EXHIBIT 1
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of November 7, 2001,
between PetroQuest Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, on November 7, 2001 the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right
(hereinafter defined) for each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined)
outstanding at the close of business on November 19, 2001 (hereinafter referred
to as the "Record Date") and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such
number may hereafter be adjusted as hereinafter set forth) in respect of each
share of Common Stock issued (on original issuance or out of treasury) after the
Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration
Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), each Right initially evidencing
the right to purchase at the Purchase Price (as hereinafter defined), one
one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share of Preferred Stock (as hereinafter
defined), having the powers, rights and preferences set forth in the certificate
of designation, attached hereto as Exhibit A.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. The following terms, as used herein,
have the following meanings:
(a) "Acquiring Person" means any Person who or which, together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 15%
or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, other than pursuant to a
Qualifying Tender Offer; provided, however, that, an Acquiring Person shall not
include (i) an Exempt Person, or (ii) any Person, together with all Affiliates
and Associates of such Person, who or which would be an Acquiring Person solely
by reason of (A) being the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock of the
Company, the Beneficial Ownership of which was acquired by such Person pursuant
to any action or transaction or series of related actions or transactions
approved by the Board before such Person otherwise became an Acquiring Person,
or (B) a reduction in the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common
Stock of the Company pursuant to a transaction or a series of related
transactions approved by the Board; and provided further, that in the event that
such Person described in this clause (ii) does not become an Acquiring Person by
reason of subclause (A) or (B) of this clause (ii), such Person nonetheless
shall become an Acquiring Person in the event such Person thereafter acquires
Beneficial Ownership of an additional 1% of the Common Stock of the Company,
unless the acquisition of such additional Common Stock would not result in such
Person becoming an Acquiring Person by reason of subclause (A) or (B) of this
clause (ii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board determines in good
faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a) has become such
inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient
number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an
"Acquiring Person" as defined pursuant
to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be
deemed an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.
(b) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own," and shall be deemed to have Beneficial Ownership
of, any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, beneficially
owns (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement);
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has
(A) the right to acquire (whether such right
is exercisable immediately or only after the passage
of time or the satisfaction of a condition, or both)
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether written or oral) or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options,
or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall
not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of or to
"beneficially own" securities tendered pursuant to a
tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such
Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates until
such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or
exchange; or
(B) the right to vote, alone or in concert
with others, pursuant to any agreement, arrangement
or understanding (whether written or oral) or
otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not
be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of or to
"beneficially own" any security as a result of an
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
security if such agreement, arrangement or
understanding (1) arises solely from a revocable
proxy or consent given in response to a public proxy
or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in
accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations
under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then
reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the
Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);
or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof) with which such Person or any of its Affiliates or
Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether written or oral) for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as
described in subparagraph (ii)(B) immediately above) or
disposing of any such securities.
2
Despite the foregoing, for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership of
securities under this Agreement, officers and directors of the Company solely by
reason of their status as such shall not constitute a group (notwithstanding
that they may be Associates of one another or may be deemed to constitute a
group for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) and shall not be deemed
to own shares owned by another officer or director of the Company. Further,
nothing contained in this definition shall cause a Person ordinarily engaged in
business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," any securities acquired in a bona fide firm commitment
underwriting pursuant to an underwriting agreement with the Company.
(e) "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of Louisiana are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(f) "Close of business" on any given date means 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business
Day "close of business" means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company (or without
express reference to another Person) shall mean the Common Stock (presently
$.001 par value per share) of the Company. "Common Stock" when used with
reference to any Person other than the Company which shall be organized in
corporate form shall mean the capital stock or other equity security with the
greatest voting power of such Person. "Common Stock" when used with reference to
any Person other than the Company which shall not be organized in corporate form
shall mean units of beneficial interest which shall represent the right to
participate in profits, losses, deductions and credits of such Person and which
shall be entitled to exercise the greatest voting power of such Person.
(h) "Distribution Date" means the earlier of: (i) the close of business
on the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board); or (ii) the close of business on the tenth
Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board)
after the date of the commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt Person)
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 (other than a
Qualifying Tender Offer) upon the successful completion of which such Person
would be an Acquiring Person, regardless of whether any shares are actually
purchased pursuant to such offer.
(i) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(j) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a)
hereof.
(k) "Exempt Person" shall mean (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of
the Company or (iii) any employee benefit plan or employee stock plan of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the
3
Company, or any trust or other entity organized, appointed, established, or
holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.
(l) "Expiration Date" means the earlier of (i) the Final Expiration
Date and (ii) the time at which all Rights are redeemed as provided in Section
23 or exchanged as provided in Section 24.
(m) "Final Expiration Date" means the close of business on November 7,
2011.
(n) "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership or
other entity.
(o) "Preferred Stock" means the Preferred Stock--Junior Participating
Series A, par value $.001 per share, of the Company, having the terms set forth
in the form of certificate of designation attached hereto as Exhibit A. Any
reference in this Agreement to Preferred Stock shall be deemed to include any
authorized fraction of a share of Preferred Stock, unless the context otherwise
requires.
(p) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b)
hereof.
(q) "Purchase Price" with respect to each Right shall mean $33.00, as
such amount may from time to time be adjusted as provided herein, and shall be
payable in lawful money of the United States of America. All references herein
to the Purchase Price shall mean the Purchase Price as in effect at the time in
question.
(r) "Qualifying Tender Offer" shall mean a tender or exchange offer for
all outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company determined by a majority
of the Board, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms
to be (i) at a price which is fair to the Company's stockholders (taking into
account all factors which members of the Board deem relevant including, without
limitation, the potential long-term value of the Company and the prices which
could reasonably be attained 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.
(s) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
(t) "Right" shall mean the right to purchase one one-thousandth
(1/1,000th) of a share of Preferred Stock--Junior Participating Series A, par
value $.001 per share, of the Company, or other securities or property, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth.
(u) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(c) hereof.
(v) "Section 13 Event" means any event described in Section 13(a).
(w) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(x) "Stock Acquisition Date" means the date of the first public
announcement (which shall include, without limitation, the filing of a report on
Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act or
4
any comparable or successor report) by the Company or an Acquiring Person
indicating that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(y) "Subsidiary" of any Person means any other Person of which
securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power, in the
absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of the board of directors or other
Persons performing similar functions are at the time beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly, owned by such first Person.
(z) "Trading Day" means a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted
to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of Common
Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange,
a Business Day.
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. If the Company appoints one or more co-Rights Agents,
the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any co-Rights Agents shall be as
the Company shall determine.
Section 3. Issuance of Rights and Right Certificates. (a) Prior to the
Distribution Date (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates for the
Common Stock (which certificates shall be deemed also to be Right Certificates
(as hereinafter defined)) and not by separate Right Certificates, and the
registered holders of the Common Stock shall be deemed to be the registered
holders of the associated Rights, and (ii) each Right shall be transferable only
simultaneously and together with the transfer of a share of Common Stock
(subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided). As soon as practicable after
the Record Date, the Company will send a summary of the Rights substantially in
the form of Exhibit B hereto, by postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of
the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date at the address
of the holder shown on the records of the Company. Until the Distribution Date
(or, if earlier, the Expiration Date or Final Expiration Date), the surrender
for transfer of any certificate for Common Stock shall constitute the surrender
for transfer of the Right or Rights associated with the Common Stock evidenced
thereby, whether or not accompanied by a copy of the summary of the Rights.
(b) One Right shall be issued in respect of (i) each share of Common
Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, (ii) each additional share of Common
Stock that becomes outstanding (whether by original issuance or out of treasury)
after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date, and (iii) each additional share of Common Stock that is issued
(whether by original issuance or from treasury) after the Distribution Date but
prior to the Expiration Date with Rights as provided in Section 22. Certificates
for Common Stock (including, without limitation, certificates issued upon
original issuance, disposition from treasury or transfer or exchange of Common
Stock) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date
or the Expiration Date (or, in certain circumstances as provided in Section 22
hereof, after the Distribution Date) shall have impressed, printed, written or
stamped thereon or otherwise affixed thereto the following legend:
5
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between PetroQuest
Energy, Inc. (the "Company") and American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company dated as of November 7, 2001 (the "Rights Agreement"), the
terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy
of which is on file at the principal executive offices of the Company.
Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such
Rights may be redeemed, may be exchanged, may expire, or may be
evidenced by separate certificates and no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a
copy of the Rights Agreement without charge promptly after receipt of a
written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in the
Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or Beneficially Owned by Acquiring
Persons or their Affiliates or Associates (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement) or any subsequent holder of such Rights shall be
null and void and may not be transferred to any Person.
The failure to print the foregoing legend on any such Right Certificate or any
defect therein shall not affect in any manner whatsoever the application or
interpretation of the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof.
In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Stock
after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated
with such Common Stock shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company
shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with shares of Common
Stock which are no longer outstanding.
(c) As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company
will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company
will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will send if so requested by
the Company), by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each record holder of the
Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, as shown by
the records of the Company, at the address of such holder shown on such records,
a certificate in the form provided by Section 4 hereof (a "Right Certificate"),
evidencing one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each share
of Common Stock so held. Except as provided in Section 22 hereof, as of and
after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced solely by Right
Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Right Certificate as
permitted hereby, separately and apart from any transfer of one or more shares
of Common Stock.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. (a) The Right Certificates (and
the forms of assignment, election to purchase and certificates to be printed on
the reverse thereof), when, as and if issued shall be substantially in the form
of Exhibit C hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and
such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be required to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation or
with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or quotation system on or in
which the Common Stock Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to
conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7, 11 and 22, the Right
Certificates, evidencing Rights whenever issued, (i) shall be dated as of the
date of issuance of the Rights they represent and (ii) on their face shall
entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of shares (including
fractional shares which are integral multiples
6
of one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share) of Preferred Stock as shall be set
forth therein at the Purchase Price payable upon exercise of a Right.
(b) Any Right Certificate representing Rights beneficially owned by any
Person referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 7(e) shall (to the
extent feasible and reasonably identifiable as such) contain the following
legend:
The Rights represented by this Right Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by any Person who was or became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement) or one of certain transferees thereof.
Accordingly, this Right Certificate and the Rights represented hereby
may become or may have become null and void in the circumstances
specified in Section 7(e) of such Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Right
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or any Vice President, either manually
or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or
a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary, an Assistant
Secretary or a Vice President (provided that such Vice President shall not have
also executed the Rights Certificates), either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Right Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights
Agent and shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless so
countersigned. In case any officer of the Company whose manual or facsimile
signature is affixed to 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 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 the execution of
such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the place for
surrender of Right Certificates upon exercise, transfer or exchange, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books
shall show with respect to each Right Certificate the name and address of the
holder, the number of Rights evidenced on its face, the certificate number and
the date.
Section 6. Transfer and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates; Uncertificated Rights. (a) Subject
to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(e), 14 and 24, at any time after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date any Right Certificate or
Certificates may be transferred, split-up, combined or exchanged for another
Right Certificate or Certificates representing, in the aggregate, the same
number of Rights as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then
represented. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split-up, combine or
exchange any Right Certificate or Certificates shall make such request in
writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate
or Certificates to be transferred, split-up, combined or exchanged at the
principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
7
designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such
surrendered Right Certificate or Certificates until the registered holder shall
have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on
the reverse side of such Right Certificate or Certificates and shall have
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Sections
4(b), 7(e), 14 and 24, countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a
Right Certificate or Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split-up,
combination or exchange of any Right Certificate or Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Rights Agent will make and deliver a new
Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and
delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Company and the
Rights Agent may amend this Rights Agreement to provide for uncertificated
Rights in addition to or in place of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights. (a) The Rights shall not be exercisable until after the Distribution
Date. Subject to Section 7(e) and except as otherwise provided herein, each
Right shall entitle the registered holder thereof, upon exercise thereof as
provided herein, to purchase for the Purchase Price, at any time after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, one one-thousandth
(1/1,000th) of a share of Preferred Stock. The Purchase Price and the number of
shares of Preferred Stock or other securities to be acquired upon exercise of a
Right shall be subject to adjustment as herein provided, including Sections 11
and 13.
(b) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the
Rights evidenced thereby (except as provided herein) in whole or in part, upon
surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the
reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the principal office
or offices of the Rights Agent designated for that purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth (1/1,000th)
of a share of Preferred Stock as to which the Rights are exercised at or prior
to the Expiration Date.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the completed form of election to purchase duly executed,
accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the number of shares of
Preferred Stock to be purchased together with an amount equal to any applicable
transfer tax, in lawful money of the United States of America, in cash or by
certified check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights
Agent shall thereupon (i) either (A) promptly requisition from any transfer
agent of the Preferred Stock (or make available,
8
if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent) certificates for the number of shares
of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes
its transfer agent to comply with all such requests or (B) if the Company shall
have elected to deposit the Preferred Stock with a depositary agent under a
depositary arrangement, promptly requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing the number of one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of
a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
Preferred Stock to be represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the
transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the
depositary agent to comply with all such requests, (ii) when appropriate,
promptly requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of
issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14, (iii) promptly
after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be
delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt promptly deliver such cash to
or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate exercises
less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing
Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the
Rights Agent and delivered to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or
his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the time when any person first becomes an Acquiring Person, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights, or (B) a transfer which the Board has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose to effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e) shall become null
and void without any further action, and no holder of such Rights (including any
purported transferee or subsequent holder) shall have any rights whatsoever with
respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) are complied with, but shall
have no liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a
result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring
Person or its Affiliates and Associates or any transferee of any of them
hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with
respect to a registered holder of Rights upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for
such exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
9
(g) The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to
exceed 120 calendar days after the Distribution Date, the exercisability of the
Rights in order to prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act, on an appropriate form, with respect to the Preferred Stock
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights and permit such registration statement
to become effective; provided, however, that no such suspension shall remain
effective after, and the Rights shall without any further action by the Company
or any other Person become exercisable immediately upon the effectiveness of
such registration statement. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a
public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been
temporarily suspended and shall issue a further public announcement at such time
as the suspension is no longer in effect. The Company will 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 Final
Expiration Date. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the
Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite
qualification under the blue sky or securities laws of such jurisdiction shall
not have been obtained, the exercise of the Rights shall not be permitted under
applicable law, or (if required by law) a registration statement in respect of
such securities shall not have been declared effective.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split-up,
combination or exchange shall, and any Right Certificate representing Rights
that have become null and void and nontransferable pursuant to Section 7(e)
surrendered or presented for any purpose 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 or presented 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 Preferred Stock. (a) The
Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept
available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock or out of
authorized and issued shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury, the number
of shares of Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in
full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after
such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares of Preferred Stock issued
or reserved for issuance in accordance with this Rights Agreement to be listed,
upon official notice of issuance, upon the principal national securities
exchange, if any, upon which the Common Stock is listed or, if the principal
market for the Common Stock is not on any national securities exchange, to be
eligible for quotation in The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or any successor thereto
or other comparable quotation system.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to insure that all shares of Preferred Stock delivered upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such
shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price in
10
respect thereof), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable shares. So long as the depositary shares issuable and deliverable
upon the exercise of Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange or
traded in any quotation system, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all depositary shares
reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange or traded in such
quotation system upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(d) As soon as practicable after a person becomes an Acquiring Person
(provided that the Company shall not have elected to make the exchange permitted
by Section 24 for all outstanding Rights) the Company covenants and agrees to
use its best efforts to: (i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act, with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on an appropriate form; (ii) cause such registration statement to become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing; and (iii) cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the
date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and
(B) the Expiration Date. The Company will also take such action as may be
appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may
be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or
of any shares of Preferred Stock issued or deliverable upon the exercise of
Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax
which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right
Certificates, or in respect of the issuance or delivery of certificates for the
Preferred Stock or other securities, as the case may be, in a name other than
that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise or exchange or to issue or deliver any certificates for
Preferred Stock or other securities, as the case may be, upon the exercise or
exchange of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax
being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender)
or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax
is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person (other than the
Company) in whose name any Certificate for Preferred Stock is issued upon the
exercise or exchange of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become
the holder of record of the Preferred Stock represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing
such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any
applicable transfer taxes or governmental charges) was made; provided, however,
that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which transfer
books of the Company relating to the Preferred Stock are closed, such Person
shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such Preferred Stock on, and
such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which
transfer books of the Company relating to the Preferred Stock are open. Prior to
the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate
shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect
to the securities for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, the
right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any
preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any
proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
11
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Securities
or Number of Rights. (a)(i) To preserve the actual or potential economic value
of the Rights, if at any time after the date of this Rights Agreement there
shall be any change in the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock, whether by
reason of stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations, mergers,
consolidations, combinations or other similar changes in capitalization, any
distribution or issuance of cash, assets, evidences of indebtedness or
subscription rights, options or warrants to holders of Common Stock or Preferred
Stock, as the case may be (other than distribution of the Rights or regular cash
dividends), or otherwise, then, in each such event the Board shall make such
appropriate adjustments in the number of shares of Preferred Stock (or the
number and kind of other securities or property) issuable upon exercise of each
Right, the Purchase Price and Redemption Price in effect at such time and the
number of Rights outstanding at such time (including the number of Rights or
fractional Rights associated with each share of Common Stock) such that
following such adjustment such event shall not have had the effect of reducing
or limiting the benefits the holders of the Rights would have had absent such
event. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be made
successively whenever such an adjustment is required by this Section 11(a)(i).
If an event occurs which will require an adjustment under both this Section
11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), the adjustment provided for in this Section
11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment
required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) Subject to Section 24, upon any Person becoming an Acquiring
Person, proper provision shall promptly be made so that each holder of a Right,
except as otherwise provided below and in Section 7(e), shall thereafter have
the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of one
one-thousandths (1/1,000ths) of a share of Preferred Stock (such number of
shares being referred to herein as the "Adjustment Shares") as shall be equal to
the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the
number of one one-thousandths (1/1,000ths) of a share of Preferred Stock for
which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to a Person becoming an
Acquiring Person and (y) dividing that product (which, following such first
occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each
Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the current market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(b)(i)) per share of Common Stock on the date
on which a Person becomes an Acquiring Person; provided, however, that if the
transaction that would otherwise give rise to the foregoing adjustment is also
subject to the provisions of Section 13, 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 there shall not be sufficient shares of
Preferred Stock issued but not outstanding, or authorized but unissued to permit
the exercise of Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the
Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be
necessary to authorize additional shares of Preferred Stock for issuance upon
the exercise of Rights; provided, however, that if the Company is unable to
cause the authorization of additional shares of Preferred Stock, then the
Company shall, or in lieu of seeking any such authorization, the Company may, to
the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law and any agreements,
indentures or instruments in effect prior to the Distribution Date to which it
is a party, (A) upon surrender of a Right, pay cash equal to the Purchase Price
in lieu of issuing shares of Preferred Stock and requiring payment therefor, (B)
upon due exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price for each share of
Preferred Stock as to which such Right is exercised, issue equity securities
having
12
a value equal to the value of the shares of Preferred Stock which otherwise
would have been issuable pursuant to the foregoing subparagraph (ii), which
value shall be determined by an investment banking firm selected by the Board,
or (C) upon due exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price for each
share of Preferred Stock as to which such Right is exercised, distribute
Preferred Stock, Common Stock, other equity securities, cash or debt securities
(or any combination thereof) having an aggregate value equal to the value of the
shares of Preferred Stock which otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to
the foregoing subparagraph (ii), which value shall be determined by an
investment banking firm selected by the Board. To the extent that any legal or
contractual restrictions (pursuant to agreements or instruments in effect prior
to the Distribution Date to which it is party) prevent the Company from paying
the full amount payable in accordance with the foregoing sentence, the Company
shall pay to holders of the Rights as to which such payments are being made all
amounts which are not then restricted on a pro rata basis as such payments
become permissible under such legal or contractual restrictions until such
payments have been paid in full. To the extent that the Company determines that
some action needs to be taken pursuant to this subparagraph (iii), the Board may
take action to suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to 60
days following the date on which the first occurrence of a Person becoming an
Acquiring Person as set forth in the foregoing subparagraph (ii) has occurred,
in order to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to
this subparagraph (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.
(b)(i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current
market price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the 30
consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that
if the current market price per share of the Common Stock is determined during a
period following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a
dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common
Stock or securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of such Common
Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the 30
Trading Day period, as set forth above, after the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination
or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the "current market price"
shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing
price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no
such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices, regular way, in either case, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to the Common Stock listed or admitted
to trading on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of
Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock
are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, as
reported by the Nasdaq National Market or, if the Common Stock is not included
in the Nasdaq National Market, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the
average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or such other system then in use or,
if on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the
Board. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Common
Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by
the Board shall be used. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so
listed or
13
traded, the "current market price" per share means the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by the Board, or, if at the time of such determination
there is an Acquiring Person, by an investment banking firm selected by the
Board, which determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current market
price" of the Preferred Stock shall be determined in the same manner as set
forth above for the Common Stock in Section 11(b)(i). If the current market
price for the Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above,
the "current market price" of the Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed
to be the current market price of the Common Stock (appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof), multiplied by one thousand. For the purpose of any computation
hereunder, the value of any securities or assets other than the Preferred Stock
or Common Stock of the Company shall be the fair value as determined in good
faith by the Board, and, if at the time of such determination there is an
Acquiring Person, by an investment banking firm selected by the Board, which
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(c) Except as hereinafter provided, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease
of at least 1% in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments
which by reason of this Section 11(c) are not required to be made shall be
carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All
calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the
nearest one one-hundred thousandth (1/100,000th) of a share of Preferred Stock.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(c), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three
years from the date of the transaction which mandates such adjustment or (ii)
the Expiration Date.
(d) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a),
the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive
any securities other than shares of Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of
such 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 of Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Stock
shall apply, as nearly as reasonably may be, on like terms to any such other
securities.
(e) In the event that at any time after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or (ii) effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in any
such case (x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
purchasable after such event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be
determined by multiplying the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock so purchasable immediately prior to such event by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately before such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and (y) each
share of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event shall have
14
issued with respect to it that number of Rights which each share of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The
adjustments provided for in this Section 11(e) shall be made successively
whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination
or consolidation is effected.
(f) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities
relating to a Right shall evidence the right to purchase, for the Purchase
Price, the adjusted number and kind of securities purchasable from time to time
hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as
provided herein.
(g) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of shares of Preferred Stock or number or kind of other securities
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the terms which was expressed in the
initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(h) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price per whole share of Preferred Stock upon exercise below the
then par value, if any, of the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise
of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock at such
adjusted Purchase Price.
(i) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the
Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuance to
the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the number of shares of
Preferred Stock (or other securities) issuable upon such exercise over and above
the number of shares of Preferred Stock (or other securities) issuable before
giving effect to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall
deliver to such holder a due xxxx or other appropriate instrument evidencing
such holder's right to receive such additional shares or securities upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(j) The Company covenants and agrees that it will not at any time after
the Distribution Date (i) consolidate with, (ii) merge with or into, or (iii)
sell or otherwise transfer (and/or permit any of its Subsidiaries to sell or
otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any other Person or
Persons if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or
sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities
outstanding or any agreements or arrangements in effect which would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of a Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for the purposes of
Section 13 shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such
Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(k) The Company covenants and agrees that after the Distribution Date,
it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section 24 or Section 27 take
(or permit any Subsidiary to take) any
15
action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that
such action will substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13, the Company
shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a
brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file
with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Stock and
the Common Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Right Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to
each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in accordance
with Section 26. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any
such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power. (a) If, following the Distribution Date, directly or indirectly,
(i) the Company shall consolidate with, merge into, or
otherwise combine with, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(j)), and the
Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation, merger or combination,
(ii) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction that complies with Section 11(j)) shall merge into, or
otherwise combine with, the Company, and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such merger or combination and,
in connection with such merger or combination, all or part of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged
for other stock or securities of the Company or any other Person, cash
or any other property, or
(iii) the Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall
sell or otherwise transfer, in one transaction or a series of related
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than to the Company or any
Subsidiary in any transaction that complies with Section 11(j)),
then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that:
(A) each holder of a Right, except as provided in
Section 7(e), shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at the Purchase Price, in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, such number of duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of freely
tradeable Common Stock of the Principal Party (as hereinafter
defined), not subject to any rights of call or first refusal,
liens, encumbrances or other claims, as shall be equal to the
result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the number of one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a
share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of any Section 13
Event (or, if a person has become an Acquiring Person prior to
the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event by multiplying
the number of such one-thousandths of a share of
16
Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately
prior to the first occurrence of a Person becoming an
Acquiring Person by the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that product
(which, following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event
shall thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for
each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of
the current market price (determined pursuant to Section
11(b)(i)) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal
Party on the date of consummation of such consolidation,
merger, combination sale or transfer;
(B) the Principal Party shall thereafter be liable
for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation,
merger, combination, sale or transfer, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;
(C) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to
refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended
that the provisions of Section 11 shall apply only to such
Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event; and
(D) such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including the authorization and reservation of a sufficient
number of shares of its Common Stock to permit exercise of all
outstanding Rights in accordance with the provisions of
Section 9) applicable to the reservation of Preferred Stock in
connection with the consummation of any such transaction as
may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in
relation to the shares of its Common Stock thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall apply similarly to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers.
(b) "Principal Party" means:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in
clauses (i) or (ii) of Section 13(a), the Person that is the
issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of
the Company are converted in such merger, consolidation or
combination, and if no securities are so issued, the person
that is the other party to such merger, consolidation or
combination; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in
clause (iii) of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (A) if the Common
Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been
continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common
Stock of which is and has been so registered, "Principal
Party" shall refer to such other Person; and (B) in case such
Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than
one Person, the Common Stocks of two or more
17
of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party"
shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the
Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
combination, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which are not outstanding or
otherwise reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such
Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in Section 13(a) and
(b) and providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any
consolidation, merger, combination, sale or transfer mentioned in Section 13(a),
the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under
the Securities Act with respect to the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will
use its best efforts to cause such registration statement (A)
to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing
and (B) to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the
Expiration Date; and
(ii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its
Affiliates which comply in all respects with the requirements
for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers,
consolidations, combinations, sales or other transfers. If any Section 13 Event
shall occur at any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Rights
which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in
the manner described in Section 13(a).
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section
13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs (i) and
(ii) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or
Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Qualifying Tender
Offer (or a wholly owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the
price per share of Common Stock offered in such transaction is not less than the
price per share of Common Stock paid to all holders of shares of Common Stock
whose shares were purchased pursuant to such Qualifying Tender Offer, and (iii)
the form of such consideration being offered to the remaining holders of shares
of Common Stock pursuant to such transaction is the same as the form of
consideration paid pursuant to such Qualifying Tender Offer. Upon consummation
of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder
shall expire.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) The Company
may, but shall not be required to, issue fractions of Rights or to distribute
Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional
Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates
with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole
Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a
whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights
18
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional
Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for
any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to the Rights listed or admitted to
trading on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are
listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, as reported by the Nasdaq National
Market or, if the Common Stock is not included in the Nasdaq National Market,
the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low
asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock
Market, Inc. or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights
are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the
Rights selected by the Board. If on any such date no such market maker is making
a market in the Rights, the current market value of the Rights on such date
shall be as determined in good faith by the Board.
(b) The Company may, but shall not be required to, issue fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of
one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or
to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
(1/1,000th) of a share of Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of
Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth
(1/1,000th) of a share of Preferred Stock, the Company may, at its election,
issue depositary receipts evidencing fractions of shares 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 of the rights, privileges and preferences to which they
would be entitled as owners of the Preferred Stock. With respect to fractional
shares that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a
share, if the Company does not issue such fractional shares or depositary
receipts in lieu thereof, there shall be paid to the holders of record of Right
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the value of one one-thousandth of a share
of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value
of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be the closing price
of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(b)(i)) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) Following any exchange pursuant to Section 24, the Company shall
not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of
fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders
of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exchanged as herein provided
an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one
share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market
value of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of one share of
Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(b)(i)) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior
19
to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided
in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of
the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations of, any Person subject to this Agreement. Any
holder of Rights who prevails in an action to enforce the provisions of this
Rights Agreement shall be entitled to recover the reasonable costs and expenses,
including attorneys' fees, incurred in such action.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f), the Company and the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Right Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby
(notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Right Certificate
or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone other than the Company
or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor
the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e), shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a
Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, that the Company must use its
best efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise
overturned, and/or to comply with such statute, rule or regulation, as soon as
possible.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Stock or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be
20
issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of
the Company including, without limitation, any right to vote for the election of
directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof,
or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of
meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section
25), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the
Right or Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. (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
out-of-pocket expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and other
disbursements incurred in the execution or administration of this Agreement and
the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to
indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss,
liability, or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the
Rights Agent in connection with the administration of this Agreement or the
exercise or performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and
expenses of defending against any claim of liability. The Rights Agent shall
promptly notify the Company, by letter or by facsimile confirmed by letter, of
the assertion of any action, proceeding, suit or claim against the Rights Agent,
promptly after the Rights Agent shall have notice of any such assertion of an
action, proceeding, suit or claim. The Company shall be entitled to participate
at its own expense in the defense of any such action, proceeding, suit or claim,
and, if the Company so elects, the Company shall assume the defense of any such
action, proceeding, suit or claim. In the event that the Company assumes such
defense, the Company shall not thereafter be liable for the fees and expenses of
any additional counsel retained by the Rights Agent, so long as the Company
shall retain counsel satisfactory to the Rights Agent, in the exercise of its
reasonable judgment, to defend such action, proceeding, suit or claim. The
Rights Agent agrees not to settle any litigation in connection with any action,
proceeding, suit or claim with respect to which it may seek indemnification from
the Company without the prior written consent of the Company.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection
with the administration of this Agreement or the exercise or performance of its
duties hereunder in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for
Preferred Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment
or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice,
instruction, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where
necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate
trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without
the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of
the parties hereto, provided that such
21
corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under
the provisions of Section 21. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent
shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right
Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in
all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the
Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time
any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any "Acquiring Person" and the
determination of "current market price") be proved or established by the Company
prior to taking, 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 the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer,
the President or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or any Assistant
Treasurer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization
to the Rights Agent for any action taken, suffered or omitted in good faith by
it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
22
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the
Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 7(e)) or any adjustment in the terms of
the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in
Sections 3, 11, 13, 23, or 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts
that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of
Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after actual notice of any such
adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to authorization or reservation of any shares of
Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any
Right Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock
will, when issued, be duly authorized, validly 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 the
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice
President or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or any
Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with instructions of any such officer.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not the Rights
Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from
acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company or to any holders of Rights resulting from
any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was
exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) 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 cases may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 or 2 thereof,
the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
23
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 Stock and Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and,
subsequent to the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Right Certificates by
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 Stock and
Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and, subsequent to the
Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by mail. If the
Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the
Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after
giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by
the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit its Right
Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any
Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed
by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United
States, in good standing, having an office in the city of New York, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer or corporate trust powers
and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and
which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate of a corporation described
in clause (a) of this sentence; provided, however, that the principal transfer
agent for the Common Stock of the Company shall in any event be qualified to be
the Rights Agent. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested
with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and, subsequent to the Distribution
Date, 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, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as
the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price and the number or kind of shares of stock or other securities or
property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or
sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the
Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock
so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any
employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
securities issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Right Certificates representing the
appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided,
however, that (i) no such Right Certificate shall be
24
issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that
such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax
consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Right Certificate would
be issued, and (ii) no such Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the
extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of
the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption. (a) The Board may, at its option, at any time
prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth day after the
Stock Acquisition Date (or such later date as the Board may determine prior to
such time as the Rights are not redeemable) and (ii) the Final Expiration Date,
redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption
price of $.001 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the
"Redemption Price"). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
the Rights shall not be exercisable after a Person has become an Acquiring
Person until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has
expired. The redemption of the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such
time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion
may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board electing to redeem the
Rights and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders
of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held. The
Company shall promptly thereafter give notice of such redemption to the Rights
Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to
all such holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books
of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of
the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives
the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its
Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at
any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in Section 23 or
24, and other than in connection with the purchase, acquisition or redemption of
shares of Common Stock prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. Exchange. (a) The Board may, at its option, at any time
after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then
outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have
become void pursuant to Section 7(e)) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange
ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect
any stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
Ratio"). If the Board elects to exchange all the Rights for Common Stock
pursuant to this Section 24 prior to the physical distribution of the Rights
Certificates, the Company may distribute the Common Stock issuable in the
exchange in lieu of distributing Right Certificates, in which case for purposes
of this Rights Agreement holders of Rights shall be deemed to have
simultaneously received and surrendered for exchange Right Certificates on the
date of such distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, or any entity holding shares of Common Stock for or
pursuant to the terms of any such
25
plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Any action of the Board ordering the exchange of any Rights
pursuant to Section 24(a) shall be irrevocable and, immediately upon the taking
of such action and without any further action and without any notice, the right
to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a
holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock
equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the
Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such
exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company shall
promptly give notice of such exchange to the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights to be exchanged by mailing such notice to all such holders at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the
method by which the exchange of the Shares of Common Stock for Rights will be
effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which
will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the
number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section
7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its
option, may substitute Preferred Stock for Common Stock exchangeable for Rights,
at the initial rate of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock for each
share of Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the
voting rights of the Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms thereof, so that the
fraction of a share of Preferred Stock delivered in lieu of each share of Common
Stock shall have the same voting rights as one share of Common Stock.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common
Stock or Preferred Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued
to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section
24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock for issuance upon exchange
of the Rights.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common
Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company shall pay
to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of
Common Stock. For the purposes of this paragraph (e), the current market value
of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common
Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(b)(i) hereof)
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this
Section 24.
(f) The Company may, at its option, by action of the Board, at any time
before any Person has become an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the
then outstanding Rights for rights of substantially equivalent value, as
determined reasonably and with good faith by the Board based upon the advice of
one or more nationally recognized investment banking firms.
26
Section 25. Notice of Proposed Actions. (a) In case the Company shall
propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of Common Stock or to make any
other distribution to the holders of Common Stock (other than a regular periodic
cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to
offer to the holders of its Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or
to purchase any additional shares of Common Stock or shares of stock of any
class or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Common Stock (other than a reclassification involving
only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Common Stock), or (iv) to effect
any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person, or to effect and/or,
to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer,
in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to any other Person or Persons, or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to
each holder of a Right Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance
with Section 26, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the
record date for the purposes of such dividend or distribution of rights or
warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the
date of participation therein by the holders of Common Stock, if any such date
is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 days prior to the record date
for determining holders of the Common Stock for purposes of such action, and in
the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the date of the
taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the
holders of Common Stock, whichever shall be the earlier. The failure to give
notice required by this Section 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) In case any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (except as a result
of a Qualifying Tender Offer) then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon
as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in
accordance with Section 26, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which
shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights
under Section 11(a)(ii).
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, prior
to the Distribution Date a filing by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission shall constitute sufficient notice to the holders of
securities of the Company, including the Rights, for purposes of this Agreement
and no other notice need be given to such holders.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
PetroQuest Energy, Inc.
000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
27
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
00 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, to the holder of any certificate representing shares of
Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the
registry books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date,
the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of the
Rights. From and after the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent
shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order (a) to cure any
ambiguity, (b) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may
be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (c) to shorten or
lengthen any time period hereunder or (d) to change or supplement the provisions
hereof in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which
shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Right Certificates
(other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no supplement or amendment pursuant to
clause (c) may lengthen (i) a time period relating to when the Rights may be
redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable or (ii) any other
time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing
or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon
the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which
states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms
of this Section, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be
deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) under the Exchange Act as in effect on
the date of this Agreement. The Board shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers
specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may
28
be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including the
right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make
all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for the purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions
with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good
faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights
Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the
Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provisions, covenant or restrictions is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board determines
in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this
Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the
right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall
not expire until the close of business on the tenth day following the date of
such determination by the Board.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Right
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Louisiana and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and
the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. The captions herein and table of
contents hereto are included for convenience of reference only, do not
constitute a part of this Agreement and shall be ignored in the construction and
interpretation hereof.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
29
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
PETROQUEST ENERGY, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Attest: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
----------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx,
Secretary
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY,
AS RIGHTS AGENT
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Attest: Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------------------
Title: Vice President
---------------------------------
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
Title: Assistant Secretary
----------------------------
30
PETROQUEST ENERGY, INC.
EXHIBITS
TO
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
----------
Exhibit A -- Certificate of Designation
Exhibit B -- Summary of Rights
Exhibit C -- Form of Rights Certificate
EXHIBIT A
PETROQUEST ENERGY, INC.
CERTIFICATE OF
DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES, LIMITATIONS
AND RELATIVE RIGHTS OF ITS
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
Pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
PetroQuest Energy, Inc, a corporation organized and existing under the Delaware
General Corporation Law (the "Corporation"),
DOES HEREBY CERTIFY that pursuant to the authority conferred upon the
Board of Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, and
pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, said Board of
Directors, at a meeting duly held on November 7, 2001, duly adopted a resolution
providing for the issuance of a series of 500,000 shares of Preferred
Stock--Junior Participating Series A, which resolution is and reads as follows:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority expressly granted to and
invested in the Board of Directors of PetroQuest Energy, Inc. (the
"Corporation") by the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation, a series
of the Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Corporation be, and it
hereby is, established, and that such series of Preferred Stock shall have the
powers and preferences, and the relative, participating, optional and other
rights, and the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions thereon set forth
below:
SECTION 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Preferred Stock--Junior Participating Series A" (the "Series A
Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be 500,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by
resolution by the Board of Directors and without stockholder action; provided,
however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus
the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding
options, rights, or warrants upon the conversion of any outstanding securities
issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock, including
(without limitation) that certain Rights Agreement dated as of November 7, 2001
(the "Rights Agreement") to which the Corporation is a party.
A-1
SECTION 2. Dividends and Distributions. (a) Subject to the prior
dividend rights of the holders of shares of any (i) other series of Preferred
Stock or (ii) other class of capital stock, whether now existing or hereafter
created (other than the Corporation's common stock, par value $.001 per share
(the "Common Stock")), which does not by its express terms rank on a parity with
or subordinate to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of
dividends, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive
dividends when, as and if declared from time-to-time by the Board of Directors,
out of any funds legally available for that purpose; provided, however, that no
dividend shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock (other than in shares of
Common Stock) unless a dividend shall be simultaneously declared and paid on
each share of outstanding Series A Preferred Stock in an amount equal to 1,000
times (subject to adjustment as set forth below) the amount of the dividend then
declared and paid on each share of Common Stock. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time following the initial issuance of Series A Preferred Stock
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which each share
of Series A Preferred Stock was entitled immediately prior to such event to
receive pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(b) The provisions of this Section 2 shall not apply to any dividend or
other distribution which shall be directly or indirectly in furtherance of any
plan of liquidation, whether or not the same shall have been approved by
stockholders.
SECTION 3. Voting Rights. In addition to any other voting rights
required by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have
the following voting rights:
(a) Subject to the provisions for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000
votes (and each one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have one vote) on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
following the initial issuance of Series A Preferred Stock declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the
A-2
election of directors. If the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to
cumulate their votes at any election of directors, or upon any other matter, the
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall also be entitled to cumulative
voting at such election of directors or upon such other matter. If cumulative
voting shall ever be denied to the holders of the Common Stock, the holders of
the Series A Preferred Stock shall similarly cease to be entitled to cumulative
voting, without any further action or consent by the holders of Series A
Preferred Stock.
(c) Except as otherwise set forth herein, holders of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be
required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common
Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
SECTION 4. Certain Restrictions. (a) Whenever dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2
are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, on shares of Series A Preferred stock outstanding shall have been
paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions
on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Corporation may
at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such
parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation
or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a
parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a
purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the
Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as
the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual
dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
respective Series and classes, shall determine in good faith will
result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
(b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation
to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section 4,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
A-3
SECTION 5. Liquidation Rights. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (a) to the holders
of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received
$1,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any declared but unpaid dividends
thereon, to the date of such payment; provided, however, that the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate
amount per share, subject to adjustment as hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000
times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common
Stock, or (b) to the holders of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred
Stock and all other such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
following the initial issuance of Series A Preferred Stock declare or pay any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso
in clause (a) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
SECTION 6. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or any other property, as the case may be, into which or
for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time following the initial issuance of Series A
Preferred Stock declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than
by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in
the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.
SECTION 7. Ranking. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank junior with
respect to payment of dividends and on liquidation to all other classes and
series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock, whether now existing or hereafter
created, except any class or series that specifically provides that it shall
rank on a parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock.
A-4
SECTION 8. Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not
be redeemable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may acquire shares
of Series A Preferred Stock in any other manner permitted by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or an amendment thereof. The shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall not be subject to or entitled to the operation of a
retirement or sinking fund.
SECTION 9. Fractional Shares. Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in
fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and have the benefit of all other rights of holders
of Series A Preferred Stock. In lieu of fractional shares, the Corporation,
prior to the first issuance of a share or a fraction of a share of Series A
Preferred Stock, may elect to (a) make a cash payment as provided in the Rights
Agreement for fractions of a share other than one one-thousandths (1/1,000ths)
of a share or an integral multiple thereof or (b) issue depository receipts
evidencing such authorized fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Corporation and a depository
selected by the Corporation; provided, however, that such agreement shall
provide that the holders of such depository receipts shall have all the rights,
privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock.
SECTION 10. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock (without designation as to series) and may be reissued as part
of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of
the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance
set forth in the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION 11. Amendment. The Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation
shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to
affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the outstanding shares, if any, of Series A Preferred Stock voting
separately as a class.
SECTION 12. No Other Rights. The Series A Preferred Stock shall not
have any relative, participating, optional or other special rights and powers
other than as set forth herein and in the Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation or as provided by law, nor shall the holders thereof have any
preemptive right to acquire any shares or securities of any kind, whether now or
hereafter authorized, which may at any time be issued, sold, or offered for sale
by the Corporation.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
A-5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, PetroQuest Energy, Inc. has caused this certificate
to be duly executed by Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, its Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary, on this 7th day of November, 2001.
PETROQUEST ENERGY, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
A-6
EXHIBIT B
November 20, 2001
Dear Shareholder:
Your Board of Directors has adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan (the
"Plan") designed to deter coercive or unfair takeover tactics and to prevent an
acquiror from gaining control of PetroQuest Energy, Inc. (the "Company") without
offering a fair price to all of its shareholders. Included with this letter is a
Summary of the Plan. We suggest that you retain this document for future
reference.
The Board has adopted the Plan because it enhances the Board's ability
to protect the shareholders' and the Company's interest in the event of a
coercive or unfair takeover attempt. A large number of publicly held independent
oil and gas exploration and production companies and over 1,000 other companies
have adopted shareholder rights plans. Adoption of such a plan is a commonly
accepted business practice for protecting shareholder interests.
Under the Plan, holders of record of Common Stock at the close of
business November 19, 2001, will receive one Preferred Stock Purchase Right (a
"Right") for each share of Common Stock held. Until such Rights become
exercisable, your Common Stock certificates will evidence your Rights. The
Rights will automatically trade with the Common Stock and will be exercisable
only if and when an event arises to trigger them. The triggering events are
described in the Summary of the Plan.
The Plan is not intended to prevent an acquisition of the Company on
terms that are favorable and fair to all shareholders. Furthermore, it should
not dissuade any perspective offeror willing to negotiate with your Board of
Directors and will not interfere with a merger or any other business combination
transaction that your Board of Directors judges to be fair to the shareholders.
The Plan is therefore intended to discourage unilateral takeover attempts and to
encourage potential acquirors to negotiate with the Board. There can be no
assurance, however, that the Plan will result in any premium being paid on the
Company's Common Stock in the event of a takeover contest. Because the Board may
redeem the Rights at any time before they are triggered, the Plan will not
prevent a takeover of the Company that is determined by the Board to be in the
best interest of shareholders and the Company.
B-1
November 20, 2001
Page 2
Issuance of the Rights has no dilutive effect, will not affect reported
earnings per share, and is not taxable to the Company or its shareholders. The
Rights will not restrict trading of the Company's securities.
Your Board of Directors believes that the Plan represents an effective
and commonly accepted means of protecting the shareholders' interests without in
any way weakening the Company's financial strength or interfering with the
Company's business plans. As such, it is an expression of the Company's
confidence in the future and our intention to give our shareholders a full
opportunity to benefit from the Company's growth and success.
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer
B-2
SUMMARY OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
ISSUANCE OF RIGHTS
On November 7, 2001, the Board of Directors of PetroQuest Energy, Inc.
(the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
outstanding share of common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of the Company to stockholders of record at the close of business on
November 19, 2001 (the "Record Date"). Except as described below, each Right,
when exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company
one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share of Preferred Stock--Junior
Participating Series A, par value $.001 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a
price of $33.00 per one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) share (the "Purchase Price"),
subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in
a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
As of November 1, 2001 , there were approximately 32.5 million shares
of Common Stock outstanding, approximately 4.1 million shares of Common Stock
were reserved for issuance under stock option plans and outstanding warrants.
Each share of Common Stock outstanding on November 19, 2001 will receive one
Right. 500,000 shares of Preferred Stock will be reserved for issuance in the
event of exercise of the Rights.
TRANSFER AND SEPARATION
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date (as
hereinafter defined). Accordingly, the Rights Agreement provides that, until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new
Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new
issuance of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a
copy of this Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate.
As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced
solely by Right Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Right
Certificate separately and apart from any transfer of one or more shares of
Common Stock.
B-3
DISTRIBUTION DATE
The term "Distribution Date" means the earlier of:
(i) the close of business on the tenth day (or such later date
as may be determined by action of the Company's Board of Directors)
after a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained
the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of the Common Stock, other than pursuant to a
Qualifying Tender Offer (defined below); or
(ii) the close of business on the tenth Business Day (or such
later date as may be determined by action of the Company's Board of
Directors) after the date of the commencement or the announcement of
the intention to commence by any person or group (other than certain
exempt persons) of a tender offer or exchange offer upon the successful
completion of which such person or group would be the beneficial owner
of 15% or more of the then outstanding Common Stock, regardless of
whether any shares are actually purchased pursuant to such offer.
A person or group is generally not considered an "Acquiring Person," if
either the beneficial ownership of its Common Stock that would otherwise cause
it to be an Acquiring Person was acquired in a transaction or series of
transactions approved in advance by the Board of Directors of the Company, or
the Board of Directors determines in good faith that the person who would
otherwise be an Acquiring Person has become such inadvertently and such person
divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock
so that the person would no longer beneficially own 15% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock.
A "Qualifying Tender Offer" means a tender offer or exchange offer that
a majority of the members of the Board of Directors determine to be at a fair
price and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
EXERCISE
Until the Distribution Date, the Rights are not exercisable. However,
in the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated persons
becomes an Acquiring Person, and subject to the Company's right to redeem the
Rights, each holder of a Right (other than an Acquiring Person) will thereafter
have the right to receive upon exercise a number of one one thousandths
(1/1,000ths) of a share of Preferred Stock determined by dividing the aggregate
Purchase Price (subject to adjustment) by 50% of the current market price of the
Common Stock on the date a person becomes an Acquiring Person. Because of the
nature of the voting, dividend, and liquidation rights of the Preferred Stock,
the value of each one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) interest in a share of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one share of Common Stock. It is therefore anticipated (although there
can be no assurance) that the value of the Preferred Stock purchased upon
exercise of the Rights will be approximately twice the exercise price paid.
B-4
If the Rights are not redeemed as described below and in the event that
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or
50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold after a person
or group has become an Acquiring Person, proper provision will be made so that
each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price, that number of shares of
common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will
have a market value of two times the aggregate Purchase Price of the Rights.
Following the occurrence of any of the events set forth in the
preceding two paragraphs, any Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring
Person will immediately become null and void. While the distribution of the
Rights to holders of Common Stock will not be taxable to such holders or to the
Company, stockholders may recognize taxable income upon the occurrence of
subsequent events--for example, upon the Rights becoming exercisable with
respect to an acquiror's stock, whether or not exercised.
The Rights will expire on November 7, 2011 (the "Final Expiration
Date"), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are
earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, as described below. Until a Right
is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder
of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive
dividends.
REDEMPTION
At any time prior to the time a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors may
redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right (the
"Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such
time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors, in its
sole discretion, may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights,
the right to exercise the Rights will terminate, and the sole right of the
holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
EXCHANGE
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock, the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other
than Rights owned by such person or group which will have become void), in whole
or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock or one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock per Right (subject to adjustment).
THE PREFERRED STOCK
Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to an aggregate dividend
of 1,000 times the dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of
liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to an aggregate
payment of 1,000 times the payment made per share of Common Stock, but in no
event shall they receive less than $1,000 per share. Each share of Preferred
Stock will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Stock, except as
otherwise provided by law. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation,
or other transaction in which
B-5
Common Stock is exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to
receive 1,000 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. The shares of
Preferred Stock purchasable under the Plan will not be redeemable.
ANTIDILUTION
The Purchase Price payable, the number of Rights, and the number of
shares of Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon
exercise of the Rights, are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent
dilution, among other circumstances, in the event of a stock dividend on, or a
subdivision, split, combination, consolidation or reclassification of, the
Preferred Stock or the Common Stock, or a reverse split of the outstanding
shares of Preferred Stock or the Common Stock.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
the Purchase Price. The Company may, but is not required to, issue fractional
Rights or fractional Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share of Preferred Stock) which
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts. In
lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based upon the market price of
the Common Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
AMENDMENT OF RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company may supplement or amend any
provision of the Rights Agreement without the approval of any holders of the
Rights. From and after the Distribution Date, the Company may supplement or
amend the Rights Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right
Certificates in order to (a) cure any ambiguity, (b) correct or supplement any
provision contained therein which may be defective or inconsistent with any
other provision therein, (c) shorten or lengthen any time period thereunder or
(d) change or supplement the provisions thereof in any manner which the Company
may deem necessary or desirable and which does not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Right Certificates (other than Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no supplement or amendment pursuant to clause (c) may lengthen (i) a
time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the
Rights are not then redeemable or (ii) any other time period unless such
lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights
of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights.
CERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE RIGHTS
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
without conditioning the offer on the Rights being redeemed or a substantial
number of Rights being acquired, and under certain circumstances the Rights
beneficially owned (or that were owned) by such a person or group may become
void. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business
combination approved by the Board of Directors because, if the Rights would
become exercisable as a result of such merger or other business combination, the
Board of Directors, may, at its option, prior to the time that any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all (but not less than all) of the then
outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price.
B-6
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. This
summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement.
B-7
EXHIBIT C
[Form of Right Certificate]
Certificate No. R- ________ Rights
This Certificate is Transferable in
New York, New York
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 7, 2001 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR
EXCHANGED BY THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.001
PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT. IF THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING
PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR AN ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE AND
THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME OR MAY HAVE BECOME NULL AND
VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
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 November 7, 2001 (the "Rights Agreement") between
PetroQuest Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to
purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to
the Expiration Date at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (1/1,000th)
of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Preferred Stock--Junior Participating
Series A, par value $.001 per share, (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company, at
a cash purchase price of $33.00 per one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share
(the "Purchase Price"), payable in cash upon presentation and surrender of this
Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and the related
Certificate duly executed.
Terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings assigned
to them in the Rights Agreement.
The number of rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, the Purchase
Price and the number and kind of shares which may be purchased upon exercise
thereof are the number of Rights, Purchase Price, and the number and kind of
shares which may be so purchased as of November 19, 2001. As provided in the
Rights Agreement, the number of Rights represented by this Rights Certificate,
the Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other
securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the
happening of certain events.
C-1
From and after the time when any person first becomes an Acquiring
Person, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate
or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person
(or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the
Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or
of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or
concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights
pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the
Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to
any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose to effect the
avoidance of Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement shall become null and void
without any further action, and no holder of such Rights (including any
purported transferee or subsequent holder) shall have any rights whatsoever with
respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of the Rights Agreement or
otherwise.
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, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file with the Rights Agent and are also
available upon written request to the Company.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of
like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number and kind of 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 Board of
Directors of the Company may, at its option, (a) at any time prior to the
earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth day after the Stock
Acquisition Date or such later date as the Board may determine and (ii) the
Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate at a redemption price of $.001 per Right; or (b) at any time
after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (but before any Person becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding),
exchange all or part of the Rights evidenced by this Certificate for shares of
Common Stock or Preferred Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common
Stock or one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock per Right. If the
Rights shall be exchanged in part, the holder of this Right Certificate shall be
entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates for the number of Rights not exchanged.
The Company may issue fractions of Preferred Stock or distribute
certificates which evidence fractions of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of
any Right or Rights evidenced hereby. In lieu of
C-2
issuing fractional shares, the Company may elect to make a cash payment as
provided in the Rights Agreement for fractions of a share other than one
one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share or any integral multiple thereof or to
issue certificates or utilize a depository arrangement as provided in the terms
of the Rights Agreement and the Preferred Stock.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Preferred Stock or
of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein
be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a
stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted 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.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Dated as of: PETROQUEST ENERGY, INC.
---------------------
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------------
Attest:
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
---------------------------
Title:
--------------------------
Countersigned:
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY,
as Rights Agent,
By:
---------------------------------------
Authorized Officer
C-3
[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer
the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED
-------------------------------------------------------------
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
---------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ____________________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated:
--------------------
--------------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate ___ are ___ are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
___ did ___ did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from
any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated:
--------------------
--------------------------------------------
Signature
NOTICE
The signatures to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate 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.
C-4
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Right
Certificate.)
To PetroQuest Energy, Inc.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ________________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities or property
of the Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of
the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name
of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number:
----------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall
be registered in the name of and delivered to:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please insert social security or other identifying number:
----------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated:
--------------------
--------------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signatures to the foregoing Form of Election To Purchase must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
C-5
