EXHIBIT 4
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IMC GLOBAL INC.
and
FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
Rights Agent
___________________
Rights Agreement
Dated as of May 27, 1999
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Table of Contents
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Section Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions............................................................................... 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent....................................................................... 5
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates...................................................................... 6
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates....................................................................... 8
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration................................................................. 9
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed,
Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates................................................................ 10
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights..................................... 11
Section 8. Cancellation of Rights Certificates............................................................... 13
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock..................................................... 13
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date....................................................................... 15
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights....................... 16
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares........................................ 25
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.............................. 26
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares........................................................... 29
Section 15. Rights of Action.................................................................................. 31
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders....................................................................... 31
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder................................................ 32
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent....................................................................... 32
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent......................................... 33
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent............................................................................ 34
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent............................................................................ 37
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates............................................................... 38
Section 23. Redemption and Termination........................................................................ 39
Section 24. Exchange.......................................................................................... 40
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.......................................................................... 41
Section 26. Notices........................................................................................... 42
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments........................................................................ 43
Section 28. Successors........................................................................................ 43
Section 29. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.......................................... 43
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement........................................................................ 44
Section 31. Severability...................................................................................... 44
Section 32. Governing Law..................................................................................... 44
Section 33. Counterparts...................................................................................... 45
Section 34. Descriptive Headings.............................................................................. 45
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of May 27, 1999 (the "Agreement"), between
IMC Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and First Chicago Trust
Company of New York, a New York corporation (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
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WHEREAS, on May 27, 1999 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the
Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend
distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of Common
Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the Close of
Business on June 21, 1999 (the "Record Date"), each Right initially representing
the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series D Junior
Participating Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights, powers and
preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designations attached hereto
as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth
(the "Rights"), and has further authorized the issuance of one Right (as such
number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(p)
hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued between the Record
Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as such
terms are hereinafter defined) or, in certain circumstances provided in Section
22 hereof, after the Distribution Date;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
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following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but
shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any
Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant
to the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person
shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of
shares of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of
shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares
beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become
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the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more
of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding by reason of share purchases
by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become
the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock, then such
Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person". Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good
faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" (as
defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a)) has
become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as
practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such
Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person" (as defined pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a)), then such Person shall not be
deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the
date of this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
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that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase
or exchange, or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any
time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities
issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a
Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by such Person or any such
Person's Affiliates or
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Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a)
or Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section
11(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made with respect to any
Original Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose
of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule
13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act),
including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding,
whether or not in writing; provided, however, that a Person shall not
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be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any
security under this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such agreement,
arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy
given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made
pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not
also then reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange
Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which
such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing),
for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a
revocable proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of
this paragraph (d)) or disposing of any voting securities of the
Company;
provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (d) shall cause a Person
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engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial
Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such
Person's participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting
until the expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
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(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New
York time, on such date, provided, however, that if such date is not a
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Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $1.00 per
share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference
to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such
Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other
equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such
Person.
(h) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, limited liability
company, corporation, partnership or other entity and shall include any
successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(i) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series D Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company,
and, to the extent that there is not a sufficient number of shares of
Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full
exercise of the Rights, any other series of preferred stock, par value
$1.00 per share, of the Company designated for such purpose containing
terms substantially similar to the terms of the Series D Junior
Participating Preferred Stock.
(j) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean the event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(k) "Section 13 Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(a) hereof.
(l) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the
Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring
Person has become such.
(m) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation or other entity of which an amount of voting securities
sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors of such
corporation or other entity is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(n) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
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In addition, for purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have
the meanings indicated in specified sections of this Agreement: (i) "Adjustment
Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof; (ii)
"common stock equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof; (iii) "current market price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(d) hereof; (iv) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; (v) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3(a) hereof; (vi) "equivalent preferred stock" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof; (vii) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 24(a) hereof; (viii) "Expiration Date" shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof; (ix) "Final Expiration Date" shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof; (x) "Institutional Investor"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(a) hereof; (xi) "Nasdaq" shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof; (xii) "Principal Party"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof; (xiii) "Purchase
Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a); (xiv) "Record Date"
shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof; (xv) "Redemption Price"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a) hereof; (xvi) "Rights" shall
have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof; (xvii) "Rights Certificates"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof; (xviii) "Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof; (xix) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof; (xx) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof; (xxi) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) hereof; and (xxii) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints
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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 may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights
Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event
be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
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(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day
after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the Stock
Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the
Record Date) or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such
later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors of the
Company prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the
date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person
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(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule
14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon
consummation thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more
of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, (the earlier of (i) and (ii)
being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be
evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the
certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the
Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be
certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates and (y) the Rights
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). The Company shall
give the Rights Agent prompt written notice of the Distribution Date. As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, and receipt of written notice of the
Distribution Date from the Company, the Rights Agent will, at the Company's
expense, send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record
holder of the Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date,
at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more
Rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights
Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held,
subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the
number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section
11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the
Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in
accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing
only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the Company
will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights"),
by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock
as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder
shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for the
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof together with a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto.
Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender
for transfer of any certificate representing shares of Common Stock in respect
of which Rights have been issued, with or without a copy of the Summary of
Rights
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attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with such shares of Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock
which are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided
in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing
such shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights,
and shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
hereof to certain rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement
between IMC Global Inc. (the "Company") and First Chicago Trust
Company of New York (the "Rights Agent") dated as of May 27, 1999
(the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file
at the principal offices of the Company. Under certain
circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights
will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be
evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail to the
holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in
effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly after
receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued
to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on
behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become
null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the surrender
for transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.
In the event the Company purchases or acquires any shares of its Common Stock
after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated
with such shares shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall
not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with shares of Common Stock
that are not outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
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(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
and of assignment to be printed on the reverse
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thereof) shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto
and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends,
summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate
and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be
required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made
pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which
the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. The Rights
Certificates shall be in a machine printable format reasonably satisfactory to
the Rights Agent. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof,
the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record
Date or, in the case of Rights with respect to shares of Common Stock issued or
becoming outstanding after the Record Date, the same date as the stock
certificate evidencing such shares, shall show the date of countersignature, and
on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at
the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one one-thousandth of a
share, the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable
upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject
to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section
22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by any Person known to be:
(i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person,
(ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate)
who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming
such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not
for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in
such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights
Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer,
exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to
in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly,
this Rights
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Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and
void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of such
Agreement.
The Company shall instruct the Rights Agent in writing of the Rights which
should be so legended.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
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(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President
or any Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have
affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be
attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be
countersigned manually by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and
effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased
to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the
appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the Rights Certificates and the certificate number and the date of
each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
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Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates. (a)
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Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof,
at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or
prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or
Certificates (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights that have
become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) or that have been exchanged
pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged for
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another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to
purchase a like number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or,
following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a
transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights
Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any
action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request.
Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section
14 and Section 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto
a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so
requested. The Company may require payment by the holders of Rights of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights
Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificates if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
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Rights. (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any
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Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal
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office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then
exercisable, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on June
21, 2009 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof or (iii) the time at which such Rights
are exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii)
being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date"). Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable prior to the
Distribution Date.
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $90, and
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and
13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase
Price per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or other shares,
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased as set
forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be
paid by the holder of the Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9(e)
hereof, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon
promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred
Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such
shares) certificates for the total number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes
its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall
have elected to deposit the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable
upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from
the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts
shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the
Company will direct the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii)
requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of
fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of
such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered
in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after
receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the
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registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price
(as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) shall be
made in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft payable to the order of
the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other
securities (including Common Stock) of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute
other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all
arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property
are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when necessary to
comply with the terms of this Agreement. The Company reserves the right to
require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of
Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred
Stock would be issued.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a) (ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person (or
any Affiliate or Associate thereof) to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) or to any Person with
whom the Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null
and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any
rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of
this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are
complied with, but neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any
liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or other Person as a result of
the Company's failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring
Person or any of its Affiliates, Associates or transferees
-12-
hereunder. The Rights Agent will endeavor to comply with the provisions of this
Section 7(e) to the extent it has received instructions from the Company
concerning such matters.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) properly completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation of Rights Certificates. All Rights
-----------------------------------
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof, except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificates purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. (a) The
---------------------------------------------
Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept
available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and
unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities) the number of shares of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common
Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in this Agreement, including
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of
all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) issuable
and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national
securities exchange or The Nasdaq National Market (or any successor), the
Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the
Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on
such exchange or The Nasdaq National Market (or any successor), upon official
notice of issuance upon such exercise.
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(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, a registration statement under the Act with respect to the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such
registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such
filing, and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a
prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier
of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such
securities, and (B) the date of the expiration of the Rights. The Company will
also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with,
the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the
exercisability of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period
of time not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of
the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in
order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become
effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
announcement, in each case with simultaneous written notice to the Rights Agent,
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as
well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect. In addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration
statement is required following the Distribution Date, and a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event has not occurred, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability
of Rights until such time as a registration statement has been declared
effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the
Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite
qualification or exemption in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained,
the exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law or a
registration statement shall not have been declared effective. Except as
otherwise instructed by the Company, the Rights Agent may assume that any Right
exercised is permitted to be exercised under applicable law and shall have no
liability for acting in reliance upon such assumption.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
actions as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common
Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the
time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the
Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay, when
due and payable, any and all transfer taxes and
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governmental charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery
of the Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall
not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in
respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of one one-thousandths of a share
of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
in respect of a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights
Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver
any certificates for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name
other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until
such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such
Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to
the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name
---------------------------
any certificate for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued
upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the
holder of record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
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date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of
a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company with respect to shares or other securities for which the Rights shall be
exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall
not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except
as provided herein.
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Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares
-------------------------------------------------------
or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered
-------------------
by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment
from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in
shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock,
(C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of
shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification
of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection
with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or
surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a)
and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the
record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of
Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such
date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right
exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the
Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of
Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right
had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would
have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of
such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event
occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i)
and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section
11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any
adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 hereof, in the event any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, then each holder of a Right (except as provided below and
in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first
-16-
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) dividing that product
(which, following such first occurrence shall thereafter be referred to as
the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement)
by 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence
(such number of shares, the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock which
are authorized by the Company's articles of incorporation, as amended, but
not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon
exercise of the Rights, is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of
the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this
Section 11(a), the Company shall: (A) determine the value of the
Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current
Value"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to
substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the applicable
Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common
Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including, without
limitation, shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock, such as the
Preferred Stock, which the Board of Directors of the Company has deemed to
have substantially the same value or economic rights as shares of Common
Stock (such shares of preferred stock, "common stock equivalents")), (4)
debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of
the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less
the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where such aggregate
value has been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based
upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected
by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the Company
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shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause
(B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later
of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger
Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender
for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase
Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if
necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to
the Spread. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "Spread"
shall mean the excess of (i) the Current Value over (ii) the
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Purchase Price. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in
good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common
Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights,
the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent
necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii)
Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for
the authorization of such additional shares (such thirty (30) day period,
as it may be extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that
action is to be taken pursuant to the first and/or third sentences of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e)
hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights,
and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration
of the Substitution Period in order to seek such stockholder approval for
such authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate
form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to
determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the
Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability
of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For
purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of each Adjustment Share
shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and
the value of any "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to equal the
current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per
share of the Common Stock on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights (other than the Rights), options or warrants to all holders of Preferred
Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or shares
having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred
Stock ("equivalent preferred stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred
Stock or equivalent preferred stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
per share of equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion price per share,
if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock)
less than the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to
be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding on such record date, plus
-18-
the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price of
the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock
so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the
convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market
price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of
Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock to be offered for subscription
or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are
initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery
of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the
value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the
holders of the Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the
account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any
such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are
not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price
which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular
periodic cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company),
assets (other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but including any
dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or
warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase
Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on
such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent
and the holders of the Rights) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences
of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be
such current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per
share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever
such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so
made, the Purchase
-19-
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current
market price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be
the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for
the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter
defined) immediately prior to but not including such date, and for purposes
of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current
market price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be
the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for
the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following but not
including such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current
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market price per share of the Common Stock is determined during a period
following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a
dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of such
Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock
(other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Stock, and the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification shall not have occurred prior to the
commencement of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading
Day period, as set forth above, then, and in each such case, the "current
market price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account any trading
during the period prior to such ex-dividend date or record date. The
closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or,
in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the
principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock
are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low
asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by The Nasdaq
Stock Market ("Nasdaq") or such other quotation system then in use,
-20-
or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Common
Stock selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such
date no market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value
of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a
day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the shares
of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the
transaction of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If
the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, "current
market price" per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current market
price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the same manner
as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause (i) of this Section 11(d)
(other than the last sentence thereof). If the current market price per
share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above,
or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a
manner described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the "current market
price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an
amount equal to 1000 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such
events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect
to the Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied
by the current market price per share of the Common Stock. If neither the
Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or
traded, "current market price" per share of the Preferred Stock shall mean
the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights
Agent and the holders of the Rights. For all purposes of this Agreement,
the "current market price" of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock shall be equal to the "current market price" of one share of
Preferred Stock divided by 1000.
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(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in
the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price;
provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e)
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are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in
any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made
to the nearest cent or to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a share of Common
Stock or other share or one one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the
case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier
of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such
adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall
become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred
Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of
any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b),
(c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9,
10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like
terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise
of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately
prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share covered by a
Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing
the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in
the number of one one-thousandths of
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a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the
Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each
Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall
become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one-ten-thousandth)
obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately
after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public
announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the
record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights
Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to
be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the
Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option
of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the
names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one one-thousandth of a
share and the number of one one-thousandths of a share which were expressed in
the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of
its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally
issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock at such adjusted
Purchase Price.
-23-
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise
over and above the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment;
provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due xxxx or
-------- -------
other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such
additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of
the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that the Board of Directors of the Company, in its good faith
judgment, shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or
subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares
of Preferred Stock at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly
for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, (iv) stock
dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this
Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock
shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii)
sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one
transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer there are any rights, warrants or
other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, the stockholders of
-24-
the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for
purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights
previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section 24 or Section 27
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
(p) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights
Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a
dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine
the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or
issued or delivered there after but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of
Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of
which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
following the occurrence of such event.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
---------------------------------------------------
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13
------
hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts and computations accounting for
such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer
agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate,
and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or,
if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing
shares of Common Stock) in accordance with Section 26 hereof. The Rights Agent
shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any
adjustment therein contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such
adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such
certificate or give such notice shall not affect the validity or the force or
effect of the requirement for such adjustment. Any adjustment to be made
pursuant to Section 11 or Section 13 shall
-25-
be effective as of the date of the event giving rise to such adjustment.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
------------------------------------------------------
Earning Power.
-------------
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with
and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not
be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, or
the Company shall effect a statutory share exchange with the outstanding shares
of Common Stock being exchanged for stock or other securities of any Person,
cash or property, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or
merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with
such consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any
other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or
earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other
than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions
each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof) (any event described in
clauses (x), (y) or (z) of this Section 13(a) following the Stock Acquisition
Date, a "Section 13 Event"), then, and in each such case, proper provision shall
be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e)
hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive upon the exercise thereof at
the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
in lieu of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, such
number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, nonassessable and freely
tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is
hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first
refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (l)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior
to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying
the number of such one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a
Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first
occurrence), and dividing that
-26-
product (which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be
referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this
Agreement) by (2) 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party
on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party
shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13
Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;
(iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal
Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof
shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a
Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its
Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may
be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common
Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the
provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first
occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of any
securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted
in such merger, consolidation or share exchange, and if no securities are
so issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger, consolidation
or share exchange; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to
such transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
-------- -------
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is
and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person;
and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more
than one Person, the Common Stock of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
-27-
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
exchange, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or
reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal
Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of
any consolidation, merger, exchange, sale or transfer of assets mentioned in
paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act, with
respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after
such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Act) until the Expiration Date;
(ii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements
for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply in all
respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the
Exchange Act (whether or not the Principal Party would otherwise be
required to file such Form);
(iii) use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party
shall be listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq or on a national
securities exchange, to list or admit to trading the Rights and the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on the Nasdaq or such
securities exchange; and
(iv) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive
rights in respect of the Common Stock of the Principal Party subject to
purchase upon exercise of outstanding rights.
(d) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event
that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
(e) In no event shall the Rights Agent have any liability in respect
of any such Principal Party transactions, including, without limitation, the
propriety thereof. The Rights Agent may rely and be fully protected in relying
upon a certificate of the Company stating that the provisions of this Section 13
have been fulfilled. The Rights
-28-
Agent shall not be obligated to enter into any supplemental agreement referenced
in Section 13(c) if such supplemental agreement would change or increase the
duties, liabilities or obligations of the Rights Agent hereunder.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
---------------------------------------
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights,
except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p) hereof, or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market
value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading
Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have
been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall be
the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such
day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either
case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, as reported to the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights
are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the
last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low
asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares
of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock). Fractions of shares
-29-
of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share may,
at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts pursuant to
an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it;
provided, however, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such
-------- -------
depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to
which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the shares represented by such
depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are
not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the
Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of
one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-thousandth of
the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company shall
not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of
the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company shall
pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are
exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of one share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section
14(c), the current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the
closing price of one share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly
waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of
----------------
this Agreement, other than rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement, are vested in the respective registered holders
of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered
holders of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without
the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in such holder's
own behalf and for such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and
maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or
otherwise act in respect of, such holder's
-30-
right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner
provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the
foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance
of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
---------------------------
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer
and with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a), Section 7(e) and Section 7(f) hereof,
the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose
name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the
associated Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations
of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common
Stock certificates made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights
Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights
Agent shall be required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any
holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, decree, judgment 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
-31-
otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; provided, however,
-------- -------
the Company must use reasonable efforts to have any such order, decree,
judgment or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
--------------------------------------------------
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose to be the holder of the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the
Company which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate
shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
---------------------------
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent such compensation
as shall be agreed to in writing between the Company and the Rights Agent for
all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the
Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement during the term of this Rights Agreement including, without
limitation, the costs and expenses of defending against any claim (whether
asserted by the Company, a holder of Rights, or any other Person) of liability
in the premises, including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses. The
provision of this Section 18(a) shall survive the expiration of the Rights and
termination of this Agreement.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be authorized and protected and shall
incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by
it in connection with its acceptance and administration of this Agreement in
reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for
other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or
-32-
transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice,
instruction, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, and executed by the
proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth
in Section 20.
Section 19. 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 be consolidated, or any Person
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or
substantially all the stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such Person would be
-------- -------
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed
to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall
have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may
adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at the time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed, and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case, at that time, any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes only
----------------------
the duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement (and no implied
duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights
Agent) 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:
-33-
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel of its selection
(who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent
and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance
with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person
and the determination of "current market price") be proved or established
by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact
or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a
certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant
Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent
shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in
reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the
validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by
the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in
any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be
-34-
responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11,
Section 13 or Section 24 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or
amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts
that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise
of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after the Rights Agent's receipt
of actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder
be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued
pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any
shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly
authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable, nor shall the Rights
Agent be responsible for the legality of the terms hereof in its capacity
as an administrative agent.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all
such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably
be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the
Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any
Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or
any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for
advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer, or for
any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application
by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the
option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be
taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on
and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be
effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or
omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in
such application on or after the date specified in such application (which
date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date any officer
of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer
shall have consented in writing to any
-35-
earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date
in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written
instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be
taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, Affiliate,
officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the
Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested
in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with
or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though
it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall
preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company
or for any other Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or
by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of
any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from
any such act, default, neglect or misconduct; provided, however, that
-------- -------
reasonable care was exercised in the selection and following any such act,
default, neglect or misconduct of which the Rights Agent has actual
knowledge, the continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of
such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form
of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has
either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1
and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with
respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting
with the Company.
(l) In addition to the foregoing, the Rights Agent shall be protected
and shall incur no liability for, or in respect of, any action taken or
omitted by
-36-
it in connection with its administration of this Agreement if such acts or
omissions are in reliance upon (i) the proper execution of the
certification concerning beneficial ownership appended to the form of
assignment and the form of election to purchase attached hereto unless the
Rights agent shall have actual knowledge that, as executed, such
certification is untrue, or (ii) the non-execution of such certification
including, without limitation, any refusal to honor any otherwise
permissible assignment or election by reason of such non-execution.
(m) The Company agrees to give the Rights Agent prompt written notice
of any event or ownership which, to its knowledge, would prohibit the
exercise or transfer of the Rights Certificates.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
----------------------
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company by
registered or certified mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the
Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, by registered or
certified mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall
otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has
been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for inspection by the
Company), then the Rights Agent (at the Company's expense) or any registered
holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights
Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (i) a
Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of
the State of Delaware or the State of New York (or of any other state of the
United States so long as such Person is authorized to do business in the State
of Delaware or the State of New York), in good standing, having an office or
agency in the State of New York or the State of Delaware, which is authorized
under such laws to exercise stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision
or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000 or (ii) an Affiliate of such Person. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property
-37-
at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further reasonable
assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the
effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in
writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common
Stock and the Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice
provided for in this Section 21 or any defect therein shall not affect the
legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the
appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.
-----------------------------------
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the
contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates
evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or
class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights
Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In
addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock
following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the
Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued
or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or
arrangement, granted or awarded prior to the Distribution Date, or upon the
exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the
Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by
the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing an
appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided,
--------
however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the
-------
extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would
create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or
the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
--------------------------
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day
following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall
have occurred prior to the Record Date, the Close of Business on the tenth day
following the Record Date), or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but
not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01
per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof
(such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption
-38-
Price"). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary,
the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder
has expired. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash,
shares of Common Stock (based on the "current market price", as defined in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any
other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. The
redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such
time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its
sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been
filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption
to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing
such notice to all such holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not
the holder receives the notice. The failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Each such notice of
redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price
will be made.
Section 24. Exchange.
--------
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the
then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for
shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per
Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board of Directors of the Company shall not be empowered to effect such
exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of
the Company, or any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the
-39-
Beneficial Owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Common Stock then
outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder
of any such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock
equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the
Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any exchange;
provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall
-------- -------
not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a
notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the
method by which the exchange of the Common Stock for Rights will be effected
and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange will be effected pro rata based on the number of
Rights (other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its
option, may substitute shares of Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred stock,
as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of Section 11 hereof) for shares of
Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred stock) for each share of
Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting
rights of the Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms thereof, so that the
fraction of a share of Preferred Stock delivered in lieu of each share of Common
Stock shall have the same voting rights as one share of Common Stock.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common
Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any
exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the
Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary to authorize additional
shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there shall be
paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which
such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be
-40-
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this subsection (e),
the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing
price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence
of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
------------------------
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Preferred Stock (other than a regular periodic cash dividend out of the earnings
or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of
Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any
additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any
other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of
its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the
subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any
consolidation or merger into or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary
of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to
effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries
to effect any sale or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related
transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than
the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of
which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company
shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate and to the Rights Agent, to
the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such
stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to
be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by
clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such
action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days
prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, whichever
shall be the earlier.
-41-
(b) In case a Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur, then, in any such
case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate and to the Rights Agent, to the extent feasible
and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such
event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to
holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the
preceding paragraph to Preferred Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to
Common Stock and/or, if appropriate, other securities.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement
-------
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
IMC Global Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
First Chicago Trust Company of New York
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Actions Administration
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-
class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such
holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to
--------------------------
time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Rights Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights
which the Company may deem necessary or desirable, any such supplement or
amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights
Agent; provided,
--------
-42-
however, that from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring
-------
Person, this Agreement shall not be amended in any manner which would adversely
affect the interests of the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this
Section, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Rights Agent shall not be
obligated to enter into any such supplement or amendment that would change or
increase the duties, liabilities or obligations of the Rights Agent hereunder.
Prior to the Distribution Date, the interest of the holders of Rights shall be
deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
----------
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
--------------------------------------------------------
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(l)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the
exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all
rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors of the Company
or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of
this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i)
interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations
deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement
(including, but not limited to, a determination to redeem or not redeem the
Rights or to amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
of Directors of the Company in good faith shall (x) be final, conclusive and
binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all
other Persons, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of the Company to any
liability to the holders of the Rights. The Rights Agent is entitled to always
assume that the Board of Directors of the Company acted in good faith and shall
be fully protected and incur no liability in reliance thereon.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
--------------------------
shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date,
-43-
registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders
of the Common Stock).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
------------
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
-------- -------
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the
tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors of
the Company.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each
-------------
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under
the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State, provided, however, that the
-------- -------
rights, privileges, protections, and immunities of the Rights Agent shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
------------
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
--------------------
several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
-44-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
IMC GLOBAL INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
and General Counsel
FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF
NEW YORK,
AS RIGHTS AGENT
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
--------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: Assistant
Vice President
-45-
Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
OF
Series D JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
IMC GLOBAL INC.
________________________________________________________________________________
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
Delaware General Corporation Act
________________________________________________________________________________
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the board of
directors (the "Board of Directors") of IMC Global Inc. a Delaware corporation
(the "Corporation"), by the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the
"Charter"), the Board of Directors does hereby create, authorize and provide for
the issue of a series of Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the
Corporation, to be designated "Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock"
(hereinafter referred to as the "Series D Preferred Stock"), initially
consisting of 300,000 shares, and to the extent that the designations, powers,
preferences and relative and other special rights and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of the Series D Preferred Stock are not stated and
expressed in the Charter, does hereby fix and herein state and express such
designations, powers, preferences and relative and other special rights and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as follows (all terms used
herein which are defined in the Charter shall be deemed to have the meanings
provided therein):
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall
----------------------
be designated as "Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock" and the number
of shares constituting such series shall be 300,000. Such number of shares may
be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided,
--------
that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock
to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of
shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or
warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation convertible into shares of Series D Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
---------------------------
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares
of Series D Preferred Stock with
respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of
funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on
the first business day of March, June, September and December in each year (each
such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"),
commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance
of a share or fraction of a share of Series D Preferred Stock, in an amount per
share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $.01 or (b)
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1000 times the
aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1000 times the aggregate
per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other
distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a
subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise), declared on the Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the
Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the immediately preceding Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series D
Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after May 27,
1999 (the "Rights Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock,
or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
then in each case the amount to which holders of shares of Series D Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the
preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series D Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above immediately after it
declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that, in the event no
-------- -------
dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the
period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, subject to the prior and superior rights of the
holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior to and
superior to the shares of Series D Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, a
dividend of $.01 per share on the Series D Preferred Stock shall nevertheless by
payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
A-2
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series D Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series D Preferred Stock, unless
the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall
begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of
issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date
for the determination of holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock entitled
to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date,
in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative
from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall
not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series D Preferred Stock in
an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and
payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis
among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series D Preferred
Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared
thereon, which record date shall be no more than 60 days prior to the date fixed
for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights.
-------------
The holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall have the
following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series D Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1000
votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date
(i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number of
votes per share to which holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock were
entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such
number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
shares of Series D Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall vote collectively as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Corporation.
A-3
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series D Preferred Stock
shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends
thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall xxxx the beginning of a
period (herein called a "default period") which shall extend until such
time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly
dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all
shares of Series D Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been
declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period, all
holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series D Preferred
Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly
dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have
the right to elect two (2) Directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of the holders of
Series D Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting
called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual
meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders,
provided that such voting right shall not be exercised unless the holders
of ten percent (10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding
shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the
holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of
Preferred Stock of such voting rights. At any meeting at which the holders
of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an
existing default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class, to
elect Directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors
as may then exist up to two (2) Directors or, if such right is exercised at
an annual meeting, to elect two (2) Directors. If the number which may be
so elected at any special meeting does not amount to the required number,
the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such
increase in the number of Directors as shall be necessary to permit the
election by them of the required number. After the holders of the Preferred
Stock shall have exercised their right to elect Directors in any default
period and during the continuance of such period, the number of Directors
shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of
Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity
securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series D Preferred
---- -----
Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during an existing
default period, have previously exercised their right to elect Directors,
the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders owning
in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of
shares of Preferred Stock outstanding,
A-4
irrespective of series, may request, the calling of special meeting of the
holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice
President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such meeting and
of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to
vote pursuant to this paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of
record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to him or her at
his or her last address as the same appears on the books of the
Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than 10
days and not later than 60 days after such order or request, or in default
of the calling of such meeting within 60 days after such order or request,
such meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or
stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the
total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be
called during the period within 60 days immediately preceding the date
fixed for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.
(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common Stock, and, if
applicable, other classes of capital stock of the Corporation, shall
continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of Directors until the
holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect two
(2) Directors voting as a class, after the exercise of which right (x) the
Directors so elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in
office until their successors shall have been elected by such holders or
until the expiration of the default period, and (y) any vacancy in the
Board of Directors may (except as provided in paragraph (C)(ii) of this
Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining Directors
theretofore elected by the holders of the class of capital stock which
elected the Director whose office shall have become vacant. References in
this paragraph (C) to Directors elected by the holders of a particular
class of stock shall include Directors appointed by such Directors to fill
vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the
right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect Directors shall
cease, (y) the term of any Directors elected by the holders of Preferred
Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of Directors shall be
such number as may be provided for in the articles of incorporation or by-
laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of
paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to
change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the articles
A-5
of incorporation or by-laws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors
effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence
may be filled by a majority of the remaining Directors.
(D) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series D Preferred Stock
shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required
(except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as
set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
--------------------
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series D Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears,
thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether
or not declared, on shares of Series D Preferred Stock outstanding shall have
been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or
redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
capital stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series D Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on
any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series D Preferred Stock,
except dividends paid ratably on the Series D Preferred Stock and all such
parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to
the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then
entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares
of any capital stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series D Preferred Stock,
provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any
capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series D Preferred
Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
Series D Preferred Stock, or any shares of capital stock ranking on a
parity with the Series D Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a
purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
A-6
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon
such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective
annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in
fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of
this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares.
-----------------
Any shares of Series D Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired
by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled
promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their
cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be
reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution
or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and
restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
--------------------------------------
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of
shares of capital stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series D Preferred Stock unless,
prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall have
received $1000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends
and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment
(the "Series D Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full
amount of the Series D Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall
be made to the holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per
share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i)
the Series D Liquidation Preference by (ii) 1000 (as appropriately adjusted as
set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits,
stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such
number in clause (ii), the "Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the
full amount of the Series D Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in
respect of all outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock and Common Stock,
respectively, and the payment of liquidation preferences of all other shares of
capital stock which rank prior to or on a parity with Series D Preferred Stock,
A-7
holders of Series D Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall
receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be
distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such
Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series D Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any,
which rank on a parity with the Series D Preferred Stock, then such remaining
assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event, however,
that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the
Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to
the holders of Common Stock.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc.
--------------------------
In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger,
combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are
exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other
property, then in any such case the shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall at
the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share
(subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 1000
times the aggregate amount of capital stock, securities, cash and/or any other
property (payable in kind), as the case may be, for which or into which each
share of Common Stock is exchanged or changed. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding
Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding
sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series D Preferred
Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator
of which is the number of
A-8
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption.
-------------
The shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Ranking.
-------
The Series D Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of
the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of assets, whether or not upon the dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of the Corporation, unless the terms of any such series shall provide
otherwise.
Section 10. Amendment.
---------
The Charter shall not be amended in any manner which would materially
alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series D
Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series D
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares.
-----------------
Series D Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which
shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to
exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to
have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series D Preferred Stock.
A-9
Exhibit B
---------
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- __________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JUNE 21, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY THE
COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT
$.01 PER RIGHT, AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON
(AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF
SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN
ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]/*/
________________________
* The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
Rights Certificate
IMC GLOBAL INC.
This certifies that _______________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of May 27, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), between IMC Global
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and First Chicago Trust Company of
New York (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time prior to
5:00 P.M. (New York time) on June 21, 2009 at the office or offices of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one
one-thousandth of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series D Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Preferred
Stock"), of the Company, at a purchase price of $90 per one one-thousandth of a
share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly
executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the
number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above,
and the Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase
Price as of May 27, 1999, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such
date. The Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a
Triggering Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) that, upon
any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole
shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or
Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such transfer, became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of such Person, such Rights shall
become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to
such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject
to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including
Triggering Events.
B-2
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificates surrendered shall have
entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised
in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not
exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may, in each case at the option of the Company, be
(i) redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $.01 per
Right or (ii) exchanged in whole or in part for shares of Common Stock or other
securities of the Company. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
of the Company authorizing redemption, the Rights will terminate and the only
right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but
in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights
Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred
Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted
B-3
to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned manually by an authorized
signatory of the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Dated as of _______ __, ____
ATTEST: IMC GLOBAL INC.
_________________________ By: _______________________
Secretary Name:
Title:
Countersigned:
FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK,
Date:_______________________
AS RIGHTS AGENT
By: ____________________
Authorized Signatory
B-4
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto __________________
___________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Company,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: ___________________, ____
_____________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _______, ____ ____________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-5
NOTICE
------
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
----------------------------
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Rights
Certificate.)
TO: IMC GLOBAL INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ______ Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares (or other securities) be
issued in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: ______________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: ______________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
Dated: _____________, ____
_______________________________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-6
Certificate
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are
not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _________, ___ __________________________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
------
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
B-7
Exhibit C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK
---------------------------------------------
On May 27, 1999, the Board of Directors of IMC global Inc. (the
"Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding
share of the Company's common stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Common Stock"),
to stockholders of record at the Close of Business on June 21, 1999. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of
one one-thousandth of a share (a "Unit") of Series D Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a
Purchase Price of $90 per Unit, subject to adjustment. The description and terms
of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") dated
as of May 27, 1999 between the Company and First Chicago Trust Company of New
York, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock
and the Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a
public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
(an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire,
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(the "Stock Acquisition Date") or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as
may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any
person or group becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of a
tender offer or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in a person
or group beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common
Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after June 21,
1999, will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference
and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate.
Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to
require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined below) that,
upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole
shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the Close of Business on June 21, 2009, unless earlier redeemed by the
Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
Close of Business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise provided in
the Rights Agreement, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that, at any time following the Distribution Date, a
person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock having a value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. If an insufficient number of
shares of Common Stock is authorized for issuance, then the Board would be
required to substitute cash, property or other securities of the Company for the
Common Stock. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of
the event set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable
following the occurrence of the event set forth in this paragraph until such
time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $90 per Right, each Right not
owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following an event
set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $180
worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $90. Assuming
that the Common Stock had a per share value of $45 at such time, the holder of
each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 4 shares of Common Stock for $90.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) the
Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in
which the Company is the surviving corporation and all or part of the Common
Stock is converted into securities of another entity, cash or other property, or
(iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or
transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been
voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two
times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph
and in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering
Events."
C-2
The purchase price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain
rights, options or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible
securities at less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock, or
(iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last
trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will
have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of
Common Stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share
of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights,
preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right (subject to adjustment and payable in cash,
Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of
Directors) at any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date.
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors authorizing any
redemption, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of
Rights will be to receive the redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
result in the recognition of taxable income by stockholders or the Company,
stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income
after a Triggering Event.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of
the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that from
and after such time as any person or group of affiliated or associated persons
becomes an Acquiring
C-3
Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of
the Rights.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Company. This description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
C-4
