 382 of the Code
or any successor statute or the occurrence of any other event if the Board determines that this
Agreement is no longer necessary for the preservation of Tax Benefits and (v) the beginning of a
taxable year of the Company to which the Board determines that no Tax Benefits may be carried
forward.
(x) “Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Stock Market.
(y) “NOLs” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
(z) “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, limited liability partnership, trust or other legal entity or any group of
persons making a “coordinated acquisition” of shares or otherwise treated as an entity within the
meaning of Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations or otherwise, and includes any
successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such individual or entity.
(aa) “Series A Preferred Stock” shall mean shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company having the rights and preferences set
forth in the form of Articles of Amendment attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(bb) “Purchase Price” shall mean initially $8.00 per one one-hundredth of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in this Agreement.
(cc) “Record Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
(dd) “Redemption Price” shall mean $0.0001 per Right, subject to adjustment by the
Company to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof.
(ee) “Related Person” shall mean (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company
or (iii) any employee benefit or stock ownership plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company or any entity holding shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.
(ff) “Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
7
(gg) “Rights Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
(hh) “Rights Certificates” shall mean certificates evidencing the Rights, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(ii) “Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(jj) “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(kk) “Spread” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ll) “Stock 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
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person
has become such or such earlier date as a majority of the Board shall become aware of the existence
of an Acquiring Person.
(mm) “Subsidiary” shall mean, with reference to any Person, any corporation or other
legal entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity
interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(nn) “Substitution Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof.
(oo) “Summary of Rights” shall mean a copy of a summary of the terms of the Rights, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(pp) “Tax Benefits” shall mean the NOLs, capital loss carry-overs, general business
credit carry-overs, alternative minimum tax credit carry-overs and foreign tax credit carry-overs,
as well as any “net unrealized built-in loss” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code, of the
Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof.
(qq) “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which the principal national securities
exchange or automated quotation system on which the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business.
(rr) “Treasury Regulations” shall mean final, temporary and proposed income tax
regulations promulgated under the Code, including any amendments thereto.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent
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 and
hereby certifies that it complies with all applicable requirements governing transfer agents and
registrars. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-rights agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable.
8
The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for, the
acts or omissions of any such co-rights agent. Prior to the appointment of a co-rights agent, the
specific duties and obligations of each such co-rights agents shall be set forth in writing and
delivered to the Rights Agent and the proposed co-rights agent. Any actions which may be taken by
the Rights Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement may be taken by any such co-rights agent.
To the extent that any co-rights agent takes any action pursuant to this Agreement, such co-rights
agent shall be entitled to all of the rights and protections of, and subject to all of the
applicable duties and obligations imposed upon, the Rights Agent pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates
(a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions
of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates representing shares of Common Stock of the Company (or,
in the case of uncertificated shares of Common Stock, by the book-entry account that evidences
record ownership of such shares) registered in the names of the holders thereof (which
certificates, if any, shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not by separate Rights
Certificates, and (ii) the right to receive Rights Certificates will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of shares of Common Stock. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the
Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested and provided with
all necessary information, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record
holder of shares of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Rights Certificate evidencing one
Right for each share of Common Stock so held. In the event that an adjustment in the number of
Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof, at the time of
distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate
rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 13 hereof) so that Rights Certificates
representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional Rights. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights
Certificates. The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing upon the occurrence of
the Distribution Date and, if such notification is given orally, the Company shall confirm the same
in writing on or prior to the next succeeding Business Day. Until such notice is received by the
Rights Agent, the Rights Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that the Distribution Date
has not occurred.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company will send a copy of
a Summary of Rights by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Common
Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company. With respect to certificates for shares of Common Stock outstanding as of
the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates
registered in the names of the holders thereof together with a copy of the Summary of Rights
attached thereto. With respect to uncertificated shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the
Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by the book-entry account
that evidences record ownership of such shares in the names of the holders thereof together with a
copy of the Summary of Rights maintained by the Company. Until the Distribution Date (or the
Expiration Date, if earlier), the surrender for transfer of any certificate (or, in the case of
uncertificated shares of Common Stock, a transfer recorded in the book-entry accounts that evidence
record ownership of such shares) for shares of
9
Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights
attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of
Common Stock represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for shares of Common Stock which become outstanding (including, without
limitation, reacquired shares of Common Stock referred to in the last sentence of this paragraph
(c)) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration
Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them a legend in
substantially the following form:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain rights as
set forth in a Rights Agreement between BFC Financial Corporation and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, dated as of September 21, 2009, as it may be amended
or supplemented from time to time (the “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 BFC Financial Corporation. Under certain circumstances, as set
forth in the Agreement, such Rights (as defined in the Agreement) will be evidenced
by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. BFC
Financial Corporation will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the
Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. As set forth
in the Agreement, Rights beneficially owned by any Person (as defined in the
Agreement) who becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
such terms are defined in the Agreement) become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, the Rights associated with the
shares of Common Stock represented by such certificates shall, until the Distribution Date, 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 shares of Common Stock represented
thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any shares of Common Stock after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such shares of Common
Stock shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise
any Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock which are no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates
The Rights Certificates (and the form of election to purchase and the form of assignment to be
printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B, with such changes and marks of identification or designation, and such legends,
summaries or endorsements printed thereon, as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation
of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Rights may from time to time be
listed or quoted, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11 and 21 hereof,
the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such
number of one one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock as is set forth therein at the
Purchase Price; provided, however, that the Purchase Price,
10
the number and kind of securities issuable upon exercise of each Right and the number of
Rights outstanding shall be subject to adjustment as provided in this Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by, and shall be
attested by, any Authorized Officer, in each case either manually or by facsimile signature, and
may have affixed thereto the Company’s seal or a facsimile thereof. The Rights Certificates shall
be countersigned by the Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be
valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any Authorized Officer who shall have signed
any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be an Authorized Officer before countersignature by
the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless,
may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same
force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be an
Authorized Officer; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any
person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be an Authorized
Officer, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such person was not an
Authorized Officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, upon receipt by the Rights Agent of notice of the
occurrence of the Distribution Date pursuant to Section 3 hereof, a shareholder list and all other
relevant information reasonably requested by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent shall keep or cause
to be kept at its office or offices designated for such purposes (and at such other offices 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 or any automated quotation system on which the
Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted) books for registration and transfer of the Rights
Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each Rights
Certificate and the date of each Rights Certificate.
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(d) and Section 13 hereof, at any time after the
Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and prior to the Expiration Date, any Rights
Certificate(s) (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights that may have been exchanged
pursuant to Section 23 hereof) representing exercisable Rights may be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate(s), entitling the registered holder to
purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock (or other
securities, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate(s) 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 such Rights Certificate(s) must make such request in
writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and must surrender the Rights Certificate(s) to be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged, with the forms of assignment and certificate
contained therein duly executed, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose. The Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent.
Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with
respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder
shall have (i)
11
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side
of such Rights Certificate, (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) and the Affiliates and Associates of such Beneficial
Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request and
(iii) paid a sum sufficient to cover any tax or charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates. Thereupon, the Rights Agent
shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested registered in such name or names as may be
designated by the surrendering registered holder. The Rights Agent shall promptly forward any such
sum collected by it to the Company or to such Person or Persons as the Company shall specify by
written notice. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation unless and until it is satisfied
that all such taxes and/or charges have been paid.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to
them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss,
theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement
to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate, if mutilated, the Company
shall execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent and the Rights
Agent will countersign and deliver such new Rights Certificate to the registered holder in lieu of
the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall become exercisable on the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, and thereafter the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate may, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 23 hereof, exercise the Rights
evidenced thereby in whole or in part upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office
or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the Purchase
Price (including any applicable tax or charge required to be paid by the holder of such Rights
Certificate) for each one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock (or other
securities, cash or assets, as the case may be) as to which the Rights are exercised.
(b) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights with the form of
election to purchase and the certificate properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be purchased (and an amount equal to any applicable
tax or charge required to be paid) by certified check, cashier’s check, bank draft or money order
payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition
from any transfer agent of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights
Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates representing the total number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock to be purchased (and the Company hereby
irrevocably authorizes and directs its transfer agent to comply with all such requests) or (B) if
the Company shall have elected to deposit any shares of Series A Preferred Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred
Stock as are to be purchased (and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs such
depositary agent to comply with all such requests), (ii)
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after receipt of such certificates (or depositary receipts, as the case may be) cause the same
to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate,
registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, (iii) when appropriate,
requisition from the Company or any transfer agent therefor certificates representing the number of
equivalent shares to be issued in lieu of the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock in
accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, (iv) when appropriate, after receipt
of such certificates, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder
of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder,
(v) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of the
issuance of fractional shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 hereof and (vi) when
appropriate, after receipt, deliver such cash to the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.
(c) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise less than all the
Rights evidenced thereby, the Rights Agent shall prepare, execute and deliver a new Rights
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised to the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of
Section 13 hereof.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor
the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to any purported transfer,
split up, combination or exchange of any Rights Certificate pursuant to Section 6 or exercise or
assignment of a Rights Certificate as set forth in this Section 7 unless the registered holder of
such Rights Certificate shall have (i) duly and properly completed and signed the certificate
following the form of assignment or the form of election to purchase, as applicable, set forth on
the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such transfer, split up, combination,
exchange, exercise or assignment and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby and
Affiliates and Associates thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent may reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates
All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split-up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its agents, be delivered to
the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent,
shall be canceled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any
other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company other than upon the exercise thereof.
The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the
written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Company Covenants Concerning Securities and Rights
The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of
its authorized and unissued shares of Series A Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of an
event which would establish the Distribution Date, out of its authorized and unissued shares of its
Class A Common Stock and/or other securities) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
(and, following
13
the occurrence of an event which would establish the Distribution Date, Class A Common Stock
and/or other securities) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding
Rights in accordance with Section 7 hereof. The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all
actions as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Series A Preferred Stock delivered upon
the exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject
to payment of the Purchase Price and all applicable taxes and charges), be duly and validly
authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all
taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates or of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights. The Company
shall not, however, be required to pay any tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any
transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of
certificates or depositary receipts for the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in a name other than
that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise
or to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for shares of Series A Preferred
Stock upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax or
charge being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it
has been established to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due.
If the Company determines that registration under the Securities Act is required, then the
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the
first occurrence of an event which would establish the Distribution Date and the consideration to
be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with
Section 11(a) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the case
may be, a registration statement under the Securities 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 Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer
exercisable for such securities and (B) the Expiration Date. The Company may temporarily suspend,
for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first
sentence of this paragraph, the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such
registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company
shall issue a public announcement stating, and notify the Rights Agent, that the exercisability of
the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement and notification to the
Rights Agent at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. The Company will also take such
action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or “blue sky” laws
of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction, unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained, or
an exemption therefrom shall be available, and until a registration statement has been declared
effective. The Company will notify the Rights Agent in writing of the jurisdictions in which Rights
shall not be exercisable pursuant to the preceding sentence.
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Section 10. Record Date
Each Person in whose name any certificate for a number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock (or Class A Common Stock 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 such shares of Series A Preferred Stock (or Class A Common Stock and/or other securities,
as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated as of, the date
upon which the Rights Certificate representing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the
Purchase Price (and all applicable taxes and charges) was made;
provided, however, that if the date
of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the transfer books of the Company for shares of
Series A Preferred Stock (or Class A Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) are
closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such securities on, and
such certificate shall be dated as of, the next succeeding Business Day on which the transfer books
of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of any security of the Company
with respect to shares for which the Rights are or may be exercisable, including, without
limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any
preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the
Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Securities or Number of Rights
The Purchase Price, the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock or other securities or
property purchasable upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject
to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date (A) declare a
dividend on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock payable in shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
(B) subdivide the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock or
(D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the shares of Series A Preferred
Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this
Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of
the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, as the case may be, 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 transfer books of the Company for the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock were open, the holder would have owned upon such exercise and been
entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification;
provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one
Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable
upon exercise of one Right.
(ii) Subject to Section 23 of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided in this Section
11(a)(ii) and Section 11(a)(iii) below, in the event that any Person becomes an Acquiring
15
Person, each holder of a Right shall, after the later of the occurrence of such event and the
effective date of an appropriate registration statement pursuant to Section 9 hereof, have the
right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the then-current Purchase Price, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, such
number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or at the option of the Company, such number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock) as shall equal the result obtained by (x)
multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock for which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (y) 50%
of the Current Per Share Market Price of the Class A Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof), on the date of the occurrence of such event; provided, however, that the Purchase
Price (as so adjusted) and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so receivable upon exercise
of a Right shall thereafter be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with
Section 11(f) hereof.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, however, from and after the time
(the “invalidation time”) when any Person first becomes an Acquiring Person, any Rights
that are beneficially owned by (A) any Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of any
Acquiring Person), (B) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate)
who becomes a transferee after the invalidation time or (C) a transferee of any Acquiring Person
(or any such Affiliate or Associate) who became a transferee prior to or concurrently with the
invalidation time pursuant to either (1) a transfer from the Acquiring Person to holders of its
equity securities or to any Person with whom it has any continuing agreement, arrangement or
understanding, written or otherwise, regarding the transferred Rights or (2) a transfer that the
Board has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding, written or otherwise, which
has the purpose or effect of avoiding the provisions of this paragraph, and subsequent transferees
of such Persons, shall be void without any further action, and any holder of such Rights shall
thereafter have no rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights under any provision of this
Agreement. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of
this Section 11(a)(ii) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights
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. From and after the
invalidation time, no Right Certificates shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 6 hereof
that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph,
and any Right Certificates delivered to the Rights Agent that represent Rights that are or have
become void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall be canceled.
(iii) The Company may at its option substitute for a share of Class A Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) above such number or fractions of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock having an aggregate current market value equal to the Current
Per Share Market Price of a share of Class A Common Stock. In the event that there shall be an
insufficient number of shares of Class A Common Stock authorized but unissued (and unreserved) to
permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii), the Board shall,
with respect to such deficiency, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any material
agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party, (A) determine the excess of (x) the
value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right in accordance with
Section 11(a)(ii) (the “Current Value”) over (y) the then-current Purchase Price multiplied
by the number of one one-hundredths of shares of Series A Preferred Stock for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the time that the Acquiring Person became such (such excess, the
“Spread”), and (B) with respect to each Right (other
16
than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)), make adequate provision to
substitute for the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii)
upon exercise of the Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction
in such Purchase Price, (3) shares of Series A Preferred Stock or other equity securities of the
Company (including, without limitation, shares or fractions of shares of preferred stock which, by
virtue of having dividend, voting and liquidation rights substantially comparable to those of the
shares of Class A Common Stock, are deemed in good faith by the Board to have substantially the
same value as the shares of Class A Common Stock (such shares or fractions of shares of preferred
stock are hereinafter referred to as “common stock equivalents”), (4) debt securities of
the Company, (5) other assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having a value which, when
added to the value of the shares of Class A Common Stock actually issued upon exercise of such
Right, shall have an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction
in such Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board (upon the
advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board in good faith);
provided, however, that if the Company shall not make adequate provision to deliver value pursuant
to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the date that the Acquiring Person became
such (the “Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date”), then the Company shall be obligated to
deliver, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to
which the Company is a party, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring
payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Class A Common Stock (to the extent available), and then,
if necessary, such number or fractions of shares of Series A Preferred Stock (to the extent
available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to
the Spread. If within the thirty (30) day period referred to above, the Board shall determine in
good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Class A Common Stock could be
authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, then, if the Board so elects, such
thirty (30) day period may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days
after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek shareholder approval
for the authorization of such additional shares (such thirty (30) day period, as it may be
extended, is hereinafter called the “Substitution Period”). To the extent that the Company
determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the second and/or third sentence of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and the last
sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the
Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such second sentence and to determine the
value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
(b) If the Company fixes a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Series
A Preferred Stock (or securities having equivalent rights, privileges and preferences as the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock (for purposes of this Section 11(b), “Equivalent Preferred
Stock”)) or securities convertible into shares of Series A Preferred Stock or Equivalent
Preferred Stock at a price per share of Series A Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock (or
having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into shares of Series A Preferred
Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock) less than the Current Per Share Market Price of the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d))
17
on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding on
such record date plus the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering
price of the total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock
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 is
the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of
additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially
convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the
exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock issuable
upon exercise of one Right. In the event such subscription price is paid in a consideration part or
all of which is in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined
in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a written statement filed
with the Rights Agent. Shares of Series A Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the
Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights,
options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase
Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) If the Company fixes a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of
evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular periodic cash dividend), assets, stock (other
than a dividend payable in shares of Series A Preferred Stock) or subscription rights, options or
warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price to be in effect after
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior
to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Current Per Share Market Price of
the shares of Series A Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on such record
date or, if earlier, the date on which shares of Series A Preferred Stock begin to trade on an
ex-dividend or when issued basis for such distribution, less the fair market value (as determined
in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a written statement filed
with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the evidences of indebtedness, cash, assets or stock so to
be distributed or of such subscription rights, options or warrants applicable to one share of
Series A Preferred Stock, and the denominator of which is such Current Per Share Market Price of
the shares of Series A Preferred Stock; 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 issuable upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the
Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if
such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “Current Per Share Market
Price” of any security (a “Security” for purposes of this Section 11(d)(i) only) on any
date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of a share of such
Security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to, but not including, such date;
provided, however, that in the event that the Current Per Share Market Price of the Security is
determined during a period
18
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 (other
than the Rights) or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security, and
prior to the expiration of thirty (30) Trading Days after, but not including, 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 take into account ex-dividend trading or to reflect the current per share
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 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 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 selected by the Board making a market in the Security. If the Security is
not publicly held or not so listed or traded, or is not the subject of available bid and asked
quotes, the Current Per Share Market Price of such Security shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a written
statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “Current Per Share Market
Price” of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be determined in accordance with the
method set forth above in Section 11(d)(i) other than the last sentence thereof. If the Current Per
Share Market Price of Series A Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above,
it shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to the current per share market price of the
shares of Class A Common Stock multiplied by one hundred (as such number may be appropriately
adjusted to reflect events such as stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar
transactions relating to the shares of Class A Common Stock occurring after the date of this
Agreement). If neither the Class A Common Stock nor the Series A Preferred Stock are publicly held
or listed or traded, or the subject of available bid and asked quotes, “Current Per Share Market
Price” of the Series A Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good
faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a written statement filed with the
Rights Agent. For all purposes of this Agreement, the Current Per Share Market Price of one
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock will be equal to the Current Per Share Market
Price of one share of Series A Preferred Stock divided by one hundred.
(e) Except as set forth below, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless
such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1%
in such price; provided,
however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made
shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations
under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one one-millionth of a
share of Series A Preferred Stock or one one-hundredth of a share of Class A Common Stock or other
security. 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 requires such adjustment and (ii) the Expiration Date.
19
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a), the holder of any Right
thereafter exercised becomes entitled to receive any securities of the Company other than shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, thereafter the number and/or kind of such other securities so receivable
upon exercise of any Right (and/or the Purchase Price in respect thereof) 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 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (and the Purchase Price in
respect thereof) contained in this Section 11, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with
respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock (and the Purchase Price in respect thereof) shall
apply on like terms to any such other securities (and the Purchase Price in respect thereof).
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the
Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the
number of one one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock issuable from time to time
hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company has exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i) below, upon
each adjustment of the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 11(b) or (c), each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall evidence the right to purchase, at the
adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock
(calculated to the nearest one one-millionth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock
issuable upon exercise of a Right immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price by (y)
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii)
dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment
of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price, to
adjust the number of Rights in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths
of a share of Series A Preferred Stock issuable 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 share of Series A Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one
hundred-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of
the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the
number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the
amount of the adjustment to be made. The Company shall also, as promptly as practicable, notify the
Rights Agent in writing of same and give the Rights Agent a copy of such announcement. Such record
date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but if the
Rights Certificates have been issued, such record date shall be at least ten (10) calendar days
later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each
adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly
as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record
date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to the provisions of Section 13, the additional Rights
to which such holders are entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the
Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement
for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon
surrender thereof if required
20
by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders are
entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company,
the adjusted Purchase Price), and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of
Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Without respect to any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and/or the number and/or
kind of securities issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore
and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number and kind of
securities which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificate issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below
one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock or below
the then par value, if any, of any other securities of the Company issuable upon exercise of the
Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be
necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Series A Preferred Stock or such other securities, as the case may be, at such adjusted
Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 otherwise requires that an adjustment in the Purchase
Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer
until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such
record date the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock or other
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock or other securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment;
provided, however, that the Company delivers to such holder a due xxxx or other appropriate
instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares of Series A Preferred
Stock or other securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall be entitled
to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required
by this Section 11, as and to the extent that in its good faith judgment the Board determines to be
necessary or advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Series A Preferred Stock at less than
the Current Per Share Market Price therefor, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares
of Series A Preferred Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants
referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its shares of Series A
Preferred Stock is not taxable to such shareholders.
(n) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company
at any time after the Record Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) pays a dividend on the
outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock payable in shares of Class A
Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as the case may be, (ii) subdivides the outstanding shares of
Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, (iii) combines the outstanding shares of Class A
Common Stock or Class B Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of such stock or (iv) issues
21
any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the outstanding shares of Class A
Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), the
number of Rights associated with each share of Class A Common Stock and/or each share of Class B
Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution
Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Class A Common Stock and/or each share of Class B Common Stock following any such
event equals the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of
Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as the case may be, immediately prior to such event
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock or
Class B Common Stock, as the case may be, outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the
event and the denominator of which is the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B
Common Stock, as the case may be, outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a
dividend is paid or such a subdivision, combination or reclassification is effected.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares
Whenever an adjustment is made or any event affecting the Rights or their exercisability
(including, without limitation, an event which causes Rights to become null and void) occurs as
provided in Section 11, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts and calculations accounting for such adjustment or
describing such event, (b) file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock, Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, a copy of such
certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate. 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 any such adjustment unless and until
it shall have received such certificate; provided,
however, that the Rights Agent will not be
entitled to such protection in the event of actions or omissions performed by or on behalf of the
Rights Agents in bad faith or with willful misconduct.
Section 13. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Rights
Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company shall
pay to the registered holders of the Rights 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 one Right. For purposes of this Section 13(a), the current market value of one
Right is the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which
such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any Trading Day
shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the
principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if
the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq or such other system then in use or, if on any
22
such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid
and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker selected by the Board making a market
in the Rights. If the Rights are not publicly held or are not so listed or traded, or are not the
subject of available bid and asked quotes, the current market value of one Right shall mean the
fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described
in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Series A
Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Series A Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of
one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock). Fractions of Series A Preferred Stock in
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock may, in the sole
discretion of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts pursuant to an appropriate agreement
between the Company and a depositary selected by it, provided that such agreement provides that the
holders of such depositary receipts have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they
are entitled as beneficial owners of the Series A Preferred Stock represented by such depositary
receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples
of one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, the Company may pay to the registered
holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one one-hundredth of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 13(b), the current market value of one
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be one one-hundredth of the closing
price of a share of Series A Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof)
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise;
provided, however, that if the
closing price of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock cannot be so determined, the closing
price of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock for such Trading Day shall be conclusively
deemed to be an amount equal to the closing price of the Class A Common Stock for such Trading Day
multiplied by one hundred (as such number may be appropriately adjusted to reflect events such as
stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar transactions occurring after the date
of this Agreement).
(c) Following the occurrence of any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, the Company shall not
be required to issue fractions of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise or exchange of the
Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Class A Common Stock. In
lieu of issuing any such fractional securities, the Company may pay to any Person to whom or which
such fractional securities would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction
of the current market value of one such security. For purposes of this Section 13(c), the current
market value of one share of Class A Common Stock or other security issuable upon the exercise or
exchange of Rights shall be the closing price thereof (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)
hereof) on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
(d) The holder of a Right, by the acceptance of the Rights, expressly waives such holder’s
right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as
permitted by this Section 13.
23
Section 14. Rights of Action
(a) All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to
the Rights Agent hereunder, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of shares of Common
Stock). Any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the
shares of Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the shares of Common Stock), may, in
such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain
any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such
holder’s right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such 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 shall be entitled to
specific performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Company nor the
Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its
inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, judgment, decree or ruling (whether interlocutory or final)
issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental regulatory, self-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 that the Company shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to have any such injunction, order, judgment, decree or ruling lifted or
otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 15. Agreement of Rights Holders
Every holder of a Right consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with
every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with
the transfer of shares of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry
books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purposes, duly endorsed and accompanied by a properly executed instrument of
transfer with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Class A Common Stock or Class B
Common Stock share certificate, if any) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the
Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights
Certificates or the associated Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock share certificate, if
any, made by
24
anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) such holder expressly waives any right to receive any fractional Rights and any fractional
securities upon exercise or exchange of a Right, except as otherwise provided in Section 13.
Section 16. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder
No holder of any Rights Certificate, by means of such possession, shall be entitled to vote,
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of one one-hundredths of a
share of Series A Preferred Stock or any other security of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or
in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, by
means of such possession, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including any right to
vote on any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, including the election of
directors, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings
or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights
Certificate have been exercised in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 17. Concerning the Rights Agent
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services
rendered by it hereunder, and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss,
liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, cost or expense incurred without gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent (which gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable order,
judgment, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction), for anything done or omitted by
the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement and the
performance of its duties and responsibilities and the exercise of its rights hereunder, including
the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or
indirectly (except upon such a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling of gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct). The costs and expenses of enforcing this right of
indemnification will also be paid by the Company (subject to reimbursement in connection with a
determination by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling of gross negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct). The provisions of this Section 17 shall survive the exercise,
exchange, redemption or expiration of the Rights, the resignation, replacement or removal of the
Rights Agent and the termination of this Agreement.
(b) The Rights Agent may conclusively rely on, and will be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its
acceptance or administration of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties and
responsibilities and the exercise of its rights hereunder in reliance upon, any Rights Certificate
or certificate evidencing shares of Series A Preferred Stock, Class A Common Stock, Class B Common
25
Stock or other securities of the Company, or any instrument of assignment or transfer, power
of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or
other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where
necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice
of counsel as set forth in Section 19.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Rights
Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever
(including, but not limited, to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the
likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
Section 18. Merger, 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, 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 Person would be eligible for appointment as a
successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 20 hereof. If at the time such successor
Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement any of the Rights 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 Rights Certificates so
countersigned; and if at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the
name of the predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such
Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this
Agreement.
(b) If at any time the name of the Rights Agent changes and at such time any of the Rights
Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and if at
that time any of the Rights Certificates have not been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all
such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates
and in this Agreement.
Section 19. Duties of Rights Agent
The Rights Agent undertakes to perform the duties and obligations expressly imposed by this
Agreement (and no implied duties) 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 competent legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for
the Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization
and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect
of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in accordance with the content of such advice or
opinion.
26
(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 any Acquiring Person and the determination of the Current Per Share Market Price) be proved or
established by the Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting to take 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 Authorized
Officer and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate, pursuant to its terms, shall be
full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered
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 gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a
final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction).
(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 Rights Certificates (except its countersignature
thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be
deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent will have no liability in respect of the validity of this Agreement or
the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution and delivery hereof by the Rights
Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any
covenant contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for
any adjustment required under the provisions of Sections 11, 12, 22 or 23 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
Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it, by any act
hereunder, be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation
of any shares of Class A Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Class A Common Stock or Series A
Preferred Stock shall, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it shall 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 and the exercise of the rights hereunder from any Authorized Officer
and to apply to all Authorized Officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties,
and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with
instructions of any such Authorized Officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those
instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company 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 Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken
or such
27
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 (5) Business
Days after the date any Authorized Officer actually receives such application, unless any such
Authorized 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 instructions 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 Company or become pecuniarily
interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under
this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity
for the Company or for any other Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it
or perform any duty hereunder either itself (through its directors, officers or employees) or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for
any act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorney or agent or for any loss to
the Company or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct,
provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof (each as
determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling of a court of competent
jurisdiction).
(j) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or
transfer, the certificate contained in the form of assignment or the form of election to purchase
set forth on the reverse thereof, as the case may be, has not been completed to certify the holder
is not an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate thereof) or a transferee thereof, the
Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer
without first consulting with the Company.
(k) 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.
(l) The Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any event of which it was
supposed to receive notice thereof hereunder, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and
shall incur no liability for failing to take any action in connection therewith, unless and until
it has received such notice in writing.
(m) The provisions of this Section 19 shall survive the exercise, exchange, redemption or
expiration of the Rights, the resignation, replacement or removal of the Rights Agent and the
termination of this Agreement.
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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’ written notice mailed to the Company, and to each
transfer agent of the shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Series A Preferred
Stock known to the Rights Agent, by registered or certified mail, and to the registered holders of
the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days’ written notice mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the shares of Class A
Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail,
and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign
or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall, in its sole
discretion, appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has
been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights
Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights
Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights Certificate
may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a legal
business entity 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 corporate
trust, stock transfer or shareholder services powers and which has at the time of its appointment
as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a
legal business entity described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor
Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had
been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent
shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it
hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the
purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the shares of Class
A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock and mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure 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 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 the Board 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 Rights Certificates
made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement;
provided, however, that (i) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, in its good faith judgment, the
Board determines that the issuance of such Rights Certificate could have a material adverse tax
consequence to the Company or to the Person to whom or which such Rights Certificate otherwise
would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
29
Section 22. Redemption
(a) The Board may, at any time prior to the Distribution Date, redeem all but not less than
all of the then-outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price. The redemption of the Rights may be
made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board, in its sole
discretion, may establish. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash,
securities or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the redemption of the Rights, and without any
further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights shall terminate and the
only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each
Right so held without interest thereon. Promptly after the effectiveness of the redemption of the
Rights, the Company shall give public notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders
of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each holder’s last
address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution
Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class
B Common Stock; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such
notice will not affect the validity of the redemption of the Rights. 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 shall state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price
shall be made.
Section 23. Exchange
(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time after any Person first becomes an Acquiring
Person, exchange all or part of the then-outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not
include Rights that have not become effective or that have become void pursuant to the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for shares of Class A Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share
of Class A Common Stock (or one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock) per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any adjustment made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (such
amount per Right being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio”). The exchange of
the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions
as the Board, in its sole discretion, may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board ordering the exchange of any
Rights pursuant to Section 23(a) 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 shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of such
Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public
notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in,
such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company shall promptly mail a
notice of any such exchange to all holders of the Rights so exchanged 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 shares of Class A Common
Stock for Rights shall be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights
which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange
30
shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become
void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) The Company may at its option substitute and, in the event that there shall not be
sufficient shares of Class A Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued
(and unreserved) to permit an exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section
23, the Company shall substitute to the extent of such insufficiency, for each share of Class A
Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock) or fraction thereof, such that the Current
Per Share Market Price of one share of Series A Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock)
multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the Current Per Share Market Price of Class A
Common Stock as of the date of such exchange.
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events
(a) If the Company proposes to (i) pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock (other than a regular periodic cash dividend), (ii) offer to the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock rights, options, warrants or any similar instrument
to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock or shares of
stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) effect any reclassification of
the Series A Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock), (iv) effect any consolidation or merger into or
with any other Person (other than the Woodbridge Merger), (v) effect the liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Company or (vi) on or after the Distribution Date, (A) declare or pay any
dividend on the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock payable in shares of Class A
Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, respectively, or (B) effect a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as the case may be, then, in
each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and, to the extent possible, to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed
action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution
or offering of rights, warrants, options or any similar instrument 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 shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, 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 ten (10) days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, and/or Series A
Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action covered by
clause (i) or (ii) above at least ten (10) days prior to the date of such proposed action or the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, whichever
is the earlier.
(b) As soon as practicable after a Stock Acquisition Date, if any, the Company shall give to
the Rights Agent and each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance
with Section 25 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and
the consequences of the event to holders of Rights.
31
Section 25. Notices
(a) Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or
by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made
(a) immediately, if made by personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) on the fifth day
after it is sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid or (c) on the next Business Day after it is
sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, all addressed (until another address is filed in
writing by the Company with the Rights) as follows:
BFC Financial Corporation
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention; Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention; Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, P.A.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 20, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights
Agent shall be sufficiently given or made (a) immediately, if made by personal delivery to the
party to be notified, (b) on the fifth day after it is sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid or
(c) on the next Business Day after it is sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, all
addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company) as
follows:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
00 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
00 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
(c) Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the
Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
registered holders of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock) shall be sufficiently
given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address
of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments
Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement
in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights, any such supplement or amendment to
be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights Agent. From and after the time at
which the Rights cease to be redeemable pursuant to Section 22, the Company may and the Rights
Agent shall,
32
if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Rights in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, (iii) to
shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to amend or supplement the provisions
hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or
desirable; provided, however, that no such supplement or amendment shall adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person), and no such amendment may cause the Rights again to become redeemable or cause this Rights
Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence. Upon the delivery
of a certificate from an Authorized Officer 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. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Rights Agent shall not be
obligated to enter into any supplement or amendment that affects the Rights Agent’s own rights,
duties, obligations or immunities under this Agreement.
Section 27. Successors
All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the
Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns
hereunder.
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board
(a) For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of any class
of the Company’s capital stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any Person
is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i)
under the Exchange Act or the provisions of Section 382 of the Code or any successor or replacement
provision.
(b) The Board 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
and calculations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, a determination to redeem or not to redeem the Rights or amend this Agreement).
(c) 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 Board in good faith 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, or any of the
directors on the Board, to any liability to any person, including, without limitation, the Rights
Agent and the holders of the Rights. Unless otherwise notified, the Rights Agent shall always be
entitled to assume that the Board acted in good faith, and the Rights Agent shall be fully
protected and shall incur no liability in reliance thereon.
33
Section 29. 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 registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of shares of Class A Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock).
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;
provided, however, that
nothing contained in this Section 30 will affect the ability of the Company under the provisions of
Section 26 to supplement or amend this Agreement to replace such invalid, void or unenforceable
term, provision, covenant or restriction with a legal, valid and enforceable term, provision,
covenant or restriction.
Section 31. Governing Law
This Agreement, each Right and each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be
a contract made under the laws of the State of Florida and for all purposes shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts made and to be
performed entirely within such state.
Section 32. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each of such counterparts
shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation
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.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
34
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the day and year first above written.
BFC FINANCIAL CORPORATION |
||||
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC |
||||
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
35
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
BFC FINANCIAL CORPORATION
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
BFC FINANCIAL CORPORATION
The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of BFC FINANCIAL CORPORATION,
a Florida corporation (the “Corporation”), are hereby amended pursuant to the provisions of Section
607.0602 of the Florida Business Corporation Act, and such amendment is set forth as follows:
FIRST: Article IV of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of the
Corporation is hereby amended to add the following language at the end of such article:
AA. Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors hereby authorizes and
creates a new series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation. The
designation and number of shares and the relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares
of such new series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation are as follows:
1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series will be designated as Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred”) and the number of shares constituting the
Series A Preferred is Two Million (2,000,000). Such number of shares may be increased or decreased
by resolution of the Board; provided, however, that no decrease will reduce the number of shares of
Series A Preferred to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of
shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation and convertible into Series
A Preferred.
2. Dividends and Distributions.
(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock
ranking prior to the Series A Preferred with respect to dividends, including the Corporation’s 5%
Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred, in preference to the holders of the
Corporation’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and Class B Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share (collectively, the “Common Stock”), and of any other stock ranking junior to the
Series A Preferred (collectively, the “Junior Stock”), will be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board out of funds legally available for the purpose, dividends payable in cash
(except as otherwise provided below) on such dates as are from time to time established for the
payment of dividends on the Common Stock (each such date being referred to herein as a “Dividend
Payment Date”), commencing on the first Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share
or fraction of a share of Series A
Preferred (the “First Dividend Payment Date”), in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, the greater of (i)
$1 and (ii) one hundred (100) times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and one
hundred (100) times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends,
other than a dividend payable in shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as the
case may be, or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common
Stock, as the case may be (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Class A Common Stock
and/or Class B Common Stock since the immediately preceding Dividend Payment Date or, with respect
to the First Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of
Series A Preferred. In the event that the Corporation at any time (i) declares a dividend on the
outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, (iii) combines the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares or (iv) issues any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation), then,
in each such case, the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred would otherwise be
entitled immediately prior to such event will be correspondingly adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(b) The Corporation will declare a dividend on the Series A Preferred as provided in paragraph
(a) of this Section 2 immediately after it declares a dividend on the Class A Common Stock and/or
Class B Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock). Each such dividend
on the Series A Preferred will be payable immediately prior to the time at which the related
dividend on the Class A Common Stock and/or Class B Common Stock is payable.
(c) Dividends will accrue, and be cumulative, on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred from
the Dividend Payment Date immediately preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless (i) the
date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the First Dividend Payment Date, in
which case dividends on such shares will accrue from the date of the first issuance of a share of
Series A Preferred or (ii) the date of issue is a Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred entitled to receive a
dividend and before such Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends will
accrue, and be cumulative, from such Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends will
cumulate from the applicable Dividend Payment Date but will not bear interest. Dividends paid on
the shares of Series A Preferred in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the
time accrued and payable on such shares will be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among
all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board may fix a record date for the determination of
holders of shares of Series A Preferred entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution
declared thereon, which record date will be not more than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the
date fixed
for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred shall have the following
voting rights:
(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth and except as otherwise
provided herein, in the Articles of Incorporation or in any amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation, or as otherwise required by law, each share of Series A Preferred shall entitle the
holder thereof to one hundred (100) votes on all matters upon which the holders of the Common Stock
are entitled to vote. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on
the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of
Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of
Series A Preferred were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying
such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event. For purposes of Section 3, Voting
Rights, of Article IV, including, without limitation, paragraphs 3(a) and 3(b) thereof, the Class A
Common Stock and Series A Preferred shall collectively have the total voting power of the
Corporation equaling the Class A Percentage, and the number of outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred multiplied by a factor of 100 shall be added to the number of outstanding shares of Class
A Common Stock for purposes of determining the number of votes that holders of Class B Common Stock
shall be entitled to with respect to each share of Class B Common Stock that they hold (and in no
event shall anything contained in this paragraph or any other provision or paragraph of this
Section AA of Article IV be deemed to increase the Class A Percentage above the applicable amount
set forth in Section 3, Voting Rights, of Article IV).
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Articles of Incorporation or in any amendment
to the Articles of Incorporation creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as
otherwise required by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred and the holders of shares of
Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote
together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Corporation.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Articles of Incorporation or in any amendment
to the Articles of Incorporation, or as otherwise required by law, holders of Series A Preferred
shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent
they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any
corporate action.
4. Restrictions.
(a) Whenever dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred are in arrears,
thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared,
on shares of Series A Preferred outstanding have been paid in full, the Corporation will not:
(i) Declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares
of Junior 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 shares of Series A Preferred (such stock, the
“Parity Stock”), except dividends paid ratably on the shares of Series A Preferred
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, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any
Junior Stock; provided, however, that the Corporation may at any time redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such Junior Stock in exchange for
shares of any other Junior Stock; or
(iv) Redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
Series A Preferred, or any shares of Parity Stock, except in accordance with a
purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board) to
all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board, after consideration of the
respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
respective series and classes, may determine in good faith will result in fair and
equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(b) The Corporation will not permit any majority-owned 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.
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred purchased or otherwise acquired by the
Corporation in any manner whatsoever will be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition
thereof. All such shares will 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 Articles of Incorporation or in
any Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar
stock or as otherwise required by law.
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation, no distribution will be made (a) to the holders of shares of Junior Stock unless,
prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred have received an amount equal to accrued
and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such
payment; provided, however, that the holders of shares of Series A Preferred will be entitled to
receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, equal to a minimum per share liquidation payment of $100 but will be entitled to an
aggregate per share liquidation payment of one hundred (100) times the payment made per share of
Common Stock or (b) to the holders of shares of Parity Stock, except distributions made ratably on
the shares of Series A Preferred and all such Parity Stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
In the event the Corporation at any time (i) declares a dividend on the outstanding shares of
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, (iii) combines the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares or
(iv) issues any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in
which the Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such case and
regardless of whether any shares of Series A Preferred are then issued or outstanding, the
aggregate amount to which each holder of shares of Series A Preferred would otherwise be entitled
immediately prior to such event will be correspondingly adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In the event that the Corporation enters 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
each such case, each outstanding share of Series A Preferred will at the same time be similarly
exchanged for or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to one hundred (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. In the event the Corporation at any time (a)
declares a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,
(b) subdivides the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (c) combines the outstanding shares of
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares or (d) issues any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Corporation is the continuing or surviving
corporation), then, in each such case and regardless of whether any shares of Series A Preferred
are then issued or outstanding, the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the
exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred will be correspondingly adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event.
8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred are not redeemable.
9. Rank. The Series A Preferred ranks, with respect to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of assets, junior to all other series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock, including
the Corporation’s 5% Preferred Stock, unless the terms of such series shall so provide.
10. Fractional Shares. Series A Preferred may be issued in fractions of a share that shall
entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights,
receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series A Preferred.
11. Amendment. The Articles of Incorporation shall not be amended in any manner which would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred so
as to affect such stock adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a
majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred, voting together as a single class.
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R- | Rights |
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER SEPTEMBER 21, 2019 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS OR IF THE
RIGHTS ARE EARLIER TERMINATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED). THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, EXCHANGE AND TERMINATION ON THE
TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
BFC FINANCIAL CORPORATION
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, (the “Rights Agreement”), by and between BFC
Financial Corporation, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), and American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, LLC (the “Rights Agent”), dated as of September 21, 2009, to purchase from the Company at
any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to
5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement)
at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, one one-hundredth of a
fully paid nonassessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01
per share, of the Company (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), at a purchase price of $8.00 per one
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Price”), upon presentation and
surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate
duly executed. If this Rights Certificate is exercised in part, the holder will be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of
whole Rights not exercised. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the
number of one one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon
exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and
Purchase Price as of the date of the Rights Agreement, based on the shares of Series A Preferred
Stock as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and/or
the number and/or kind of securities of the Company which may be purchased upon the exercise of the
Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of
certain events. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to
such terms in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the
Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are incorporated by reference herein 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 of the Rights Agent, the
Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include the
temporary suspension of the exercisability of the Rights under the circumstances specified in the
Rights Agreement. Copies of the
Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and can be
obtained from the Company without charge upon written request therefor.
Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, from and after the occurrence of any Person becoming an
Acquiring Person, any Rights that are Beneficially Owned by (i) any Acquiring Person (or any
Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person), (ii) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any
such Affiliate or Associate) who becomes a transferee after the occurrence of any Person becoming
an Acquiring Person or (iii) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or
Associate) who became a transferee prior to or concurrently with any Person becoming an Acquiring
Person pursuant to either (a) a transfer from an Acquiring Person to holders of its equity
securities or to any Person with whom it has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (b) a transfer which the Board has determined is part of a
plan, arrangement or understanding which has the purpose or effect of avoiding certain provisions
of the Rights Agreement, and subsequent transferees of any of such Persons, will be void without
any further action, and any holder of such Rights will thereafter have no rights whatsoever with
respect to such Rights under any provision of the Rights Agreement. From and after the occurrence
of any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, no Rights Certificate will be issued that represents
Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, and any
Rights Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent that represents Rights that are or have become
void pursuant to the provisions of the Rights Agreement will be canceled.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, may be exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates entitling the holder to purchase a like number of
one one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred Stock (or other securities, as the case may be)
as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered entitled such holder (or former holder
in the case of a transfer) to purchase, upon presentation and surrender hereof at the office or
offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, with the Form of Assignment (if
appropriate) and the related Certificate duly executed.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate
may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $0.0001 per Right or may be
exchanged in whole or in part. Further, subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the
Rights may be terminated prior to September 21, 2019 or the earlier redemption or exchange of the
Rights. The Rights Agreement may be supplemented and amended by the Company, as provided therein.
The Company is not required to issue fractions of shares of Series A Preferred Stock (other
than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredths of a share of Series A Preferred
Stock, which may, at the option of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts) or other
securities issuable upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby. In lieu of issuing
such fractional shares, the Company may make a cash payment, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, will be entitled to vote or receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock or of any other
securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise of the Right or
Rights represented hereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in the Rights Agreement be
construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the
Company or any right to vote on any matter submitted to the shareholders of the Company, including,
without limitation, the election of
directors, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of
meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or
to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate have been exercised in accordance with the provisions of the Rights
Agreement.
This Rights Certificate will not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it has been
countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signatures of the proper officers of the Company. Dated as of
, 20 .
BFC FINANCIAL CORPORATION |
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Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Attested: |
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Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Countersigned: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC |
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Name: | ||||
Title: |
Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, hereby sells, assigns and transfers this Rights
Certificate, together with all right, title and interest herein, to
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint attorney, with full power of
substitution, to transfer this Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company.
Dated : ,
Dated : ,
Signature |
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS,
SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the
Rights Agreement).
Signature | ||||
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not being sold, assigned, transferred,
split up, combined or exchanged by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (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 Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement).
Dated: ,
Signature | ||||
Form of
Reverse Side of Rights Certificate – continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate)
To BFC Financial Corporation:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Rights represented by this
Rights Certificate to purchase, with respect to each such Right so exercised, one one-hundredth of
a share of Series A Preferred Stock or other securities issuable upon the exercise of such Rights
and requests that certificates for such securities be issued in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number:
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights is not all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights
Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights will be registered in the name of and
delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number:
Dated:
,
Signature | ||||
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS,
SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the
Rights Agreement).
Signature | ||||
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not being exercised by or on behalf of
a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (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 Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement).
Dated: ,
Signature | ||||
NOTICE
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be,
must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the Certification accompanying the Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to
Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be
honored.
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS
On September 21, 2009, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (each, a “Right”) for each outstanding share of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock (collectively, our “Common Stock”). The terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement, by and between us and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent,
dated as of September 21, 2009 (the “Rights Agreement”).
This Summary of Rights provides only a general description of the Rights Agreement and, thus,
should be read together with the entire Rights Agreement, which is incorporated into this summary
by reference. The Rights Agreement is attached as Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 25, 2009 and can be
accessed via the SEC’s internet web site at xxx.xxx.xxx. Additionally, upon written
request, we will provide a copy of the Rights Agreement free of charge to any of our shareholders.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the
Rights Agreement.
Our Board adopted the Rights Agreement in an effort to protect shareholder value as the Rights
Agreement is aimed at protecting against a possible limitation on our ability to use net operating
loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) to reduce potential future federal income tax obligations and to
provide other Tax Benefits to us. Under the Internal Revenue Code and rules promulgated by the
Internal Revenue Service, we may “carry forward” NOLs in certain circumstances to offset any
current and future earnings and, thus, reduce our federal income tax liability, subject to certain
requirements and restrictions. However, if we experience an “Ownership Change,” as defined in
Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, in the future, our ability to use available NOLs as well
as NOLs, if any, that we experience in the future will be substantially limited, and the timing of
the usage of the NOLs could be substantially delayed, which could therefore significantly impair
the value of that asset.
The Rights Agreement is intended to act as a deterrent to any person or group from acquiring
5% or more of our outstanding Common Stock (an “Acquiring Person”) after September 21, 2009 (the
“Record Date”) without the approval of our Board. Existing shareholders as of the close of business
on the Record Date will not be required to divest any shares of our Common Stock as the Rights
Agreement provides that shareholders who own 5% or more of our outstanding Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Record Date will not trigger exercisability of the Rights so long as they
do not (i) acquire any additional shares of our Common Stock or (ii) fall under 5% ownership of our
outstanding Common Stock and then purchase shares of our Common Stock which, together with the
other shares of our Common Stock then owned by the shareholder, represent 5% or more of our
outstanding Common Stock. Additionally, a shareholder who our Board determines has inadvertently
exceeded the 5% threshold can avoid the dilutive effect of the Rights by promptly divesting shares
of our Common Stock so as to reduce its interest below the threshold level. Further, our Board
may, in its sole discretion, exempt any shareholder from being deemed an Acquiring Person for
purposes of the Rights Agreement if our Board determines that such shareholder’s
ownership of our Common Stock would not adversely affect the Tax Benefits which the Rights
Agreement is aimed at preserving, including, without limitation, our ability to use NOLs to reduce
potential future federal income tax obligations. Any Rights held by an Acquiring Person and the
Acquiring Person’s Affiliates and Associates will become void and may not be exercised.
The Rights Agreement was not adopted in response to any effort to acquire control of us.
However, by providing a deterrent to any person or group from acquiring 5% or more of our
outstanding Common Stock, the Rights Agreement may also have an anti-takeover effect. The Rights
Agreement should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by our Board.
Specifically, by its terms, the Rights Agreement is inapplicable to, and will not have any impact
on, our merger with Woodbridge Holdings Corporation and the related issuance of shares of our Class
A Common Stock.
The Rights. Our Board authorized the issuance of one Right per each share of our Common Stock
outstanding as of September 21, 2009. Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, if the Rights become exercisable, each Right would initially represent the right to
purchase from us one one-hundredth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
for a purchase price of $8.00 (the “Purchase Price”). If issued, each one one-hundredth of a share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock would give the shareholder approximately the same
dividend, voting and liquidation rights as does one share of our Class A Common Stock (with all
outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock and Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
representing, in the aggregate, 22% of our general voting power, subject to adjustment in
accordance with our Articles of Incorporation). However, prior to exercise, a Right does not give
its holder any rights as a shareholder, including, without limitation, any dividend, voting or
liquidation rights.
Exercisability. The Rights will not be exercisable until the earlier of (i) 10 business days
after a public announcement that a person or group has become an Acquiring Person and (ii) 10
business days after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by a person or group for 5% or
more of our outstanding Common Stock.
We refer to the date that the Rights become exercisable as the “Distribution Date.” Until the
Distribution Date, our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock certificates will evidence the
Rights. Any transfer of shares of our Common Stock prior to the Distribution Date will constitute a
transfer of the associated Rights. After the Distribution Date, the Rights may be transferred
other than in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of our Common Stock unless and
until our Board has determined not to effect an exchange pursuant to the Rights Plan (as described
below).
After the date, if any, on which any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder
of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person and any Affiliate or
Associate of the Acquiring Person (which will have become void), will thereafter have the right to
receive upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price, that
number of shares of our Class A Common Stock which have a market value equal to two times the
Purchase Price.
Exchange. After the Distribution Date, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights
owned by the Acquiring Person and any Affiliate or Associate of the Acquiring Person, which will
have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Class A Common Stock,
or a fractional share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (or of a share of a similar
class or series of our preferred stock having similar rights, preferences and privileges) of
equivalent value, per Right (subject to adjustment).
Expiration. The Rights will expire on the earliest of (i) September 21, 2019, (ii) the time
at which the Rights are redeemed pursuant to the Rights Agreement, (iii) the time at which the
Rights are exchanged pursuant to the Rights Agreement, (iv) the repeal of Section 382 of the Code
or any successor statute or the occurrence of any other event if our Board determines that the
Rights Agreement is no longer necessary for the preservation of Tax Benefits and (v) the beginning
of a taxable year to which our Board determines that no Tax Benefits may be carried forward.
Redemption. At any time prior to the Distribution Date, our Board may redeem the Rights in
whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.0001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of
the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as our Board,
in its sole discretion, may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate, and the holders of Rights will thereafter only have the right
to receive the Redemption Price.
Anti-Dilution Provisions. Our Board may adjust the Purchase Price, the number of shares
issuable upon exercise of the Rights and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that
may occur as a result of certain events, including, among others, a stock dividend, a stock split
or a reclassification of our capital stock. No adjustments to the Purchase Price of less than 1%
will be made.
Amendments. Before the Distribution Date, our Board may amend or supplement the Rights
Agreement without the consent of the Rights holders. After the Distribution Date, our Board may
amend or supplement the Rights Agreement only to cure an ambiguity, to alter time period
provisions, to correct inconsistent provisions or to make any additional changes to the Rights
Agreement, but only to the extent that those changes do not impair or adversely affect any Rights
holder and do not result in the Rights again becoming redeemable or the Rights Agreement again
becoming amendable other than in connection with amendments described in this sentence.