FRP PROPERTIES, INC.
AND
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MAY 5, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1. Certain Definitions...............................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent.......................................5
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.......................................5
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates........................................6
Section 5. Countersignature And Registration.................................6
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination And Exchange
of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or
Stolen Right Certificates.........................................7
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.....8
Section 8. Cancellation And Destruction of Right Certificates................9
Section 9. Company Covenants Concerning Securities And Rights................9
Section 10. Record Date......................................................11
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number And Kind
of Securities or Number of Rights................................11
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Securities...19
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets
or Earning Power.................................................19
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Securities......................22
Section 15. Rights of Action.................................................23
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders......................................24
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder................24
Section 18. Concerning Rights Agent..........................................25
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent........25
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Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent...........................................26
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent...........................................28
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates...............................29
Section 23. Redemption.......................................................29
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.........................................30
Section 25. Notices..........................................................31
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments.......................................31
Section 27. Exchange.........................................................32
Section 28. Successors; Certain Covenants....................................33
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement.......................................33
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, Etc........33
Section 31. Severability.....................................................34
Section 32. Governing Law....................................................34
Section 33. Counterparts.....................................................34
Section 34. Descriptive Headings.............................................34
EXHIBIT A FORM OF ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT RELATING TO
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF FRP PROPERTIES, INC. .......................................A-1
EXHIBIT B FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE.......................................B-1
EXHIBIT C SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES................................................C-1
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of May 5, 1999 (this "Agreement"), is made
and entered into by and between FRP PROPERTIES, INC., a Florida corporation (the
"Company"), and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK (the "Rights Agent").
Recitals
WHEREAS, on May 5, 1999, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized
and declared a dividend distribution of one right ("Right") for each share of
Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company (a "Common Share")
outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on June 2, 1999
(the "Record Date"), each Right initially representing the right to purchase one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and
subject to the conditions herein set forth, and further authorized and directed
the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common Share issued or delivered
by the Company (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's
treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution
Date (as hereinafter defined) and the Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined).
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (other than the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit or stock ownership plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) who or which, together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 15%
or more of the Common Shares then outstanding; provided, however, that a Person
shall not be deemed to have become an Acquiring Person solely as a result of a
reduction in the number of Common Shares outstanding unless and until (i) such
time as such Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person shall
thereafter become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares, other
than as a result of a stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction
effected by the Company in which all holders of Common Shares are treated
equally, or (ii) any other Person who is the Beneficial Owner of any Common
Shares shall thereafter become an Affiliate or Associate of such Person;
provided further, however, that a Person and such Person's Affiliates and
Associates shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person if such Person and such
Person's Affiliates and Associates were the Beneficial Owner, individually or
collectively, of 15% or more of the Common Shares outstanding on May 4, 1999.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors 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 Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be an Acquiring
Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a),
then such Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for purposes of
this Agreement.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed
to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and 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 (in each case, other than upon exercise or exchange of the Rights);
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or
to beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer
made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange;
or
(ii) Which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of,
including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or
not in writing); or
(iii) Of which any other Person is the Beneficial Owner, if such Person
or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement
or understanding (whether or not in writing) with such other Person (or any of
such other Person's Affiliates or Associates) with respect to acquiring,
holding, voting or disposing of any securities of the Company; provided,
however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, any security (A) if such Person has the right to vote such
security pursuant to an agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not
in writing) which (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy given to such Person
in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in
accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act and
(2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report), or (B) if such beneficial ownership arises
solely as a result of such Person's status as a "clearing agency," as defined in
Section 3(a)(23) of the Exchange Act; and provided, further, that nothing in
this paragraph (c) shall cause a Person 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 an underwriting
syndicate until the expiration of 40 calendar days after the date of such
acquisition, or such later date as the Board of Directors of the Company may
determine in any specific case.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of Florida (or such other state
in which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located) are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
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(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern
time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day
it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean the
Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company; provided, however, that,
if the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation in a transaction
described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a)(ii) hereof, "Common Shares" when
used with reference to the Company shall mean the capital stock or equity
security with the greatest aggregate voting power of the Company. "Common
Shares" when used with reference to any corporation or other legal entity, other
than the Company, including an Issuer, shall mean the capital stock or equity
security with the greatest aggregate voting power of such corporation or other
legal entity.
(g) "Company" shall mean FRP Properties, Inc., a Florida corporation.
(h) "Distribution Date" shall mean the earliest of: (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth Business Day (or, unless the Distribution Date shall have
previously occurred, such later date as may be specified by the Board of
Directors of the Company) after the Share Acquisition Date, (ii) the Close of
Business on the tenth Business Day (or, unless the Distribution Date shall have
previously occurred, such later date as may be specified by the Board of
Directors of the Company) after the date of the commencement of a tender or
exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company or any employee benefit or stock ownership plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan), if upon the consummation thereof such Person would
be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, and
(iii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day after the first date of
public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person (by press release,
filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise) of the
first occurrence of a Triggering Event; provided, however, that if the earliest
of such dates would otherwise occur prior to the Record Date, the Distribution
Date shall mean the Close of Business on the Record Date.
(i) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(j) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Close of Business
on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
provided in Section 23 hereof, and (iii) the time at which all exercisable
Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 27 hereof.
(k) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean September 30, 2009.
(l) "Flip-in Event" shall mean any event described in clauses (A), (B) or
(C) of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(m) "Flip-over Event" shall mean any event described in subsections (i),
(ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof.
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(n) "Issuer" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof.
(o) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other legal
entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(p) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company having the rights and
preferences set forth in the Form of Articles of Amendment attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit A.
(q) "Purchase Price" shall mean initially $96 per one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided
in this Agreement.
(r) "Redemption Price" shall mean $0.01 per Right, subject to adjustment by
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof.
(s) "Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this
Agreement.
(t) "Right Certificates" shall mean certificates evidencing the Rights, in
substantially the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.
(u) "Rights Agent" shall mean First Union National Bank, unless and until a
successor Rights Agent shall have become such pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, and thereafter, "Rights Agent" shall mean such successor Rights
Agent.
(v) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(w) "Share Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person (by press release, filing
made with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise) that an Acquiring
Person has become such.
(x) "Subsidiary" when used with reference to any Person shall mean any
corporation or other legal entity of which a majority of the voting power of the
voting equity securities or equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly,
by such Person; provided, however, that for purposes of Section 13(b) hereof,
"Subsidiary" when used with reference to any Person shall mean any corporation
or other legal entity of which at least 20% of the voting power of the voting
equity securities or equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such
Person.
(y) "Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares" shall mean the Summary
of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit C
attached hereto.
(z) "Trading Day" shall mean any day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading
is open for the transaction of business or, if the Common Shares are not listed
or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
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(aa) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Flip-in Event or Flip-over Event.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall also be, prior to the Distribution
Date, the holders of the Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment and
hereby certifies that it complies with the requirements of the Nasdaq National
Market governing transfer agents and registrars. The Company may from time to
time act as Co- Rights Agent or appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable. Any actions which may be taken by the Rights Agent
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement may be taken by any such Co-Rights
Agent. To the extent that any Co-Rights Agent takes any action pursuant to this
Agreement, such Co-Rights Agent shall be entitled to all of the rights and
protections of, and subject to all of the applicable duties and obligations
imposed upon, the Rights Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the Distribution Date (i) the Rights shall be evidenced by the
certificates representing Common Shares registered in the names of the record
holders thereof (which certificates representing Common Shares shall also be
deemed to be Right Certificates), together with a copy of the Summary of Rights,
(ii) the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer of
the underlying Common Shares, and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any
certificates evidencing Common Shares in respect of which Rights have been
issued, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares evidenced by such
certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable after the Record Date, the Company shall
send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares in substantially
the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to
each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Record
Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company as of
such date.
(c) Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect of all Common Shares
(other than Common Shares issued upon the exercise or exchange of any Right)
issued or delivered by the Company (whether originally issued or delivered from
the Company's treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date and the Expiration Date. Certificates evidencing such Common
Shares shall have stamped on, impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise
affixed to them the following legend or such similar legend as the Company may
deem appropriate and as is not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any
rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any
stock exchange or transaction reporting system on which the Common Shares may
from time to time be listed or quoted, or to conform to usage:
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This Certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between FRP Properties, Inc. and
First Union National Bank, dated as of May 5, 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 executive offices of FRP
Properties, Inc. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights may be redeemed, may expire, may be amended or may
be evidenced by separate certificates and no longer be evidenced by this
Certificate. FRP Properties, Inc. will mail to the holder of this
Certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge promptly after
receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances as set
forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement) may become null and void.
(d) As promptly as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company
shall prepare and execute, the Rights Agent shall countersign and the Company
shall send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent shall, if requested, send),
by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common
Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate, evidencing
one Right for each Common Share so held, subject to adjustment. As of and after
the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced solely by such Right
Certificates.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the form
of election to purchase and form of assignment to be printed on the reverse
thereof) shall be substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit B hereto with
such changes, marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries
or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or transaction
reporting system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted,
or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 22 hereof, the
Right Certificates, whenever issued, on their face shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as
shall be set forth therein at the Purchase Price set forth therein, but the
Purchase Price, the number and kind of securities issuable upon exercise of each
Right and the number of Rights outstanding shall be subject to adjustment as
provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature And Registration.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by
its Chairman of the Board, 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 Right
Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not
be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the
Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be
such officer of the Company before
6
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company,
such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent,
and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though
the Person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer
of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company
by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right
Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right
Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any
such Person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent shall keep or cause
to be kept, at the principal office of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose and at such other offices as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange or any transaction reporting system on
which the Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books
shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right
Certificates and the date of each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination And Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(d) and 14 hereof, at any time
after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates representing exercisable
Rights may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right
Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a
like number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (or other securities, as
the case may be) as the Right Certificate or Right 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
such Right Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to the
Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to
be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Thereupon or as promptly as
practicable thereafter, subject to the provisions of Sections 7(d) and 14
hereof, the Company shall prepare, execute and deliver to the Rights Agent, and
the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver a Right Certificate or Right
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of
Right Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right
Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company and
the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate if
mutilated, the Company shall prepare, execute and deliver a new Right
Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall
countersign and deliver such new Right Certificate to the registered holder in
lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
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Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights
evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at
any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, upon
surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the
reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office or offices
of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment in cash,
in lawful money of the United States of America by certified check or bank draft
payable to the order of the Company, equal to the sum of (i) the exercise price
for the total number of securities as to which such surrendered Rights are
exercised and (ii) an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be
paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with the provisions
of Section 9 hereof. For purposes of this Section 7(a), the value of any
security shall be the current per share market price of thereof (or of the
security as to which such security is deemed for purposes of this Agreement to
be an equivalent), determined pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section
11(d) hereof, on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the first
occurrence of a Triggering Event.
(b) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights
with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by either
payment as described above or a duly completed election to exercise without
payment of cash, the Rights Agent shall promptly (i) requisition from any
transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make available, if the Rights Agent
is the transfer agent) certificates representing the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share to be purchased (and the Company hereby
irrevocably authorizes and directs its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests), or, if the Company shall have elected to deposit Preferred Shares
issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent,
requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (and
the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs such depositary agent to
comply with all such requests), (ii) after receipt of such certificates (or
depositary receipts, as the case may be), cause the same to be delivered to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in
such name or names as may be designated by such holder, (iii) when appropriate,
requisition from the Company or any transfer agent therefor (or make available,
if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent) certificates representing the number
of equivalent Common Shares to be issued in lieu of the issuance of Common
Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, (iv) when
appropriate, after receipt of such certificates, cause the same to be delivered
to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate,
registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, (v) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu
of the issuance of fractional shares in accordance with the provisions of
Section 14 hereof or in lieu of the issuance of Common Shares in accordance with
the provisions of Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, (vi) when appropriate, after
receipt, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Right Certificate, and (vii) when appropriate, deliver any due xxxx or other
instrument provided to the Rights Agent by the Company for delivery to the
registered holder of such Right Certificate as provided by Section 11(1) hereof.
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(c) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise
less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, the Company shall prepare, execute
and deliver a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights
remaining unexercised and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver such
new Right Certificate to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to
his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(d) 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 any purported transfer, split up, combination or exchange of any
Right Certificate pursuant to Section 6 hereof or exercise of a Right
Certificate as set forth in this Section 7 unless the registered holder of such
Right Certificate shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate following
the form of assignment or the form of election to purchase, as applicable, set
forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such
transfer, split up, combination, exchange or exercise and (ii) provided such
additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former
Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall have
reasonably requested.
Section 8. Cancellation And Destruction of Right Certificates. All Right
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
stock transfer agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in
canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it,
and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for
cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire,
any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than
upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right
Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company,
destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a
certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Company Covenants Concerning Securities And Rights. The Company
covenants and agrees that:
(a) So long as the Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights may be listed on a national securities exchange, it shall
endeavor to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable,
all securities reserved for issuance upon the exercise of Rights to be listed on
such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(b) It shall take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all
Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common
Shares and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights, at the time
of delivery of the certificates for such securities, shall be (subject to
payment of the Purchase Price) duly and validly authorized and issued, fully
paid and nonassessable securities.
(c) It shall pay when due and payable any and all federal and state
transfer taxes and charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or
delivery of the Right Certificates and of
9
any certificates representing securities issued upon the exercise of Rights;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any transfer
tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of
Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of
certificates or depositary receipts representing securities issued upon the
exercise of Rights in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the
Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise, or to issue or
deliver any certificates or depositary receipts representing securities issued
upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax or charge shall have been
paid (any such tax or charge being payable by the holder of such Right
Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the
Company's reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due.
(d) It shall use its best efforts (i) to file on an appropriate form, as
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, a registration statement
under the Securities Act with respect to the securities issuable upon exercise
of the Rights, (ii) to cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) to 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 Expiration
Date. The Company shall 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 after the date set forth in clause (i) of the
first sentence of this Section 9(d), the exercisability of the Rights in order
to prepare and file such registration statement and to permit it to become
effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no
longer in effect. In addition, if the Company shall determine that a
registration statement should be filed under the Securities Act or any state
securities laws following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily
suspend the exercisability of the Rights in each relevant jurisdiction until
such time as a registration statement has been declared effective and, upon any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not
be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite registration or
qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been effected or the exercise
of the Rights shall not be permitted under applicable law.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, after the
Distribution Date it shall not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will eliminate or
otherwise diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(f) In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of
the Company and/or pay cash pursuant to Sections 11, 13 or 14 hereof, it shall
make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities and/or cash are
available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
10
Section 10. Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate
representing Preferred Shares (or Common Shares 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 the Preferred Shares (or Common
Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and
such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares (or
Common Shares 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 securities on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding
Business Day on which the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares 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 Right Certificate
shall not be entitled to any rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect
to 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.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number And Kind of Securities or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of securities issuable
upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in
Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine
the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or
(D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), 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/or
the number and/or kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date upon
exercise of a Right, 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 capital
stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and
at a time when the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, the
holder of such Right 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 or Section 13 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) or Section 13 hereof.
(ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 27 hereof, in the event that:
11
(A) Any Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of any
Acquiring Person, at any time after the date of this Agreement,
directly or indirectly, shall (1) merge into the Company or otherwise
combine with the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such merger or combination (other than in a
transaction subject to Section 13 hereof), (2) merge or otherwise
combine with any Subsidiary of the Company, (3) in one or more
transactions (other than in connection with the exercise or exchange
of Rights or the exercise or conversion of securities exercisable for
or convertible into shares of any class of capital stock of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries) transfer any assets to the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries in exchange (in whole or in part) for
shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or for securities exercisable for or convertible into
shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or otherwise obtain from the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, with or without consideration, any additional shares of
any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of any class
of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
as part of a pro rata distribution to all holders of such shares of
any class of capital stock of the Company, or any of its
Subsidiaries), (4) sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge,
transfer or otherwise dispose (in one or more transactions), to, from,
with or of, as the case may be, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(other than in a transaction subject to Section 13 hereof), assets,
including securities, on terms and conditions less favorable to the
Company than the Company would be able to obtain in arm's-length
negotiation with an unaffiliated third party, (5) receive any
compensation from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than
compensation as a director or for full-time employment as a regular
employee, in either case, at rates in accordance with the Company's
(or its Subsidiaries') past practices, or (6) receive the benefit,
directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder), of
any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance
or any tax credits or other tax advantage provided by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries; or
(B) During such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall
be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
split), or recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or
consolidation of the Company with any of its Subsidiaries or any other
transaction or series of transactions involving the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving
an Acquiring Person), other than a transaction subject to Section 13
hereof, which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by
more than 1% the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any
class of equity securities or of securities exercisable for or
convertible into equity securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of which an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or
Associate of any Acquiring Person, is the Beneficial Owner; or
12
(C) Any Person (other than (a) the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company or any employee benefit or stock ownership plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding
Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or (b) a
Person and such Person's Affiliates and Associates if such Person and
such Person's Affiliates and Associates were the Beneficial Owner,
individually or collectively, of 15% or more of the Common Shares
outstanding on May 4, 1999) who or which, together with all Affiliates
and Associates of such Person, shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement, become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
Common Shares then outstanding (other than pursuant to any transaction
set forth in Section 13(a) hereof); provided, however, that a Person
shall not be deemed to have become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more
of the Common Shares then outstanding for the purposes of this Section
11(a)(ii)(C) solely as a result of a reduction in the number of Common
Shares outstanding unless and until such time as (1) such Person or
any Affiliate or Associate of such Person shall thereafter become the
Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares other than as a
result of a stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction
effected by the Company in which all holders of Common Shares are
treated equally, or (2) any other Person who is the Beneficial Owner
of any Common Shares shall thereafter become an Affiliate or Associate
of such Person;
then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that each holder
of a Right, except as provided below, shall thereafter have a right to receive,
upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement at an
exercise price per Right equal to the product of the then-current Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a
Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering
Event, in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares as shall equal
the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, and
dividing that product by (y) 50% of the current per share market price of the
Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of the
first occurrence of a Triggering Event. At any time prior to the Distribution
Date, the Board of Directors of the Company may declare that in lieu of the cash
payment referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, the registered holder
of a Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part upon surrender of the Right
Certificate with an election to exercise such Rights without payment of cash on
the reverse side thereof duly completed. With respect to any Rights as to which
such an election is made, the holder shall receive a number of Common Shares or
other securities having a value equal to the difference between (i) the value of
the Common Shares or other securities that would have been issuable upon payment
of the cash amount as described above, and (ii) the amount of such cash payment.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the
Distribution Date, (1) any Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially
owned by any Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such Acquiring
Person) shall be void and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no
right to exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement, (2) no
Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to this Agreement that represents
Rights beneficially
13
owned by an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof, (3) no Right
Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to an
Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof or to any nominee of such
Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate thereof, and (4) any Right
Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person or
any Affiliate or Associate thereof shall be canceled.
(iii) Upon the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, if there shall not be
sufficient Common Shares authorized but unissued or issued but not outstanding
to permit the issuance of all the Common Shares issuable in accordance with
subsection (ii) hereof upon the exercise of a Right, the Board of Directors of
the Company shall use its best efforts promptly to authorize and, subject to the
provisions of Section 9(d) hereof, make available for issuance additional Common
Shares or other equity securities of the Company having equivalent voting rights
and an equivalent value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors
of the Company) to the Common Shares (for purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii),
"equivalent Common Shares"). In the event that equivalent Common Shares are so
authorized, upon the exercise of a Right in accordance with the provisions of
Section 7 hereof, the registered holder shall be entitled to receive (A) Common
Shares, to the extent any are available and (B) a number of equivalent Common
Shares, which the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in
good faith to have a value equivalent to the excess of (x) the aggregate current
per share market value of all the Common Shares issuable in accordance with
subsection (ii) hereof upon the exercise of a Right (the "Exercise Value") over
(y) the aggregate current per share market value of any Common Shares available
for issuance upon the exercise of such Right; provided, however, that if at any
time after 90 calendar days after the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event, there
shall not be sufficient Common Shares and/or equivalent Common Shares available
for issuance upon the exercise of a Right, then the Company shall be obligated
to deliver, upon the surrender of such Right and without requiring payment of
the Purchase Price, Common Shares (to the extent available), equivalent Common
Shares (to the extent available) and then cash (to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any agreements or instruments to which the Company is a party
in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of any Flip-in Event), which
securities and cash shall have an aggregate value equal to the excess of (1) the
Exercise Value over (2) the product of the then-current Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a
Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering
Event. To the extent that any legal or contractual restrictions prevent the
Company from paying the full amount of cash payable in accordance with the
foregoing sentence, the Company shall pay to holders of the Rights as to which
such payments are being made all amounts which are not then restricted on a pro
rata basis and shall continue to make payments on a pro rata basis as funds
become available until the full amount due to each such Rights holder has been
paid.
(b) In the event that the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance
of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them
(for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or securities having equivalent
rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares (for purposes of this
Section 11(b), "equivalent preferred shares")) or securities convertible into
Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share
or equivalent preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if a
security convertible into Preferred
14
Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the current per share market
price of the Preferred Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on
such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date
shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of
Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of
Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such current per share market price and the
denominator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such
record date plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent
preferred shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the
convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such
subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be
in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be
deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the
event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In the event that the Company shall fix a record date for the making of
a distribution to all holders of Preferred Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness, cash (other than a regular periodic cash dividend), assets, stock
(other than a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights,
options 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 per share market
price of the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
on such record date or, if earlier, the date on which Preferred Shares begin to
trade on an ex-dividend or when-issued basis for such distribution, less the
fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent) of the portion of the evidences of indebtedness, cash, assets or
stock so to be distributed or of such subscription rights, options or warrants
applicable to one Preferred Share, and the denominator of which shall be such
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares. Such adjustments shall
be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that
such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to
be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per
share market price" of Common Shares on any date shall be deemed to be the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Shares for the 30
consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that
in the event that the current per share market price of the Common Shares is
determined during a period following the announcement by the Issuer of such
Common Shares of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Shares payable in
such
15
Common Shares or securities convertible into such Common Shares (other than the
Rights) or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Common
Shares, and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend
date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per
share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to take into account
ex-dividend trading or to reflect the current per share market price per Common
Share equivalent. The closing price for each day shall be 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 National Market or such other
system then in use, or, if the Common Shares become listed on an exchange, 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 on the principal national securities exchange on which the
Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if on any such date the
Common Shares 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 Shares selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.
If the Common Shares are not publicly held or not so listed or traded, or not
the subject of available bid and asked quotes, "current per share market price"
shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per
share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in the same
manner as set forth above for Common Shares in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, other
than the last sentence thereof. If the current per share market price of the
Preferred Shares cannot be determined in the manner provided above, the "current
per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to
be an amount equal to the current per share market price of the Common Shares
multiplied by 100 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted to reflect
events such as stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar
transactions relating to the Common Shares occurring after the date of this
Agreement). If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly
held or so listed or traded, or the subject of available bid and asked quotes,
"current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares 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. For all purposes of this Agreement, the current per share market
price of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share shall be equal to the current
per share market price of one Preferred Share divided by 100.
(e) Except as set forth below, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be
required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at
least 1% in such price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason
of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and
taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this
Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-millionth of
a Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of a Common Share or other security, as
the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this
16
Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the
date of the transaction which requires such adjustment and (ii) the Expiration
Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof,
the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive
any securities of the Company other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number
of such other securities so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly
equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares
contained in this Section 11, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13
hereof with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any
such other securities.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share issuable 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) hereof, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of
the calculations made in Section 11(b) and Section 11(c) hereof with respect to
a distribution of subscription rights, options or warrants applicable to
Preferred Shares, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such
adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted
Purchase Price, that number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share
(calculated to the nearest ten-millionth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable
upon exercise of a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase
Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Purchase Price, to adjust the number of Rights in substitution for any
adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable
upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights
(calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The
Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of
Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the
time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date
on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 calendar days later than the
date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon
each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing,
subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which
such
17
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof if required by the
Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed
shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein
(and 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 Right Certificates
on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the
number or kind of securities issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the
Purchase Price and the number and kind of securities which were expressed in the
initial Right Certificate issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the
Purchase Price below one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the
Preferred Shares or below the then par value, if any, of any other securities of
the Company issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any
corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order
that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable
Preferred Shares or such other securities, as the case may be, at such adjusted
Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment
in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified
event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the
issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the number
of Preferred Shares or other securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon
such exercise over and above the number of Preferred Shares or other 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 Preferred Shares or
other securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company
shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to
those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent
that in its good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the Company shall
determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of
the Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares at less
than the current per share market price therefor, (iii) issuance wholly for cash
of Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible into or
exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (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 Shares shall not be taxable to such
shareholders.
(n) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the
event that the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on the outstanding Common
Shares payable in Common Shares, (ii) subdivide
18
the outstanding Common Shares, (iii) combine the outstanding Common Shares into
a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the outstanding Common Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), the number of Rights
associated with each Common Share then outstanding, or issued or delivered
thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted
so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each Common Share
following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the
number of Rights associated with each Common Share immediately prior to such
event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of Common
Shares outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately following the occurrence of such event. The adjustments provided for
in this Section 11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is
paid or such a subdivision, combination or reclassification is effected.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Securities.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall promptly
(a) Prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) File with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the
Preferred Shares and the Common Shares, a copy of such certificate, and
(c) If such adjustment is made after the Distribution Date, mail a brief
summary of such adjustment to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance
with Section 25 hereof.
The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and
on any adjustment therein and shall not be obligated or responsible for
calculating any adjustment nor shall it be deemed to have knowledge of any such
adjustment unless and until it shall have received such a certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Share Acquisition Date, directly or
indirectly:
(i) The Company shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, any
other Person and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger; or
(ii) Any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with or
into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger or consolidation and, in connection with such merger
or consolidation, all or part of the Common
19
Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any
other Person or cash or any other property; or
(iii) The Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of
its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions,
assets or earning power (including, without limitation, securities creating any
obligation on the part of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries)
representing in the aggregate more than 50% of the assets or earning power of
the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons;
then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that (A) each
holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided herein) shall thereafter have
the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement at an exercise price per Right equal to the product of the
then-current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Triggering Event, such number of validly authorized and issued,
fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradeable Common Shares of the Issuer, free
and clear of any liens, encumbrances and other adverse claims and not subject to
any rights of call or first refusal, as shall be equal to the result obtained by
(x) multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the number of one
one-hundredths for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Triggering Event and dividing that product by (y) 50% of the
current per share market price of the Common Shares of the Issuer (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof), on the date of consummation of such Flip-over
Event; (B) the Issuer shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by
virtue of the consummation of such Flip-over Event, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term "Company" shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to the Issuer; and (D) the Issuer shall take such
steps (including, without limitation, the reservation of a sufficient number of
its Common Shares to permit the exercise of all outstanding Rights) in
connection with such consummation as may be necessary to assure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be
possible, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the
exercise of the Rights. At any time prior to the Distribution Date, the Board of
Directors of the Company may declare that in lieu of a cash payment, the
registered holder of a Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced
thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part upon surrender
of the Right Certificate with an election to exercise such Rights without
payment of cash on the reverse side thereof duly completed. With respect to any
Rights as to which such an election is made, the holder shall receive a number
of Common Shares or other securities of the Issuer having a value equal to the
difference between (i) the value of the Common Shares or other securities of the
Issuer that would have been issuable upon payment of the cash amount as
described above, and (ii) the amount of such cash payment.
(b) For purposes of this Section 13, "Issuer" shall mean (i) in the case of
any Flip-over Event described in Sections 13(a)(i) or (ii) above, the Person
that is the continuing, surviving, resulting or acquiring Person (including the
Company as the continuing or surviving corporation of a transaction described in
Section 13(a)(ii) above), and (ii) in the case of any Flip-over Event described
in Section 13(a)(iii) above, the Person that is the party receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power (including, without limitation,
securities creating any obligation on the part of the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries) transferred pursuant to such transaction
20
or transactions; provided, however, that, in any such case, (A) if (1) no class
of equity security of such Person is, at the time of such merger, consolidation
or transaction and has been continuously over the preceding 12-month period,
registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and (2) such Person is a
Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of another Person, a class of equity
security of which is and has been so registered, the term "Issuer" shall mean
such other Person; and (B) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, of more than one Person, a class of equity security of two or more
of which are and have been so registered, the term "Issuer" shall mean whichever
of such Persons is the Issuer of the equity security having the greatest
aggregate market value. For purposes of this Section 13, neither "Issuer" and
nor "Person" shall mean any Person or such Person's Affiliates and Associates
who were the Beneficial Owner, individually or collectively, of 15% or more of
the Common Shares outstanding on May 4, 1999. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
the Issuer in any of the Flip-over Events listed above is not a corporation or
other legal entity having outstanding equity securities, then, and in each such
case, (x) if the Issuer is directly or indirectly wholly owned by a corporation
or other legal entity having outstanding equity securities, then all references
to Common Shares of the Issuer shall be deemed to be references to the Common
Shares of the corporation or other legal entity having outstanding equity
securities which ultimately controls the Issuer, and (y) if there is no such
corporation or other legal entity having outstanding equity securities, (i)
proper provision shall be made so that the Issuer shall create or otherwise make
available for purposes of the exercise of the Rights in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, a kind or kinds of security or securities having a fair
market value at least equal to the economic value of the Common Shares which
each holder of a Right would have been entitled to receive if the Issuer had
been a corporation or other legal entity having outstanding equity securities;
and (ii) all other provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the Issuer of
such securities as if such securities were Common Shares.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any Flip-over Event, unless the Issuer
shall have a sufficient number of authorized Common Shares (or other securities
as contemplated in Section 13(b) above) 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 to such consummation the Company and the Issuer
shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the terms set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 13
and further providing that as promptly as practicable after the consummation of
any Flip-over Event, the Issuer shall:
(i) Prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act,
with respect to the Rights and the securities issuable upon exercise of the
Rights on an appropriate form, and shall 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 Securities Act) until the Expiration Date;
(ii) Take all 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; and
21
(iii) Deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements
for the Issuer and each of its Affiliates which comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
(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
Flip-over Event occurs at any time after the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, the
Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become
exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a) hereof.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Securities.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such
fractional Rights, the Company shall pay as promptly as practicable to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Rights otherwise would be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of
this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the
closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on
which such fractional Rights otherwise would have been issuable. The closing
price for any day shall be 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 National Market or such other system then in use or, if
the Common Shares become listed on an exchange, 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 on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are
listed or admitted to trading or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted
by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected
by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market
maker is making a market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights on such date
as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be
used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of
Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary
selected by it, provided that such agreement shall provide that the holders of
such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences
to which they are entitled as Beneficial Owners of the Preferred Shares
represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares
that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, the
Company may pay to any Person to whom or which such fractional Preferred Shares
would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of one Preferred Share. For purposes of this Section 14(b),
the current market value of one Preferred Share shall be the closing price of
the Preferred
22
Shares (as determined in the same manner as set forth for Common Shares in the
second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise; provided, however, that if the closing price
of the Preferred Shares cannot be so determined, the closing price of the
Preferred Shares for such Trading Day shall be conclusively deemed to be an
amount equal to the closing price of the Common Shares (determined pursuant to
the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for such Trading Day multiplied
by 100 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted to reflect events such as
stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar transactions
relating to the Common Shares occurring after the date of this Agreement); and
provided further, however, that if neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred
Shares are publicly held or listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, or the subject of available bid and asked quotes, the
current market value of one Preferred Share shall be determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company shall not
be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or other securities issuable
upon exercise or exchange of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence any such fractional securities. In lieu of issuing any such fractional
securities, the Company may pay to any Person to whom or which such fractional
securities would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one such security. For purposes of this
Section 14(c), the current market value of one Common Share or other security
issuable upon the exercise or exchange of Rights shall be the closing price
thereof (as determined in the same manner as set forth for Common Shares in the
second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise or exchange; provided, however, that if
neither the Common Shares nor any such other securities are publicly held or
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, or the
subject of available bid and asked quotes, the current market value of one
Common Share or such other security shall be determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the holder of any Common Shares), may in his own behalf
and for his own benefit enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action
or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of,
his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate or Common
Share certificate in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and
shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under this
Agreement, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the
obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.
23
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be transferable only
in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares.
(b) After the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are transferable
only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal
office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer.
(c) The Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose
name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated
Common Share certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the
Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing
on the Right Certificate or the associated Common Share certificate made by
anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever,
and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to
the contrary.
(d) Such holder expressly waives any right to receive any fractional Rights
and any fractional securities upon exercise or exchange of a Right, except as
otherwise provided in Section 14 hereof.
(e) 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 or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by
a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any
statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any
governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such
obligation; provided, however, that the Company shall use its best efforts to
have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as
possible.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No holder,
as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any other
securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise of
the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of Directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement or exchanged pursuant to the provisions of Section
27 hereof.
24
Section 18. Concerning Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation
for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of
the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other
disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and
the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to
indemnify the Rights Agent, its directors, officers, employees and agents for,
and to hold each of them harmless against, any loss, liability, suit, action,
proceeding 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 or such other indemnified party in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, or the performance of the Right Agent's
duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending against any
claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its
administration of this Agreement or the performance of the Rights Agent's duties
hereunder in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate evidencing
Preferred Shares or other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or
transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction,
consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
(c) The indemnity provided in this Section 18 shall survive the expiration
of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment
as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case
at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by
this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of
the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not
have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name
of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates
shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this
Agreement.
25
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of
the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed
name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be
full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any
action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such advice
or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
President or any Vice President of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the
due execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the
validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any
covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate;
nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 11 or Section 13 hereof (including any adjustment which results in
Rights becoming void) 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
Right Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by
any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares
26
of stock or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any
Right Certificate or as to whether any shares of stock or other securities will,
when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President of the
Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection
with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to
be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer
or for any delay in acting while awaiting instructions. Any application by the
Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the
Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by
the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on or after which such action
shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not
be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in
accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date
specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business
Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written
instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken
or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of
the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities
of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the
Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or
otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this
Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any
other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through
its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided the Rights Agent was not grossly negligent in
the selection and continued employment thereof. The Rights Agent shall not be
under any duty or responsibility to insure compliance with any applicable
federal or state securities laws in connection with the issuance, transfer or
exchange of Right Certificates.
(j) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange, 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
27
indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent
shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise,
transfer, split up, combination or exchange without first consulting with the
Company.
(k) The Rights Agent undertakes only the express duties and obligations
imposed on it by this Agreement and no implied duties or obligations shall be
read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.
(l) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event
shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or
damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits).
(m) 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.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 calendar days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon
30 calendar days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Preferred
Shares and the Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders
of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign
or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall
appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of 30 calendar days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate
may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new
Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by
such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws
of the United States or of the States of Florida or New York (or of any other
state of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized to do
business as a banking institution in the States of Florida or New York), in good
standing, having a principal office in the States of Florida or New York, which
is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject
to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the
time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least $5 million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested
with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
28
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 Preferred Shares and the Common Shares, and mail
a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as
the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the Purchase Price per share and the number or kind of securities issuable upon
exercise of the Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale by the Company of Common
Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the
Company
(a) Shall, with respect to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise or conversion of securities issued prior to the Distribution Date which
are exercisable for, or convertible into Common Shares, and
(b) May, in any other case, if deemed necessary, appropriate or desirable
by the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Right Certificates representing
an equivalent number of Rights as would have been issued in respect of such
Common Shares if they had been issued or sold prior to the Distribution Date, as
appropriately adjusted as provided herein as if they had been so issued or sold;
provided, however, that (i) no such Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to
the extent that, in its good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the
Company shall have determined that the issuance of such Right Certificate could
have a material adverse tax consequence to the Company or to the Person to whom
or which such Right Certificate otherwise would be issued, and (ii) no such
Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment otherwise shall have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Board of Directors of the Company
may, at its option, redeem all but not less than all of the then-outstanding
Rights at the Redemption Price at any time prior to the Close of Business on the
later of (i) the Distribution Date and (ii) the Share Acquisition Date.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering the redemption of the Rights, and without any further action and
without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights shall terminate and the
only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the
Redemption Price. Promptly after the action of its Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall publicly announce such action,
and within 10 calendar days thereafter, the Company shall give notice of such
redemption to the holders of the then-outstanding Rights by mailing such notice
to all such holders at their last addresses as they
29
appear upon the registry books of the Company; provided, however, that the
failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity
of the redemption of the Rights. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.
The notice of redemption mailed to the holders of Rights shall state the method
by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. The Company may, at
its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, Common Shares (based upon the
current per share market price of the Common Shares (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) at the time of redemption) or any other form of
consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company (based
upon the fair market value of such other consideration, determined by the Board
of Directors of the Company in good faith) or any combination thereof.
(c) At any time following the Share Acquisition Date, the Board of
Directors of the Company may relinquish the right to redeem the Rights under
this Section 23 by duly adopting a resolution to that effect. Immediately upon
adoption of such resolution, the rights of the Board of Directors of the Company
to redeem the Rights shall terminate without further action and without any
notice. Promptly after adoption of such a resolution, the Company shall publicly
announce such action; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect
in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company.
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case, after the Distribution Date, the Company shall propose (i) to
pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred
Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of Preferred Shares
(other than a regular periodic cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of
Preferred Shares rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any
additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other
securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its
Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision
of outstanding Preferred Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger
into or with, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more
of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more
transactions, of assets or earning power (including, without limitation,
securities creating any obligation on the part of the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries) representing more than 50% of the assets and earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person or Persons,
(v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi)
to declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or
to effect a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Common Shares
then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed
action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock
dividend, distribution or offering of rights, options or warrants, or the date
on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of
participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred
Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given, in
the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above, at least 10 calendar
days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares
for purposes of such action, and, in the case of any such other action, at least
10 calendar days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the
date
30
of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred
Shares whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any Triggering Event shall occur, then, in any such case, the
Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to the Rights Agent and
each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a
notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the
consequences of the event to holders of Rights.
Section 25. Notices.
(a) Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by
the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Company
shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights
Agent) as follows:
FRP Properties, Inc.
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand
authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder
of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given
or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
First Union National Bank
0000 Xxxx X. X. Xxxxxx Boulevard, 3C3
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-1153
Attention: Shareholder Services Group
(c) Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by
the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of any certificate evidencing
Common Shares) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown
on the registry books of the Company.
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date and
subject to the last sentence of this Section 26, if the Company so directs, the
Company and the Rights Agent shall supplement or amend any provision of this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of certificates representing
Common Shares. From and after the Distribution Date and subject to the last
sentence of this Section 26, if the Company so directs, the Company and the
Rights Agent shall supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of
any holders of Right Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to
correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to
31
shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or (iv) to supplement or amend
the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem desirable,
including, without limitation, the addition of other events requiring adjustment
to the Rights under Sections 11 or 13 hereof or procedures relating to the
redemption of the Rights, which supplement or amendment shall not, in the good
faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Company, adversely affect
the interests of the holders of Right Certificates (other than an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person). Upon the delivery
of a certificate from an officer of the Company which states that the proposed
supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 26, the
Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment; provided, however, that
the failure or refusal of the Rights Agent to execute such supplement or
amendment shall not affect the validity of any supplement or amendment adopted
by the Company, any of which shall be effective in accordance with the terms
thereof. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no
supplement or amendment shall be made which decreases the stated Redemption
Price or the period of time remaining until the Final Expiration Date or which
modifies a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time
as the Rights are not then redeemable, and no supplement or amendment that
changes the rights or duties of the Rights Agent under this Agreement shall be
effective without the execution of such supplement or amendment by the Rights
Agent.
Section 27. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time
after the Distribution Date, exchange all or part of the then-outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Shares at an
exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect
any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan), who or which, together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
Common Shares then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 27(a) hereof, and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such
Rights shall terminate and the only right with respect to such Rights thereafter
of the holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares
equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the
Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 27(a) hereof,
the Company shall publicly announce such action, and within 10 calendar days
thereafter shall give 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; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in,
such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. Any notice which is
mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
32
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of
exchange shall state the method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for
Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of
Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata
based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant
to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 27, the Company, at its
option, may substitute for any Common Share exchangeable for a Right, (i)
equivalent Common Shares (as such term is used in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof),
(ii) cash, (iii) debt securities of the Company, (iv) other assets, or (v) any
combination of the foregoing, in any event having an aggregate value which the
Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith to be
equal to the current market value of one Common Share (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of
exchange pursuant to this Section 27.
Section 28. Successors; Certain Covenants. All the covenants and provisions
of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall
bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns
hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit
of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right
Certificates (or prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, Etc. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board, or the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the
administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and
power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement, whether a Person is an Acquiring
Person and whether any proposed amendment adversely affects the interests of the
holders of Right Certificates). For all purposes of this Agreement, any
calculation of the number of Common Shares or other securities outstanding at
any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular
percentage of such outstanding Common Shares or any other securities of which
any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last
sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date
of this Agreement. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the board in good faith,
shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Right Certificates and all other parties, and (y) not subject the
Board to any liability to the holders of the Right Certificates.
33
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued
hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal substantive
laws of the State of Florida and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of such State
applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
[SEAL]
Attest FRP PROPERTIES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
---------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx Name: Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Title: Vice President and Secretary Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial
Officer
34
[SEAL]
Attest FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
---------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx Name: Xx. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
35
EXHIBIT A
FORM
OF
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
RELATING TO
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
FRP PROPERTIES, INC.
Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 607.0602 and 607.1002 of the Florida
Business Corporation Act (the "Act"), the undersigned, on behalf of FRP
Properties, Inc. (the "Corporation"), hereby submits the following information:
1. The name of the Corporation is FRP PROPERTIES, INC.
2. Pursuant to Sections 607.0602 and 607.1002(5) of the Act, the Articles
of Incorporation of the Corporation are hereby amended to authorize and create a
new series of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share. The designation and
amount thereof and the powers, designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such new
series of preferred stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof are as follows:
I. Designation and Amount
The shares of such new series shall be designated as "Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A Preferred Stock") and the
number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be
250,000. 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 A 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 Series A Preferred Stock.
II. Dividends and Distributions
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of
Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series
A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, par value $.10
per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other junior
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 day
A-1
of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being
referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or
fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock (the "First Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date"), in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to
the greater of (i) $1.00 or (ii) subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash
dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all
non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in
shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the
First Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time (a) declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (b) subdivide the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, (c) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock in a smaller
number of shares, or (d) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such case
and regardless of whether any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are then issued
or outstanding, the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock would otherwise be entitled immediately prior to such event under clause
(ii) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series
A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section II 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, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the
Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares
of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless (i) 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 the first issuance of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, or (ii) the date
of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date
for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled
to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date,
in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative
from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall
not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in
an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and
payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis
among all such shares at the time
A-2
outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination
of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of
a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall not be more
than 60 calendar days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
III. Voting Rights
The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following
voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes
on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Corporation. In
the event the Corporation shall at any time (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, (iii) combine the outstanding
shares of Common Stock in a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue any shares
of its capital stock in a reclassification of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or
merger in which the Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation),
then, in each such case and regardless of whether any shares of Series A
Preferred Stock are then issued or outstanding, the number of votes per share to
which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock would otherwise be 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, in any other articles of amendment
creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of
Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general
voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a
vote of shareholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, holders of
Series A 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 a set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
IV. Certain Restrictions
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section II are in
arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
A-3
(i) Declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;
(ii) Declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any
shares of stock ranking on a parity(either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock,
except dividends paid ratably on the Series A 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 stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that
the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the
Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) Redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a
parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a
purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the
Board of Directors) to all holders of 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
IV, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
V. Reacquired Shares
Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by
the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled 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 subject to the conditions and
restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Articles of Incorporation, or
in any other articles of amendment creating a series of Preferred Stock or any
similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
A-4
VI. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no
distribution shall be made (A) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock shall have received $100 per share, plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared,
to the date of such payment; provided, however, that the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per
share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to
100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares
of Common Stock, or (B) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time (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, (iii)
combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock in a smaller number of shares, or
(iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Corporation is the
continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such case and regardless of
whether any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are then issued or outstanding,
the aggregate amount to which each holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
would otherwise be entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in
clause (A) 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.
VII. 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 each such case, each share of Series A 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 100
times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property
(payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of
Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any
time (A) declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
(C) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock in a smaller number of
shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Corporation is the
continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such case and regardless of
whether any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are then issued or outstanding,
the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change
A-5
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
VIII. Redemption
The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
IX. Rank
The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of
dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series of any other
class of the Corporation's Preferred Stock.
X. Amendment
The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended in
any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or
special rights of the Series A 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 A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single
series.
3. These amendments were duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation on May 5, 1999 pursuant to Sections 607.0602 and 607.1002 of the Act
and shareholder action is not required with respect to the amendments set forth
herein.
4. The effective time and date of these Articles of Amendment shall be 5:00
p.m., Eastern time, on June 2, 1999.
A-6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, FRP PROPERTIES, INC. has caused its duly authorized
officer to execute these Articles of Amendment this ___ day of _________, 1999.
By:
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Attest:
By:
----------------------
Name:
--------------------
Title:
-------------------
A-7
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R-______
________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED. THE RIGHTS
ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER RIGHT
ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN
ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR AN ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS
SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
FRP PROPERTIES, 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 5, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), between FRP
Properties, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), and First Union
National Bank (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time
after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement)
and prior to 5:00 P.M. (Eastern time) on September 30, 2009 at the principal
office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, one
one-hundredth of a fully paid nonassessable share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred
Shares"), of the Company, at a Purchase Price of $96 per one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this
Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate
duly executed. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder
shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or
Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. The number of
Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth
above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price
as of June 2, 1999, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and
kind of securities issuable upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are subject to adjustment upon the happening of certain
events.
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This Right 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 of the Rights Agent,
the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates, which limitations of
rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of the Rights
under the circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights
Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent.
Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, from and after the later of the
Distribution Date and the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), (i) any Rights that are or were acquired or
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of
such Acquiring Person) shall be void and any holder of such Rights shall
thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any provision of the
Rights Agreement, (ii) no Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to the
Rights Agreement that represents Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof, (iii) no Right Certificate shall
be issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person or
any Affiliate or Associate thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person or
Affiliate or Associate thereof, and (iv) any Right Certificate delivered to the
Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof shall be canceled.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, may be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or
Right Certificates, entitling the holder to purchase a like number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (or other securities, as the case may be) as
the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such
holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase, upon
presentation and surrender hereof at the principal office of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, with the Form of Assignment (if appropriate) and
the related Certificate duly executed.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a Redemption
Price of $0.01 per Right. The Rights Agreement may be supplemented and amended
by the Company, as provided therein.
The Company is not required to issue fractions of Preferred Shares (other
than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the option of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) or other securities issuable upon the exercise of any Right or Rights
evidenced hereby. In lieu of issuing such fractional Preferred Shares or other
securities, the Company may make a cash payment, as provided in the Rights
Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable upon the exercise of the Right or Rights represented hereby, nor shall
anything contained herein or in the Rights Agreement be construed to confer upon
the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or
any right
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to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with
the provisions of the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, FRP PROPERTIES, INC. has caused its duly authorized
officer to execute this Right Certificate this ___ day of _________, ____.
[SEAL]
Attest FRP PROPERTIES, INC.
By: By:
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name: Name:
--------------------------------- --------------------------------
Title: Title:
[SEAL]
Attest FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
By: By:
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name: Name:
--------------------------------- --------------------------------
Title: Title:
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FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ___________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________ Attorney, to
transfer the Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with
full power of substitution.
Dated:
------------------------- --------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being sold, assigned, transferred, split up, combined or exchanged by or on
behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in 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 Right Certificate from any
Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person.
Dated:
------------------------- --------------------------------
Signature
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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate)
To FRP PROPERTIES, INC.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share or other securities issuable upon the exercise of such
Rights and requests that certificates for such securities be issued in the name
of:
Please insert social security or other identifying number:
---------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number:
----------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Optional Election to Exercise without Payment of Cash (To be included if the
Board of Directors declares such option to be available):
With respect to the exercise of ______ of the Rights specified above, the
undersigned hereby elects to exercise such Rights without payment of cash and to
receive a number of Common Shares or other securities having a value (as
determined pursuant to the Rights Agreement) equal to the difference between (i)
the value of the Common Shares or other securities that would have been issuable
upon the exercise thereof upon payment of the cash amount as provided in the
Rights Agreement, and (ii) the amount of such cash payment.
Dated:
------------------------- --------------------------------
Signature
B-5
Signature Guaranteed:
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined pursuant
to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [ ]
did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any
Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person.
Dated:
------------------------- --------------------------------
Signature
NOTICE
Signatures on the foregoing Form of Assignment and Form of Election to
Purchase must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership in an
approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or
the Form of election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, the
Company and the Rights Agent will deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such Assignment or
Election to Purchase will not be honored.
B-6
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
Introduction
On May 5, 1999, the Board of Directors of Florida Rock Industries, Inc.
(the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.10 per share,
of the Company (the "Common Shares"). The dividend is payable on June 2, 1999
(the "Record Date") to the shareholders of record on that date. The description
and terms of the Rights are set forth in an Agreement (the "Agreement") between
the Company and First Union National Bank as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Purchase Price
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the
Company, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), at a price of $96
per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment.
Flip-In
In the event that any Person or group of affiliated or associated Persons
acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
other than any Person or group of affiliated or associated Persons who were
Beneficial Owners, individually or collectively, of 15% or more of the Company's
Common Shares outstanding on May 4, 1999 (an "Acquiring Person"), each holder of
a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which
will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon
exercise that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the
exercise price of the Right. At any time prior to the Distribution Date (as
defined below), the Company's Board of Directors may declare that in lieu of a
cash payment, the registered holder of a Right Certificate may exercise the
Rights (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part upon surrender
of the Right Certificate with an election to exercise such Rights without
payment of cash. A holder who elects to make a cashless exercise will receive
the number of Common Shares having a value equal to the Purchase Price.
Flip-Over
If the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold
after a Person or group has become an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right
(other than Rights beneficially owned by Acquiring Person, which will be void)
will thereafter have the right to receive that number of shares of common stock
of the Issuer which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of
two times the exercise price of the Right. At any time prior to the Distribution
Date (as defined below), the Company's Board of Directors may declare that in
lieu of a cash payment, the
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registered holder of a Right Certificate may exercise the Rights (except as
otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part upon surrender of the Right
Certificate with an election to exercise such Rights without payment of cash. A
holder who elects to make a cashless exercise will receive the number of shares
of common stock of the Issuer having a value equal to the Purchase Price.
Distribution Date
The Distribution Date is the earlier of
(i) The Close of Business on the tenth Business Day following a public
announcement that a Person or group of affiliated or associated Persons have
acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares;
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, if the
Distribution Date shall have previously occurred) following the commencement of,
or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a Person or
group of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares.
Transfer and Detachment
Until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to
any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such
Common Share certificate with a copy of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.
Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights),
the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares, and
transfer of those certificates will also constitute transfer of these Rights.
As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will thereafter
evidence the Rights.
Exercisability
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire on September 30, 2009 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.
Adjustments
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of stock
dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, or certain
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distributions with respect to the Preferred Shares. The number of outstanding
Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon
exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment if, prior to the
Distribution Date, there is a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares. With certain exceptions, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments
require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional
Preferred Share will be issued (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election
of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts) and, in lieu thereof, an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Share
on the last Trading Day prior to the date of exercise.
Preferred Shares
Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to, if declared by the Board
of Directors, a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share
but will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared
per Common Share. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred
Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per
share but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made
per Common Share. Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with
the Common Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other
transaction in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be
entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights
are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
The value of the one one-hundredth interest in a Preferred Share
purchasable upon exercise of each Right should, because of the nature of the
Preferred Share dividend, liquidation and voting rights, approximate the value
of one Common Share.
Exchange
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 Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person, which will have
become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per
one Right to one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (subject to adjustment).
Redemption
At any time prior to the Expiration Date, the Board of Directors of the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per
Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made
effective at such time on such basis with such conditions as the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption
of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
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Amendments
The Rights Agreement may be amended by the Company without the approval of
any holders of Right Certificates, including amendments which add other events
requiring adjustment to the Purchase Price payable and the number of Preferred
Shares or other securities issuable upon the exercise of the Rights or which
modify procedures relating to the redemption of the Rights, provided that no
amendment may be made which decreases the stated Redemption Price or the period
of time remaining until the Final Expirations Date or which modifies a time
period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights
are not then redeemable.
Rights and Holders
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
Further Information
A copy of the Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This
summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Agreement, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
C-4