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ARTERIAL VASCULAR ENGINEERING, INC.
AND
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 26, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Section 1. Certain Definitions.............................................................. 1.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent...................................................... 4.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates...................................................... 4.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates....................................................... 6.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration................................................ 7.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates................................ 7.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.................... 8.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates............................... 9.
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares.................................................10.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date....................................................11.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of
Rights.................................................................................11.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares......................18.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power..................................................................................18.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.........................................21.
Section 15. Rights of Action................................................................22.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders......................................................22.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder...............................23.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.....................................................23.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.......................24.
i.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent...........................................................24.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent...........................................................26.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates...............................................27.
Section 23. Redemption.......................................................................27.
Section 24. Exchange.........................................................................29.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.........................................................31.
Section 26. Notices..........................................................................31.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments.......................................................32.
Section 28. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.........................32.
Section 29. Successors.......................................................................33.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement.......................................................33.
Section 31. Severability.....................................................................33.
Section 32. Governing Law....................................................................33.
Section 33. Counterparts.....................................................................33.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings.............................................................33.
Exhibit A - Certificate of Designation
Exhibit B - Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares
ii.
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of February 26, 1997, between ARTERIAL VASCULAR
ENGINEERING, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and THE FIRST
NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON ("Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share
(as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the Close of Business on
March 21, 1997 (the "Record Date "), each Right representing the right to
purchase one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter defined), upon
the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has further
authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common
Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest to
occur of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration
Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined); provided, however, that Rights may
be issued with respect to Common Shares that shall become outstanding after the
Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date and the Final
Expiration Date in accordance with the provisions of Section 22 of this
Agreement.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates
(as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) the term
Acquiring Person shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary (as such
term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or (iv) or any entity holding
Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan,
and (B) no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" either (x) as the result of
an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of
shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially
owned by such Person to 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding by
reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases
by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of
the Company, then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" or (y)
if the Board of Directors (as such term is hereinafter defined) determines in
good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," as
defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become
such inadvertently, and such Person divests, as promptly as practicable (as
determined in good faith
1.
by the Board of Directors) following receipt of written notice from the Company
of such event, of a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would
no longer be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in
effect on the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that the limited
partners of a limited partnership shall not be deemed to be Associates of such
limited partnership solely by virtue of their limited partnership interest.
(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 or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with
respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than
these Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted
for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially
own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to
vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent
given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not
also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding,
voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section
1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company.
2.
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, a Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in the States of California are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Change in Majority of Directors" shall mean individuals who, as of
the date hereof, constitute the Board (as of the date hereof the "Incumbent
Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board,
provided, however, that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date
hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders,
was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising
the Incumbent Board (other than an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person) shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such
person were a member of the Incumbent Board.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., Pacific
Standard time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
the shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company. "Common
Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean
the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such
other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the
Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(h) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
(i) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7 hereof.
(j) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean any Acquiring Person or any
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any other Person in which any
such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate has an interest, or any other
Person acting directly or indirectly on behalf of or in concert with any such
Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate.
(k) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other
entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(l) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company having
the designations and the powers,
3.
preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions set
forth in the Form of Certificate of Designation attached to this Agreement as
Exhibit A.
(m) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
(n) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such provided, however that, if such Person is determined not to have
become an Acquiring Person pursuant to (y) of the last sentence of Section 1(a)
hereof, then no Shares Acquisition Date shall be deemed to have occurred.
(o) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
(p) "Transaction" shall mean any merger, consolidation or sale of
assets described in Section 13(a) hereof or any acquisition of shares of Common
Stock of the Company which would result in a Person becoming an Acquiring Person
or a Principal Party (as such term is defined in Section 13(b) hereof).
(q) "Transaction Person" with respect to a Transaction shall mean (x)
any Person who (i) is or will become an Acquiring Person or a Principal Party
(as such term is defined in Section 13(b) hereof) if the Transaction were to be
consummated and (ii) directly or indirectly proposed or nominated a director of
the Company which director is in office at the time of consideration of the
Transaction, or (y) an Affiliate or Associate of such a Person.
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 Common Shares) 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, upon ten (10) days prior written notice to the Rights Agent, The
Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and in no event, be liable for the
acts or commission of any such Co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the
tenth business day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the
Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person)
after the date of the commencement (determined in accordance with Rule 14d-2
under the Exchange Act) 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 entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan) of, or of the first public announcement of the intention of 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 entity
holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to
commence, a tender or exchange offer (which intention to commence
4.
remains in effect for five Business Days after such announcement), the
consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring Person
(including any such date which is after the date of this Agreement and prior to
the issuance of the Rights, the earlier of such dates being herein referred to
as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced by the
certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof
(which certificates shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by
separate Right Certificates, and (y) the Rights (and the right to receive Right
Certificates therefor) will be transferable only in connection with the transfer
of Common Shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the
Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the
Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested,
send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of
Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate,
in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"),
evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held. As of the Distribution Date,
the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in
substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), by
first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of
the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on
the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for Common Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will
be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the holders
thereof. Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date and
the Final Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for
Common Shares outstanding on the Record Date shall also constitute the transfer
of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding (including,
without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last sentence of
this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the
Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall have
impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following
legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between
Arterial Vascular Engineering, Inc. and THE FIRST NATIONAL
BANK OF BOSTON, dated as of February 26, 1997, as amended from
time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is
on file at the principal executive offices of Arterial
Vascular Engineering, Inc. Under certain circumstances, as set
forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced
by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by
this certificate. Arterial Vascular Engineering, Inc. will
mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights
Agreement without charge after
5.
receipt of a written request therefor. As described in the
Rights Agreement, Rights issued to any Person who becomes an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
defined in the Rights Agreement) and certain related persons,
whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by
any subsequent holder shall become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In
the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such
Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not
be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are
no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates.
(a) The Right Certificates (and the form of election to purchase
Preferred Shares, the form of assignment and the form of certification to be
printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as 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 22 hereof, the Right Certificates
shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the price per one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but
the number of such one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and the Purchase
Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22
hereof that represents Rights which are null and void pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) of this Agreement and any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section
6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Right Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the
extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Right Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly,
this Right Certificate and the Rights represented hereby are
null and void.
6.
The provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) of this Rights Agreement shall be operative
whether or not the foregoing legend is contained on any such Right Certificate.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Right Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its
Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its
Chief Financial Officer, or any of its Vice Presidents, either manually or by
facsimile signature, shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a
facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right
Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not
be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the
Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be
such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and
issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may
be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company
with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Right
Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Right
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the
actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of
the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to
be kept, at its office designated for such purpose, books for registration and
transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the
names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the
number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the
date of each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates. Subject
to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 11(a)(ii), Section 14 and Section 24
hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at
or prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the
Final Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates may be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or
Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of
one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered
holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate
or Right Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights
Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office 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 Right Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed
and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse
side of such Right Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence
of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or
Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 11(a)(ii),
Section 14 and Section 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the person entitled
7.
thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so
requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer,
split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.
Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right
Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will issue, execute and deliver
a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature
and delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the
Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in
part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right
Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof
duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or such other number of shares or other
securities) as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the earliest of
(i) the Close of Business on March 21, 2007 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii)
the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the
"Redemption Date"), or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as
provided in Section 24 hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $75.00, and shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof
and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in
accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be purchased and an amount equal
to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof by certified check, cashier's
check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights
Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent for
the Preferred Shares certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be
purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to
comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company, in its sole discretion,
shall have elected to deposit the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Rights hereunder into a depository, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer
agent with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs
8.
the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate,
requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance
of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt
of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to
or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered
in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when
appropriate, after receipt, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Right Certificate. In the event that the Company is
obligated to issue securities of the Company other than Preferred Shares
(including Common Shares) of the Company pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the
Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities are
available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
In addition, in the case of an exercise of the Rights by a holder
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii), the Rights Agent shall return such Right
Certificate to the registered holder thereof after imprinting, stamping or
otherwise indicating thereon that the rights represented by such Right
Certificate no longer include the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii) of the
Rights Agreement, and, if fewer than all the Rights represented by such Right
Certificate were so exercised, the Rights Agent shall indicate on the Right
Certificate the number of Rights represented thereby which continue to include
the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii).
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall
exercise fewer than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his
duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved
and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares or any
Preferred Shares held in its treasury, the number of Preferred Shares that will
be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in
accordance with this Section 7.
(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 exercise as
set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i)
completed and signed the certification following 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 Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if delivered or surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it,
and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall
deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights
Agent shall so cancel and retire,
9.
any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than
upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right
Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company,
destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a
certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares. The Company covenants and
agrees that so long as the Preferred Shares (and, after the time a person
becomes an Acquiring Person, Common Shares or any other securities) issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities
exchange or quotation system, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved
for such issuance to be listed on such exchange or quotation system upon
official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as
may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and other
securities, as the case may be) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the
time of delivery of the certificates for such Preferred Shares (subject to
payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and
fully paid and nonassessable shares or other securities.
The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and
payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of
any Preferred Shares upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of
any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred
Shares in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right
Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver
any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares upon the exercise
of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being
payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or
until it has been established to the Company's reasonable satisfaction that no
such tax is due.
As soon as practicable after the Shares Acquisition Date, the Company
shall use its best efforts to:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), with respect to the
Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
appropriate form, will use its best efforts to cause such registration
statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing
and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to
remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the Final Expiration Date; and
(ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights
and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate.
10.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Shares or other securities is issued upon the exercise
of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record
of the Preferred Shares or other securities represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing
such Rights was duly surrendered with the forms of election and certification
duly executed and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer
taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares or other securities transfer
books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the
record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next
succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Shares or other securities
transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights
evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate, as such, shall not be
entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred 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 of Shares or Number of
Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred 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 Shares payable in
Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine
the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or
(D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect
at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of
such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of
shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted
so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to
receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such
Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have
owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that
in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be
less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issuable upon exercise of one Right. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), the adjustment
provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made
prior to any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event any
Person shall become an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right shall, for a
period of 60 days after the later of such time any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person or the effective date of an appropriate
11.
registration statement under the Act pursuant to Section 9 hereof (provided,
however that, if at any time prior to the expiration or termination of the
Rights there shall be a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction,
an injunction, or temporary suspension by the Board of Directors, or similar
obstacle to exercise of the Rights (the "Injunction") which prevents exercise of
the Rights, a new 60-day period shall commence on the date the Injunction is
removed), have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the
then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common
Shares of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the
then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (B) 50%
of the then current per share market price of the Company's Common Shares
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date such Person became an
Acquiring Person; provided, however, that if the transaction that would
otherwise give rise to the foregoing adjustment is also subject to the
provisions of Section 13 hereof, then only the provisions of Section 13 hereof
shall apply and no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii).
In the event that any Person shall become an Acquiring Person and the Rights
shall then be outstanding, the Company shall not take any action which would
eliminate or diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and
after the time any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, any Rights beneficially
owned by (i) such Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of such
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of such Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
became such, or (iii) a transferee of such Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person's 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
11(a)(ii), 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 Company shall
use all reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section
11(a)(ii) and Section 4(b) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any
holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make
any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder. No Right Certificate shall be issued at any
time upon the transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would
be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof
or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate; and any
Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring
Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be
canceled.
12.
(iii) In lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock in accordance
with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if a majority of the Board of
Directors then in office determines that such action is necessary or appropriate
and not contrary to the interests of holders of Rights, elect to (and, in the
event that the Board of Directors has not exercised the exchange right contained
in Section 24(c) hereof and there are not sufficient treasury shares and
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to permit the exercise in full of
the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Company
shall) take all such action as may be necessary to authorize, issue or pay, upon
the exercise of the Rights, cash (including by way of a reduction of the
Purchase Price), property, shares of Common Stock, other securities or any
combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the value of the shares
of Common Stock which otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii), which aggregate value shall be determined by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by a majority of the Board of Directors. For
purposes of the preceding sentence, the value of the Common Stock shall be
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof and the value of any preferred stock
or preference stock which a majority of the Board of Directors determines to be
a "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common
Stock. Any such election by the Board of Directors must be made and publicly
announced within 60 days following the date on which the event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) shall have occurred. Following the occurrence of the event
described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, a majority of the Board of Directors then
in office may suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to 60
days following the date on which the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) shall
have occurred to the extent that such directors have not determined whether to
exercise their rights of election under this Section 11(a)(iii). 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.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them
(for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same
designations and the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent preferred
shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent
preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share or equivalent preferred share
(or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into
Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the then current per
share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in Section 11(d)) 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
Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of Preferred
Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred
Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such current market price and the denominator of which shall be the
number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of
additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon the
13.
exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of
capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. In case such
subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be
in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be
deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the
event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred
to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such
record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as
defined in Section 11(d)) on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of
the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or
of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one Preferred Share and
the denominator of which shall be such current per share market price of the
Preferred Shares; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to
be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of
the shares of capital stock of the Company to be issued upon exercise of one
Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date
is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase
Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in
effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current
per share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose of this
Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such Security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days
(as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided,
however, that in the event that the current per share market price of the
Security is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer
of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in
shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security or securities
convertible into such shares, or (C) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Security and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days
after the ex- dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record
date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each
such case, the current per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to
reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such Security. The
closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in
case
14.
no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading or as reported on the Nasdaq National Market or, if the
Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange or reported on the Nasdaq National Market, the last quoted price or, if
not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System ("Nasdaq") or such other system then
in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the Board
of Directors of the Company. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which
the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Security
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a
Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in
accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred
Shares are not publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market
price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)
(appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof) multiplied by one hundred. If
neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so
listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per
share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of any other share or security as the case
may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three
years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii)
the date of the expiration of the right to exercise any Rights.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Preferred Shares,
thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms
as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the
Preferred Shares contained in Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive, and the
provisions of
15.
Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on
like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the 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
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in
Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Section 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
Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one one-millionth of a Preferred
Share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred 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 substitution for any
adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable
upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment 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 Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may
be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but,
if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than
the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued,
upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing,
subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall
be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company,
shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and
replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right
Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued,
executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be
registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the
record date specified in the public announcement.
16.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise
of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may
continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued
hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the
Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take
any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in
order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable Preferred Shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of
the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect
prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to
such holder a due xxxx or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's
right to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.
(m) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date,
it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 27 hereof, take (or
permit any Subsidiary to take) any action the purpose of which is to, or if at
the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that the effect of
such action is to, materially diminish or eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights.
(n) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in
order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, issuance
wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the current market price,
issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms
are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, dividends on
Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or issuance of rights, options or
warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter made by the Company
to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(o) In the event that at any time after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (ii) effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares)
into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case (A) the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such event
upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number
of one one-hundredths of
17.
a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately prior to such event by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately
before such event and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately after such event, and (B) each Common Share outstanding
immediately after such event shall have issued with respect to it that number of
Rights which each Common Share outstanding immediately prior to such event had
issued with respect to it. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(o)
shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such
a subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected.
(p) The exercise of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) shall only result in
the loss of rights under Section 11(a)(ii) to the extent so exercised and shall
not otherwise affect the rights represented by the Rights under this Rights
Agreement, including the rights represented by Section 13.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or the
Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment therein contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
any adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Shares Acquisition Date, directly
or indirectly (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into,
any other Person, (y) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge
with and into the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger (other than, in the case of either transaction
described in (x) or (y), a merger or consolidation which would result in all of
the voting power represented by the securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into securities of the surviving entity) all
of the voting power represented by the securities of the Company or such
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and
the holders of such securities not having changed as a result of such merger or
consolidation), or (z) the Company shall sell, mortgage or otherwise transfer
(or one or more of its subsidiaries shall sell, mortgage or otherwise transfer),
in one or more 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, (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company in one or more transactions each of which individually and the aggregate
does not violate Section 13(d) hereof) then, and in each such case, proper
provision shall be made so that (i) following the Distribution Date, each holder
of a Right, subject to Section 11(a)(ii), shall have the right to receive, upon
the exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
18.
Share for which a Right is then exercisable in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of shares of freely
tradeable Common Shares of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), free
and clear of liens, rights of call or first refusal, encumbrances or other
adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (A) multiplying the
then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right is then exercisable (without taking into account any
adjustment previously made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) and dividing
that product by (B) 50% of the then current per share market price of the Common
Shares of such Principal Party (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on
the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (ii)
such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue
of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties
of the Company pursuant to this 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 to such Principal
Party; and (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common
Shares in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation
as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (x) or (y) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of
any securities into which Common Shares of the Company are converted in
such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the
Person that is the other party to the merger or consolidation
(including, if applicable, the Company, if it is the surviving
corporation); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (z) of the
first sentence in 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 case, (1) if the Common Shares of such Person are
not at such time and have not been continuously over the preceding 12-month
period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a
direct or indirect subsidiary or Affiliate of another Person the Common Shares
of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such
other Person; (2) in case such Person is a subsidiary, directly or indirectly,
or Affiliate of more than one Person, the Common Shares of two or more of which
are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of
such Persons is the issuer of the Common Shares having the greatest aggregate
market value; and (3) in case such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a
joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or
indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall
apply to each of the chains of ownership having an interest in such joint
venture as if such party were a "subsidiary" of both or all of such joint
venturers and the Principal Parties in each such chain shall bear the
obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as their direct or
indirect interests in such Person bear to the total of such interests.
19.
(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 its Common Shares that 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 each Principal Party and
each other Person who may become a Principal Party as a result of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer 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, sale or transfer of
assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party at its
own expense will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act
with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise
of the Rights on an appropriate form, will use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and will use its best efforts to cause
such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at
all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the Final
Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights
and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate;
and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which
comply in all material respects with the requirements for registration
on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers.
(d) After the Distribution Date, the Company covenants and agrees that
it shall not (i) consolidate with, (ii) merge with or into, or (iii) sell or
transfer to, in one or more 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, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which does not violate Section 11(m) hereof), if (x) at the time of
or after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any charter or bylaw
provisions or any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities
outstanding, agreements in effect or any other action taken which would diminish
or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y)
prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or
sale, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the
"Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a
distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates
and Associates. The Corporation shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and such other Person
shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
evidencing compliance with this Section 13(d).
20.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or
to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or as reported on the
Nasdaq National Market or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities exchange or reported on the Nasdaq National Market,
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 Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of
Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts;
provided, however, that holders of such depositary receipts shall have all of
the designations and the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of
the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of
fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one Preferred
Share. For the purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a
Preferred Share shall be the current per share market price of the Preferred
Shares (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i)
hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise (or,
if not publicly traded, in accordance with Section 11(d)(ii)).
21.
(c) Following the occurrence of one of the transactions or events
specified in Section 11 giving rise to the right to receive Common Shares,
capital stock equivalents (other than Preferred Shares) or other securities upon
the exercise of a Right, the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Common Shares or units of such Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or other
securities upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or other
securities. In lieu of fractional Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or
other securities, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one Common
Share or unit of such Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or other
securities. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value shall
be the current per share market price (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise and, if such capital stock equivalent is not traded, each such capital
stock equivalent shall have the value of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Sections 18 and 20 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of
the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered
holders of the Common Shares) and any registered holder of any Right Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent
of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for
his own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his
right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner
provided in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the
foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of
the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations of any Person subject to, this Agreement. Holders
of Rights shall be entitled to recover the reasonable costs and expenses,
including attorneys fees, incurred by them in any action to enforce the
provisions of this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
22.
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a
proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
the associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common Shares
certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all
purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Company agrees to pay to
the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration
and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights
Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the
acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and
expenses of defending against any claim of liability in the premises. The
indemnity provided herein shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the
termination of this Agreement.
The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for,
or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with,
its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or
certificate for the Preferred Shares or Common Shares 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.
23.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from
any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the shareholder
services or 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 Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights
Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such
Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates
and in this Agreement.
In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of
the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed
name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel of its choice (who
may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be
full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any
action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice
President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the
Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights
Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions
of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
24.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the
Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in
the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof)
provided for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the
existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except with
respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after receipt
of a certificate pursuant to Section 12 describing such change or adjustment);
nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares to be
issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any
Preferred Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Secretary or the 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 by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer
or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application
by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option
of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or
omitted by the Rights Agent with respect to its duties or obligations under this
Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken
or omitted and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or
omitted in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or
after the date specified therein (which date shall not be less than three
business days after the date indicated in such application unless any such
officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to
taking or omitting any such action, the Rights Agent has received written
instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken
or omitted.
25.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employment 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 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 not been
executed, 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 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
for the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and
to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer agent for the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall
otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been
notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company),
then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor
Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of any other state of the United States which is authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision
or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of
26.
its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50
million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally
named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights
Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at
the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent for the Common Shares
or Preferred Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered
holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in
this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality
or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and
prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date, the
Company (a) shall with respect to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to
the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement in
existence prior to the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities, notes or debentures issued by the Company and in
existence prior to the Distribution Date, and (b) may, in any other case, if
deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company, issue
Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection
with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be
obligated to issue any such Right Certificates 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 Right Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no Right
Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment
shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) The Rights may be redeemed by action of the Board of Directors
pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 23 and shall not be redeemed in any
other manner.
(b)(i) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to the earlier of (ii) the Shares Acquisition Date; or (iii) the
Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding
Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, 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"), and the Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption
Price in Common Shares (based on the "current per share market price," as
defined in Section 11(d) hereof, of the
27.
Common Shares at the time of redemption), cash or any other form of
consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors; provided, however,
that upon a Change in Majority of Directors, no such redemption shall be made
until 180 days after such Change in Majority of Directors. The redemption of the
Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such
basis and subject to such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion may establish. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement
to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) hereof prior to the expiration or termination of the Company's right
of redemption under this Section 23(b)(i).
(ii) In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time after the time a person becomes an Acquiring Person and the
expiration of any period during which the holder of Rights may exercise the
rights under Section 11(a)(ii) but prior to any event described in (x), (y) or
(z) of the first sentence of Section 13, redeem all but not less than all of the
then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price (x) in connection with any
merger, consolidation or sale or other transfer (in one transaction or in a
series of related transactions) of assets or earning power aggregating 50% or
more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken
as a whole) in which all holders of Common Shares are treated alike and not
involving (other than as a holder of Common Shares being treated like all other
such holders) an Interested Stockholder or a Transaction Person or (y)(A) if and
for so long as the Acquiring Person is not thereafter the Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the Company's then outstanding Common Shares, and (B) at the time
of redemption no other Persons are Acquiring Persons.
(c) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to subsection (b) of this
Section 23, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders
of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly
give public notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the failure
to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such
redemption. Within 10 days after such action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights pursuant to subsection (b) the Company shall mail a
notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their
last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or,
prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for
the Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the
Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or
Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in
any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in
Section 24 hereof, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common
Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
(d) The Company may, at its option, discharge all of its obligations
with respect to the Rights by (i) issuing a press release announcing the manner
of redemption of the Rights and (ii) mailing payment of the Redemption Price to
the registered holders of the Rights at their last addresses as they appear on
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution
28.
Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares, and
upon such action, all outstanding Right Certificates shall be null and void
without any further action by the Company.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the
then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for
Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred
to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of
Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any
Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common
Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or
more of the Common Shares then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder
of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares 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 promptly shall mail a notice
of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the
method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected
and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number
of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock in accordance with
Section 24(a) hereof, the Company may, if a majority of the Board of Directors
then in office determines that such action is necessary or appropriate and not
contrary to the interests of the holders of Rights, elect to (and, in the event
that there are not sufficient treasury shares and authorized but unissued shares
of Common Stock to permit any exchange of the Rights in accordance with Section
24(a), the Company shall) take all such action as may be necessary to authorize,
issue or pay, upon the exchange of the Rights, cash (including by way of a
reduction of the Purchase Price), property, shares of Common Stock, other
securities or any combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the
value of the shares of Common Stock which otherwise would have been issuable
pursuant to Section 24(a), which aggregate value shall be determined by a
29.
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by a majority of the
Board of Directors. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the value of the
Common Stock shall be determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof and the value
of any preferred stock or preference stock which a majority of the Board of
Directors determines to be a "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have
the same value as the Common Stock. Any such election by the Board of Directors
must be made and publicly announced within 60 days following the date on which
the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) shall have occurred. Following the
occurrence of the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, a majority of the
Board of Directors then in office may suspend the exercisability of the Rights
for a period of up to 60 days following the date on which the event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) shall have occurred to the extent that such directors have not
determined whether to exercise their rights of election under this Section
24(c). 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.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In
lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common
Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction
of the current market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this
subsection (d), the current market value of a whole Common Share shall be the
closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence
of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately after the date of
the first public announcement by the Company that an exchange is to be effected
pursuant to this Section 24.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share) upon exchange of the Rights or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of
Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts;
provided, however, that holders of such depositary receipts shall have all of
the designations and the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of
the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of
fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one Preferred
Share. For the purposes of this Section 24(e), the current market value of a
Preferred Share shall be one hundred (100) times the closing price of a Common
Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof)
for the Trading Day immediately after the date of the first public announcement
by the Company that an exchange is to be effected pursuant to this Section 24.
30.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend payable
in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any
other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares
rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred
Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or
options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred
Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect
any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to
effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or more
of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole), to any other Person, (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of dividends in Common Shares), then, in each such case, the Company
shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26
hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date
for the purpose of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants,
or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date
of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or the
Preferred Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so
given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10
days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares
for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least
10 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or the Preferred
Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall
occur, then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of
the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe the event and the
consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
ARTERIAL VASCULAR ENGINEERING, INC.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
31.
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made
if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
BANK OF BOSTON
c/o Boston Equiserve, L.P.
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to
time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Right Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights
which the Company may deem necessary or desirable, any such supplement or
amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights
Agent; provided, however, that from and after such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall not be amended in any manner which would
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights. Upon delivery of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section
27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment unless the
Rights Agent shall have determined in good faith that such supplement or
amendment would adversely affect its interest under this Agreement. Prior to the
Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed
coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Shares.
Section 28. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common
Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining
the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares or any other
securities of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in
accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this
Agreement. 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 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
32.
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
in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Rights Agent
and the holders of the Right Certificates, and (y) not subject the Board to any
liability to the holders of the Right Certificates.
Section 29. 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 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to
the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
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.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and
performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
33.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, parties whereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their seals attested, all as of the day and year first above
written.
ATTEST: ARTERIAL VASCULAR ENGINEERING, INC.
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
General Counsel, President and Chief Executive
Secretary Officer
ATTEST: THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Account Manager Director, Client Services
34.
EXHIBIT A
Filed as Exhibit 2 under Item 7 of the Company's Report on Form 8-K
dated February 27, 1997.
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
CERTIFICATE NO. R- _____ RIGHTS
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER MARCH 21, 2007 OR EARLIER IF
REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS
SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
ARTERIAL VASCULAR ENGINEERING, INC.
This certifies that ___________________ or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of February 26, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement"), between
ARTERIAL VASCULAR ENGINEERING, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time, on March 21,
2007 at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the
office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid
non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value
$.001 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company, at a purchase price of
$75.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon
presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election
to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate (and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may
be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set
forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of [________] based on the
Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.
From and after the time any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, (as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person,
Associate or Affiliate who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement, a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming
such, such Rights shall become null and
B-1
void without any further action and no holder hereof shall have any right with
respect to such Rights from and after the time any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number
of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon the
exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, as amended from time to time, 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
Right Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal
executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned offices of the Rights
Agent.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be
exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and
date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number
of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this
Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of
$.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of the
Company's Common Stock or Preferred Shares, par value $.001 per share.
No fractional Preferred Shares 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 Preferred Share, 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 Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
B-2
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of __________.
ATTEST: ARTERIAL VASCULAR ENGINEERING, INC.
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Vice President, General Counsel, President and Chief Executive
Secretary Officer
COUNTERSIGNED:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON
as Rights Agent
By:
----------------------------------
Authorized Signature
B-3
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ______________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto
_______________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
______________________________________________________________ this Right
Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does
hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ________________________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: ____________________
____________________________________
Signature
B-4
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" as
defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf of
a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person, an Interested Stockholder or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement); and (2)
after due inquiry and to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from
any Person who is or was an Acquiring Person, an Interested Stockholder, or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement).
____________________________________
Signature
B-5
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Right Certificate.)
TO ARTERIAL VASCULAR ENGINEERING, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
___________________________ Rights represented by this Right Certificate to
purchase the Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: ______________
_______________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
_______________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: ______________
_______________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
_______________________________________________________________
Dated: _________________
____________________________________
Signature
B-6
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" as
defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not being beneficially owned by nor are they being
exercised on behalf of (1) an Acquiring Person, an Interested Stockholder or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement); and (2)
after due inquiry and to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from
any Person who is or was an Acquiring Person, an Interested Stockholder, or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement).
____________________________________
Signature
_____________________________________________________
NOTICE
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to
Purchase, as the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face
of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement
or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not
completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of
the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such
Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
B-7
EXHIBIT C
ARTERIAL VASCULAR ENGINEERING, INC.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On February 25, 1997, the Board of Directors of ARTERIAL VASCULAR
ENGINEERING, INC. (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value
$.001 per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is effective
as of March 21, 1997 (the "Record Date") with respect to the stockholders of
record on that date. The Rights will also attach to new Common Shares issued
after the Record Date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase
from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the
Company at a price of $75.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the
"Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. Each Preferred Share is designed to be
the economic equivalent of 100 Common Shares. The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of February 26, 1997 (the
"Rights Agreement"), between the Company and The First National Bank of Boston
(the "Rights Agent").
DETACHMENT AND TRANSFER OF RIGHTS
Initially, the Rights will be evidenced by the stock certificates
representing Common Shares then outstanding, and no separate Right Certificates
will be distributed. Until the earlier to occur of (i) a public announcement
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons, has become an
"Acquiring Person" (as such term is further defined in the Rights Agreement,
means that such person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more
of the outstanding Common Shares) or (ii) 10 business days following the
commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or
exchange offer which would result in the beneficial ownership by an Acquiring
Person of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such
dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with
respect to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record
Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy of this Summary of Rights
attached thereto.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred
with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued
after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights) the
surrender or transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of
the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights
being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares, represented by such certificate. As soon as
practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing
the Rights
C-1
("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares
as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
EXERCISABILITY OF RIGHTS
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on March 21, 2007 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below. 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.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution. The number of outstanding
Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon
exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock
split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in
Common Shares, or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common
Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date. With certain
exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until
cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase
Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at
the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts) and in lieu
thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the
Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
TERMS OF PREFERRED SHARES
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $l per share but will be entitled to an aggregate
dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of
liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a minimum
preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share but will be entitled to an
aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share. Each Preferred
Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. Finally, in
the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common
Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 100 times
the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by customary
anti-dilution provisions. Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares'
dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth
interest in a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should
approximate the value of one Common Share. The Preferred Shares would rank
junior to any other series of the Company's preferred stock.
C-2
TRIGGER OF FLIP-IN AND FLIP-OVER RIGHTS
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person
(which will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon
exercise that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the
exercise price of the Right.
In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning
power are sold, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right
will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of
the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market
value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHTS
At any time prior to the earliest of (i) the close of business on the
day of the first public announcement that a person has become an Acquiring
Person, or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, the Board of Directors of the Company
may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right
(the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at
such time on such basis with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its
sole discretion may establish; provided, however, that in the event of certain
changes in the membership of the Board of Directors, no redemption shall occur
for a period of 180 days from such change in membership. Immediately upon any
redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Additionally, after the time that a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the
Company may redeem the then outstanding Rights in whole, but not in part, at the
Redemption Price provided, that such redemption is in connection with a merger
or other business combination, transaction or series of transactions involving
the Company in which all holders of Common Share are treated alike and not
involving an Acquiring Person or certain affiliated persons.
At any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to
the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other
than Rights owned by such person or group which will have become void), in whole
or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share (or of a share of a class or series of the Company's preferred
stock having equivalent designations and the powers, preferences and rights, and
the qualifications, limitations and restrictions), per Right (subject to
adjustment).
AMENDMENT OF RIGHTS
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that from and
after such time as any
C-3
person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person
no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the
Rights.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K dated February
27, 1997. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available from the Company by
writing to: Investor Relations, ARTERIAL VASCULAR ENGINEERING, INC., 0000 XXXXXX
XXXXX, XXXXX XXXX, XX 00000. THIS SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHTS IS NOT
INTENDED TO BE COMPLETE AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, WHICH IS HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.
C-4
