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EXHIBIT (a)
_________________________________________________
APACHE CORPORATION
and
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A., as Rights Agent
_________________________________________________
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 31, 1996
_________________________________________________
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 3. Issuance of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 7. Exercise of Rights, Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 8. Cancellation of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares and
Number of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earnings Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 15. Rights of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 00
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Xxxxxxx 00. Duties of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 23. Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 24. Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Section 26. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Section 28. Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Section 31. Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Section 32. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Section 33. Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Section 34. Descriptive Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Rights Agreement, dated as of January 31, 1996
("Agreement"), between Apache Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and
declared a dividend of one right (a "Right") for each share of Common Stock (as
hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as
defined below) on January 31, 1996 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing
the right to purchase one ten- thousandth (subject to adjustment) of a share of
Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions herein set forth, and has further authorized and directed the
issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) with respect
to each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding between the Record
Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as such
terms are hereinafter defined); provided, however, that Rights may be issued
with respect to shares of Common Stock that shall become outstanding after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with Section
22.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this
Agreement, the following terms have the meaning indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such
term is hereinafter defined) who or which shall be the Beneficial Owner (as
such term is hereinafter defined) of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding, but shall not include an Exempt Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined); provided, however, that if the Board of Directors of the
Company determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an
"Acquiring Person" became such inadvertently (including, without limitation,
because (i) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of
Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person"
or (ii) such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of
Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial
Ownership under this Agreement) and without any intention of changing or
influencing control of the Company, and if such Person as promptly as
practicable divested or divests itself of Beneficial Ownership of 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 or to have
become an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as
the result of an acquisition of shares of Common Stock by the Company which, by
reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases
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the proportionate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such
Person to 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, provided,
however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of
the shares of Common Stock then outstanding by reason of such share
acquisitions by the Company and shall thereafter become the Beneficial Owner of
any additional shares of Common Stock, then such Person shall be deemed to be
an "Acquiring Person" unless upon the consummation of the acquisition of such
additional shares of Common Stock such Person does not own 20% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding. For all purposes of this Agreement,
any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any
particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular
percentage of such 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) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date
hereof.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the
respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Rights
Agreement.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of,
shall be deemed to have "Beneficial Ownership" of and shall be deemed to
"beneficially own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates is deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly,
within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Rights Agreement;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with
and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights,
exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially
own, (x) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or
on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until
such tendered securities are accepted for purchase, (y) securities which such
Person has a right to acquire upon the exercise of Rights at any time prior to
the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (z) securities issuable
upon the exercise of Rights from and after the time that any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person if such Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to
Section 3(a) or Section 22
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hereof ("original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) or Section 11(n) with
respect to an adjustment to original Rights; or (B) the right to vote pursuant
to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any
security by reason of such agreement, arrangement or understanding if the
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely
from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public
proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is
not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other
than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group
members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the
proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company;
provided, however, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned" (as defined in this Section 1(c)), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director
or employee of an Exempt Person.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a
Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which federally chartered banking institutions
in the State of Texas are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean
5:00 P.M., Houston, Texas time, on such date; provided, however, that if such
date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Houston, Texas time, on the
next succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" when used with reference to the
Company shall mean the Common Stock, presently par value $1.25 per share, of
the Company. "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than
the Company shall mean the common stock (or, in the case of an unincorporated
entity, the equivalent equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such
other Person or, if such other Person is a subsidiary of another Person, the
Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
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(g) "Common Stock equivalents" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(h) "CSE" shall mean the Chicago Stock Exchange,
Incorporated.
(i) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(j) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3 hereof.
(k) "equivalent preferred shares" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.
(l) "Exempt Person" shall mean the Company or any
Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, in each case
including, without limitation, in its fiduciary capacity, or any employee
benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity
or trustee holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan
or for the purpose of funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits
for employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company.
(m) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 24 hereof.
(n) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7 hereof.
(o) "Flip-In Event" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(p) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7 hereof.
(q) "NASDAQ" shall mean The NASDAQ Stock Market.
(r) "NYSE" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
(s) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm,
corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, and shall include any
successor (by merger or otherwise) to such entity.
(t) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Company having
the rights and
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preferences set forth in the Form of Certificate of Designations attached to
this Rights Agreement as Exhibit A.
(u) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 13 hereof.
(v) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7 hereof.
(w) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 23 hereof.
(x) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3 hereof.
(y) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.
(z) "Section 11(a) (ii) Trigger Date" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(aa) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ab) "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 of Directors shall become
aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person.
(bb) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any
corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests
having ordinary voting power sufficient to elect a majority of the board of
directors or other persons performing similar functions are beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person, and any corporation or other entity
that is otherwise controlled by such Person.
(cc) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(dd) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3 hereof.
(ee) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
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Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company
hereby agrees to appoint the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and
the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall
prior to the Distribution Date be the holders of Common Stock) in accordance
with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby agrees to
accept such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such
co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issuance of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) the
tenth calendar day after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth Business
Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of
Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after
the date of the commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or
of the first public announcement of the intention of such Person (other than an
Exempt Person) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of
which would result in any Person (other than an Exempt Person) becoming the
Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 30% or more of the
Common Stock then outstanding (including any such date which is after the date
of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights; the earlier of such
dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will
be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the
certificates for Common Stock registered in the names of the holders thereof
and not by separate Right Certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer 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, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid
mail, to each record holder of Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, a Right Certificate, in substantially the form of
Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right (subject to
adjustment as provided herein) for each share of Common Stock so held. As of
the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right
Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable
thereafter, the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase
Shares of Preferred Stock, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the
"Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record
holder of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record Date (other
than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring
Person), at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company.
With respect to certificates for Common Stock outstanding as of the Record
Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such
certificates for Common Stock registered in the names of the holders
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thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or,
if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate
for Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the
Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Stock represented thereby.
(c) Certificates issued for Common Stock (including,
without limitation, upon transfer of outstanding Common Stock, disposition of
Common Stock out of treasury stock or issuance or reissuance of Common Stock
out of authorized but unissued shares) 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 the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
hereof to certain rights (the "Rights") as set forth in a
Rights Agreement between Apache Corporation and Norwest Bank
Minnesota, N.A., as Rights Agent, dated as of January 31,
1996 as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on
file at the principal executive offices of Apache
Corporation. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in
the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by
separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by
this certificate. Apache Corporation will mail to the
holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement
without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.
Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, Rights owned by or transferred to any Person who
is or becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) and certain transferees thereof will become null
and void and will no longer be transferable.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate, except as otherwise provided
herein, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or
otherwise acquires any Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the
Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Stock shall be deemed
canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any
Rights associated with the Common Stock which are no longer outstanding.
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Notwithstanding this paragraph (c), the omission of a
legend shall not affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the
rights of any holder of the Rights.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right
Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase shares and of assignment to
be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially in the form set forth
in Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation
and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the 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 interdealer 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, 13 and 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall
entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one ten-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price per one
ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock set forth therein (the "Purchase
Price"), but the number of such one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of
the Company by the Chairman or President of the Company, either manually or by
facsimile signature, shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a
facsimile thereof and shall be attested by the Secretary of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be
countersigned by the Rights Agent either manually or by facsimile and shall not
be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the
Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be
such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and
issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless,
may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the
Company with the same force and effect as though the Person who signed such
Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any
Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any Person who, at
the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of
the execution of this Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will
keep or cause to be kept, at an office or agency designated for such purpose,
books for registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder.
Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the
Right Certificates, the number of
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Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of
each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of
Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 11(a)(ii)
and 14 hereof, at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the
Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates may be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or
Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number
of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as the Right Certificate
or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any
registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right
Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered
to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate(s) to be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged and any other required documents
at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose.
Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled
thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so
requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer,
split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof,
at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, (i)
upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right
Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and (ii) upon surrender to the Rights Agent and
cancellation of the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Rights Agent will make
and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the registered holder in
lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights, Purchase Price; Expiration
Date of Rights.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall
become exercisable on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the registered
holder of any Right Certificate may, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and
except as otherwise provided herein, exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in
whole or in part upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total
number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which the Rights
are
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exercised, at any time which is both after the Distribution Date and prior to
the time (the "Expiration Date") that is the earliest of (i) the Close of
Business on January 31, 2006 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at
which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption
Date") or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in
Section 24 hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price shall be initially $100 for each
one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise
of a Right. The Purchase Price and the number of one ten-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock or other securities or property to be acquired upon
exercise of a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of
the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section
7.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, upon receipt of a
Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to
purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the aggregate Purchase Price
for the shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof, in cash or by certified check,
cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights
Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of
the Preferred Stock certificates for the number of shares of Preferred Stock to
be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent
to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing interests in such number of one ten-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company
hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu
of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii)
after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be
delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt, promptly deliver such cash to
or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) Except as otherwise provided herein, in case the
registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all of the
Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent
to the exercisable Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights
Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly
authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
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(e) 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 a registered holder of Rights upon the
occurrence of any purported transfer or exercise of Rights pursuant to Section
6 hereof or this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i)
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment or
form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights
Certificate surrendered for such transfer or exercise and (ii) provided such
additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former
Beneficial Owner) thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably
request.
Section 8. Cancellation of Right Certificates. All Right
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
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 Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Company.
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to
be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock or any shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury, the
number of shares of Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and,
following the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, shares of
Common Stock and other securities) issuable upon the exercise of Rights may be
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, or quoted on
NASDAQ, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such
time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to
be listed or admitted to trading on such exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ, upon
official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) From and after such time as the Rights become
exercisable, the Company shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to
permit the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the time that
any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, shares of Common Stock and other
securities) upon the exercise of Rights, to register and qualify such shares of
Preferred Stock (and, following the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, shares of Common Stock and other securities) under the Securities Act
and any applicable state securities or "Blue Sky" laws (to the extent
exemptions therefrom are not available), cause such registration statement and
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qualifications to become effective as soon as possible after such filing and
keep such registration and qualifications effective until the earlier of the
date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities and
the Expiration Date. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time
not to exceed 90 days, the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and
file a registration statement under the Securities Act and permit it to become
effective. Upon 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. 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 and until
a registration statement under the Securities Act (if required) shall have been
declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all
such action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock
(and, following the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, shares of
Common Stock and other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at
the time of delivery of the certificates therefor (subject to payment of the
Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable shares.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will
pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the
Right Certificates or of any shares of Preferred Stock (or shares of Common
Stock or other securities) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of
any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred
Stock (or shares of Common Stock or other securities) in a name other than that
of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates or depositary
receipts for Preferred Stock (or shares of Common Stock or other securities)
upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any
such tax being payable by that holder of such Right Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's reasonable
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in
whose name any certificate for Preferred Stock is issued upon the exercise of
Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of
the shares of Preferred Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate
shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such
Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any
applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of
such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock transfer
books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the
record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the
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next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the
Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the
holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder
of Preferred Stock for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including,
without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends or other
distributions, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any
proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind
of Shares and Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of shares of
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 date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock
payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred
Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of
shares of Preferred Stock or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the 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, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable
on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right
exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and
kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised
immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer
books of the Company 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, if any, of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issuable upon exercise of one Right.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in
the event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (the first occurrence of such
event being referred to hereinafter as the "Flip-In Event"), then (A) the
Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to the Flip-In Event multiplied by the number of one ten-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
such Flip-In Event, whether or not such Right was then exercisable, and (B)
each holder of a Right, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a)(ii)
and Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price equal to the Purchase Price (as so adjusted), in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred
Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained
by dividing the
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Purchase Price (as so adjusted) by 50% of the current per share market price of
the Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of
such Flip-In Event and shall have no right to receive shares of Preferred
Stock; provided, however, that the Purchase Price (as so adjusted) and the
number of shares of Common Stock so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall,
following the Flip-In Event, 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 Flip-In Event, any
Rights that are beneficially owned by (x) any Acquiring Person (or any
Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person), (y) a transferee of any
Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who becomes a transferee
after the Flip-In Event or (z) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any
such Affiliate or Associate) who became a transferee prior to or concurrently
with the Flip-In Event pursuant to either (I) 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 regarding the
transferred Rights or (II) a transfer which the Board of Directors has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding 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 shall use
all 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 Right
Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any
determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder. From and after the Flip-In Event, no Right
Certificate 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 Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent that
represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the provisions of
this paragraph shall be cancelled. From and after the occurrence of an event
specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that theretofore have not been
exercised pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii) shall thereafter be exercisable
only in accordance with Section 13 and not pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii).
(iii) The Company may at its option substitute
for a share of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance
with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) a number of shares of Preferred Stock or
fraction thereof such that the current per share market price of one share of
Preferred Stock multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current
per share market price of one share of Common Stock. In the event that there
shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or
authorized but unissued to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Board of Directors shall,
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 (such excess,
the "Spread") of (1) the value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise
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of a Right in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) (the "Current
Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii)), and (B) with respect to each Right (other than
Rights which have become void pursuant to the foregoing subparagraph (ii)),
make adequate provision to substitute for the shares of Common Stock issuable
in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) upon exercise of the Right
and payment of the Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance therewith), (1)
cash, (2) a reduction in such Purchase Price, (3) shares of 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 Common Stock, are deemed in good faith by the Board of Directors to have
substantially the same value as the shares of Common Stock (such shares of
Preferred Stock and 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 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 of Directors upon the
advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected in good
faith by the Board of Directors; 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 Flip-In Event (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 such Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent
available), and then, if necessary, such number or fractions of shares of
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, upon the
occurrence of the Flip-In Event, the Board of Directors shall determine in good
faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could
be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, then, if the
Board of Directors so elects, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be
extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the
Section 11(a) (ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder
approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such thirty (30) day
period, as it may be extended, is herein 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
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announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is
no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a) (iii), the value of the
shares of Common Stock shall be the current per share market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)) on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date
and the per share or fractional value of any "Common Stock equivalent" shall be
deemed to equal the current per share market price of the Common Stock. The
Board of Directors of the Company may, but shall not be required to, establish
procedures to allocate the right to receive shares of Common Stock upon the
exercise of the Rights among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(a)(iii).
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock
entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record
date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or shares having the same
rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock ("equivalent
preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or
equivalent preferred shares at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
equivalent preferred shares (or having a conversion price per share, if a
security convertible into shares of Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred
shares) less than the then current per share market price of the Preferred
Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date, the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of
Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred shares
which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred
Stock and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be
the number of shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of
Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon
exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the
value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board
of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent. Shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent
preferred shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be
deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the
event that such
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rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
making of a distribution to all holders of the 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 or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a
dividend payable in Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be
in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the then current per share market price of the
Preferred Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record
date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences of
indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to one share of Preferred Stock, and the denominator of which shall
be such current per share market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) of the 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 of the Company to be issued
upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such distribution
is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase
Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d)(i) Except as otherwise provided herein, for the
purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per share market price" of
any security (a "Security" for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any
date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of
such Security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter
defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event
that the current per share market price of the Security is determined during a
period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (A) a
dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or
securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading
Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the
record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in
each such case, the current per share market price shall be appropriately
adjusted to reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such
Security. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular
way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported by the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
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listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the
Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange,
as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on
which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished
by a professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on
which the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is
listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if
the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
if the Preferred Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price"
of the Preferred Stock shall be determined in accordance with the method set
forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred Stock is not publicly traded but
the Common Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of
the Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share
market price of the Common Stock as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)
multiplied by ten thousand (appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof). If
neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly traded, "current
per share market price" shall mean the fair value per share as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall
be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be
required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at
least 1% in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which
by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried
forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations
under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one
hundred-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock or share of Common Stock or
other share or security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence
of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made
no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction
which requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to
Section 11(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than the
Preferred Stock, thereafter the Purchase Price and the number of such other
shares so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to adjustment
from time to time in a manner and on terms as
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nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the
Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), 11(b), 11(c), 11(e), 11(h), 11(i)
and 11(m) hereof, as applicable, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13
and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to
any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company
subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of
one ten- thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to
time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment
as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its
election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase
Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each
Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall
thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that
number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the
nearest one hundred- thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of one ten-thousandths of a share covered by a Right
immediately prior to such adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing
the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price pursuant to Sections 11(a)(i), 11(b) or 11(c)
hereof to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in
the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable
upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one
ten- thousandths of a share of 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-hundredth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date
may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter,
but, if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 days
later than the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been
issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(i), the Company may, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause
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to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for
the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment,
and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Right Certificates to be distributed in such manner shall be
issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall
be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on
the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price or the number of one ten- thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates
theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price
and the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock which were
expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an
adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the
fraction of Preferred Stock or other shares of capital stock 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 Preferred
Stock or other such shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require
that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date
for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of
such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record
date of the Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the
Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Stock
and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon
such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such
adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a
due xxxx or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to
receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such
adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine
to be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred
Stock, issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than
the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Stock or
securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for
Preferred Stock, dividends on Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred
Stock or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in
Section 11(b), hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock
shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
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(n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that at any time after the date of this Rights
Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or (ii) effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend payable in Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then, in each
such case, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then
outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter, shall be proportionately
adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of
Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by
multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock
immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be
the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of
such event.
(o) The Company agrees that, after the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date, it will not, except as
permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to
take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably
foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or eliminate the
benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or
Number of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or
13 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth
such adjustment, and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such
adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the
Common Stock and the Preferred Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a
brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with
Section 25 hereof (if so required under Section 25 hereof). The Rights Agent
shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any
adjustment therein contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
Assets or Earnings Power.
(a) In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after
the Flip-In Event (i) the Company shall merge with and into any other Person,
(ii) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or any Person shall merge
with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of
the Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other Person (or of the Company) or cash or any other
property, or (iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more
of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions,
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assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person
(other than the Company or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of the
Company), then upon the first occurrence of such event, proper provision shall
be made so that: (A) each holder of a Right (other than Rights which have
become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the Purchase Price (as
theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof), in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred
Stock or Common Stock of the Company, such number of validly authorized and
issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock
of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject to
any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as
shall equal the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price (as theretofore
adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) by 50% of the current per
share market price of the Common Stock of such Principal Party (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; provided, however, that the Purchase
Price (as theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) and
the number of shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in
accordance with Section 11(f) hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect
of the Common Stock of such Principal Party after the occurrence of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (B) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company
pursuant to this Rights Agreement; (C) the term "Company" shall thereafter be
deemed to refer to such Principal Party; and (D) such Principal Party shall
take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient
number of shares of its Common Stock in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in
connection with such consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary
to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly
as reasonably may be, in relation to the shares of its Common Stock thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; provided that, upon the subsequent
occurrence of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets or other
extraordinary transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a
Right shall thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and
payment of the Purchase Price as provided in this Section 13(a), such cash,
shares, rights, warrants and other property which such holder would have been
entitled to receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the
Common Stock of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of a Right
pursuant to this Section 13(a), and such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be
necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with
the terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property.
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(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in
(i) or (ii) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that
is the issuer of the securities into which the shares of Common Stock are
converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such
issuer, the issuer the shares of Common Stock of which have the greatest
aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so
issued, (x) the Person that is the other party to the merger, if such Person
survives said merger, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person the
shares of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of
shares outstanding or (y) if the Person that is the other party to the merger
does not survive the merger, the Person that does survive the merger (including
the Company if it survives) or (z) the Person resulting from the consolidation;
and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in
(iii) of the first sentence in Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the
party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred
pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a
party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the
assets or earning power so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such
Persons as is the issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market
value of shares outstanding;
provided, however, that in any such case described in the foregoing clause
(b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time or
has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so
registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person, or (2)
if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one
Person, the Common Stock of all of which is and has been so registered, the
term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer
of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding, or (3) if such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint
venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or
indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2)
above shall apply to each of the owners having an interest in the venture as if
the Person owned by the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such
joint venturers, and the Principal Party in each such case shall bear the
obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as its interest in
such Person bears to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer referred to in Section 13(a) hereof unless prior
thereto the Company and the Principal Party involved therein shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent an agreement confirming that the
requirements of Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof shall
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promptly be performed in accordance with their terms and that such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets shall not result in a default
by the Principal Party under this Agreement as the same shall have been assumed
by the Principal Party pursuant to Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof and providing
that, as soon as practicable after executing such agreement pursuant to this
Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement
under the Securities Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use
its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date and
similarly comply with applicable state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts, if the Common Stock
of the Principal Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or on another national securities exchange, to list or admit to
trading (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities
exchange, or, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities
exchange, to cause the Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of
the Rights to be authorized for quotation on NASDAQ or on such other system
then in use;
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with
the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act; and
(iv) obtain waivers of any rights of first
refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the Common Stock of the Principal
Party subject to purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
(d) In case the Principal Party has provision in any of
its authorized securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or
other instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have
the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders
of Rights pursuant to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of
Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then current market price
per share thereof (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock of such Principal Party at
less than such then current market price, or (ii) providing for any special
payment, tax or similar provision in connection with the issuance of the Common
Stock of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13, then,
in such event, the Company hereby agrees with each holder of Rights that it
shall not consummate any
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such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party
shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing that the provision in question of such Principal Party shall have
been canceled, waived or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be
redeemed, so that the applicable provision will have no effect in connection
with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not,
at any time after the Flip-In Event, enter into any transaction of the type
described in clauses (i) through (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof if (i) at the
time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or
other transaction there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or
securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially
diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights, (ii) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other transaction, the stockholders of
the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the Principal Party for
purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights
previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates or (iii)
the form or nature of organization of the Principal Party would preclude or
limit the exercisability of the Rights.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights
(except prior to the Distribution Date in accordance with Section 11(n)
hereof). In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of
this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the
closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date
on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing
price for any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no
such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are
listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not
so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use
or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors
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of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in
the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples
of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the
Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock). Interests in fractions of
Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a
depositary selected by it; provided, that such agreement shall provide that the
holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and
preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred
Stock represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of
Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one ten- thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of
Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current per share market price
of one share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the
Right expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock upon exercise of a Right
(except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in
respect of this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to Rights Agent
under Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of
Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders
of Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, of any Common Stock), without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), on his own behalf and for his own
benefit, may enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his
right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, such Common Stock) in the manner provided therein and in
this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to
the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of
Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this
Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations
under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the
obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.
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Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a
Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the
Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates
are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered
at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat
the Person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof
and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership
or writing on the Right Certificates or the Common Stock certificate made by
anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever,
and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to
the contrary.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to
vote, receive dividends or be deemed to be for any purpose, the holder of the
Preferred Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of
the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold
consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other
actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in this Agreement), or to
receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights
evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance
with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from
time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and
counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent,
for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the
acceptance and
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administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending
against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur
no liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
in connection with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any
Right Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Stock or Common Stock or for
other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by
the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set
forth in Section 20 hereof.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of
Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or
any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the stock transfer or corporate trust powers of the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under
this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act
on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, that such corporation would
be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall
succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates
shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights
Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in
all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in
the Right Certificates and in this Agreement. Notice of succession of the
Rights Agent shall be given as provided in Section 21 of this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent
shall be changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not
have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name and in all such
cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right
Certificates and in this Agreement.
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Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent
undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the
following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of
Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel
(who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as
to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under
this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any
fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or
suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in
respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be
conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chairman or
the President and the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the
Company and any other Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by
reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement
or in the Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be
required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall
be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any
responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution
and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to
Section 11(a) (ii) hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights
provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 and 24, or the ascertaining of the
existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except
with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after
receipt of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12, describing such
change or 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 Preferred Stock, Common Stock, or other securities to be issued pursuant to
this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any shares of
Preferred Stock,
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Common Stock, or other securities will, when issued, be validly authorized and
issued fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing
by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed
to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder
from any person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be one of the
Chairman or President or the Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such
officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall
not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in
accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting
while waiting for those instructions. 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 omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be
liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance
with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified
in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days after
the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application unless
any such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless,
prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an
omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written 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
legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of
the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either
itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not
be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such
act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in
the selection and continued employment of such attorneys or agents.
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(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), the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to
such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or
any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under
this Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or
certified mail, and, following the Distribution Date, to the holders of the
Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to
the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or
certified mail, and, following the Distribution Date, to the holders of the
Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be
removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall
appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make
such appointment within a period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal
or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by
the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right
Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate
may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new
Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or
by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the
laws of the United States or the laws of any state of the United States or the
District of Columbia, in good standing, having an office in the Borough of
Manhattan, City of New York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50
million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with
the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver
any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not
later than the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall file
notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer
agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock, and, following the Distribution
Date, mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right
Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of
the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
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Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the
contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates
evidencing Rights in such forms as may be approved by its Board of Directors to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind
or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Right
Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In
addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Stock following the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company may with
respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to (i) the
exercise of stock options, (ii) under any employee plan or arrangement, (iii)
upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities notes or debentures
issued by the Company or (iv) a contractual obligation of the Company, in each
case existing prior to the Distribution Date, issue Rights Certificates
representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance
or sale.
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at any
time prior to the Flip-In Event, redeem all but not less than all the then
outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (the redemption price being hereinafter
referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be
made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the
Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of
this Section 23 (or at such later time as the Board of Directors may establish
for the effectiveness of such redemption), and without any further action and
without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the
only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the
Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such
redemption; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any
such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Within 10 days
after such action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the
Rights (or such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the
effectiveness of such redemption), the Company shall mail a notice of
redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior
to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the
Common Stock. 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 will be made.
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Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time after the Flip-In Event, exchange all or part of the then
outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have
become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common
Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such amount per Right being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such
exchange at any time after any Person (other than an Exempt Person), together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner
of shares of Common Stock aggregating 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding. From and after the occurrence of an event specified in
Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that theretofore have not been exchanged
pursuant to this Section 24(a) shall thereafter be exercisable only in
accordance with Section 13 and may not be exchanged pursuant to this Section
24(a). The exchange of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made
effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of
the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and
without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the
only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that
number of shares of 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
of the 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 Common Stock for Rights will be effected
and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number
of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) The Company may at its option substitute, and, in
the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but
not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit an exchange of Rights for
Common Stock as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company
shall substitute to the extent of such insufficiency, for each share of Common
Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of
shares of Preferred Stock or fraction
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thereof (or equivalent preferred shares, as such term is defined in Section
11(b)) such that the current per share market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) of one share of Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred
share) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current per share
market price of one share of Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) as of the date of the Flip-In Event.
(d) The Company shall not, in connection with any
exchange pursuant to this Section 24, be required to issue fractions of shares
of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares
of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, the
Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with
regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be
issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current per share
market price of a whole share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall at any time after the
earlier of the Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date propose (i) to
pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred
Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Stock
(other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of
its Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any
additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any
other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of
its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the
subdivision of outstanding Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (v) to declare or pay any dividend
on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or to effect a subdivision,
combination or consolidation of the Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Stock), then, in each such
case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in
accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which
shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or
distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or 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 10 days prior to the record
date for determining holders of the Preferred Stock for purposes of such
action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the
date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein
by the holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock, whichever shall be
the earlier.
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(b) In case any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) or
Section 13 shall occur then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter
give to each holder of a Right Certificate (or if occurring prior to the
Distribution Date, the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with Section
26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall
describe such event and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights
under Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 13 hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by
this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any
Right Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Apache Corporation
0000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Office of the Corporate Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made
if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xx. Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Account Manager
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the holder's address as shown on the registry books
of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Except as
provided in the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, for so long as the
Rights are then redeemable, 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 the Rights. At any time when the Rights are no longer
redeemable, except as provided in the penultimate sentence of this Section 27,
the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs,
supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Rights Certificates in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or
supplement any provision
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contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions herein, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or (iv)
change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company
may deem necessary or desirable; provided that no such supplement or amendment
shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other
than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person),
and no such amendment may cause the rights again to become redeemable or cause
the Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this
sentence. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made which changes the Redemption
Price. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the
Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance
with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such
supplement or amendment.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and
provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights
Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and
assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in
this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, the holders of 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 Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the holders of Common Stock).
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive
power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise the rights and
powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors of the Company or to the
Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret
the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the Board of Directors of
the Company in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights, as such, and all other
parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors to any liability to holders
of the Rights.
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision,
covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
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restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each
Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under
the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for
all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings
of the several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and
shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the
provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and attested, this 18th day of January, 1996, all
effective as of the 31st day of January, 1996.
APACHE CORPORATION
ATTEST:
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx By /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
-------------------------------- -------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Corporate Secretary Title: Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.
as Rights Agent
ATTEST:
By /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-------------------------------- -------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Assistant Vice President
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Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS,
PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
APACHE CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
Apache Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 103 thereof, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors in accordance
with the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the said
Corporation, the said Board of Directors at a meeting duly held on December 14,
1995, adopted the following resolution creating a series of twenty-five
thousand (25,000) shares of Preferred Stock designated as "Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock":
RESOLVED: That, pursuant to the authority granted
to and vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation
in accordance with the provisions of its Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby
creates a series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation and
hereby states the designation and number of shares, and
fixes the relative rights, preferences and limitations
thereof (in addition to the provisions set forth in the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation,
which are applicable to all series of the Corporation's
preferred stock) as follows:
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of
Preferred Stock, no par value per share, that shall be designated as "Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock," and the number of whole shares
constituting such series shall be 25,000. Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
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provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock to less than the number of shares then
issued and outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding rights, options or warrants, or upon conversion of outstanding
securities issued by the Corporation.
2. Dividends and Distribution.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of
the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and
superior to the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with
respect to dividends, the holders of record of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock as of the close of business on the last Business
Day of December, March, June and September in each year, in preference to the
holders of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking
junior to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, shall be entitled
to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds
legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the
last Business Day of January, April, July and October in each year (each such
date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"),
commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first
issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to
the greater of (a) $100 or (b) the Adjustment Number (as defined below) times
the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and the Adjustment Number
times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash
dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of
Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock, par value $1.25
per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the immediately
preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The
"Adjustment Number" shall initially be 10,000. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time after January 31, 1995 (the "Effective Date") (i) declare any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in
effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such
Adjustment 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 that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or
distribution on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided
in paragraph (A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution
on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
A-2
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(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be
cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue
of such shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the
date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall
begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of
issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date
for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall
begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock in an amount less than
the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such
shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such
shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date
for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution
declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 60 days prior to the
date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Each share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to a number of votes equal to
the Adjustment Number on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of
the Corporation.
(B) Except as required by law and by Section 10
hereof, holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no
special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the
extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth
herein) for taking any corporate action.
4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other
dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until
all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have
been paid in full, the Corporation shall not
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make
any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock;
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(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make
any other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as
to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on
which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; or
(iii) purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or
any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or
by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or to such holders and holders
of any such shares ranking on a parity therewith, upon such terms as the Board
of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and
other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes,
shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among
the respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any
subsidiary or other affiliate controlled by 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 Junior
Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the
Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their retirement become
authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part
of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions
of the Board of Directors, subject to any conditions and restrictions on
issuance set forth herein.
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon
any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall have received $100 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment (the "Series A Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of
the full amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference, no additional
distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment")
equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series A Liquidation
A-4
45
Preference by (ii) the Adjustment Number. Following the payment of the full
amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in
respect of all outstanding shares of (1) Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock and (2) Common Stock, respectively, (a) holders of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and (b) holders of shares of Common Stock
shall, subject to the prior rights of all other series of Preferred Stock, if
any, ranking prior thereto, receive their ratable and proportionate share of
the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to
1 with respect to (x) the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and (y)
the Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not
sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A
Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of
Preferred Stock, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed
ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective
liquidation preferences. In the event, however, that there are not sufficient
assets available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment, then such
remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common Stock.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the
Corporation into or with another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of
any other corporation into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of
this Section 6.
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the
Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other
transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed
into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any
such case each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at
the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to
the Adjustment Number 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.
8. No Redemption. Shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall not be subject to redemption by the
Company.
9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's
Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets,
unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and shall rank
senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Restated Certificate
of Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which
would materially alter or
A-5
46
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock 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 Junior Participating Preferred
Stock.
This Certificate shall be effective as of January 31, 1996.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Apache Corporation has caused this Certificate to be
signed by ______________________________, its ______________________________,
this ______ day of January, 1996.
APACHE CORPORATION
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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Exhibit B
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. R- ____
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JANUARY 31, 2006 OR EARLIER
IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE
SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT AND TO
EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON
WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF
WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE
TRANSFERABLE.
Right Certificate
APACHE 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, dated as of January 31, 1996, as the same may be amended
from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between Apache Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time
after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement)
and prior to 5:00 P.M., Houston, Texas time, on January 31, 2006 at the office
or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or of its successor
as Rights Agent, one ten-thousandth of a fully paid non- assessable share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value per share (the
"Preferred Stock"), of the Company, at a purchase price of $100 per one
ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), upon
presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election
to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate (and the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the
Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of January
31, 1996, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. As
provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price, the number of one
ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities or property)
which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights and the
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48
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights
Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company and the above-mentioned office or agency of the Rights Agent. The
Company will mail to the holder of this Right Certificate a copy of the Rights
Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right
Certificates, upon surrender at the office or agency of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or
Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the
holder to purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock as the
Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered
shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall
be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender
hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole
Rights not exercised.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon
the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions
which are integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the
Rights Agreement.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the
Rights evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a
redemption price of $.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part
for shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $1.25 per share, or shares
of Preferred Stock.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be
entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed to be for any purpose, the
holder of the Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which
may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything
contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the
holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or
any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement) or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
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This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for
any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of
the Company and its corporate seal. Dated ________________ __, 199_.
APACHE CORPORATION
ATTEST: By:
-------------------------------------
[Title]
-----------------------------------
[Title]
Countersigned:
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.
as Rights Agent
By
---------------------------------
[Title]
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED hereby sells, assigns and
----------------------------
transfers unto
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Please insert social security or other identifying number)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rights represented by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title
and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
______________________________Attorney, to transfer said Rights on the books of
the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated:
-------------------
----------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guarantee:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company,
broker, dealer or other eligible institution participating in a recognized
signature guarantee medallion program.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(To be completed)
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced
by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by, were not acquired by
the undersigned from, and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
----------------------------------------
Signature
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51
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate)
To APACHE CORPORATION:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
___________ Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares
of Preferred Stock (or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise
of such Rights and requests that certificates for such shares of Preferred
Stock (or such other securities) be issued in the name of:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
----------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated:
-------------------
----------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must conform to holder specified on Right Certificate)
Signature Guarantee:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company,
broker, dealer or other eligible institution participating in a recognized
signature guarantee medallion program.
B-5
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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed)
The undersigned certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by, and were not acquired by the
undersigned from, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
defined in the Rights Agreement).
----------------------------------------
Signature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature on the Form of Assignment or Form of Election
to Purchase, as the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the
face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration,
enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form
of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not
completed, such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
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53
Exhibit C
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED
BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME
NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK OF
APACHE CORPORATION
On December 14, 1995, the Board of Directors of Apache
Corporation (the "Company") declared a dividend of one right (a "Right") for
each outstanding share of common stock, par value $1.25 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock"). The dividend is payable on January 31, 1996 (the
"Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company one ten-thousandth of a
share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value per share
(the "Preferred Stock") of the Company at a price of $100 per one
ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement dated as of January 31, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to
time (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota,
N.A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 calendar days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of
20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days
(or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors
prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an
intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which
would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 30% or more of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called
the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of
the Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common
Stock certificate together with a copy of this Summary of Rights.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be
transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date
(or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock
certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuances of
Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration
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54
of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a
copy of this Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate. As
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates
evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of
record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date
and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire on January 31, 2006 (the "Final Expiration Date"),
unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of
Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the
Rights is subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in
the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the
Preferred Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase
Preferred Stock at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock with
a conversion price, less than the then-current market price of the Preferred
Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of
evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends
or dividends payable in Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants
(other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights is subject to adjustment
in the event of a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common
Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights will not be redeemable. The holders of Preferred Stock will be
entitled, when, as and if declared, to a preferential quarterly dividend
payment equal to the greater of $100 per share or 10,000 times the dividend
declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders
of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation
payment of $100 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) and an
aggregate payment of 10,000 times the payment made per share of Common Stock.
The holders of Preferred Stock will have 10,000 votes per share of Preferred
Stock, voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of any
merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock are
converted or exchanged, holders of each share of Preferred Stock will be
entitled to receive 10,000 times the amount received per share of Common Stock.
These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
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55
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one ten-thousandth interest in
a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should
approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or
associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other
than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon
become void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a
Right at the then-current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of
Common Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price of the
Right, and shall have no right thereafter to receive shares of Preferred Stock.
In the event that, after a person or group has become an
Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning
power are sold, proper provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right
(other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have
become void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then-current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares
of common stock of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the
foregoing transaction (or its parent), which number of shares at the time of
such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of
the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring
Person and prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous
paragraph or the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will
have become void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred
Stock (or a series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights,
preferences and privileges), at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock,
or a fractional share of Preferred Stock (or other preferred stock) equivalent
in value thereto, per Right.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase
Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at
least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will
be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the
Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred
Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes
such, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but
not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The
redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and
with such conditions as the Board of Directors
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56
in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the
Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of
the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company
may, except with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights in any
manner. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except
with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights in any manner that does
not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such,
will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on
Form 8-A, dated as of January 31, 1996. A copy of the Rights Agreement is
available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the
Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Rights Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to
time, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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