EXHIBIT 4.2
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OM GROUP, INC.
and
National City Bank
Rights Agent
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Stockholder Rights Agreement
dated as of
November 5, 1996
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1. Certain Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights 11
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates . . . . . 14
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock . . . . . . . . . 14
Section 10. Preferred Share Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares
or Number of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares . . . 28
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 15. Rights of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder . . . . . . . 34
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent . 35
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Section 23. Redemption and Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Section 25. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Section 27. Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. . . . 45
Section 29. Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Section 31. Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Section 32. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Section 33. Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Section 34. Descriptive Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Exhibit A Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights . . . . .A1-4
Exhibit B Form of Rights Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-10
Exhibit C Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares . . . . . . . .C1-3
STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 5, 1996 (the
"Agreement"), between OM GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and National City Bank (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
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WHEREAS, on November 5, 1996 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"),
the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend
distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of common
stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding as of the
Close of Business on November 15, 1996 (the "Record Date") and authorized the
issuance of one Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to
the provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock issued
between the Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the
Company's treasury) and the Distribution Date, each Right initially representing
the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences set
forth in the Certificate Designation, Preferences and Rights attached as Exhibit
A hereto, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth
(the "Rights");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean, at the time any determination
is to be made, any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that: (i) the term
"Acquiring Person" shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of either the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company, any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company
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for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan; (ii) no Person shall become an
Acquiring Person solely by virtue of a reduction in the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding, unless subsequent to such reduction such Person or any
Affiliate or Associate of such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of any
additional shares of Common Stock other than as a result of a stock dividend,
stock split or similar transaction effected by the Company in which all
stockholders are treated equally; (iii) the term "Acquiring Person" shall not
include any person whose beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock was approved by the Board of Directors on or prior to the
Date of this Agreement; and (iv) if the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person" has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as
practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person
would no longer be an "Acquiring Person," then such Person shall not be deemed
to be or have ever been an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this
Agreement.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a
Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for
purchase, payment or exchange, or (B) securities issuable upon
exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering
Event, or (C) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from and
after the
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occurrence of a Triggering Event which 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 hereof
(the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in
connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original
Rights; or
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose
of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule
13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act),
including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether or not in writing) with any other Person; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," any security as a result of an agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such agreement,
arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy
given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to,
and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the applicable
rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and (B) is not also then
reportable by such Person 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 or any Affiliate or Associate with which such Person
(or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable
proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) to this
paragraph (c)) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing in this paragraph (c) shall cause a
Person ordinarily engaged in the business of underwriting securities
to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any securities
acquired through such Person's participation in a bona fide firm
commitment underwriting of such securities pursuant to an underwriting
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agreement with the Company for such period of time as shall be
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to the
contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a Person's
Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the number of such
securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such
securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person would be
deemed to own beneficially hereunder.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Ohio 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.,
Cleveland, Ohio time, on such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such date is not
a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., Cleveland, Ohio time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, $.01 par value,
of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any
Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock or equity security of
such Person with the greatest voting power, or if such Person is a Subsidiary of
another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such
first-mentioned Person.
(g) "Distribution Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close
of Business on the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date and (ii) the Close
of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined
by the Board of Directors) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any
Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person
or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the
meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange
Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
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(h) "Flip-In Event" shall mean any event described in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(i) "Flip-Over Event" shall mean any event described in clauses
(x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(j) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity.
(k) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company, and to the extent that there
are not a sufficient number of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock
authorized to permit the full exercise of the Rights, any other series of
preferred stock of the Company designated for such purpose containing terms
substantially similar to the terms of the Series A Participating Preferred
Stock.
(l) "Purchase Price" shall mean the exercise price per one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock as set forth in Section 7(b) hereof,
subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof.
(m) "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) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(n) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation or other entity of which voting power sufficient to elect at least a
majority of the directors (or other governing body) of such corporation or other
entity is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or
otherwise controlled by such Person.
(o) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Flip-In Event or any Flip-
Over Event.
Section 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby appoints
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights
(who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date
also be the holders of the outstanding shares of Common Stock) in accordance
with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as
it may deem necessary or desirable.
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Section 3. ISSUE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be
evidenced by the certificates for the shares of Common Stock registered in the
names of the holders of shares of Common Stock (which certificates for shares of
Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by
separate certificates, and (ii) the Rights will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock (including
a transfer to the Company). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date,
the Company will prepare and execute, and the Rights Agent will countersign and,
if requested by the Company, send by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail,
to each record holder of shares of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on
the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company, one or more right certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B
hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of
Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event
that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been
made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights
Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding
adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof). Rights Certificates
representing only whole numbers of Rights will be distributed and cash will be
paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date,
the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class,
postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Common Stock as of the
Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company. With respect to certificates for shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will
be evidenced by such certificates for shares of Common Stock and the registered
holders of shares of Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the
associated Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration
Date (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof), the transfer of any
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certificates representing shares of Common Stock, or the surrender of any
certificates representing shares of Common Stock for any purpose, including
redemption of the shares represented by such certificates or conversion or
exchange of such shares into or for any security other than Common Stock, shall
also constitute the transfer or surrender, as appropriate, of the Rights
associated with such shares of Common Stock.
(c) Certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall
also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following
legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in the Stockholder Rights Agreement
between OM Group, Inc. (the "Company") and National City Bank (the
"Rights Agent") dated as of November 5, 1996 (the "Rights Agreement"),
the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a
copy of which is on file at the principal offices of the Rights Agent.
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. The Rights Agent will mail to
the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in
effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt
of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth
in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who
is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person, or who is an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement),
whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any
subsequent holder, may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date and (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificates
shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of shares
of Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights,
and the transfer of any of such certificates, or the surrender of any such
certificates for redemption of the shares represented thereby or for conversion
or exchange of such shares into or for any security other than Common Stock
shall also constitute the transfer or surrender, as appropriate, of the Rights
associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificates.
(d) Except as set forth in Section 22 hereof, nothing in this
Agreement or as this Agreement may be construed with any other agreement,
contract, indenture, instrument, document, or understanding (written or
unwritten) to which the Company or any holder of capital stock of the Company
may be a party, or under the terms of which the Company or any holder of capital
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stock may be bound, shall give the holders of the capital stock any right to
receive, after the Distribution Date, any additional Rights, or any rights,
warrants or options with substantially similar terms as the Rights, by virtue of
conversion of any shares of capital stock of the Company into shares of Common
Stock of the Company after the Distribution Date.
Section 4. FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each 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 on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be
dated as of the Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof
to purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as
shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price
per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, the "Purchase Price"), but
the amount and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right
and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided
herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring
Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of
an Acquiring Person (or of any such Person's Associate or Affiliate) who becomes
a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of
an Acquiring Person (or of any such Person's Associate or Affiliate) who becomes
a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such
and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
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Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect the avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights
Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer,
exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to
in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend,
modified as applicable to apply to such Person:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate
and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the
circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of such Agreement.
Section 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President,
either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be
manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and
effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased
to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
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 its principal office or offices designated as the
appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the
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Rights Certificates and the certificate number and the date of each of the
Rights Certificates.
Section 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHTS
CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and
Section 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution
Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any
Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the
registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, shares of Common Stock, other
preferred stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as
the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder (or
former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or
Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent,
and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred,
split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office or offices of the Rights
Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company
shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of
any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the
reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or
Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and
Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a
Rights Certificate or Rights 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 Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
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a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF
RIGHTS.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or shares
of Common Stock, preferred shares, other securities, cash or other assets, as
the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or
prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on November 14, 2006 (the
"Final Expiration Date"), and (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
provided in Section 23 hereof (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred
to as the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $160 and
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and
13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate
duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised,
of the Purchase Price per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or
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Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be
purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax,
the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i)
either (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Stock (or make
available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares)
certificates for the total number of one one-hundredths of a share of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company
hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests, or (B), if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number
of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a
depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent of depositary receipts
representing such number of one one-hundredths 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 will direct the depositary agent to comply
with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any,
to be paid in lieu 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 Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of
the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof) shall be made in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft payable
to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue
other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property
pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements
necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are
available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the
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registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names
as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14
hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the first occurrence of a Flip-In Event, any Rights beneficially
owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Person's
Associates or Affiliates) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Person's Associates or Affiliates) who becomes a transferee prior to or
concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights
pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the
Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to
any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the
avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any further
action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with
respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise. The provisions of the preceding sentence voiding Rights beneficially
owned by an Acquiring Person (or of any such Persons' direct or indirect
Affiliates, Associates or transferees) shall operate only in respect to the
Rights held by the Acquiring Person (and such Person's Affiliates, Associates
and transferees) who has caused the occurrence of the Flip-In Event referred to
therein. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but
shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or other Person as
a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring
Person or either of such Person's Affiliates, Associates or transferees
hereunder.
(f) 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 upon the occurrence of any purported
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exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for
such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of
the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL 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 (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its
authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities or out of
its authorized and issued shares held in its treasury), the number of shares of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, shares of
Common Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in this Agreement
including Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, 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
occurrence of a Triggering Event, shares of Common Stock and/or other
securities) issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be
listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best
efforts to cause,
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from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved
for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance
upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon
as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a
Flip-In Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise
of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the
date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and,
(B) the date of the expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such
action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities
or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability
of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to
exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first
sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to
prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective.
Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating
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. In
addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is
required following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend
the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has
been declared effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained or the
exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-hundredths shares of the
- 15 -
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, shares of
Common Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall,
at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment
of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid
and nonassessable.
(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 Rights
Certificates and of any certificates for the number of one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock (or shares of Common Stock and/or other securities, as
the case may be) issuable 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 Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or shares of Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in
respect of a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights
Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver
any certificates for a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or shares of Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in
a name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights
until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of
such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been
established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. PREFERRED STOCK RECORD DATE. Each person in whose name any
certificate for a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or
shares of Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued
upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the
holder of record of such fractional amount of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock
- 16 -
and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are
closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such
shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be dated, the
next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are
open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER AND KIND OF STOCK OR
NUMBER OF RIGHTS. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the 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
shares of Preferred Stock (C) combine the outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, 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) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the
time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of
such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and
kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may
be, issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that
the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to
receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the
aggregate number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital
stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been exercised
- 17 -
immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock
transfer books of the Company were open, he would have owned upon
such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event
occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 11
(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in
this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior
to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 13(a) hereof, in the
event any Person shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person (a "Flip-In Event"),
then, promptly following five (5) days after the date of such Flip-In
Event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right
(except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current
Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu
of a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock, such
number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the
result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by
the then number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the occurrence
of such Flip-In Event, and (y) dividing that product (which, following
such occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase
Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50%
of the current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of such occurrence (such
number of shares, the "Adjustment Stock").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock
which are authorized by the Company's Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for
issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are not
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the
Company
- 18 -
shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment
Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over
(2) the Purchase Price (such excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with
respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for the
Adjustment Stock, upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1)
cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other
equity securities of the Company which the Board of Directors of the
Company has deemed to have the same value as Common Stock (such equity
securities, "common stock equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the
Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing,
having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, as determined by
the Board of Directors of the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, if the
Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value
pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the
later of (x) the first occurrence of a Flip-In Event and (y) the date
on which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a)
expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the
"Flip-In Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to
deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without
requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to
the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares
and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board
of Directors of the Company 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, the
thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent
necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Flip-In
Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval
for the authorization of such additional shares (such period, as it
may be extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the
Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the
first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company
(x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action
shall apply
- 19 -
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 first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event
of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section
11(a)(iii), the value of a share of Common Stock shall be the current
market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per
share of Common Stock on the date of the occurrence of the Flip-In
Event and the value of each unit of any "common stock equivalent"
shall be deemed to have the same value as a share of Common Stock on
such date.
(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
to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45)
calendar days after such record date) shares of Preferred Stock (or shares
having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock
("equivalent preferred stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock
or equivalent preferred stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a
security convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock) less
than the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
per share of Preferred Stock 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 outstanding
on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the
aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or
shares of equivalent preferred stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the
number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding
- 20 -
on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock to
be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible
securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such
subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or all of which
may 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 and
shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Shares of
Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be
deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the
event that such rights 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 a
distribution to all holders of shares of Preferred Stock (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other
than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings
of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in shares of Preferred
Stock, but including any dividend payable in shares other than 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 current market
price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred
Stock 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
cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Preferred Stock and the
denominator of which shall be such current market price (as determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be
made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that
such
- 21 -
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current market
price" per share of Preferred Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the
average of the daily closing prices per share of Preferred Stock for the thirty
(30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately
prior to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on any
date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of
Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following
such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event that the current market price
per share of Common Stock is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or
distribution on such shares Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or
securities convertible into such shares of Common Stock (other than the Rights),
or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such shares of Common
Stock, and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or
ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth above, 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
market price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend
trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular
way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares
of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last
- 22 -
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock 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 shares of
Common Stock selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such
date no market maker is making a market in the shares of Common Stock, the fair
value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day
on which the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of
Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the shares of Common
Stock are not publicly held or not so listed or traded, "current market price"
per share 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 and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (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 ten-thousandth of a share of
Common Stock or one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three
(3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such adjustment, or
(ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised
shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than the
- 23 -
Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon
exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
practicable to the provisions with respect to the shares of Common Stock
contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), 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 one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time 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 one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
one-millionth, obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths
of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase
Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment
of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment
in the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable
upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the
adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one
one-hundredths 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-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the
Purchase
- 24 -
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 Rights
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the
date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon
each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase
Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one
one-hundredth of a share and the number of one one-hundredths of a share which
were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of the number
of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may be necessary
in order that the Company may validly and legally issue such number of one
- 25 -
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price
which are fully paid and nonassessable.
(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 issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock and other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and
above the number of one one-hundredths of a share of 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 (fractional or otherwise) or securities 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 in their good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the
Company shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or
subdivision of the shares of Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of
any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current market price, (iii)
issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities which by
their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Stock, (iv) stock
dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this
Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its shares of Preferred
Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary
of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or
(iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one
- 26 -
transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale 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 or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section
13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26
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 otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
in the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) subdivide the
outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) combine the outstanding shares of
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Rights associated with each
share of Common Stock then outstanding shall be proportionately adjusted so that
the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right
was exercisable immediately prior to such event shall equal the result obtained
by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator which shall be the total
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence
of such event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
In the event that at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date and
prior to the Distribution Date the "conversion rate" of the shares of Common
- 27 -
Stock shall be adjusted pursuant to the express terms of such shares, the number
of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding shall be
proportionately adjusted based upon the new "conversion rate".
Section 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF
SHARES. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13
hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date,
to each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in
accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in
relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.
Section 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR
EARNING POWER.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with or
into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction
which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the
Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or
merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed
into or exchanged for shares or other securities of any other Person or cash or
any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one
or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (each event described in clauses (x), (y)
and (z) above is a "Flip-Over
- 28 -
Event"), then, and in each such case (except as may be contemplated by Section
13(d) hereof), proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a
Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, 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 be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Flip-Over Event (or, if a Flip-In Event has occurred prior to
the first occurrence of a Flip-Over Event, multiplying the number of such one
one-hundredths of a share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
the first occurrence of a Flip-In Event by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such first occurrence), and dividing that product (which,
following the first occurrence of a Flip-Over Event, shall be referred to as the
"Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by (2)
50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof)
per share of Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of
such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for,
and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-Over Event, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically
intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such
Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Flip-Over Event; (iv) such
Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the
reservation of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock) in connection with
the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may
be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the
exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall
be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Flip-Over Event.
- 29 -
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause
(x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is
the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the
Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no
securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such
merger or consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause
(z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the
party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in any such case, (1) if the shares of Common Stock of
such Person are not at such time and have not been continuously over the
preceding twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange
Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the
shares of Common Stock of which are and have been so registered, "Principal
Party" shall refer to such other Person; and (2) in case such Person is a
Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the shares of
Common Stock of two or more of which are and have been so registered, "Principal
Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the shares of
Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of authorized shares of Common Stock which have not been issued or
reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal
Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of
any consolidation, merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this
Section 13, the Principal Party will
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
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exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become effective
as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective
(with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act)
until the Expiration Date; and
(ii) will deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its
Affiliates which comply in all respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange
Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Flip-Over Event
shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, the Rights
which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in
the manner described in Section 13(a).
Section 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL STOCK.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p)
hereof, or to distribute Rights certificates which evidence fractional Rights.
In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company may pay to the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole Right. For 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 of the Rights 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
- 31 -
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 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 a
share of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of
one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or
to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Stock (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, the
Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of
one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-hundredth of
the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company
shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise
of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay
to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are
exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of one (1) share of Common Stock. For purposes of this
Section 14(c), the current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be
the
- 32 -
closing price of one share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
shares of Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, of shares of Common Stock), without the
consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the shares of Common Stock), may, in his
own behalf and for his own benefit, 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 Rights Certificate
in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is
specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate
remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this
Agreement.
Section 16. AGREEMENT OF RIGHTS 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 shares of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
- 33 -
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company
and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock
share certificate) is registered as the absolute owner of the Rights evidenced
thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights
Certificates or the associated Common Stock share certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the
contrary.
Section 17. RIGHTS CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of one
one-hundredths of a share of 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 Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights 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
disbursements 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
- 34 -
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
(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 Rights
Certificate or any certificate for shares of 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 corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, 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 Rights Certificates
shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights
Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver
such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the
Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights
Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
- 35 -
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
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 Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and
the determination of "current market price") 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)
shall be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate
signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the
Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant 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 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
- 36 -
Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), 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 Rights 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 Rights Certificate;
nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights
(including the Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof) or any
adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11 or Section 13 or any
other provision hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any
such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require
any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by
any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or
other capital stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or
other capital stock of the Company will, when so 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 the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any
Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer 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 to be taken
- 37 -
by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for
any delay in acting while waiting for such 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 Rights 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 such 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, HOWEVER, reasonable care was exercised in the
selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability
in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such
- 38 -
funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise of 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 thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each
transfer agent of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock by registered
or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Right Agent upon
thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the shares of
Common Stock and Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the
Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail
to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice
of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificates (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States so long
as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution in the
State of Ohio); which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
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
- 39 -
and surplus of at least $100,000,000. After appointment, the successor Rights
Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities
as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed;
but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor
Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and
deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the
purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company
shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each
transfer agent of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock and mail a
notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section, however, or any defect
therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal
of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the
case may be.
Section 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or
other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a)
shall, with respect to the shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to
the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon
the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the
Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by
the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing
the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and
to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance
would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the
Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii)
no such
- 40 -
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. REDEMPTION AND TERMINATION.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at
any time prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day
following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall
have occurred prior to the Record Date, the Close of Business on the tenth day
following the Record Date) or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not
less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per
Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price");
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if, following the occurrence of a Stock Acquisition Date
and following the expiration of the right of redemption pursuant to clause (i)
of this Section 23(a) but prior to any Triggering Event, (i) a Person who is an
Acquiring Person shall have transferred or otherwise disposed of a number of
shares of Common Stock in one transaction or series of transactions, not
directly or indirectly involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which
did not result in the occurrence of a Triggering Event such that such Person is
thereafter a Beneficial Owner of 10% or less of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, and (ii) there are no other Persons, immediately following the occurrence
of the event described in clause (i), who are Acquiring Persons, then the right
of redemption shall be reinstated and thereafter be subject to the provisions of
this Section 23. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a
Flip-In Event until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has
expired.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been
filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors ordering
- 41 -
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption
to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing
such notice to all such holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the shares of 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
will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
(c) At any time prior to a Distribution Date, the surrender of
any certificate representing shares of Common Stock for redemption of the shares
represented by such certificate or for conversion or exchange of such shares
into or for any security other than the Common Stock shall also constitute
surrender of the Rights represented by such certificate and immediately, without
further action or notice, the Rights represented by such certificate shall
terminate.
Section 24. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in shares of any class to the
holders of shares of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the
holders of shares of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash
dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer
to the holders of shares Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or
to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of any class or
any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification
of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the
subdivision of outstanding Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation
or merger into or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company
in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to effect any
sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect
any sale or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related
transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than
the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of
which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation,
- 42 -
dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company
shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in
accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall
specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of
rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation,
merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place
and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of 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 twenty (20) days
prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action
or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any Flip-In Event shall occur, then, in any such
case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with
Section 25 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify
the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the preceding paragraph to
Preferred Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if
appropriate, other securities.
Section 25. NOTICES. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
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:
OM Group, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent
- 43 -
by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed
in writing with the Company) as follows:
National City Bank
Corporate Trust Administration
X.X. Xxx 00000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Vice President
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 26. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. Prior to the Distribution Date
and subject to the next-to-last sentence of this Section 26, the Company and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision
of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of certificates
representing shares of Common Stock. From and after the Distribution Date and
subject to the next-to-last sentence of this Section 26, the Company 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
(i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
(iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or
supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person); PROVIDED, this Agreement may not be
supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence,
(A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as
the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such
lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights
of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section
26, the Rights Agent
- 44 -
shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made
which changes the Redemption Price, the Final Expiration Date or the number of
one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is
exercisable or which reduces the Purchase Price. Prior to the Distribution Date,
the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the
interests of the holders of shares of Common Stock.
Section 27. SUCCESSORS. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 28. DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ETC.
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 Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the
exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all
rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may
be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the 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 and all
other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to any liability to the holders of
the Rights.
Section 29. EXCHANGE.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at
any time and from time to time after the first occurrence of a Flip-In Event,
- 45 -
exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall
not include rights that become void pursuant to the provisions of the Section
7(e) hereof) for shares of Common Stock or common stock equivalents, or any
combination thereof, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per
Right, appropriately adjusted as determined by the Board to reflect any stock
split, stock combination, stock dividend, or other similar event after the date
hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
Ratio").
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 29 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 and/or
common stock equivalents 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 such
Rights at their latest 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 shares of Common Stock
for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange. Any
partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other
than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e)
hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock which
are authorized by the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other
than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit any exchange of
Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 29, the Company may, at
its option, take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional
shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
- 46 -
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock 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 Rights 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 value of a whole share of
Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 29, the value of a whole share of
Common Stock shall be the "current market price" (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
exchange pursuant to this Section 29, and the value of any common stock
equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as a share of Common Stock on
such date.
Section 30. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the shares 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 Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the shares of Common Stock).
Section 31. SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the
tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.
- 47 -
Section 32. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Ohio and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State.
Section 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 as of the day and year first above written.
OM GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Attest: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
--------------------------------- ---------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chairman Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Secretary
NATIONAL CITY BANK,
as Rights Agent
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
- 48 -
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS
OF SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE
OF
OM GROUP, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware __________________________, _________________________, and
__________________________, _________________________, of OM GROUP, INC., a
corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), in accordance with the provisions of
Section 103 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors
by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, the
Board of Directors on November 5, 1996, adopted the following resolution
creating a series of ____________ shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series
A Participating Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock of the
Corporation be and it hereby is created, and that the designation and amount
thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional
and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:
Section 1. Designation. The shares of such series is designated as
the "Series A Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A Preferred Stock").
Section 2. Authorized Number of Shares; Fractional Shares. The
authorized number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock is
___________. Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share
which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional
shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in
distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A
Preferred Stock.
Section 3. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to any prior and superior rights of the holders of any
series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A
Preferred Stock with respect to dividends that may be authorized by the Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall be entitled prior to the payment of any dividends on
shares ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock 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 day of March, June,
September and December 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 Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent)
equal to the greater of (a) $______ or (b) subject to the provisions for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of
all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in
kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions (other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock
since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect
to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any
share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the
Corporation
A-1
shall at any time after November __, 1996 (the "Rights Declaration 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 amount to
which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted
by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
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 Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above immediately after it
declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or
distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period
between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $______ per share on the Series A Preferred
Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A 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 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.
(D) Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends
paid on the shares of Series A 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 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.
(E) Dividends in full shall not be declared or paid or set apart for
payment on the Series A Preferred Stock for a dividend period terminating on the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date unless dividends in full have been declared or
paid or set apart for payment on the Preferred Stock of all series (other than
series with respect to which dividends are not cumulative from a date prior to
such dividend date) for the respective dividend periods terminating on such
dividend date. When the dividends are not paid in full on all series of the
Preferred Stock, the shares of all series shall share ratably in the payment of
dividends, including accumulations, if any, in accordance with the sums which
would be payable on such shares if all dividends were declared and paid in full.
Section 4. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation, 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 Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received $______ 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 Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of
A-2
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 Preference by (ii) 100 (as appropriately adjusted in accordance with
subparagraph C below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends and
recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii)
is hereinafter referred to as 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 Series A Preferred Stock and Common
Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Preferred Stock and holders of shares
of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share, on a per
share basis, of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the
Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock,
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,
which rank on a parity with the Series A 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) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration 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.
Section 5. Conversion on Merger, Consolidation, etc. In case the
Corporation shall enter into any merger, consolidation, combination or other
transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged or changed into
other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case
each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly
exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of
stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case
may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration 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 amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.
Section 6. Redemption. The outstanding shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 7. Voting Rights. Each holder of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to one hundred votes for each share held, and except as
otherwise by law provided, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and the
holders of Common Stock of the Corporation shall vote together as one class.
Section 8. Condition to Issuance of any other Series. The Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be further
amended to provide for the issuance of any other series of Preferred Stock
A-3
without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as one voting
group.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this Certificate
and do affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury this ____ day
of November, 1996.
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Attest:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
A-4
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R- ____________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER NOVEMBER __, 2006, OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.01 PER
RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.] (1)
Rights Certificate
OM GROUP, INC.
This certifies that _____________________________________________, or
registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth
above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated as of
November __, 1996 (the "Rights Agreement"), between OM Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and _______________ (the "Rights Agent"), to
purchase from the Company at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (Cleveland, Ohio time)
on November __, 2006, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a
fully paid, non-assessable Series A Participating Preferred Share (the
"Preferred Share") of the Company, at a purchase price of $160 per one
one-hundredth of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender
of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related
Certificate duly executed. The Purchase Price shall be paid in cash or by
certified bank check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares
which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase
Price per share set forth above, are
-----------------------
(1)The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
B-1
the number and Purchase Price as of November __, 1996, based on the shares of
Preferred Stock as constituted at such date.
Upon the occurrence of a Flip-In Event (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
any such Acquiring Person (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement),
(ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of
any such Person, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such transfer, became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person, such Rights
shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with
respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Flip-In Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of Preferred Stock or other securities, which may be purchased upon the
exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including
Triggering Events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
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surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights
Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive
upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the
number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a
redemption price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the Close
of Business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such
time period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement) and (ii) the Final
Expiration Date. After the expiration of the redemption period, the Company's
right of redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring Person reduces his
beneficial ownership to 10% or less of the outstanding shares of Common Stock in
a transaction or series of transactions not involving the Company.
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 one-hundredth 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.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred
Stock or Common 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 Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
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WITNESS the facsimile signatures of the proper officers of the
Company.
Dated as of ____________________
OM GROUP, INC.
By: _____________________________________
Name:
Title:
By: _____________________________________
Name:
Title:
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[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ___________________________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto _____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and in terest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ________________________
_______________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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Certificate
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ]is [ ]is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to
the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [
]did [ ]did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any
Person who is, was or subse quently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: ______________ ______________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
------
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
----------------------------
(To be executed if holder desires
to exercise Rights represented by
the Rights Certificate.)
To: OM GROUP, INC.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of any other person which may
be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for
such shares be issued in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance 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 Guaranteed:
B-7
Certificate
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ]are [ ]are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined pursuant
to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [
]did [ ]did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any
Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
any such Person.
Dated: __________________ ______________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-8
NOTICE
------
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
B-9
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK
On November 5, 1996, the Board of Directors of OM Group, Inc. (the
"Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding
share of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (the "Common Stock") to
stockholders of record on November 15, 1996 (the "Record Date"). Each Right
entitles the registered holder thereof to purchase from the Company a unit
consisting of one one-hundredth (a "Unit") of a share of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (the "Preferred Stock") at a
Purchase Price of $160 per Unit, subject to adjustment. The description and
terms of the Rights are set forth in the Stockholder Rights Agreement (the
"Rights Agreement") between the Company and National City Bank, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates representing
shares of Common Stock then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificate will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the shares of Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) ten days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock
Acquisition Date") and (ii) ten Business Days (or such later date as the Board
of Directors may determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or
exchange offer that would result in a person or group beneficially owning 15% or
more of such outstanding shares of Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date,
(x) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock share certificates and will
be transferred with and only with such Common Stock share certificates, (y) the
surrender for transfer of any Common Stock share certificate to which Rights are
attached will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate, and (z) the surrender of
any Common Stock share certificate either for redemption of such shares or for
conversion or exchange of such shares into or for any other security will also
constitute the surrender of the Rights associated with such shares.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the Close of Business on November 14, 2006, unless earlier redeemed by
the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as
of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate
Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock issued on or
prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that at any time after November 5, 1996, any Person becomes
an Acquiring Person (a "Flip-In Event"), then each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, shares of Common Stock (or,
in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company)
having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a Flip-In Event,
all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and
void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of a Flip-In
Event until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as
set forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $160 per Right, each Right not owned
by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following an event set
forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $320
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worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $160.
Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $40 at such time, the
holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 8 shares of Common
Stock for $160.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i)
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) any Person merges with
or into the Company and all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
are changed into or exchanged for securities of any other Person or cash or
other property or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is
sold or transferred (each, a "Flip-Over Event"), THEN the provisions of the
second preceding paragraph shall be of no further effect and each holder of a
Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, shares of common stock of
the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of
the Right. Any Flip-In Event or Flip-Over Event is referred to as a "Triggering
Event."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for additional shares of Preferred Stock or convertible
securities at less than the 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 quarterly cash dividends) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
Until the earlier of (i) ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date
and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole,
but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right. After the redemption period has
expired by reason of clause (i) of this paragraph, the Company's right of
redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring Person reduces his beneficial
ownership to 10% or less of the outstanding shares of Common Stock in a
transaction or series of transactions not involving the Company. Immediately
upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the
Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the $.01 redemption price.
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. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for full shares of Common Stock (or other consideration) of the
Company or for common stock of the acquiring company as set forth below.
Other than certain provisions relating to the principal economic terms of
the Rights, any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any
Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights
Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no amendment to adjust the time
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period governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are not
redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement will be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K. A
copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Rights Agent,
on behalf of the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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