RIGHTS AGREEMENT February 4, 2008 by and between CSK AUTO CORPORATION and MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC as Rights Agent
Exhibit 1
February 4, 2008
by and between
CSK AUTO CORPORATION
and
MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC
as Rights Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
Section 1. | Certain Definitions |
1 | ||
Section 2. | Appointment of Rights Agent |
7 | ||
Section 3. | Issuance of Right Certificates |
7 | ||
Section 4. | Form of Right Certificates |
9 | ||
Section 5. | Countersignature and Registration |
9 | ||
Section 6. | Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates |
9 | ||
Section 7. | Exercise of Rights |
10 | ||
Section 8. | Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates |
13 | ||
Section 9. | Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock |
13 | ||
Section 10. | Securities Record Date |
14 | ||
Section 11. | Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares Issuable Upon
Exercise of Rights or Number of Rights |
14 | ||
Section 12. | Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares Issuable
Upon Exercise of Rights |
20 | ||
Section 13. | Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power |
21 | ||
Section 14. | Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares |
23 | ||
Section 15. | Rights of Action |
24 | ||
Section 16. | Agreement of Right Holders |
24 | ||
Section 17. | Right Holder and Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder |
25 | ||
Section 18. | Concerning the Rights Agent |
25 | ||
Section 19. | Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent |
26 | ||
Section 20. | Rights and Duties of Rights Agent |
26 |
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||
Section 21. | Change of Rights Agent |
29 | ||
Section 22. | Issuance of New Right Certificates |
29 | ||
Section 23. | Redemption of Rights |
29 | ||
Section 24. | Exchange of Rights |
31 | ||
Section 25. | Independent Director Review |
31 | ||
Section 26. | Notice of Certain Events |
32 | ||
Section 27. | Notices |
32 | ||
Section 28. | Supplements and Amendments |
33 | ||
Section 29. | Certain Covenants |
34 | ||
Section 30. | Successors |
34 | ||
Section 31. | Benefits of this Agreement |
34 | ||
Section 32. | Severability |
34 | ||
Section 33. | Governing Law |
34 | ||
Section 34. | Counterparts |
35 | ||
Section 35. | Descriptive Headings |
35 | ||
Section 36. | Force Majeure |
35 |
TABLE OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit A — Form of Right Certificate
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This Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of February 4, 2008, by
and between CSK Auto Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Mellon Investor
Services LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a dividend of one
share purchase right (a “Right”) for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company
outstanding on February 14, 2008 (the “Record Date”), each Right initially representing the right
to purchase one Common Share (as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth herein, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to
each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of the
Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter
defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein,
the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
“Adjustment Shares” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.
“Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule
12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.
A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of and shall be deemed to “Beneficially Own”
any securities:
(i) that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect on the date hereof;
(ii) that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has the right to
acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately, or only after the passage of time,
compliance with regulatory requirements, the fulfillment of a condition or otherwise)
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, rights (other than Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise,
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner
of, or to Beneficially Own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender offer 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;
(iii) that such Person or any such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has the right to
vote, whether alone or in concert with others, pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or
understanding to vote such security (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy given to such
Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates in response to a public proxy
solicitation made pursuant to and in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations
promulgated under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D
under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);
(iv) that are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person with
which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (other than
voting pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in the proviso to clause (iii) of this
definition of “Beneficial Owner”) or disposing of any securities of the Company; and
(v) that, on any day on or after the Distribution Date, evidence Rights that prior to
such date were represented by certificates for Common Shares that such Person Beneficially
Owns on such day.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this definition, a Person engaged in business as an
underwriter of securities shall not be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially
Own, any securities acquired through such Person’s participation in good faith in a firm commitment
underwriting until the expiration of 40 days after the date of such acquisition.
“Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof
duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board of Directors.
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banking
institutions in the States of New Jersey or New York are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to close.
“Close of Business” on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York time, on such date;
provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00
p.m., New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
“Closing Price” of a stock or other security on any day shall be the last sale price, regular
way, per share of such stock or unit of such other security on such day or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either
case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if such stock or other
security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the
principal national securities exchange on which such stock or other security is listed
or admitted
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to trading or, if such stock or other security is not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the
average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported on the
Nasdaq National Market (“NASDAQ”) or such other system then in use or, if on any such date such
stock or other security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker that makes a market in such stock or other
security and that is selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Common Share” shall mean one share of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company, unless used with reference to a Person other than the Company, in which case it shall mean
one share of each class of stock of such Person having the right to vote generally in the election
of directors or, if such Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, one Common Share of the Person
that ultimately controls such Person.
“Common Share Equivalent” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
“Company” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.
“Current Market Price” per share of a stock or unit of any other security on any date shall
mean the average of the daily Closing Prices of such stock or other security for the 30 consecutive
Trading Days through and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the date in question;
provided, however, that if any event shall have caused the Closing Price on any
Trading Day during such 30-day period not to be fully comparable with the Closing Price on the date
in question (or, if no Closing Price is available on the date in question, on the Trading Day
immediately preceding the date in question), then each such non-comparable Closing Price so used
shall be appropriately adjusted by the Board of Directors of the Company in order to make the
Closing Price on each Trading Day during the period used for the determination of the Current
Market Price fully comparable with the Closing Price on such date in question (or, if applicable,
the immediately preceding Trading Day). “Current Market Price” per share of any stock or unit of
such other security that is not publicly held or so listed or traded, and “Current Market Price” of
any other property, shall mean the fair value per share of such stock or unit of such other
security, or the fair value of such other property, respectively, as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company based upon such appraisals or valuation reports of such
independent experts as the Board of Directors of the Company shall in good faith determine
appropriate, which determination shall be described in a statement filed by the Company with the
Rights Agent.
“Distribution Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3(a) hereof.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Ratio” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 24(a) hereof.
“Exempt Person” shall mean the Company, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, any
employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the
Company and any Person holding Voting Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee
benefit plan.
3
“Exercise Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7(c) hereof.
“Expiration Date” shall mean February 3, 2009, unless extended by action of the stockholders
of the Company, in which case the applicable date shall be February 4, 2011.
“Permitted Offer” means a tender or exchange offer for all outstanding Common Shares at a
price and on terms determined by the Board of Directors, prior to the purchase of Common Shares
under such tender or exchange offer and after receiving advice from one or more investment banking
firms, to be (i) at a price that is fair to stockholders (taking into account all factors that
members of the Board of Directors deem relevant, including prices that could reasonably be achieved
if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value) and
(ii) otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
“Person” shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company,
association, group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in
effect on the date hereof) or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or
otherwise) of such entity.
“Record Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the recitals hereto.
“Redemption Date” shall mean the date of the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
authorizing and directing the redemption of the Rights pursuant to Section 23(a) hereof or the
exchange of the Rights pursuant to Section 24(a) hereof.
“Redemption Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 23(a) hereof.
“Right Certificate” as that term is used with respect to any period prior to the Distribution
Date, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3(b) hereof, and, as that term is used with
respect to any period on or after the Distribution Date, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 3(c) hereof.
“Right” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals.
“Rights Expiration Date” shall mean the Expiration Date, except if there has been a
Distribution Date, then it shall mean the date that is 11 months and 29 days from the Distribution
Date.
“Section 11(a)(ii) Event” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
“Section 13(a) Event” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 13(a) hereof.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean any corporation or other Person of which equity
securities or equity interests representing a majority of the voting power are owned, directly or
indirectly, or which is effectively controlled, by such Person.
4
“Substitution Period” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
“Surviving Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 13(a) hereof.
“Trading Day” shall mean, as to any stock or other security, a day on which the principal
national securities exchange on which such stock or other security is listed or admitted to trading
is open for the transaction of business or, if such stock or other security is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
“Triggering Date” shall mean the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of
this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act) by the Company or a Triggering Stockholder containing the facts by virtue of which a
Person has become a Triggering Stockholder, or such earlier date that a majority of the members of
the Board of Directors shall have become aware of the existence of a Triggering Stockholder.
“Triggering Stockholder” shall mean any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, Beneficially Owns 10% or more of the Voting Shares then outstanding
(other than as a result of a Permitted Offer); provided, however, that the term
“Triggering Stockholder” shall not include:
(a) an Exempt Person;
(b) any Person that would not otherwise be a Triggering Stockholder but for a reduction in the
number of outstanding Voting Shares resulting from a stock repurchase program or other similar plan
of the Company or from a self tender offer of the Company, which plan or tender offer commenced on
or after the date hereof (provided, however, that the term “Triggering Stockholder”
shall include such Person from and after the first date upon which (i) such Person, since the date
of the commencement of such plan or tender offer, shall have acquired Beneficial Ownership of, in
the aggregate, a number of Voting Shares equal to 1% or more of the Voting Shares then outstanding
and (ii) such Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall
Beneficially Own 10% or more of the Voting Shares then outstanding);
(c) any Person that would not otherwise be a Triggering Stockholder but for its Beneficial
Ownership of Rights;
(d) any Person that is the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares as
of the Close of Business on the date of this Agreement (provided, however, that the
term “Triggering Stockholder” shall include such Person from and after the first date upon
which (i) such Person, after the date of this Agreement, shall have acquired, without the prior
approval of the Board of Directors, Beneficial Ownership of, in the aggregate, a number of Voting
Shares equal to 1% or more of the Voting Shares then outstanding and (ii) such Person, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall Beneficially Own 10% or more of the Voting
Shares then outstanding); or
(e) any Person who acquires Beneficial Ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Shares then
outstanding, if the Board of Directors, in good faith, determines that such Person is not a
Triggering Stockholder because of the following facts and circumstances:
5
(i) such Person represents to the Company that such Person inadvertently acquired such
Beneficial Ownership;
(ii) such Person promptly, but in any event within 10 Business Days of receipt of a
written request to do so duly issued on behalf of the Board of Directors, delivers to the
Company a certificate signed by an authorized representative of such Person, satisfactory to
the Board of Directors, representing that such Person has not acquired the Voting Shares
with any purpose, or with the effect, of changing the control of the Company, or in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect; and
(iii) such Person, within the time period required under subparagraph (ii) above,
agrees in writing that: (A) such Person will divest, as promptly as practicable, but in any
event within such period of time as the Board of Directors shall determine, a sufficient
number of Voting Shares so that such Person would no longer be the Beneficial Owner of 10%
or more of the Voting Shares then outstanding, (B) until such Person has divested such
number of Voting Shares, such Person will not acquire Beneficial Ownership of any additional
Voting Shares, and (C) such Person in fact divests the number of Voting Shares referred to,
and within the time period determined as provided in, clause (A) of this subparagraph (iii).
If such Person fails to comply, within the applicable time periods, with the provisions of
this subparagraph (e), such Person shall be deemed to have become a Triggering Stockholder
on the later of the date such Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, acquired Beneficial Ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Shares then outstanding
or the date of this Agreement.
In calculating the percentage of the outstanding Voting Shares that are Beneficially Owned by
a Person for purposes of this definition, Voting Shares that are Beneficially Owned by such Person
shall be deemed outstanding, and Voting Shares that are not Beneficially Owned by such Person and
that are subject to issuance upon the exercise or conversion of outstanding conversion rights,
exchange rights, rights, warrants or options shall not be deemed outstanding. Any determination
made by the Board of Directors of the Company as to whether any Person is or is not a Triggering
Stockholder shall be conclusive and binding upon all holders of Rights.
“Unavailable Adjustment Shares” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11(a)(iii).
“Unavailable Exchange Shares” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 24(c) hereof.
“Voting Share” shall mean (i) a Common Share and (ii) any other share of capital stock of the
Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or entitled to vote together with
the Common Shares in respect of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets, liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. References in this
Agreement to a percentage or portion of the outstanding Voting Shares shall be deemed a
6
reference
to the percentage or portion of the total votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the
outstanding Voting Shares.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent
to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights
Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights
Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice to the Rights
Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and in no event be liable for, the acts
or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issuance of Right Certificates.
(a) “Distribution Date” shall mean the date, after the date hereof, that is the earliest of
(i) the tenth Business Day (or such later day as shall be designated by the Board of Directors of
the Company) following the date of the commencement of, or the first public announcement of the
intent of any Person, other than an Exempt Person, to commence a tender offer or exchange offer,
the consummation of which would cause any Person to become a Triggering Stockholder, (ii) the date
of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or (iii) the date of the first Section 13(a) Event.
(b) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights shall be represented by certificates for
Common Shares (all of which certificates for Common Shares shall be deemed to be “Right
Certificates”) and not by separate Right Certificates, (ii) the record holder of the Common Shares
represented by each of such certificates shall be the record holder of the Rights represented
thereby and (iii) the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common
Shares. Until the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date,
the surrender for transfer of such certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute the
surrender for transfer of the Rights represented thereby. The Company shall promptly notify the
Rights Agent in writing upon the occurrence of the Distribution Date and, if such notification is
given orally, the Company shall confirm the same in writing on or prior to the Business Day next
following. Until such notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent may presume
conclusively for all purposes that the Distribution Date has not occurred.
(c) As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, and after notification by the Company,
the Rights Agent shall (if provided with all the necessary information) send, at the expense of the
Company, by first-class, 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 substantially in the form of Exhibit
A hereto (a “Right Certificate”) representing one Right for each Common Share so held, subject
to adjustment as necessary to give effect to any adjustments previously made to the number of
Common Shares issuable upon exercise of a Right or adjustments previously made to the Exercise
Price as provided herein. From and after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be represented
solely by such Right Certificates and may only be transferred by the transfer of such Right
Certificates, and the holders of such Right Certificates, as listed in the records of the Company
or any transfer agent or registrar for such Rights, shall be the record holders of such Rights.
7
(d) Certificates for Common Shares issued at any time after the Record Date and prior to the
earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, shall have impressed
on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them a legend in substantially the following
form:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as
set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of February 4, 2008 by and between CSK Auto
Corporation (the “Company”) and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent (the
“Rights Agreement”), as amended to date, the terms and conditions of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the
principal executive offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances specified
in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be represented by separate certificates
and will no longer be represented by this certificate. Under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement, Rights beneficially owned by certain persons may
become null and void. The Company will mail to the record holder of this
certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge promptly following receipt
of a written request therefor. As described in the Rights Agreement, Rights
Beneficially Owned by any Person who becomes a Triggering Stockholder or any
Affiliate or Associate of a Triggering Stockholder (as such capitalized terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement) shall become null and void.
(e) Certificates for Common Shares issued at any time on or after the Distribution Date and
prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date shall have impressed on,
printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them a legend in substantially the following form:
This certificate does not represent any Right issued pursuant to the terms of a
Rights Agreement dated as of February 4, 2008 by and between CSK Auto Corporation
and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent.
(f) In the event that at any time on or after the earlier of the date of the first Section
11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event and prior to the earlier of the
Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date, the Company shall issue any Common Shares pursuant
to the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than Rights), warrants or
options that shall have been issued or granted prior to the earlier of the date of the
first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event, then, unless the
Board of Directors of the Company shall have provided otherwise at the time of the issuance or
grant of such conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than Rights), warrants or options,
the Rights Agent shall, as soon as practicable after the date of such event, send by first-class,
postage-prepaid mail to the record holder of such Common Shares, at the address of such holder as
shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit
A hereto representing one Right for each Common Share so issued.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, the Rights Agent shall not
send any Right Certificate to any Triggering Stockholder or any of its Affiliates or Associates or
to any Person if the Rights held by such Person are Beneficially Owned by a
8
Triggering Stockholder
or any of its Affiliates or Associates. Any determination made by the Board of Directors of the
Company as to whether any Common Shares are or were Beneficially Owned at any time by a Triggering
Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate of a Triggering Stockholder shall be conclusive and
binding upon all holders of Rights.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates and the form of
assignment, including certificate, and the form of election to purchase, including certificate,
printed on the reverse thereof, when, as and if issued, shall be substantially the same as
Exhibit A hereto, and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (but which
do not affect the rights, duties or responsibilities of the Rights Agent) 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 upon which the Rights or the securities of the Company issuable upon exercise
of the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to Section 22
hereof, Right Certificates, whenever issued, that are issued in respect of Common Shares that were
issued and outstanding as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, shall be dated as of
the Distribution Date.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, President or any Vice
President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and may have affixed thereto the Company’s
seal or a facsimile thereof attested by its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, 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 countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such
Right Certificates may nevertheless 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. Any Right Certificate may be signed
on behalf of the Company by any person who at the actual date of such execution shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, even though such person was not such an
officer at the date of the execution of this Agreement.
(b) Following the Distribution Date and receipt by the Rights Agent of notice to that effect,
the Rights Agent shall keep or cause to be kept at its principal offices books for registration and
transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses
of the respective holders of Right Certificates, the number of Rights represented on its face by
each Right Certificate and the date of each Right Certificate.
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 6(c), 7(d) and 14 hereof, at any time after the
Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and so long as the Rights represented thereby remain
9
outstanding, any one or more Right Certificates may be transferred, split-up, combined or exchanged
for one or more Right Certificates representing the same aggregate number of Rights as the Right
Certificates surrendered. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or
exchange one or more Right Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights
Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent with the form of assignment, including certificate, on
the reverse side thereof completed and duly executed, with signature guaranteed. The Right
Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent. Thereupon, the
Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto one or more Right
Certificates, as so requested. The Company or the Rights Agent 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. The Rights Agent shall have no
duty or obligation under this Section unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or
governmental charges have been paid.
(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 satisfactory to them and, at the Company’s request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto,
and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of such Right Certificate if mutilated, the
Company shall issue and deliver to the Rights Agent for delivery to the record holder of such Right
Certificate a new Right Certificate of like tenor in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated Right Certificate.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6, the Rights Agent shall not
countersign and deliver a Right Certificate to any Person if such Right Certificate represents, or
would represent when held by such Person, Rights that had become or would become null and void
pursuant to Section 7(d) hereof.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights.
(a) Until the Distribution Date, no Right may be exercised.
(b) Subject to Section 7(d) and (g) hereof and the other provisions of this Agreement, at any
time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and prior to the Close of Business on the
earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date, the registered
holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights represented thereby in whole or in
part upon surrender of such Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase, including
certificate, on the reverse side thereof completed and duly executed, with signature guaranteed, to
the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of Common Shares for each Right exercised.
Upon the exercise of an exercisable Right and payment of the Exercise Price in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, the holder of such Right shall be entitled to receive, subject to
adjustment as provided herein, one Common Share (or, following the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event, Common Shares, cash, securities and/or other property).
10
(c) The “Exercise Price” for the exercise of each Right shall initially be $45.00 and shall be
payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with Section 7(f) hereof.
The Exercise Price and the number of Common Shares (or, following the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event, Common Shares, cash, securities and/or other property) to
be acquired upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided
in Sections 7(e), 11 and 13 hereof and the other provisions of this Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the earlier of
the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event, any
Rights that are or were Beneficially Owned by a Triggering Stockholder or any Affiliate or
Associate of a Triggering Stockholder at any time on or after the Distribution Date shall be null
and void, and for all purposes of this Agreement such Rights shall thereafter be deemed not to be
outstanding, and any holder of such Rights (whether or not such holder is a Triggering Stockholder
or an Affiliate or Associate of a Triggering Stockholder) shall thereafter have no right to
exercise such Rights.
(e) Prior to the Distribution Date, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
determined that such action adequately protects the interests of the holders of Rights, the Company
may, in its discretion, substitute for all or any portion of the Common Shares that would otherwise
be issuable (after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date) upon the exercise of each Right
and payment of the Exercise Price (i) cash, (ii) other equity or derivative securities of the
Company, (iii) debt securities of the Company, (iv) other property or (v) any combination of the
foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the aggregate Current
Market Price of the Common Shares for which substitution is made. Subject to Section 7(d) hereof,
in the event that the Company takes any action pursuant to this Section 7(e), such action shall
apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights.
(f) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of
election to purchase, including certificate, completed and duly executed, with signature
guaranteed, accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price for each Right to be exercised and an
amount equal to any applicable tax or charge required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof by certified check or cashier’s check payable to
the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) requisition from the
transfer agent of the Common Shares (or, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a
Section 13(a) Event, Common Shares, cash, securities and/or other property) certificates for the
number of Common Shares (or such other securities) to be purchased, and the Company
hereby irrevocably authorizes such transfer agent to comply with all such requests, and/or, as
provided in Section 14 hereof, requisition from the depositary agent described therein depositary
receipts representing such number of Common Shares (or such other securities) as are to be
purchased (in which case certificates for the Common Shares (or such other securities) represented
by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with such depositary agent) and the
Company hereby directs such depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate,
requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional Common
Shares (or such other securities) in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such
certificates, depositary receipts or cash, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of
the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or
11
names as may be
designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, the exercisability of the
Rights shall be suspended for such period as shall reasonably be necessary for the Company to
register and qualify under the Securities Act and any applicable securities law of any jurisdiction
the Common Shares and/or other securities to be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Rights;
provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 7 shall relieve the
Company of its obligations under Section 9(c) hereof.
(h) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all of the
Rights represented thereby, a new Right Certificate representing Rights equivalent to the Rights
remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right
Certificate or to such holder’s duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14
hereof.
(i) The Company shall give the Rights Agent written notice of the identity of any such
Triggering Stockholder, Associate or Affiliate, or the nominee of any of the foregoing, and the
Rights Agent may rely on such notice in carrying out its duties under this Agreement and shall be
deemed not to have any knowledge of the identity of any such Triggering Stockholder, Associate or
Affiliate, or the nominee of any of the foregoing unless and until it shall have received such
notice.
(j) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor
the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the
occurrence of any purported transfer or exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such
registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate following the form of
assignment or election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such assignment or exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or any Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request.
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Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All Right Certificates
surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if
surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for
cancellation or in canceled form, or, if 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. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) Subject to Sections 7(e) and 9(f) hereof, the Company shall cause to be reserved and kept
available out of its authorized and unissued equity securities (or out of its authorized and issued
equity securities held in its treasury), the number of such equity securities that will from time
to time be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights (other than with
respect to a Section 13(a) Event).
(b) In the event that any securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights are listed on any
national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts, from and after such time as
the Rights become exercisable, to cause all such securities issued or reserved for such issuance to
be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) If necessary to permit the issuance of securities upon exercise of the Rights, the Company
shall use its best efforts, from and after the Distribution Date, to register and qualify such
securities under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any other applicable securities laws and
to keep such registration effective until the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights
Expiration Date.
(d) The Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all securities
delivered upon exercise of the Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such
securities (subject to payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued
and fully paid and nonassessable securities.
(e) The Company shall pay when due and payable any and all taxes and charges that may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any securities upon
the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax or charge that
may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of a Right Certificate to a Person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of a certificate for securities in respect of a name other than
that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate representing Rights surrendered for
exercise, or to issue or deliver any certificate for securities upon the exercise of any Right
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 or the Rights Agent’s satisfaction that no such tax or charge is due.
13
(f) With respect to the Common Shares and/or other securities issuable pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) and (iii) hereof, the foregoing covenants shall be applicable only upon and following the
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
Section 10. Securities Record Date.
Each Person in whose name any certificate for securities of the Company is issued upon the
exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the
securities represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the
Right Certificate representing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price
(and any applicable taxes or charges) was made; provided, however, that if the date
of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the securities 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 securities transfer
books of the Company are open.
Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares Issuable Upon Exercise of
Rights or Number of Rights. The Exercise Price, the number and kind of securities that may
be purchased upon exercise of a 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 Close of Business on
the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or
the Rights Expiration Date (A) declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in
Common Shares or Voting Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, (C) combine the
outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of Common Shares or (D) issue Common Shares
or other securities of the Company (other than those for which an adjustment is required
under Section 11(b) hereof) in a reclassification of the Common Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation) or in a reorganization of the Company, then, and upon
each such event, the number and kind of Common Shares or other securities issuable upon the
exercise of a Right on the date of such event shall be proportionately adjusted so that the
holder of any Right exercised on or after such date shall be entitled to receive, upon the
exercise thereof and payment of the Exercise Price, the aggregate number and kind of Common
Shares or other securities or other property, as the case may be, that, if such Right had
been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when such Right was exercisable
and the transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such
exercise and would have been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision,
combination or reclassification. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under
both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this
Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment
required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event that:
(A) any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, becomes a
Triggering Stockholder after the date of this Agreement unless the
14
event causing
“Triggering Stockholder” status to be triggered is a Permitted Offer; or
(B) a Triggering Stockholder (or any other Person who would be a “Triggering
Stockholder” but for the operation of the first clause of subparagraph (d) of the
definition of “Triggering Stockholder”) or any Associate or Affiliate thereof, at
any time after the date of this Agreement, acquires Beneficial Ownership of, in the
aggregate, a number of Voting Shares equal to 1% or more of the Voting Shares then
outstanding, unless such acquisition is pursuant to a Permitted Offer;
(C) a Triggering Stockholder (or any other Person who would be a “Triggering
Stockholder” but for the operation of the first clause of subparagraph (d) of the
definition of “Triggering Stockholder”) or any Associate or Affiliate thereof, at
any time after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, (1) merges into
the Company or otherwise combines with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
and the Company or such Subsidiary is the continuing or surviving corporation of
such merger or combination and the Common Shares of the Company shall remain
outstanding and unchanged, (2) in one transaction or a series of transactions,
transfers any assets to the Company or to any of its Subsidiaries in exchange (in
whole or in part) for Common Shares, for shares of other equity securities of the
Company, or for securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of equity
securities of the Company (Common Shares or otherwise) or otherwise obtains from the
Company, with or without consideration, any additional shares of such equity
securities or securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of such equity
securities (other than pursuant to a pro rata distribution to all holders of Common
Shares), (3) sells, purchases, leases, exchanges, mortgages, pledges, transfers or
otherwise acquires or disposes of, in one transaction or a series of transactions,
to, from or with (as the case may be) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, assets
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, (4) sells,
purchases, leases, exchanges, mortgages, pledges, transfers or otherwise acquires or
disposes of in one transaction or a series of transactions, to, from or with (as the
case may be) the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (other than incidental
to the lines of business, if any, engaged in as of the date hereof between the
Company and such Triggering Stockholder or Associate or Affiliate) assets having an
aggregate fair market value of more than $5,000,000, (5) receives any compensation
from the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries other than compensation for
full-time employment as a regular employee at rates in accordance with the Company’s
(or its Subsidiaries’) past practices, or (6) receives the benefit, directly or
indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder and except if resulting from a
requirement of law or governmental regulation), 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
15
(D) during such time as there is a Triggering Stockholder, there is 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 a Triggering Stockholder), which has the effect, directly or indirectly,
of increasing by more than one percent (1%) the proportionate share of the
outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that are directly or indirectly beneficially owned by any Triggering
Stockholder or any Associate or Affiliate thereof;
then, promptly following the occurrence of any event described in Sections 11(a)(ii)(A)-(D)
hereof (each, a “Section 11(a)(ii) Event”), proper provision shall be made so that, except
as provided in Section 7(d) hereof, each holder of a Right shall thereafter have the right
to receive, upon the exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and
payment of the then current Exercise Price, such number of Common Shares as shall equal the
result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Exercise Price by the then number of
Common Shares for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such Section 11(a)(ii)
Event (or, if the Distribution Date shall not have occurred prior to the date of such
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the number of Common Shares for which a Right would have been
exercisable if the Distribution Date had occurred on the Business Day immediately preceding
the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event), and (B) dividing that product by 50% of the
Current Market Price of a Common Share on the date of occurrence of the relevant Section
11(a)(ii) Event (such number of shares being hereinafter referred to as the “Adjustment
Shares”). Successive adjustments shall be made pursuant to this paragraph each time a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs; provided, however, that the Exercise Price
and the number of Adjustment Shares shall be further adjusted as provided in this Agreement
to reflect any events occurring after the date of such first occurrence; provided,
further, that if the transaction that would otherwise give rise to the foregoing
adjustment is also subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof, then only the provisions
of Section 13 shall apply and no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section
11(a)(ii).
(iii) In the event that on the date of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event the aggregate number
of Common Shares that are authorized by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended from time to time, but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other
than upon exercise of the Rights is less than the aggregate number of Adjustment Shares
thereafter issuable upon the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with Section
11(a)(ii) hereof (the excess of such number of Adjustment Shares over and above such number
of Common Shares being hereinafter referred to as the “Unavailable Adjustment Shares”),
then, and upon each such event, the Company shall substitute for the pro rata portion of the
Unavailable Adjustment Shares that would otherwise be issuable thereafter upon the exercise
of each Right and payment of the Exercise Price (A) cash, (B) other equity or derivative
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares of preferred stock of the
Company or units of such shares or other securities having the same Current Market Price as
one Common Share (a “Common Share Equivalent”)), (C) debt securities of the Company, (D)
other property or
16
(E) any combination of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate
Current Market Price equal to the aggregate Current Market Price of the Unavailable
Adjustment Shares for which substitution is made; provided, however, if
the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clauses
(A) through (E) above within 30 days following the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, then the Company shall be obligated to deliver cash for the pro rata portion of the
Unavailable Adjustment Shares that would otherwise be issuable thereafter upon the exercise
of such Right and payment of the Exercise Price. If the Board of Directors shall determine
in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional Common Shares could be authorized
for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the 30-day period set forth above may be
extended to the extent necessary, but not more than 90 days after the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the
authorization of such additional Common Shares (such period, as it may be extended, being
referred to herein as the “Substitution Period”). To the extent that the Company determines
that some action needs be taken pursuant to this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (I) shall
provide, subject to Section 7(d) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights and (II) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the
expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional
Common Shares or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to this
Section 11(a)(iii) and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension,
the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights
has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect, in each case with simultaneous written notice to the
Rights Agent.
(b) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of Business on the Record
Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights
Expiration Date, fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders
of Common Shares entitling them initially to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares (or shares
having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Common Shares (“Common Share
Equivalents”)) or securities convertible into Common Shares or Common Share Equivalents, at a price
per Common Share or Common Share Equivalent (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Common Shares or Common Share Equivalents) less than the Current Market Price per
Common Share on such record date, then, and upon each such event, the Exercise Price to be in
effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be equal to the
sum of the number of Common Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of Common Shares
that the aggregate offering price of the total number of Common Shares and/or Common Share
Equivalents to be so offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible
securities to be so offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of
which shall be equal to the number of Common Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number
of additional Common Shares and/or Common Share Equivalents to be offered for subscription or
purchase (or into which the convertible securities to be so offered are initially convertible);
provided, however, that if such rights, options or warrants are not exercisable
immediately upon issuance but become exercisable only upon the occurrence of a specified event or
the passage of a specified period of time, then the adjustment to the Exercise Price shall be made
and become effective only upon the
17
occurrence of such event or such passage of time, and such
adjustment shall be made as if the record date for the issuance of such rights, options or warrants
had been the Business Day immediately preceding the date upon which such rights, options or
warrants became exercisable.
Common 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 to the Exercise Price shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or warrants
are not so issued, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price that would then be
in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of Business on the Record
Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights
Expiration Date, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Common
Shares (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the surviving corporation) of assets (other than a distribution for which an
adjustment is required under Section 11(a)(i) or (b) hereof or a regular quarterly cash dividend),
then the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying
the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be equal to the excess of the Current Market Price per Common Share on such record date
over and above the fair market value of the portion of the securities or assets to be so
distributed with respect to one Common Share, and the denominator of which shall be equal to such
Current Market Price per Common Share. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed, and in the event that such a distribution is not so made, the Exercise Price
shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d) Reserved.
(e) No adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require
an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the then current Exercise Price; provided,
however, that any adjustments that by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be
made shall be cumulated 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-thousandth of a
Common Share.
(f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the holder of any
Right shall, upon exercise thereof, be entitled to receive any securities of the Company other than
Common Shares, and if an event occurs in respect of such securities that, if it were to occur in
respect of Common Shares, would require an adjustment under this Section 11 in respect of Common
Shares, then 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 Common Shares contained in this Section 11, and the
other provisions of this Agreement with respect to Common 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
Exercise Price hereunder shall represent the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise
18
Price, the
number of Common Shares purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all
subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i) below,
upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b)
and (c) hereof, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall
thereafter represent the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, that number of Common
Shares (calculated to the nearest one-thousandth of a Common Share) obtained by multiplying (i) the
number of Common Shares purchasable upon the exercise of one Right immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Exercise Price by (ii) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment, and dividing the product so obtained by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after
such adjustment.
(i) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any adjustment of the Exercise Price, to
adjust the number of Rights instead of making any adjustment in the number of Common Shares
purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of
the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of Common Shares 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 one-thousandth of a Right) obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior
to the adjustment of the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Exercise Price. The Company shall make a public announcement (with prompt
written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) of its election to adjust the number of Rights pursuant
to this Section 11(i), indicating the record date for the adjustment and, if known at the time, the
amount of the adjustment to be made. Such record date may be the date on which the Exercise Price
is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if separate Right Certificates have been issued, it shall
be at least 10 days after the date of such public announcement. If separate 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 representing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the
additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment or, at the
option of the Company, 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 such adjustment,
and upon surrender thereof if required by the Company, new Right Certificates representing all the
Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates to be so
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may
bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Exercise 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 Exercise Price or the number of Common
Shares issuable upon the exercise of one Right, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Exercise Price per Common Share and the number of Common Shares
issuable upon the exercise of one Right that were expressed in the initial Right Certificates
issued hereunder.
19
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Exercise Price below
the then par value, if any, of the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company
shall take any corporate action that may, in the advice or opinion of its
counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable Common Shares at such adjusted Exercise Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Exercise
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 of the number of Common Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of Common Shares and other capital stock
or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise
Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall
deliver to such holder a due xxxx or other appropriate instrument representing such holder’s right
to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled
to make such further adjustments in the number of Common Shares that may be purchased upon exercise
of one Right, and such further adjustments in the Exercise Price, in addition to those adjustments
expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that the Company in its sole discretion
shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Common
Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any Common Shares at less than the Current Market Price
thereof, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Common Shares or securities that by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares, (iv) dividends on Common Shares payable in
Common Shares or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in Section 11(b) hereof,
hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Common Shares shall not be taxable to such
stockholders.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares Issuable Upon
Exercise of Rights. Whenever an adjustment is made or any event affecting the Rights or their
exercisability (including without limitation an event which causes Rights to become null and void)
as provided in Section 11 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting
forth such adjustment or describing such event and a brief reasonably detailed statement of the
facts, computations and methodology giving rise to such adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent
and with each transfer agent for the securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights a copy of such
certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of Rights in accordance with
Section 27 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such
certification or to give such notice shall not affect the validity or the force and effect of such
adjustment. Any adjustment to be made pursuant to Sections 11 or 13 hereof shall be effective as
of the date of the event giving rise to such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected
in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment or statement therein contained, and shall
have no duty or liability with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such an
adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
20
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.
(a) In the event (a “Section 13(a) Event”) that, at any time on or after the Triggering Date
and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date, (1) the Company
shall, directly or indirectly, consolidate with or merge with and into any other Person and the
Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation in such consolidation or merger, (2)
any Person shall, directly or indirectly, consolidate with or merge with and into the Company and
the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation in such merger and, in connection with
such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other
securities of any Person or cash or any other property, or (3) the Company and/or any one or more
of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, sell or otherwise transfer, in one or more
transactions (other than transactions in the ordinary course of business), assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken
as a whole) to any Person or Persons other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries (such Persons, together with the Persons described in clauses (1) and (2) above shall
be collectively referred to in this Section as the “Surviving Person”), then, and in each such
case, proper provision shall be made so that:
(i) except as provided in Section 7(d) hereof, each holder of a Right shall thereafter
have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and payment of the then current Exercise Price, in lieu of the securities or other
property otherwise purchasable upon such exercise, such number of validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares of the Surviving Person (and if such
Surviving Person has more than one class or series of Common Shares, such number of validly
authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares of each series or class)
as shall be equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is:
(A) if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has not occurred prior to such Section 13(a)
Event, the product of the then current Exercise Price multiplied by the number of
Common Shares purchasable upon the exercise of one Right immediately prior to the
first Section 13(a) Event (or, if the Distribution Date shall not have occurred
prior to the date of such Section 13(a) Event, the number of Common Shares that
would have been so purchasable if the Distribution Date had occurred on the Business
Day immediately preceding the date of such Section 13(a) Event), or
(B) if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to such Section 13(a)
Event, the product of the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such Section
11(a)(ii) Event multiplied by the number of Common Shares purchasable upon the
exercise of one Right immediately prior to such Section 11(a)(ii) Event (or, if the
Distribution Date shall not have occurred prior to the date of such Section
11(a)(ii) Event, the number of Common Shares that would have been so purchasable if
the Distribution Date had occurred on the Business Day immediately preceding the
date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event),
21
and the denominator of which is 50% of the Current Market Price per Common Share of the
Surviving Person on the date of consummation of such Section 13(a)
Event;
(ii) the Surviving Person shall thereafter be liable for and shall assume, by virtue of
such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company
pursuant to this Agreement;
(iii) the term “Company” shall thereafter be deemed to refer to the Surviving Person;
and
(iv) the Surviving Person shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the
reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares in accordance with Section 9 hereof)
in connection with such consummation as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions
hereof shall thereafter be applicable to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the
exercise of Rights.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Section 13(a) Event is the sale or transfer in one
or more transactions of assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning
power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), but less than 100% thereof, then each
Person acquiring all or a portion thereof shall assume the obligations of the Company as to a
fraction of each of the Rights equal to the fraction of the assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) acquired by such Person, and the obligations of the Company as to
the remaining fraction of each of the Rights shall continue to be the obligations of the Company.
(c) The Company shall not consummate a Section 13(a) Event unless prior thereto the Company
and the Surviving Person shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement confirming that such Surviving Person shall, upon consummation of such Section 13(a)
Event, assume this Agreement in accordance with Section 13 hereof, that all rights of first refusal
or preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such Surviving Person upon
exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived and that such Section 13(a) Event shall not result
in a default by such Surviving Person under this Agreement, and further providing that, as soon as
practicable after the date of consummation of such Section 13(a) Event, such Surviving Person
shall:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to
the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate
form, use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon
as practicable after such filing, use its best efforts to cause such registration statement
to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act) until the Rights Expiration Date, and similarly comply with all applicable
state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the
Common Shares of the Surviving Person purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a national
securities exchange, or use its best efforts to cause the Rights and such Common Shares to
meet the eligibility requirements for quotation on NASDAQ; and
22
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for such
Surviving Person that comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form
10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act.
(d) In the event that at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event some or
all of the Rights shall not have been exercised pursuant to Section 11 hereof prior to the date of
a Section 13(a) Event, such Rights shall thereafter be exercisable only in the manner described in
Section 13(a) hereof. In the event that a Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs on or after the date of a
Section 13(a) Event, Rights shall not be exercisable pursuant to Section 11 hereof but shall
instead be exercisable pursuant to, and only pursuant to, this Section 13.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this Section
13 shall not apply to a transaction described in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 13(a) if (i) such
transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons (or a wholly owned subsidiary of any such
Person or Persons) who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer, (ii) the price per
Common Share offered in such transaction is not less than the price per Common Share paid to all
holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such Permitted Offer, and (iii)
the form of consideration being offered to the remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such
transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted Offer. Upon
consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(e), all Rights hereunder shall
expire.
(f) The provisions of this Section 13 shall apply to each successive merger, consolidation,
sale or other transfer constituting a Section 13(a) Event.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right
Certificates that represent fractional Rights. If the Company shall determine not to issue such
fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with
respect to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, at the time such fractional
Rights would otherwise have been issued as provided herein, an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the Current Market Price of a whole Right on the Business Day immediately prior to the
date upon which such fractional Rights would otherwise have been issuable.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares upon exercise of
Rights, or to distribute certificates that represent fractional Common Shares. Fractions of Common
Shares may, at the election of the Company, be represented 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 Common Shares. If
the Company shall determine not to issue depositary receipts in lieu of Common Shares, the Company
shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates with respect to which such fractional
Common Shares would otherwise be issuable, at the time such Rights are exercised as provided
herein, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Price of a whole Common
Share. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the Current
23
Market Price of a whole Common Share shall be the Closing Price per share for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right, by the acceptance of such Right, expressly waives such holder’s
right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional Common Shares upon exercise of such Right,
except as permitted by this Section 14.
(d) Whenever a payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares is to be made by the Rights
Agent, the Company shall (i) promptly prepare and deliver to the Rights Agent a certificate setting
forth in reasonable detail the facts related to such payments and the prices and/or formulas
utilized in calculating such payments, and (ii) provide sufficient monies to the Rights Agent in
the form of fully collected funds to make such payments. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected
in relying upon such a certificate and shall have no duty with respect to, and shall not be deemed
to have knowledge of any payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares under any Section of
this Agreement relating to the payment of fractional Rights or fractional shares unless and until
the Rights Agent shall have received such a certificate and sufficient monies.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this Agreement,
except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent herein, are vested in the respective
registered holders of the Right Certificates and certificates for Common Shares representing
Rights, and any registered holder of any Right Certificate or of such certificate for Common
Shares, without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate or
any other certificate for Common Shares may, in such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company
to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder’s right to exercise the Rights represented
by such Right Certificate or by such certificate for Common Shares in the manner provided in such
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 by the Company of this Agreement and shall be entitled to
specific performance, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations by the Company,
of the obligations of any Person under this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by accepting the
same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and every other holder of a Right
that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be represented by certificates for Common
Shares registered in the name of the holders of such Common Shares (which certificates for Common
Shares shall also constitute Right Certificates), and each such Right shall be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of such Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates shall only be transferable on the
registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
24
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Right
Certificate is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights represented thereby
(notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Right Certificate by anyone other
than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the
Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 17. Right Holder and Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right or Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or
be deemed for any purpose the holder of the securities of the Company that 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 or Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, to
give or withhold consent to any corporate action, to receive notice of meetings or other actions
affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 27 hereof), or to receive dividends or
subscription rights, or otherwise, in each case until such Right or the Rights represented by such
Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services
rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the preparation,
delivery, amendment ,administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for,
and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim,
demand, settlement, cost or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct
must be determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling of a court of
competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered, or omitted by the Rights Agent in
connection with the acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this
Agreement. The costs and expenses of enforcing this right of indemnification shall also be paid by
the Company. The provisions of this Section 18 and Section 20 below shall survive the termination
of this Agreement, the exercise or expiration of the Rights and the resignation, replacement or
removal of the Rights Agent.
(b) The Rights Agent may conclusively rely upon and shall be authorized and protected and
shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with its acceptance or administration of this Agreement and the exercise and performance
of its duties hereunder, in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for Common Shares or
for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney,
endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement or other paper
or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified
or acknowledged, by the proper person or persons, or otherwise upon the advice of its counsel as
set forth in Section 20 hereof.
25
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, 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), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the
likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action. Any liability of the
Rights Agent under this Agreement will be limited to the amount of annual fees paid by the Company
to the Rights Agent.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with
which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the
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 Person would be eligible for appointment as a
successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. If, 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 if 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 such Right Certificate and in this
Agreement.
(b) If 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 if 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 such Right Certificate and
in this Agreement.
Section 20. Rights and Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes to perform
only the duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement (and no implied duties or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent) upon the following terms
and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates, by their
acceptance of the Rights, shall be bound:
(a) Before the Rights Agent acts or refrains from acting, it may consult with legal counsel
(who may be legal counsel for the Company or an employee of the Rights Agent), and the advice or
opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent
and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it 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
26
Company prior to
taking, suffering or omitting to take 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 Vice
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the
Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights
Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered
or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any other Person only for
its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (which gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling
of a court of competent jurisdiction).
(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 have any liability for or be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due
authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be
responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement
or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of
the Rights (including any Rights becoming null and void pursuant to Section 7(d) hereof) or any
adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for
in Sections 7, 11, 13 and 23 hereof, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights represented by
Right Certificates after actual notice that such change or adjustment is required); nor shall it by
any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any Common Shares or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any
Right Certificate, or as to whether any Common Shares 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 Vice
Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief
Financial Officer, the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such
officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and such instructions shall be
full
27
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and it shall not be liable for or in respect
of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with instructions of any
such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. The Rights Agent
shall be fully authorized and protected in relying upon the most recent instructions received by
any such officer. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company
may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken,
suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on or after which such
action shall be taken or suffered or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not
be liable for any action taken or suffered 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 ten 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, suffering or omitting any such action (or the effective date
in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions from the
Company in response to such application to the contrary.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, affiliate, 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 the
Rights Agent were not the Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the
Rights Agent or any such stockholder, affiliate, director, officer or employee from acting in any
other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it
or perform any duty hereunder either itself (through its directors, officers and employees)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 or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct absent
gross negligence or bad faith in the selection and continued employment thereof (which gross
negligence or bad faith must be determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or
ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction).
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder
or in the exercise of its rights if it believes that repayment of such funds or adequate
indemnification against such risk or liability is not assured to it.
(k) The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any
fact, event or determination (including, without limitation, any dates or events defined in this
Agreement or the designation of any Person as a Triggering Stockholder, Affiliate or Associate)
under this Agreement unless and until the Rights Agent shall be specifically notified in writing by
the Company of such fact, event or determination.
(l) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or
transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as
the case may be, has not been completed, the Rights Agent shall not take any further
28
action with
respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 30-days’ notice in writing
mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares known to the Rights Agent by
registered or certified mail, and, at the expense of the Company to the holders of the Right
Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent upon 30-days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the
case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and
to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. In the event the transfer agency
relationship in effect between the Company and the Rights Agent terminates, the Rights Agent will
be deemed to resign automatically on the effective date of such termination, and any required
notice will be sent by the Company. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall
otherwise become incapable of acting as such, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights
Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after giving
notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity
by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit such holder’s Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the
Company shall become the Rights Agent and 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 Person organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States (or of any other state of the United States), in
good standing, that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer
powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and that has at
the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.
After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties
and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or
deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any
property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose of this Agreement and so that the successor
Rights Agent may appropriately act as Rights Agent hereunder. Not later than the effective date of
any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights
Agent and each transfer agent of the Common 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 Right Certificates to the
contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates in such form as may be
approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in order to reflect any adjustment or change in
the Exercise Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 23. Redemption of Rights.
29
(a) Until the earliest of the date that is (i) the tenth Business Day after the Triggering
Date (or, if the tenth Business Day after the Triggering Date occurs before the Record Date, the
Close of Business on the Record Date) or (ii) the Rights Expiration Date, the Board of Directors of
the Company may, at its option, authorize and direct the redemption of all, but not less than all,
of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, as such redemption price
shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (the “Redemption Price”), and the Company shall so redeem the
Rights. If, following the occurrence of a Triggering Date and following the expiration of the
right of redemption hereunder but prior to any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or Section 13(a) Event, (A)
a Person who is a Triggering Stockholder shall have transferred or otherwise disposed of a number
of Voting Shares in one transaction or series of transactions, not directly or indirectly involving
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, that did not result in the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event such that such Person is thereafter a Beneficial Owner of
10% or less of the Voting Shares then outstanding, (B) there are no other Persons, immediately
following the occurrence of the event described in clause (A), who are Triggering Stockholders and
(C) the Board of Directors shall so approve, then the right of redemption shall be reinstated and
thereafter be subject to the provisions of this Section 23. Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event until such time as the Company’s right of
redemption hereunder has expired. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Rights shall become
nonredeemable on and following any merger to which the Company is a party and that has not been
approved by stockholders at an annual or special meeting of the Company, if within the period of 30
days prior to such a merger a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event shall have occurred.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors authorizing and directing the
redemption of the Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 23, or at such time and date
thereafter as specified, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to
receive the Redemption Price. Within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such action, the
Company shall give notice of such redemption (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights
Agent) to the holders of Rights by mailing such notice to all holders of Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, if prior to the
Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice
that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder
receives such notice, but neither the failure to give any such notice nor any defect therein shall
affect the legality or validity of such redemption. Each such notice of redemption shall state the
method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the
Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may, directly or indirectly, redeem, acquire
or purchase for value any Rights in any manner other than that specifically set forth in Section 24
hereof or in this Section 23, or in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the
earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a)
Event.
(c) The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, Common Shares, other
equity securities of the Company, debt securities of the Company, other property or any combination
of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price on the Redemption Date
equal to the Redemption Price.
30
Section 24. Exchange of Rights.
(a) At any time during the period of 180 days after a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Board of
Directors of the Company may, at its option, authorize and direct the exchange of all, but not less
than all, of the then outstanding Rights for Common Shares, other equity securities, debt or
derivative securities of the Company, other property, or any combination of the foregoing, in each
case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the result obtained by (i) multiplying the
Current Market Price per Common Share on the record date for such exchange by the number of Common
Shares for which a Right is exercisable on such record date and (ii) subtracting from such product
the Exercise Price on such Record Date (the “Exchange Ratio”), and the Company shall so exchange
the Rights.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing and
directing the exchange of the Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24, or at such time
and date thereafter as it may specify, and without any further action and without any notice, the
right to exercise Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights
shall be to receive the securities described in Section 24(a) in accordance with the Exchange
Ratio. Within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such action, the Company shall give notice
of such exchange (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) to the holders of Rights
by mailing such notice to all holders of Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent or, if prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of
the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but neither the failure to
give any such notice nor any defect therein shall affect the legality or validity of such exchange.
Each such notice of exchange shall state the method by which the Rights will be exchanged.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the aggregate number of Common Shares
that are authorized by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time,
but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise or exchange of
the Rights is less than the aggregate number of Common Shares issuable upon the exchange of the
Rights in accordance with this Section 24 (the excess of such number of authorized Common Shares
over and above such number of issuable Common Shares being hereinafter referred to as the
“Unavailable Exchange Shares”), then the Company shall substitute for the pro rata portion of the
Unavailable Exchange Shares that would otherwise be issuable upon the exchange of the Rights in
accordance with this Section 24 (i) cash, (ii) other equity securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, Common Share Equivalents), (iii) debt securities of the Company, (iv)
other property or (v) any combination of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current
Market Price equal to the aggregate Current Market Price of the Unavailable Exchange Shares for
which substitution is made. Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, in the event that the Company takes
any action pursuant to this Section 24, such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding
Rights.
Section 25. Independent Director Review.
Should the Expiration Date be extended by the stockholders of the Company beyond February 3,
2009, a committee of the Board of Directors of the Company comprised entirely of
31
independent
directors shall evaluate the Agreement at least once prior to the date that is three years from the
date of this Agreement, and to the extent not terminated prior to such date, at least once every
three years thereafter, to determine whether this Agreement continues to be in the best interests
of the stockholders of the Company or, rather, if the Rights should be redeemed.
Section 26. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In the event that the Company shall propose (i) to declare or pay any dividend on or make
any distribution with respect to its Common Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend),
(ii) to offer to the holders of its Common Shares options, rights or warrants to subscribe for or
to purchase any additional shares thereof or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Common Shares (other than a
reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares), (iv) to effect any
consolidation or merger with or into, 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
more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to, any other Person or Persons, or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, then and in each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and each holder of
a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 28 hereof, a notice of such proposed action that
shall specify the record date for the purpose of such dividend or distribution, or the date upon
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 record of the
Common 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 20 days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the Common Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such
other action, at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date
of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares, whichever date shall be the earlier.
The failure to give the notice required by this Section 27 or any defect therein shall not affect
the legality or validity of the action taken by the Company or the vote upon any such action.
(b) Upon the occurrence of each Section 11(a)(ii) Event and each Section 13(a) Event, the
Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to the Rights Agent and to each holder of a
Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 28 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event,
specifying the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Sections 11 and
13 hereof.
Section 27. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Company shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
32
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made to or on the Rights Agent (i) by the Company shall be sufficiently given or
made if sent, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail, addressed to the principal office
of the Rights Agent as set forth below (until another address is filed in writing with the Company)
or (ii) by the holder of any Right Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the principal office of the Rights Agent as set
forth below (until another address is filed in writing with the Company), and shall be deemed given
upon actual receipt. The Company hereby agrees that it shall encourage the holders of the Right
Certificates, in any and all writings to such holders regarding the Rights or this Agreement, to
give or make any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement by registered or certified mail,
addressed to the principal office of the Rights Agent as follows (until another address is filed in
writing with the Company):
Mellon Investor Services, LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Relationship Manager
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Relationship Manager
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Mellon Investor Services LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights
Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown
on the registry books of the Company.
Section 28. Supplements and Amendments. |
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, from time to time, without the approval of any
holders of Rights, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in any manner, whether or
not such supplement or amendment is adverse to any holder of Rights, and direct the Rights Agent so
to supplement or amend such provision, and the Rights Agent shall so supplement or amend such
provision; provided, however, that the Board of Directors of the Company may not
supplement or amend the Rights Agreement to (A) extend the Expiration Date or (B) remove or modify
Section 25; provided, further, that from and after the earliest of (i) the date of
the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event, (ii) the date of the first Section 13(a) Event, (iii) the
Redemption Date or (iv) the Expiration Date, this Agreement shall not be supplemented or amended in
any manner that would materially and adversely affect any holder of outstanding Rights other than a
Triggering Stockholder or a Surviving Person.
33
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights Agent shall not be
required to supplement or amend any provision in a manner that changes the rights and duties of the
Rights Agent under this Agreement in any manner adverse to the Rights Agent.
Section 29. Certain Covenants.
Subject to Section 29 hereof and the other provisions of this Agreement, from and after the
earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a)
Event and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date, the Company
shall not (a) issue or sell, or permit any Subsidiary to issue or sell, to a Triggering Stockholder
or a Surviving Person, or any Affiliate or Associate of a Triggering Stockholder or a Surviving
Person, or any Person holding Voting Shares that are Beneficially Owned by a Triggering Stockholder
or a Surviving Person, (i) any rights, options, warrants or convertible securities on terms similar
to, or that materially adversely affect the value of, the Rights or (ii) Common Shares or shares of
any other class of capital stock, if such sale is intended to or would materially adversely affect
the value of the Rights, or (b) take any other action that is intended to or would materially
adversely affect the value of the Rights.
Section 30. Successors.
All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the
Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns
hereunder.
Section 31. 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 (other than those representing
Rights that have become null and void) and the certificates for Common Shares representing Rights
(other than those Rights that have become null and void) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and such registered holders of Right Certificates and certificates for
Common Shares representing Rights.
Section 32. 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 33. Governing Law.
This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract
made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts made and performed
entirely within such state; provided, however, that the rights, duties and obligations of the
Rights Agent shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the
34
principles or rules concerning conflicts of laws which might otherwise require application of the
substantive laws of another jurisdiction.
Section 34. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each such counterpart shall
for all purposes be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 35. 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.
Section 36. Force Majeure.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Rights Agent shall not be
liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control
including, without limitation, acts of God, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or
malfunctions, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power
failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor
difficulties, war, or civil unrest.
35
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the day and year first above written.
CSK AUTO CORPORATION |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC, as Rights Agent |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President |
36
EXHIBIT A
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. ______
|
______ Rights |
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE LATER OF THE EXPIRATION DATE OR THE RIGHTS
EXPIRATION DATE (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR EARLIER
IF REDEEMED. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.001 PER RIGHT ON THE
TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A TRIGGERING STOCKHOLDER OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF
A TRIGGERING STOCKHOLDER (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT
AND AS THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY
SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED TO A PERSON WHO WAS A
TRIGGERING STOCKHOLDER OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF A TRIGGERING
STOCKHOLDER. THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY
BECOME VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]*
Right Certificate
CSK AUTO CORPORATION
This certifies that __________________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner of
the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the
terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement dated as of February 4, 2008 (the “Rights
Agreement”) between CSK Auto Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Mellon
Investor Services LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (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., New York time, on the later of the Expiration Date or the Rights
Expiration Date at the office or agency of the Rights Agent at the office designated for such
purpose, or at the office of its successors as Rights Agent, one Common Share, $0.01 par value (the
“Common Shares”), of the Company, at an exercise price of $45.00 per Right (the “Exercise Price”),
upon presentation and surrender of this Right
* | That portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence. |
Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of Common Shares that may be purchased upon
exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Exercise Price per share set forth above, are the number
and Exercise Price as of _________, 20___, based on the Common Shares as constituted at such date.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number of Common Shares that
may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events. This Right Certificate is
subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms,
provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to
which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations
of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the
holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal
executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned offices of the Rights Agent.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the office
or agency of the Rights Agent at the office designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling
the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Common Shares as the Rights evidenced by the
Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase.
If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon
surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not
exercised. Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this
Certificate may, but are not required to, be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of
$0.001 per Right.
No fractional Common Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced
hereby, but in lieu thereof, a depositary receipt or a cash payment will be made, as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be
deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common Shares or of any other securities of the Company
that may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a
stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter
submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate
action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise,
until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised as provided
in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have
been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
2
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of .
ATTEST:
|
CSK AUTO CORPORATION | |||||
Countersigned: |
MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC, as Rights Agent |
||||
By: | ||||
Title: | ||||
3
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED
hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest
therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney,
to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power
of substitution.
Dated: ,
Signature | ||||
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agent Medallion
Program, the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion
Signature Program.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not
Beneficially Owned by a Triggering Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).
Signature | ||||
(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever) | ||||
4
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate — continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate.)
exercise the Right Certificate.)
TO CSK AUTO CORPORATION
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
Rights represented
by this Right Certificate to purchase the Common Shares or other securities issuable upon the
exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such Common Shares or other securities
be issued in the following name:
(please print name, address and social security,
tax identification or other identifying number:
tax identification or other identifying number:
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 print name, address and social security,
tax identification or other identifying number:
tax identification or other identifying number:
Dated:
Signature | ||||
(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever) | ||||
5
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate — continued
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agent Medallion
Program, the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion
Signature Program.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not
Beneficially Owned by a Triggering Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).
Signature | ||||
(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever) | ||||
NOTICE
The signatures in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election 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.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Forms of Assignment and Election is not
completed, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate to be a Triggering Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the
Rights Agreement) and such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
6