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EXHIBIT 99.1
STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as amended from time to
time, this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of July 19, 2000 between
First Charter Corporation, a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), and
Registrar and Transfer Company, as rights agent (the "Rights Agent," which term
shall include any successor rights agent hereunder).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on July 19, 2000 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the
Board of Directors of the Company has (a) authorized and declared a dividend of
one right ("Right") in respect of each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter
defined) held of record as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on
August 9, 2000 (the "Record Time") and (b) as provided in Section 2.4,
authorized the issuance of one Right in respect of each share of Common Stock
issued after the Record Time and prior to the Separation Time (as hereinafter
defined);
WHEREAS, subject to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, each Right entitles the
holder thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase securities of the Company
(or, in certain cases, of certain other entities) pursuant to the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act on
behalf of the Company, and the Rights Agent is willing so to act, in connection
with the issuance, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates (as
hereinafter defined), the exercise of Rights and other matters referred to
herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who is a Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that
the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include any Person (i) who is the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the
date of this Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock solely as a result of an acquisition
by the Company of shares of Common Stock, until such time hereafter or
thereafter as any of such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner (other than
by means of a stock dividend or stock split) of any additional shares of Common
Stock, or (ii) who is the Beneficial Owner of 15%, or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock but who acquired Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common
Stock without any plan or intention to seek or effect control of the Company, if
such Person promptly enters into an irrevocable commitment promptly to divest,
and thereafter promptly divests (without exercising or retaining any power,
including voting power, with respect to such shares), sufficient shares of
Common Stock (or securities convertible
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into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) so that such Person
ceases to be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock. In addition, the Company, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the
Company and any employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the
Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company shall not be an Acquiring
Person.
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed
to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Securities Exchange Act"), as such Rule is in effect on the date
of this Agreement.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner," and to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own," any securities of which
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed
to be the beneficial owner pursuant to Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities
Exchange Act, as such Rules are in effect on the date of this Agreement as well
as any securities as to which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has the right to become the Beneficial Owner (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of
conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, other rights (other than the
Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person
shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner," or to have "Beneficial Ownership"
of, or to "Beneficially Own," any security (i) solely because such security has
been tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any
of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered security is
accepted for payment or exchange or (ii) solely because such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates has or shares the power to vote or direct
the voting of such security pursuant to a revocable proxy given in response to a
public proxy or consent solicitation made to more than ten holders of shares of
a class of stock of the Company registered under Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act and pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and
regulations under the Securities Exchange Act, except if such power (or the
arrangements relating thereto) is then reportable under Item 6 of Schedule 13D
under the Securities Exchange Act (or any similar provision of a comparable or
successor report). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no officer or director of the
Company shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities of any other Person
by virtue of any actions such officer or director takes in such capacity. For
purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding at any time, including for purposes of determining the
percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock with respect to which a
Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the provisions
of Rule 13d-3(d)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in Charlotte, North Carolina, or the state in
which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located are generally
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m. Charlotte,
North Carolina time on such date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, 5:00
p.m. Charlotte, North Carolina time on the next succeeding Business Day).
"Common Stock" shall mean the shares of Common Stock, no par value, of
the Company.
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"Exchange Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the
Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c).
"Exercise Price" shall mean, as of any date, the price at which a
holder may purchase the securities issuable upon exercise of one whole Right.
Until adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the Exercise Price
shall equal $80.00.
"Expiration Time" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time,
(ii) the Redemption Time, and (iii) the Termination Date.
"Flip-In Date" shall mean the tenth Business Day after any Stock
Acquisition Date.
"Flip-Over Entity" shall mean (i) in the case of a Flip-Over
Transaction or Event described in clause (i) of the definition thereof, the
Person issuing any securities into which shares of Common Stock are being
converted or exchanged and, if no such securities are being issued, any other
party to such Flip-Over Transaction or Event and (ii) in the case of a Flip-Over
Transaction or Event referred to in clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the
Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power being
transferred in such Flip-Over Transaction or Event; provided in all cases if
such Person is a subsidiary of another Person, the ultimate controlling Person
that is not an individual shall be the Flip-Over Entity.
"Flip-Over Stock" shall mean the capital stock (or similar equity
interest) with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of directors
(or other Persons similarly responsible for direction of the business and
affairs) of the Flip-Over Entity.
"Flip-Over Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or series of
transactions after a Flip-In Date in which, directly or indirectly, (i) the
Company shall consolidate or merge or participate in a share exchange with any
other Person if, at the time of the consolidation, merger or share exchange or
at the time the Company enters into any agreement with respect to any such
consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board
of Directors of the Company and either (A) any term of or arrangement concerning
the treatment of shares of capital stock in such consolidation, merger or share
exchange relating to the Acquiring Person is not identical to the terms and
arrangements relating to other holders of the Common Stock or (B) the Person
with whom the transaction or series of transactions occurs is the Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of the Acquiring Person or (ii) the Company
shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell
or otherwise transfer) assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets
(measured by either book value or fair market value) or (B) generating more than
50% of the operating income or cash flow, of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any Person (other than the Company or one or more of its
wholly owned Subsidiaries) or to two or more such Persons which are Affiliates
or Associates or otherwise acting in concert, if, at the time of the entry by
the Company (or any such Subsidiary) into an agreement with respect to such sale
or transfer of assets, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board of Directors of
the Company. An Acquiring Person shall be deemed to "Control" the Company's
Board of Directors when, following a Flip-In Date, the Persons who were
directors of the Company before the Flip-In Date shall cease to constitute a
majority of the Company's Board of Directors.
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"Market Price" per share of any securities on any date shall mean the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities (determined as
described below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days through and
including the Trading Day immediately preceding such date; provided, however,
that if an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section
2.4 shall have caused the closing prices used to determine the Market Price on
any Trading Days during such period of 20 Trading Days not to be fully
comparable with the closing price on such date, each such closing price so used
shall be appropriately adjusted in order to make it fully comparable with the
closing price on such date. The closing price per share of any securities on any
date shall be the last reported sale price, regular way, or, in case no such
sale takes place or is quoted on such date, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, for each share of such securities, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the securities are listed or admitted to trading
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.'s National
Market or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the securities
are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or
quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the securities
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if on
any such date the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on a national
securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, the closing price
per share of such securities on such date shall mean the fair value per share of
securities on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company, after consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking
firm, and set forth in a certificate delivered to the Rights Agent.
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association,
group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act, as
such Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement), corporation or other
entity.
"Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series X Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Company created by a Certificate
of Designation in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto
appropriately completed.
"Redemption Price" shall mean an amount per Right equal to one cent,
$.01.
"Redemption Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise
the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1.
"Separation Time" shall mean the Close of Business on the earlier of
(i) the tenth Business Day after the date on which any Person commences a tender
or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in such Person's becoming
an Acquiring Person and (ii) the Flip-In Date; provided, that if the foregoing
results in the Separation Time being prior to the Record Time, the Separation
Time shall be the Record Time and provided further, that if any tender or
exchange offer referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph is canceled,
terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Time without the
purchase of any shares of Common Stock
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pursuant thereto, such offer shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph,
never to have been made.
"Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company (by any means) that an Acquiring Person has become
such.
"Subsidiary" of any specified Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the equity securities or
a majority of the equity interests is Beneficially Owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person.
"Termination Date" shall mean July 19, 2010.
"Trading Day," when used with respect to any securities, shall mean a
day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for the transaction of
business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc., a day on which the principal national securities
exchange on which such securities are listed or admitted to trading is open for
the transaction of business, a day on which The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.'s
National Market or such other system then in use or, if such securities are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or quoted on
any such system, a Business Day.
ARTICLE II
THE RIGHTS
2.1 Summary of Rights. As soon as practicable after the Record Time,
the Company will mail a letter summarizing the terms of the Rights to each
holder of record of Common Stock as of the Record Time, at such holder's address
as shown by the records of the Company.
2.2 Issuance of Rights Certificates; Legend. (a) Certificates for the
Common Stock issued after the Record Time but prior to the Separation Time shall
evidence, in addition to the Common Stock represented by such certificate, one
Right for each share of Common Stock represented thereby and shall have
impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following
legend:
"Until the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement referred
to below), this certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Stockholder Protection
Rights Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2000 (as such may be amended
from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between First Charter
Corporation (the "Company") and Registrar and Transfer Company, as
Rights Agent, the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive
offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in
the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be redeemed, may become
exercisable for securities or assets of the Company or of another
entity, may be exchanged for shares of Common Stock or other securities
or assets of the Company, may expire, may become void (if they are
"Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring Person" or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof, as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement,
or by any transferee of any of the foregoing) or may be evidenced by
separate certificates
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and may no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will
mail or arrange for the mailing of a copy of the Rights Agreement to
the holder of this certificate without charge promptly after the
receipt of a written request therefor."
Certificates representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding
at the Record Time shall evidence, in addition to the Common Stock represented
by such certificate, one Right for each share of Common Stock evidenced thereby
notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend.
(b) Subject to Sections 2.4 and 5.3, one Right shall be issued in
respect of (i) each share of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Time and
(ii) each additional share of Common Stock that becomes outstanding (whether by
original issuance or out of treasury, but other than in a transaction
contemplated by Section 2.4) after the Record Time but prior to the Separation
Time.
2.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights. (a) Subject to Sections
3.1, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will
entitle the holder thereof, after the Separation Time and prior to the
Expiration Time, to purchase, for the Exercise Price, one one-thousandth
(1/1,000th) of a share of Preferred Stock.
(b) Until the Separation Time, (i) no Right may be exercised and (ii)
each Right will be evidenced by the certificate that evidences the share of
Common Stock with which it is associated (together, in the case of certificates
issued prior to the Record Time, with the letter or notice mailed to the record
holder thereof pursuant to Section 2.1) and will be transferable only together
with, and will be transferred by a transfer (whether with or without such letter
or notice) of, such associated share of Common Stock, and the surrender for
transfer of any certificates representing outstanding Common Stock will also
constitute the surrender for transfer of the Rights associated with the Common
Stock represented by such certificate.
(c) Subject to this Section 2.3 and to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10,
after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, the Rights (i) may
be exercised and (ii) may be transferred independently of shares of Common
Stock. Promptly following the Separation Time, the Rights Agent will mail to
each holder of record of Common Stock as of the Separation Time (other than any
Person whose Rights have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), at such
holder's address as shown by the records of the Company (the Company hereby
agreeing to furnish copies of such records to the Rights Agent for this
purpose), (x) a certificate (a "Rights Certificate") in substantially the form
of Exhibit A hereto appropriately completed, representing the number of Rights
held by such holder at the Separation Time and having such marks of
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the
Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and
(y) a disclosure statement describing the Rights.
(d) Subject to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, Rights may be exercised on
any Business Day after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time by
submitting to the Rights Agent the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights
with an Election to Exercise (an "Election to
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Exercise") substantially in the form attached to the Rights Certificate, duly
completed, accompanied by payment by certified or official bank check or money
order payable to the order of the Company, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price
multiplied by the number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover
any transfer tax or charge that may be payable in respect of any transfer
involved in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or
delivery of certificates for shares or depositary receipts (or both) in a name
other than that of the holder of the Rights being exercised.
(e) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, with an Election to Exercise
accompanied by payment as set forth in Section 2.3(d), and subject to Sections
3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, the Rights Agent promptly will (i)(A) requisition from the
Company's transfer agent(s) stock certificates evidencing such number of shares
or other securities to be purchased (the Company hereby irrevocably authorizing
its transfer agents to comply with all such requisitions) and (B) if the Company
elects pursuant to Section 5.5 not to issue certificates representing fractional
shares, requisition from the depositary selected by the Company depositary
receipts representing the fractional shares to be purchased or requisition from
the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 5.5 and (ii) after receipt of such certificates,
depositary receipts and/or cash, deliver the same to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered (in the case of
certificates or depositary receipts) in such name or names as may be designated
by such holder. In the event that the Company elects pursuant to Section 3.1(e)
to issue other securities and/or assets of the Company upon exercise of the
Rights, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities and/or assets of the Company are available for distribution by the
Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(f) In case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the
Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent
to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.
(g) The Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares delivered upon exercise of
Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares
(subject to payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized,
executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable; (ii) take all
such action as may be necessary to comply with any applicable requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act, and the
rules and regulations thereunder, and any other applicable law, rule or
regulation, in connection with the issuance of any shares upon exercise of
Rights; and (iii) pay when due and payable any and all federal and state
transfer taxes and charges that may be payable in respect of the original
issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or of any shares issued upon the
exercise of Rights, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any
transfer tax or charge that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved
in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery
of certificates for shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights
being transferred or exercised.
2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights. (a) In the event
the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the Separation
Time (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common
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Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares of Common Stock, (x) the Exercise Price in effect after such adjustment
will be equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment divided by the number of shares of Common Stock (the "Expansion
Factor") that a holder of one share of Common Stock immediately prior to such
dividend, subdivision or combination would hold thereafter as a result thereof
(assuming for such purpose that the Company would issue a fraction of a share of
Common Stock, as applicable, and without giving effect to any requirement that
cash be paid in lieu of the issuance of any fractional share interest) and (y)
each Right held prior to such adjustment will become that number of Rights equal
to the Expansion Factor, and the adjusted number of Rights will be deemed to be
distributed among the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the original
Rights were associated (if they remain outstanding) and the shares issued in
respect of such dividend, subdivision or combination, so that each such share of
Common Stock will have exactly one Right associated with it. Each adjustment
made pursuant to this paragraph shall be made as of the payment or effective
date for the applicable dividend, subdivision or combination.
(b) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time
and prior to the Separation Time issue or distribute any securities or assets in
respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant to a
regular periodic cash dividend or a dividend paid solely in Common Stock)
whether by dividend, in a reclassification or recapitalization (including any
such transaction involving a merger, consolidation or share exchange), or
otherwise, the Company shall make such adjustments, if any, in the Exercise
Price, number of Rights and/or securities or other property purchasable upon
exercise of Rights as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole
discretion, may deem to be appropriate under the circumstances in order to
adequately protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally, and the
Company and the Rights Agent shall amend this Agreement as necessary to provide
for such adjustments.
(c) Each adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section
2.4 shall be calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment to the
Exercise Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company shall (i)
promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment and (ii) promptly file
with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy
of such certificate. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any
such certificate and on any adjustment therein and shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such a
certificate.
Rights Certificates shall represent the right to purchase the
securities purchasable under the terms of this Agreement, including any
adjustment or change in the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights,
even though such certificates may continue to express the right to purchase the
securities purchasable at the time of issuance of the initial Rights
Certificates.
2.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective. Each person in whose name any
certificate for shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented
thereby on the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was
duly surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price for such Rights (and any
applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the exercising holder
hereunder) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed,
such person shall be
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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 stock transfer
books of the Company are open.
2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights
Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or one of its Executive Vice
Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon and attested by its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these
officers on the Rights Certificates may be manual or facsimile.
Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were at the time of such signature the proper officers of the
Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of
them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery
of such Rights Certificates.
Promptly after the Separation Time, the Company will notify the Rights
Agent of such Separation Time and will deliver Rights Certificates executed by
the Company to the Rights Agent for countersignature, and, subject to Section
3.1(b), an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent shall manually countersign
and deliver such Rights Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to
Section 2.3(c). No Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless
manually countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent.
(b) Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature
thereof.
2.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) After the
Separation Time, the Company will cause to be kept a register (the "Rights
Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,
the Company will provide for the registration and transfer of Rights. The Rights
Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar" for the purpose of maintaining the
Rights Register for the Company and registering Rights and transfers of Rights
after the Separation Time as herein provided. In the event that the Rights Agent
shall cease to be the Rights Registrar, the Rights Agent will have the right to
examine the Rights Register at all reasonable times after the Separation Time.
After the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon
surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate,
and subject to the provisions of this Section 2.7(a) and Sections 2.7(c) and
2.7(d), the Company will execute and the Rights Agent will countersign and
deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees,
as required pursuant to the holder's instructions, one or more new Rights
Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights
Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1(b), all Rights issued
upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates shall be
the valid obligations of the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled to the
same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
(c) Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer
or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent, as the case
may be, duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such
surrendered Rights Certificates until the registered holder shall have completed
and signed the
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certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. As a condition to
the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this Section 2.7, the Company
may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto.
(d) The Company shall not be required to register the transfer or
exchange of any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section 3.1(b),
been exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or been redeemed under Section 5.1.
2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates. (a) If
any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior to the
Expiration Time, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1, the Company
shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did
the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent
prior to the Expiration Time (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Rights Certificate and (ii) such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any of their
agents harmless, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1 and in the
absence of notice to the Company or the Rights Agent that such Rights
Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall
execute and upon its request the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver, in
lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate
so destroyed, lost or stolen.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under
this Section 2.8, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights
Agent) connected therewith.
(d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in
lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an
original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by
anyone, and, subject to Section 3.1(b), shall be entitled to all the benefits of
this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Rights duly
issued hereunder.
2.9 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock
certificate) for registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any
agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose
name such Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, such Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the
Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. As used in this
Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "holder" of any
Rights shall mean the registered holder of such Rights (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated shares of Common Stock).
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2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates. All Rights Certificates
surrendered upon exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Rights Agent, be delivered to the
Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly canceled by the Rights Agent.
The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation any
Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered hereunder which the
Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates
so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Rights Agent. No Rights
Certificates shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights
Certificates canceled as provided in this Section 2.10, except as expressly
permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall return all canceled Rights
Certificates to the Company.
2.11 Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by accepting
the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with
every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable only
together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated share of
Common Stock;
(b) after the Separation Time, the Rights Certificates will be
transferable only on the Rights Register as provided herein;
(c) prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate) for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for
all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary;
(d) Rights beneficially owned by certain Persons will, under the
circumstances set forth in Section 3.1(b), become void;
(e) this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or 5.4; and
(f) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a
Right or other Person as a result of the Rights Agent's inability to perform any
of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency
or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated
or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.
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ARTICLE III
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN
THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.1 Flip-in. (a) In the event that prior to the Expiration Time a
Flip-In Date shall occur, except as provided in this Section 3.1, each Right
shall constitute the right to purchase from the Company, upon exercise thereof
in accordance with the terms hereof (but subject to Section 5.10), that number
of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market Price on the Stock
Acquisition Date equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal
to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately adjusted in order to
protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in the event that on or
after such Stock Acquisition Date an event of a type analogous to any of the
events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have occurred with respect to
the Common Stock).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Rights that are or were
Beneficially Owned on or after the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any transferee, direct or indirect,
of any of the foregoing shall become void and any holder of such Rights
(including transferees) shall thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer
such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. If any Rights Certificate is
presented for assignment or exercise and the Person presenting the same will not
complete the certification set forth at the end of the form of assignment or
notice of election to exercise and provide such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner and its Affiliates and Associates (or former
Beneficial Owners and their Affiliates and Associates) as the Company shall
reasonably request, then the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the
Beneficial Owner thereof to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced thereby to be void and not transferable or exercisable.
(c) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after a Flip-In Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes
the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
elect to exchange all (but not less than all) the then-outstanding Rights (other
than Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.1(b))
for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per
Right (appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of holders of
Rights generally in the event that after the Separation Time an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have
occurred with respect to the Common Stock) (such exchange ratio, as adjusted
from time to time, being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to exchange the Rights, without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right (other
than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) will thereafter
represent only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors electing
to exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice thereof (specifying the
steps to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange for Rights) to
the Rights Agent and the holders of
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the Rights (other than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b))
outstanding immediately prior thereto by mailing such notice in accordance with
Section 5.9.
Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued upon the
exchange of Rights pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) or Section 3.1(e) shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which
the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment
of any applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the holder was
made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a
date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person
shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such
Certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the stock
transfer books of the Company are open.
(d) Whenever the Company shall become obligated under Section 3.1(a) or
(c) to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of or in exchange for Rights,
the Company, at its option, may substitute therefor shares of Preferred Stock,
at a ratio of one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share of Preferred Stock for
each share of Common Stock so issuable.
(e) In the event that there shall not be sufficient treasury shares or
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company
to permit the exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in accordance with
Section 3.1(a) or (c), the Company shall either (i) call a meeting of
stockholders seeking approval to cause sufficient additional shares to be
authorized (provided that if such approval is not obtained the Company will take
the action specified in clause (ii) of this sentence) or (ii) take such action
as shall be necessary to ensure and provide, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any agreements or instruments in effect on the Stock
Acquisition Date to which it is a party, that each Right shall thereafter
constitute the right to receive, (x) at the Company's option, either (A) in
return for the Exercise Price, cash, debt or equity securities or other assets
(or a combination thereof) having a fair value equal to twice the Exercise
Price, or (B) without payment of consideration (except as otherwise required by
applicable law), cash, debt or equity securities or other assets (or a
combination thereof) having a fair value equal to the Exercise Price, or (y) if
the Board of Directors of the Company elects to exchange the Rights in
accordance with Section 3.1(c), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a
combination thereof) having a fair value equal to the product of the Market
Price of a share of Common Stock on the Flip-In Date times the Exchange Ratio in
effect on the Flip-In Date, where in any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the
fair value of such debt or equity securities or other assets shall be as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, after
consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking firm.
3.2 Flip-over. (a) Prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any
Flip-Over Transaction or Event unless and until it shall have entered into a
supplemental agreement with the Flip-Over Entity, for the benefit of the holders
of the Rights (other than holders of Rights that have become void pursuant to
Section 3.1(b)), providing that, upon consummation or occurrence of the
Flip-Over Transaction or Event (i) each Right (other than holders of Rights that
have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) shall thereafter constitute the
right to purchase from the Flip-Over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance
with the terms hereof, that number of shares of Flip-Over Stock of the Flip-Over
Entity having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or
occurrence of such Flip-Over Transaction or Event equal to twice the Exercise
Price for an
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amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally
(other than holders of Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b))
in the event that after such date of consummation or occurrence an event of a
type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall
have occurred with respect to the Flip-Over Stock) and (ii) the Flip-Over Entity
shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-Over
Transaction or Event and such supplemental agreement, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The provisions of this Section
3.2 shall apply to successive Flip-Over Transactions or Events.
(b) Prior to the Expiration Time, unless the Rights will be redeemed
pursuant to Section 5.1 in connection therewith, the Company shall not enter
into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any Flip-Over
Transaction or Event if at the time thereof there are any rights, warrants or
securities outstanding or any other arrangements, agreements or instruments that
would eliminate or otherwise diminish in any material respect the benefits
intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement to the holders of Rights upon
consummation of such transaction.
ARTICLE IV
THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 General. (a) The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as
agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and
the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company agrees to pay to
the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration
and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent, its directors,
officers, employees and agents for, and to hold each of them harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent or such other indemnified
party, for anything done or suffered or omitted to be done by the Rights Agent
in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement or the
exercise or performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and
expenses of defending against any claim of liability. The indemnity provided in
this Section 4.1(a) shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the
termination of this Agreement.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be fully 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 or the exercise or
performance of its duties hereunder in reliance upon any certificate for
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate, certificate
for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power
of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by
the proper person or persons.
4.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. (a) Any
Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged
or with which it may
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be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation
to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent is a party, or any
corporation succeeding to the stockholder services business of the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent, will be the successor to the Rights Agent under
this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act
on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such Person would be
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 4.4. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the
agency created by this Agreement any of the Rights Certificates have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates have not been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor
Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates will have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at
such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent
may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
4.3 Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and
obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions,
by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their
acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel will be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved
or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by a certificate signed by a person believed by the Rights Agent to be the
Chairman of the Board, the President or any Executive Vice President and by the
Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer or the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate will be full authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action taken, suffered or omitted in good faith by it under the provisions
of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
certificates for securities purchasable upon
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exercise of Rights or the Rights Certificates (except its countersignature
thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals
are and will be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of any provision of this Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the
Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any certificate for
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor will it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor will it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to
Section 3.1(b)) or any adjustment required under any provision of this Agreement
or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment
(except with respect to the exercise of Rights after receipt of the certificate
contemplated by Section 2.4 describing any such adjustment); nor will it by any
act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any securities purchasable upon exercise of
Rights or any Rights or as to whether any securities purchasable upon exercise
of Rights will, when issued, be duly and validly authorized, executed, issued
and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the
President or any Executive Vice President or the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary or the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to
apply to such persons for advice or instructions in connection with its duties,
and it shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
good faith in accordance with instructions of any such person, or for any delay
in acting while awaiting 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, suffered or omitted by the
Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on or after which such action
shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not
be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in
accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date
specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business
Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written
instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken,
suffered or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Stock, Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which 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
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not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights
Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent will not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided the Rights Agent was not grossly negligent in
the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) The Rights Agent undertakes only the express duties and obligations
imposed on it by this Agreement and no implied duties or obligations shall be
read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.
(k) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no
event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential
loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost
profits).
(l) 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.
4.4 Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may resign and be
discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 90 days notice (or such
lesser notice as is acceptable to the Company) in writing mailed to the Company
and to each transfer agent of Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and
to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent upon 30 days notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. If the
Rights Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company
fails to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after such removal or
after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the
resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights (which
holder shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Rights may apply to any court
of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States or of the State of North Carolina or any other State of the United
States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise the
powers of the Rights Agent contemplated by this Agreement and is subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the
time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least $100,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate of a corporation described in the
immediately preceding clause (a). After appointment, the successor Rights Agent
will be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if
it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but
the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further
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assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the
effective date of any such appointment, the Company will file notice thereof in
writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common
Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the holders of the Rights.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as
the case may be.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time prior to the close of business on the Flip-In Date elect to
redeem all (but not less than all) of the then outstanding Rights at the
Redemption Price and the Company, at its option, may pay the Redemption Price
either in cash or shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company
deemed by the Board of Directors, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to be
at least equivalent in value to the Redemption Price.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company electing to redeem the Rights (or, if the resolution of the Board of
Directors electing to redeem the Rights states that the redemption will not be
effective until the occurrence of a specified future time or event, upon the
occurrence of such future time or event), without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will
thereafter represent only the right to receive the Redemption Price in cash or
securities, as determined by the Board of Directors. Promptly after the Rights
are redeemed, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights
Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice in
accordance with Section 5.9.
5.2 Expiration. The Rights and this Agreement shall expire at the
Expiration Time and no Person shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement
or any Right after the Expiration Time, except, if the Rights are exchanged or
redeemed, as provided in Section 3.1 or 5.1.
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the number or kind or class of shares of stock purchasable upon exercise of
Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock by the Company
following the Separation Time and prior to the Redemption Time or Expiration
Time pursuant to the terms of securities convertible or redeemable into shares
of Common Stock or to options, in each case issued or granted prior to, and
outstanding at, the Separation Time, the Company shall issue to the holders of
such shares of Common Stock, Rights Certificates representing the appropriate
number of Rights in connection with the issuance or sale of such shares of
Common Stock; provided, however, in each case, (i) no such Rights Certificate
shall be issued, if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by
counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse
tax consequences to the Company or to the Person to whom such Rights
Certificates would be issued, (ii) no such Rights Certificates shall be issued
if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall have otherwise been
made in lieu of the issuance
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thereof, and (iii) the Company shall have no obligation to distribute Rights
Certificates to any Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person or any transferee of any of the foregoing.
5.4 Supplements and Amendments. The Company and the Rights Agent may
from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Rights (i) prior to the Close of Business on the Flip-In Date, in any
respect and (ii) after the Close of Business on the Flip-In Date, to make any
changes that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not
materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights generally
(other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or an Associate of an Acquiring
Person) or in order to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein that may be inconsistent with any other provisions
herein or otherwise defective. The Rights Agent will duly execute and deliver
any supplement or amendment hereto requested by the Company upon receipt of a
certificate from the Company that such supplement or amendment satisfies the
terms of the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment that changes the rights
and duties of the Rights Agent under this Agreement shall be effective without
the consent of the Rights Agent.
5.5 Fractional Shares. If the Company elects not to issue certificates
representing fractional shares upon exercise or redemption of Rights, the
Company shall, in lieu thereof, in the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors, either (a) evidence such fractional shares by depositary receipts
issued pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary
selected by it, providing that each holder of a depositary receipt shall have
all of the rights, privileges and preferences to which such holder would be
entitled as a beneficial owner of such fractional share, or (b) sell such shares
on behalf of the holders of Rights and pay to the registered holder of such
Rights the appropriate fraction of price per share received upon such sale.
5.6 Rights of Action. Subject to the terms of this Agreement (including
Section 3.1(b)), rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than
rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective
holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights, may, on such holder's own
behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the benefit of other holders of
Rights, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's
right to exercise such holder's Rights in the manner provided in such holder's
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations
of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.
5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such, of
any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any
purpose the holder of shares or any other securities which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of such Rights, nor shall anything contained herein or
in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights,
as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote
for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at
any meeting thereof, or to
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give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of
meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section
5.8), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until such
Rights shall have been exercised or exchanged in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions. In case the Company shall propose after
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time (i) to effect or permit
occurrence of any Flip-Over Transaction or Event or (ii) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case,
the Company shall give to each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section
5.9, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the date on which
such Flip-Over Transaction or Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is
to take place, and such notice shall be so given at least 20 Business Days prior
to the date of the taking of such proposed action.
5.9 Notices. Notices or demands authorized or required by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
to or on behalf of the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered
or sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
First Charter Corporation
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Any notice or demand authorized or required by this Agreement to be
given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights
Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Company) as follows:
Registrar and Transfer Company
Attention: Investor Relations Department
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given
or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on behalf of the holder of any
Rights shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as
it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the
Separation Time, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common
Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed
given on the third Business Day after mailing, whether or not the holder
receives the notice. Failure to give a notice pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity of any action taken hereunder.
5.10 Suspension of Exercisability. To the extent that the Company
determines in good faith that some action will or need be taken pursuant to
Section 2.3(g) or Section 3.1 or otherwise to comply with federal or state
securities laws, the Company may suspend the exercisability of
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the Rights for 90 days and any additional period that may be reasonable in order
to take such action or comply with such laws. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall issue as promptly as practicable a public
announcement stating that the exercisability or exchangeability of the Rights
has been temporarily suspended. Notice thereof pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not
be required.
5.11 Costs of Enforcement. The Company agrees that if the Company or
any other Person the securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of Rights
fails to fulfill any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then the
Company or such Person will reimburse the holder of any Rights for the costs and
expenses (including legal fees) incurred by such holder in actions to enforce
such holder's rights pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement.
5.12 Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by
or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
5.13 Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement and this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right
and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be
final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of
the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of
the Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
5.15 Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings appear herein for
convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of
any of the provisions hereof.
5.16 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT ISSUED HEREUNDER
SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH
CAROLINA AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS TO BE MADE AND PERFORMED
ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE.
5.17 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
5.18 Severability. If any term or provision hereof or the application
thereof to any circumstance shall, in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be
invalid or unenforceable, such term
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or provision shall be ineffective as to such jurisdiction to the extent of such
invalidity or unenforceability without invalidating or rendering unenforceable
the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the application of such term or
provision to circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or
unenforceable.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.
FIRST CHARTER CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER COMPANY, as Rights Agent
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
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EXHIBIT A
(Form of Rights Certificate)
Certificate No. R- _______ Rights
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE, AT THE
OPTION OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS OR AFFILIATES OR
ASSOCIATES THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT)
OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING WILL BE VOID.
Rights Certificate
FIRST CHARTER CORPORATION
This certifies that _______________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of July 19,
2000 (as amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between First
Charter Corporation, a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), and Registrar
and Transfer Company, as rights agent (the "Rights Agent," which term shall
include any successor rights agent under the Rights Agreement), to purchase from
the Company at any time after the Separation Time (as such term is defined in
the Rights Agreement) and prior to the Close of Business on July 19, 2010, one
one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a fully paid share of Series X Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, no par value per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Company
(subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement) at the Exercise
Price referred to below, upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the Form of Election to Exercise duly executed at the principal
office of the Rights Agent. The Exercise Price shall initially be $80.00 per
Right and shall be subject to adjustment in certain events as provided in the
Rights Agreement.
In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase securities of an
entity other than the Company or securities or assets of the Company other than
Preferred Stock, all as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are
available without cost upon written request. Capitalized terms used in this
Rights Certificate and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to such terms in the Rights Agreement.
26
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor
evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of Rights
evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered. If this
Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder shall be
entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, each Right evidenced by this
Certificate may be (a) redeemed by the Company under certain circumstances, at
its option, at a redemption price of $.01 per Right or (b) exchanged by the
Company under certain circumstances, at its option, for one share of common
stock, no par value, of the Company or one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share
of Preferred Stock) per Right (or, in certain cases, other securities or assets
of the Company), subject in each case to adjustment in certain events as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any securities
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 Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until
it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company.
Date: ____________________
ATTEST: FIRST CHARTER CORPORATION
By:
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Corporate Secretary Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
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Countersigned:
______________________
By:
-------------------------------
Authorized Officer
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[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer this Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________
attorney-in-fact, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ___________________, _____.
Signature Guaranteed: _____________________________________________
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as written
upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or
enlargement or any change whatsoever)
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership in an
approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
________________________________________________________________________________
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of the Company and all
holders of Rights and shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never
been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
____________________________________________
Signature
29
________________________________________________________________________________
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection
with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner of the
Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a
transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
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[To be attached to each Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.)
TO: __________________________
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________________ whole
Rights represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of
Series X Junior Participating Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of such
Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of
and delivered to:
Address: ___________________________________
___________________________________
Social Security or other Taxpayer
Identification Number: _____________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be
registered in the name of and delivered to:
Address: ___________________________________
___________________________________
Social Security or other Taxpayer
Identification Number: _____________________
Dated: _________________, ____
Signature Guaranteed: ____________________________________________
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as
written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever)
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership in an
approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
________________________________________________________________________________
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of the Company and all
holders of Rights and shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never
been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
___________________________________________
Signature
31
________________________________________________________________________________
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection
with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner of the
Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a
transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
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EXHIBIT B
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
TO
THE AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
FIRST CHARTER CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 55-6-02 of the North Carolina Business Corporation
Act (the "NCBCA"), as amended, and the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of First Charter Corporation, a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the NBCA (the "Corporation"), the Board of Directors (the
"Board") of the Corporation hereby amends its Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation:
1. The name of the Corporation is "First Charter Corporation."
2. Article __ of the Corporation's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation is hereby amended to add the following Section___:
1. Series X Participating Preferred Stock. There is hereby
established a series of Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the
Corporation, and the designation and certain terms, powers, preferences and
other rights of the shares of such series, and certain qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereon, are hereby fixed as follows:
(i) The distinctive serial designation of this series
shall be "Series X Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (hereinafter called
"this Series"). Each share of this Series shall be identical in all respects
with the other shares of this Series except as to the dates from and after which
dividends thereon shall be cumulative.
(ii) The number of shares in this Series shall initially
be 100,000, which number may from time to time be increased or decreased (but
not below the number then outstanding) by the Board of Directors. Shares of this
Series purchased by the Corporation shall be canceled and shall revert to
authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock undesignated as to series.
Shares of this Series may be issued in fractional shares, which fractional
shares shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional
share, to all rights of a holder of a whole share of this Series.
(iii) The holders of full or fractional shares of this
Series shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of
Directors, but only out of funds legally available therefor, dividends, (A) on
each date that dividends or other distributions payable in Common Stock of the
Corporation are payable on or in respect of Common Stock comprising part of the
Reference Package (as defined below), in an amount per
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whole share of this Series equal to the aggregate amount of dividends or other
distributions (other than dividends or distributions payable in Common Stock of
the Corporation) that would be payable on such date to a holder of the Reference
Package and (B) on the last day of March, June, September and December in each
year, in an amount per whole share of this Series equal to the excess (if any)
of $1.00 over the aggregate dividends paid per whole share of this Series during
the three-month period ending on such last day. Each such dividend shall be paid
to the holders of record of shares of this Series on the date, not exceeding 60
days preceding such dividend or distribution payment date, fixed for that
purpose by the Board of Directors in advance of payment of each particular
dividend or distribution. Dividends on each full and each fractional share of
this Series shall be cumulative from the date such full or fractional share is
originally issued; provided that any such full or fractional share originally
issued after a dividend record date and on or prior to the dividend payment date
to which such record date relates shall not be entitled to receive the dividend
payable on such dividend payment date or any amount in respect of the period
from such original issuance to such dividend payment date.
The term "Reference Package" shall initially mean 1,000
shares of Common Stock, no par value per share ("Common Stock"), of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time (A) declare or pay a
dividend on any Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (B) subdivide any Common
Stock or (C) combine any Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then and
in each such case the Reference Package after such event shall be the Common
Stock that a holder of the Reference Package immediately prior to such event
would hold thereafter as a result thereof.
Holders of shares of this Series shall not be entitled to
any dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full
cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on this Series.
So long as any shares of this Series are outstanding, no
dividend (other than a dividend in Common Stock or in any other stock ranking
junior to this Series as to dividends and upon liquidation) shall be declared or
paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon the
Common Stock or upon any other stock ranking junior to this Series as to
dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock nor any other stock of
the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with this Series as to
dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for
any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund
for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Corporation (except
by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Corporation ranking junior to
this Series as to dividends and upon liquidation), unless, in each case, the
full cumulative dividends (including the dividend to be due upon payment of such
dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or other acquisition) on all
outstanding shares of this Series shall have been, or shall contemporaneously
be, paid.
(iv) In the event of any merger, consolidation,
reclassification or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are
exchanged for or changed
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into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such
case the shares of this Series shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed in an amount per whole share equal to the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may
be, that a holder of the Reference Package would be entitled to receive as a
result of such transaction.
(v) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary,
the holders of full and fractional shares of this Series shall be entitled,
before any distribution or payment is made on any date to the holders of the
Common Stock or any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to this Series
upon liquidation, to be paid in full an amount per whole share of this Series
equal to the greater of (A) $1.00 or (B) the aggregate amount distributed or to
be distributed prior to such date in connection with such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up to a holder of the Reference Package (such greater
amount being hereinafter referred to as the "Liquidation Preference"), together
with accrued dividends to such distribution or payment date, whether or not
earned or declared. If such payment shall have been made in full to all holders
of shares of this Series, the holders of shares of this Series as such shall
have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.
In the event the assets of the Corporation available for
distribution to the holders of shares of this Series upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary,
shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are
entitled pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section (v), no such
distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other class or series
of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the shares of this Series upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts
shall be paid on account of the shares of this Series, ratably in proportion to
the full distributable, amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are
respectively entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, the holders of shares of this Series then outstanding shall be
entitled to be paid out of assets of the Corporation available for distribution
to its stockholders all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to
the first paragraph of this Section (v) before any payment shall be made to the
holders of Common Stock or any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior
upon liquidation to this Series.
For the purposes of this Section (v), the consolidation
or merger of, or binding share exchange by, the Corporation with any other
corporation shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the corporation.
(vi) The shares of this Series shall not be redeemable.
(vii) In addition to any other vote or consent of
stockholders required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation, each whole share of this
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Series shall, on any matter, vote as a class with any other capital stock
comprising part of the Reference Package and voting on such matter and shall
have the number of votes thereon that a holder of the Reference Package would
have.
3. The Amendment was adopted by the Board in accordance with Sections
55-6-02 and 55-8-20 of the NCBCA and the Corporation's Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, First Charter Corporation has caused these Articles
of Amendment to be executed as of July 21, 2000.
FIRST CHARTER CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
---------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
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