EXHIBIT 4.
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In Focus Systems, Inc.
and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
as Rights Agent
Rights Agreement
Dated as of July 16, 1997
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Rights Agreement, dated as of July 16, 1997, between In Focus Systems,
Inc., an Oregon corporation (the "COMPANY"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company, as Rights Agent (the
"RIGHTS AGENT").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on July 16, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company
adopted this Agreement, and has authorized and declared a dividend of one right
(a "RIGHT") for each Common Share (as defined in Section 1.6) of the Company
outstanding at the close of business on July 31, 1997 (the "RECORD DATE") and
has authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as
provided herein) with respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding
between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date and the
Expiration Date (as such terms are defined in Sections 3.1 and 7.1), each Right
initially representing the right to purchase one-half of one Common Share of the
Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Rights may be issued with respect to Common Shares that
shall become outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date in accordance with Section 22.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
1.1 "ACQUIRING PERSON" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates
(as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 20% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding but shall not include an Exempt Person (as such
term is hereinafter defined). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall
become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by
the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the
proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such Person to 20% or more
of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding solely by reason of share purchases by the
Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the
Beneficial Owner of one or more additional Common Shares of the Company, then
such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person." Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith
that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant
to the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.1, has become such inadvertently,
and without any intention of changing or
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influencing control of the Company, and such Person divests as promptly as
practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no
longer be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions
of this Section 1.1, then such Person shall not be deemed to be or have become
an "Acquiring Person" at any time for any purposes of this Agreement. For all
purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common Shares
outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the
particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is
the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule
13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), as in effect on the date
hereof.
1.2 "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.
1.3 A Person shall be deemed the "BENEFICIAL OWNER" of and shall be
deemed to "BENEFICIALLY OWN" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly (as determined
pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations 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,
compliance with regulatory requirements, fulfillment of a condition or
otherwise) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether
or not in writing (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities), 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, (w) securities tendered
pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person
or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered
securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, (x) securities which such
Person has a right to acquire upon the exercise of Rights at any time prior
to the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, (y) securities
issuable upon the exercise of Rights from and after the time that any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person if such Rights were acquired by such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the
Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 22 ("ORIGINAL
RIGHTS") or pursuant to Section 11.9 or Section 11.15 with
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respect to an adjustment to Original Rights or (z) securities which such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates may acquire, does
or do acquire or may be deemed to have the right to acquire, pursuant to
any merger or other acquisition agreement between the Company and such
Person (or one or more of his Affiliates or Associates) if such agreement
has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to such
Person's becoming an Acquiring Person; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing);
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner
of, or to beneficially own, any security under this clause (B) if the
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises
solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response
to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in
accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act
and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act
(or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with respect to
which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements
with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a
bona fide public offering of securities), whether or not in writing, for
the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable
proxy as described in the proviso to Section 1.3(ii)(B)) or disposing of
any securities of the Company;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned" (as defined in this Section 1.3), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director
or employee of an Exempt Person.
1.4 "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
1.5 "CLOSE OF BUSINESS" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m.,
California time, on such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., California time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
1.6 "COMMON SHARES" when used with reference to the Company shall
mean the shares of common stock, without par value, of the Company. "Common
Shares" when used
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with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock
with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity
interest having power to control or direct the management, of such other Person
or, if such Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons
which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person, and which has issued and
outstanding such capital stock, equity securities or equity interest.
1.7 "CONTINUING DIRECTOR" shall mean (i) any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company, while such Person is a member of the Board, who is not
an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or an
employee, director, representative, nominee or designee of any Acquiring Person
or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and was a member of the Board prior to
the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (ii) any Person (during
such period in which such Person is a member of the Board) who, after the time
that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, becomes a member of the Board and
who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate of Associate of an Acquiring
Person, or an employee, director, representative, nominee or designee of an
Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, if such Person's
nomination for election or election to the Board is recommended or approved by a
majority of the Continuing Directors.
1.8 "EXEMPT PERSON" shall mean the Company, any Subsidiary (as such
term is hereinafter defined) of the Company or any employee benefit plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity or trustee holding
shares of capital stock of the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan, in its capacity as an agent or trustee for any such plan.
1.9 "PERSON" shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company, firm, corporation, unallocated association, trust or
other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.
1.10 "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, the filing of a report pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act
or pursuant to a comparable successor statute) by the Company or an Acquiring
Person that an Acquiring Person has become such or that discloses information
which reveals the existence of an Acquiring Person or such earlier date as a
majority of the Board of Directors shall become aware of the existence of an
Acquiring Person.
1.11 "SUBSIDIARY" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interests is owned, of record or beneficially, directly or indirectly,
by such Person.
1.12 A "TRIGGER EVENT" shall be deemed to have occurred upon any
Person becoming an Acquiring Person.
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1.13 The following terms shall have the meanings defined for such
terms in the Sections set forth below:
Term Section
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Adjustment Shares 11.1.2
common stock equivalent 11.1.3
Company Recitals
current per share market price 11.4
Current Value 11.1.3
Distribution Date 3.1
Exchange Act 1.1
Exchange Consideration 27
Expiration Date 7.1
Final Expiration Date 7.1
Nasdaq 9
Original Rights 1.3
Principal Party 13.2
Purchase Price 4
Record Date Recitals
Redemption Date 7.1
Redemption Price 23.1
Right Recitals
Right Certificate 3.1
Rights Agent Recitals
Security 11.4
Spread 11.1.3
Substitution Period 11.1.3
Summary of Rights 3.2
Trading Day 11.4
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. In the event the Company appoints one
or more co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any
co-Rights Agent shall be as the Company shall determine. Contemporaneously
with such appointment, if any, the Company shall notify the Rights Agent
thereof.
Section 3. ISSUANCE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES.
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3.1 RIGHTS EVIDENCED BY SHARE CERTIFICATES. Until the earlier of (i)
the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth business day
after the date of the commencement of, or first public announcement of the
intent of any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any
employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any
entity holding shares of capital stock of the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan, in its capacity as an agent or trustee for any such
plan) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would
result in any Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares aggregating
20% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares of the Company (the earlier of
(i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "DISTRIBUTION DATE"), (x) the
Rights (unless earlier expired, redeemed or terminated) will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Section 3.2) by the certificates for Common Shares
registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates for Common
Shares shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate
certificates, and (y) the Rights (and the right to receive certificates
therefor) will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the
underlying Common Shares. The preceding sentence notwithstanding, prior to the
occurrence of a Distribution Date specified as a result of an event described in
clause (ii) (or such later Distribution Date as the Board of Directors of the
Company may select pursuant to this sentence), the Board of Directors may
postpone, one or more times, the Distribution Date which would occur as a result
of an event described in clause (ii) beyond the date set forth in such clause
(ii). Nothing herein shall permit such a postponement of a Distribution Date
after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will
countersign and the Company (or, if requested, Rights Agent) will send, by
first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of
the close of business on the Distribution Date (other than any Acquiring Person
or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person), at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more certificates for Rights,
in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "RIGHT CERTIFICATE"),
evidencing one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each Common
Share so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely
by such Right Certificates.
3.2 SUMMARY OF RIGHTS. On the Record Date or as soon as practicable
thereafter, the Company will send or cause to be sent a copy of a Summary of
Rights to Purchase Common Shares, in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B (the "SUMMARY OF RIGHTS"), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to
each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the Record
Date at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company. With
respect to certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the close of
business on the Record Date, until the Distribution Date (or the earlier
Expiration Date), the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for Common
Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof together with a copy of
the Summary of Rights and the registered holders of the Common Shares shall also
be registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or
the earlier Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for
Common
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Shares outstanding at the close of business on the Record Date, with or
without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
3.3 NEW CERTIFICATES AFTER RECORD DATE. Certificates for Common
Shares which become outstanding (whether upon issuance out of authorized but
unissued Common Shares, issuance out of treasury or transfer or exchange of
outstanding Common Shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of
the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, shall have impressed, printed,
stamped, written or otherwise affixed onto them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
rights as set forth in an Agreement between In Focus Systems, Inc. (the
"Company") and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent,
dated as of July 16, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to time
(the "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
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will
no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail to the
holder of this certificate a copy of the Agreement without charge after
receipt of a written request therefor. AS DESCRIBED IN THE AGREEMENT,
RIGHTS WHICH ARE OWNED BY, TRANSFERRED TO OR HAVE BEEN OWNED BY ACQUIRING
PERSONS OR ASSOCIATES OR AFFILIATES THEREOF (AS DEFINED IN THE AGREEMENT)
SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date (or the earlier Expiration Date), the Rights associated with
the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such
certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such certificates,
except as otherwise provided herein, shall also constitute the transfer of the
Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In the event that
the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but
prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares
shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled
to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer
outstanding.
Notwithstanding this Section 3.3, the omission of a legend shall not
affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any
holder of the Rights.
Section 4. FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. The Right Certificates (and
the forms of election to purchase shares, certification and assignment to be
printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B
hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be
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required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made
pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or trading
system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted, or to
conform to usage. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Right
Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the Record Date, and shall
show the date of countersignature by the Rights Agent, and on their face shall
entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of Common Shares as shall be
set forth therein at the price per Common Share set forth therein (the "PURCHASE
PRICE"), but the number of such Common Shares and the Purchase Price shall be
subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION. The Right Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the 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 or any
Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature.
The Right Certificates shall be countersigned, either manually or by facsimile
signature, by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent, but it shall not be
necessary for the same signatory to countersign all of the Right Certificates
hereunder. No Right Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless so
countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of
the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company,
such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent,
and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though
the Person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer
of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company
by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right
Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right
Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such
person was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause
to be kept, at its principal office, books for registration and transfer of the
Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of
Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates, the certificate
number of each of the Right Certificates and the date of each of the Right
Certificates.
Section 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHT
CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT CERTIFICATES. Subject
to the provisions of Section 7.5, Section 11.1.2 and Section 14, at any time
after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the
close of business on the Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right
Certificates (other than Right Certificates representing Rights that have become
void pursuant to Section 11.1.2 or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section
27) may be transferred, split up or combined or exchanged for another Right
Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a
like number of Common Shares as the Right Certificate or Right
8
Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered
holder desiring to transfer, split up or combine or exchange any Right
Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent,
and shall surrender, together with any required form of assignment and
certificate duly completed, the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be
transferred, split up or combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such
surrendered Right Certificate or Right 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 Right 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 countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Right Certificate
or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may
require payment from the holders of Right Certificates of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up or combination or exchange of such Right Certificates.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.1.2, at any time after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, 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 Company 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.
Section 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF
RIGHTS.
7.1 EXERCISE OF RIGHTS. Subject to Section 11.1.2 and except as
otherwise provided herein, the registered holder of any Right Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in part at any time after
the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form
of election to purchase and certification on the reverse side thereof duly
executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for
each Common Share (or other securities, cash or other assets) as to which the
Rights are exercised, at or prior to the time (the "EXPIRATION DATE") that is
the earliest of (i) the close of business on July 16, 2007 (the "FINAL
EXPIRATION DATE"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided
in Section 23 (the "REDEMPTION DATE"), (iii) the closing of any merger or
other acquisition transaction involving the Company pursuant to an agreement
of the type described in Sections 1.3(ii)(A)(z) and 13.3, at which time the
Rights are deemed terminated, or (iv) the time at which the Rights are
exchanged as provided in Section 27.
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7.2 PURCHASE . The Purchase Price for each Common Share pursuant to
the exercise of two Rights shall be initially $130.00, shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11, 13 and 26 and shall be
payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with
Section 7.3.
7.3 PAYMENT PROCEDURES. Upon receipt of a Right Certificate
representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and
certification duly executed, accompanied by payment of the aggregate Purchase
Price for the shares to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable
transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in
accordance with Section 9, in cash or by certified or cashier's check or money
order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon
promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Common Shares (or
make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent) certificates for the
number of Common Shares to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably
authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the
Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of Common Shares issuable
upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depository agent, requisition from
the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of Common
Shares as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Common Shares
represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the
depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the depositary agent to comply
with all such requests, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the
amount of cash to be paid in lieu of the 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. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other
securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to
Section 11.1.3, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such
other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by
the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
7.4 PARTIAL EXERCISE. In case the registered holder of any Right
Certificate shall exercise 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 to his duly authorized assigns, subject to
the provisions of Section 14.
7.5 FULL INFORMATION CONCERNING OWNERSHIP. 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 the certificate contained in the form of election to purchase
set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such
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exercise shall have been duly completed and signed by the registered holder
thereof and the Company shall have been provided with 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.
Section 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written
request of the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such
case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL STOCK. The
Company covenants and agrees that from and after the Distribution Date it will
cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued
Common Shares the number of Common Shares (and, following the occurrence of a
Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) that will be sufficient to
permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
So long as the Common Shares (and, following the occurrence of a
Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) issuable upon the exercise
of Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange or traded in the
over-the-counter market and quoted on the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") (including the National
Market or Small Cap Market), the Company shall use its best efforts to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved
for such issuance to be listed or admitted to trading on such exchange or quoted
on Nasdaq upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as
may be necessary to ensure that all Common Shares (and, following the occurrence
of a Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) delivered upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such
shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly
authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
From and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, the Company
shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to permit the issuance of Common
Shares upon the exercise of Rights, to register and qualify such Common Shares
under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities or "Blue Sky" laws
(to the extent exemptions therefrom are not
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available), cause such registration statement and qualifications to become
effective as soon as possible after such filing and keep such registration and
qualifications effective until the earlier of the date as of which the Rights
are no longer exercisable for such securities and the Expiration Date. The
Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 90 days, the
exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file a registration
statement under the Securities Act and permit it to become effective. Upon any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification
in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until a registration statement
under the Securities Act (if required) shall have been declared effective.
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 Common Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be)
upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay
any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of
Right Certificates to a person other than, or the issuance or delivery of
certificates for the Common Shares (or Common Shares and/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 to issue or
deliver any certificates for Common Shares (or Common Shares and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered
holder upon the exercise of any Rights until 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. COMMON SHARES RECORD DATE. Each person in whose name any
certificate for Common Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the
case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be
deemed to have become the holder of record of the Common Shares (or Common
Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and
such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Common Shares (or
Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Common Shares (or Common
Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are open.
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Section 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER OF SHARES OR NUMBER
OF RIGHTS. The Purchase Price, the number of Common Shares or other securities
or property purchasable upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights
outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this
Section 11.
11.1 POST-EXECUTION EVENTS.
11.1.1 CORPORATE DIVIDENDS, RECLASSIFICATIONS, ETC. In the event the
Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare and pay a
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (B) subdivide the
outstanding Common Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Common Shares into a
smaller number of Common Shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in
a reclassification of the Common Shares (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11.1,
the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or
of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and
the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such
time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of
capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such
date and at a time when the Common Shares transfer books of the Company were
open, he would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by
virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an
event occurs which would require an adjustment under both Section 11.1.1 and
Section 11.1.2, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11.1.1 shall be in
addition to, and shall be made prior to, the adjustment required pursuant to,
Section 11.1.2.
11.1.2 ACQUIRING PERSON EVENTS; TRIGGERING EVENTS. Subject to
Sections 23.1 and 27 of this Agreement, in the event
(A) that any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of
any Acquiring Person, at any time after the date of this Agreement,
directly or indirectly, shall merge into the Company or otherwise combine
with the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger or combination and the Common Shares of the
Company shall remain outstanding and not be changed into or exchanged for
stock or other securities of any other Person or the Company or cash or any
other property, or
(B) that a Trigger Event occurs,
then, from and after the first occurrence of such event, each holder of a Right,
except as provided below, shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price per Right equal to the then current Purchase Price
multiplied by the then number of Common Shares
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for which a Right is then exercisable (without giving effect to this Section
11.1.2), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of Common
Shares as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current
Purchase Price by the then number of Common Shares for which a Right is then
exercisable (without giving effect to this Section 11.1.2) and (y) dividing that
product by 50% of the current per share market price of the Common Shares
(determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on the first of the date of the occurrence
of, or the date of the first public announcement of, one of the events listed
above in this Section 11.1.2 (the "ADJUSTMENT SHARES"); 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
11.1.2; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that nothing contained in this Section 11.1.2 shall
limit or otherwise diminish the power of the Board of Directors to postpone the
Distribution Date pursuant to Section 3.1 or to extend the period during which
the Rights may be redeemed pursuant to Section 23.1; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the
Purchase Price and the number of Adjustment Shares shall thereafter be subject
to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11.6.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of either of the events
listed above in this Section 11.1.2, any Rights that are or were acquired or
beneficially owned by (1) any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate
thereof, (2) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or
(3) a transferee of any 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 or effect avoidance of this Section 11.1.2, and
subsequent transferees, shall become void without any further action, and any
holder (whether or not such holder is an Acquiring Person or an Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) of such Rights shall thereafter have no right
to exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The
Company shall not enter into any transaction of the type described in this
Section 11.1.2 if at the time of such transaction there are any rights,
warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any arrangements which, as a
result of the consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially
diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. From and after the
Trigger Event, no Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or
Section 6 that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the
provisions of this paragraph, and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights
Agent that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the
provisions of this paragraph shall be canceled.
The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the
provisions of this Section 11.1.2 are complied with, but shall have no liability
to any holder of Right Certificates
14
or other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with
respect to any Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees
hereunder.
11.1.3 INSUFFICIENT SHARES. In the event that upon the occurrence of
one or more of the events listed in Section 11.1.2 above there shall not be
sufficient Common Shares authorized but unissued, or held by the Company as
treasury shares, to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with
the foregoing Section 11.1.2, the Company shall take all such action as may be
necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of
the Rights, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Company determines that it is unable
to cause the authorization of a sufficient number of additional Common Shares,
then, in the event the Rights become exercisable, the Company, with respect to
each Right and to the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law and any
agreements or instruments in effect on the date hereof to which it is a party,
shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares
issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "CURRENT VALUE"), over (2) the
Purchase Price (such excess, the "SPREAD") and (B) with respect to each Right
(other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section 11.1.2), make
adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the
applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3)
shares of preferred stock or other equity securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, shares, or fractions of shares, of preferred stock which, by
virtue of having dividend, voting and liquidation rights substantially
comparable to those of the Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company
has deemed in good faith to have substantially the same value as Common Shares)
(each such share of preferred stock or fractions of shares of preferred stock
constituting a "common stock equivalent")), (4) debt securities of the Company,
(5) other assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing having an aggregate
value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined
by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Company shall not have
made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within
thirty (30) days following the first occurrence of one of the events listed in
Section 11.1.2 above, then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, to the
extent necessary and permitted by applicable law and any agreements or
instruments in effect on the date hereof to which it is a party, upon the
surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase
Price, Common Shares (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash,
which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the
Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith that it is
unlikely that sufficient additional Common Shares could be authorized for
issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set
forth above may be extended and re-extended to the extent necessary, but not
more than ninety (90) days following the first occurrence of one of the events
listed in Section 11.1.2 above, in order that the Company may seek stockholder
approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such period as may be
extended, the "SUBSTITUTION PERIOD"). To the extent that the Company determines
that some action need be taken pursuant to the second and/or third sentences of
this Section 11.1.3, the Company (x) shall provide that such action shall apply
uniformly to all
15
outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until
the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of
additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be
made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the
event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended as
well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect. For purposes of this Section 11.1.3, the value of a Common Share shall
be the current per share market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4)
on the date of the first occurrence of one of the events listed in Section
11.1.2 above and the value of any "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to
have the same value as the Common Shares on such date. The Board of Directors
of the Company may, but shall not be required to, establish procedures to
allocate the right to receive Common Shares upon the exercise of the Rights
among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 11.1.3.
11.2 DILUTIVE RIGHTS OFFERING. In case the Company shall fix a record
date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common
Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such
record date) to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares (or securities
convertible into Common Shares or common stock equivalents) at a price per
Common Share (or having a conversion or exercise price per Common Share, if a
security convertible into or exercisable for Common Shares or common stock
equivalents) less than the current per share market price of the Common Shares
(as determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on such record date, the Purchase Price
to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares or common stock
equivalents outstanding on such record date plus the number of Common Shares or
common stock equivalents which the aggregate offering price of the total number
of Common Shares or common stock equivalents to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such current per share market price and the denominator of which
shall be the number of Common Shares or common stock equivalents outstanding on
such record date plus the number of additional Common Shares or common stock
equivalents to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the
convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible); provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise
of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock
of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. In case such subscription
price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form
other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Common Shares and/or common stock
equivalents owned by or held for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such
computation. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record
date is fixed; and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued,
the Purchase Price shall be
16
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
11.3 DISTRIBUTIONS. In case the Company shall fix a record date for
the making of a distribution to all holders of the Common Shares (including any
such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness, cash, securities or assets (other than a regular periodic cash
dividend at a rate not in excess of 125% of the rate of the last regular
periodic cash dividend theretofore paid or, in case regular periodic cash
dividends have not theretofore been paid, at a rate not in excess of 50% of the
average net income per share of the Company for the four quarters ended
immediately prior to the payment of such dividend, or a dividend payable in
Common Shares (which dividend, for purposes of this Agreement, shall be subject
to the provisions of Section 11.1.1(A))) or convertible securities, or
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11.2),
the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current per share market
price of the Common Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on such
record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets,
securities or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants applicable to one Common Share and the
denominator of which shall be such current per share market price of the Common
Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11.4). Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be
the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
11.4 CURRENT PER SHARE MARKET VALUE.
11.4.1 GENERAL. For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"CURRENT PER SHARE MARKET PRICE" of any security (a "SECURITY" for the purpose
of this Section 11.4.1) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive
Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such
date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event that the current per share market
price of the Security is determined during any period following the announcement
by the issuer of such Security of (i) a dividend or distribution on such
Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such
shares or (ii) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Security, and prior to the expiration of thirty (30) Trading Days after the ex-
dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the
"current per share market price" shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the
current market price per share equivalent of such Security. 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
17
case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq
or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is 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 Security
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such
market maker is making a market in the Security, the fair value of the Security
on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company shall be used. The term "TRADING DAY" shall mean a day on which the
principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Security
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a
Business Day. If the Security is not publicly held or not so listed or traded,
"current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company or, if at the
time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a majority of the
Continuing Directors then in office, or if there are no Continuing Directors, by
a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of
Directors, which shall have the duty to make such determination in a reasonable
and objective manner, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
11.5 INSIGNIFICANT CHANGES. No adjustment in the Purchase Price
shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease
of at least 1% in such price. Any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11.5 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 ten-thousandth of a Common Share or
other share or security, as the case may be.
11.6 SHARES OTHER THAN COMMON SHARES. If as a result of an
adjustment made pursuant to Section 11.1, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the
Company other than Common Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time
to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Common Shares contained in Sections 11.1 through
11.3, inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect
to the Common Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
11.7 RIGHTS ISSUED PRIOR TO ADJUSTMENT. All Rights originally issued
by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder
shall evidence the
18
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Common Shares
purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject
to further adjustment as provided herein.
11.8 EFFECT OF ADJUSTMENTS. Unless the Company shall have exercised
its election as provided in Section 11.9, upon each adjustment of the Purchase
Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11.2 and 11.3, each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
Common Shares (calculated to the nearest ten thousandth) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of Common Shares covered by a Right immediately prior
to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
11.9 ADJUSTMENT IN NUMBER OF RIGHTS. The Company may elect on or
after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of
Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number Common Shares issuable
upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of Common
Shares for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment.
Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall
become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained
by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the
Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of
the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its
election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the
adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made.
This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any
day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at
least ten (10) days later than the date of the public announcement. If Right
Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights
pursuant to this Section 11.9, the Company may, as promptly as practicable,
cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right Certificates on such
record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14, the additional
Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment,
or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders
of record in substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by
such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if
required by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to
which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates
so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner
provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted
Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of
Right Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
11.10 RIGHT CERTIFICATES UNCHANGED. Irrespective of any adjustment
or change in the Purchase Price or the number of Common Shares issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights,
19
the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express
the Purchase Price per share and the number of Common Shares which were
expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
11.11 DEFERRED ISSUANCE. In any case in which this Section 11 shall
require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a
record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the
occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after
such record date of the Common Shares and other capital stock or securities of
the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Common
Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable
upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such
adjustment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a
due xxxx or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to
receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such
adjustment.
11.12 REDUCTION IN PURCHASE PRICE. Anything in this Section 11 to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such
reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly
required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole discretion
shall determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision
of the Common Shares, issuance wholly for cash of any of the Common Shares at
less than the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of Common Shares or
securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Common
Shares, stock dividends or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to
hereinabove in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Common Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
11.13 COMPANY NOT TO DIMINISH BENEFITS OF RIGHTS. The Company
covenants and agrees that after the earlier of the Shares Acquisition Date or
Distribution Date it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section 26 or
Section 27, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time
such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will
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 or 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 Common Shares a
copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of
a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25. The Rights Agent shall be
fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment
unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
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Section 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR
EARNING POWER.
13.1 CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS. In the event that, from and after the
first occurrence of a Trigger Event, directly or indirectly, (A) the Company
shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person and the Company
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation, (B) any Person shall
consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the Company and the Company
shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in
connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of the Company or any other
Person or cash or any other property, or (C) the Company shall sell, exchange,
mortgage or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell,
exchange, mortgage or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets
or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons,
then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that (i) each
holder of a Right (except as provided in Section 11.1.2 and as otherwise
provided herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at a price per Right equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied
by the number of Common Shares for which a Right was exercisable immediately
prior to the first occurrence of a Trigger Event (as subsequently adjusted
pursuant to Sections 11.1.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.8, 11.9 and 11.12), in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Common Shares, such number of
validly authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradable
Common Shares of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined) not
subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other advise
claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the number of Common Shares for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Trigger Event (as
subsequently adjusted pursuant to Sections 11.1.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.8, 11.9 and
11.12) and (y) dividing that product by 50% of the then current per share market
price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party (determined pursuant to
Section 11.4) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer; PROVIDED, that the price per Right so payable and the number of Common
Shares of such Principal Party so purchasable shall thereafter be adjusted in
accordance with Section 11.6 by reason of such subsequent events covered thereby
occurring in respect of such Principal Party after the occurrence of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (ii) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant
to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer
to such Principal Party; and (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its
Common Shares in accordance with Section 9) in connection with such consummation
as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; PROVIDED that, upon the
subsequent occurrence of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets
or other extraordinary transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each
holder of a Right shall
21
thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the
Purchase Price as provided in this Section 13.1, such cash, shares, rights,
warrants and other property which such holder would have been entitled to
receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the Common
Shares of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of a Right pursuant
to this Section 13.1, and such Principal Party shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be necessary to
permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms hereof
for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property. The Company shall
not enter into any transaction of the kind referred to in this Section 13 if at
the time of such transaction there are any rights, warrants, instruments or
securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of
the consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially diminish
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. The Company shall not
consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto
the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the
Rights Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that the requirements of this
Section 13.1 and Section 13.2 shall promptly be performed in accordance with
their terms and that such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets
shall not result in a default by the Principal Party under this Agreement as the
same shall have been assumed by the Principal Party pursuant to this Section
13.1 and Section 13.2 and providing that, as soon as practicable after executing
such agreement pursuant to this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(1) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities
Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing and 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 Expiration Date and similarly comply with
applicable state securities laws;
(2) use its best efforts, if the Common Shares of the Principal Party
shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or on
another national securities exchange, to list or admit to trading (or continue
the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities exchange, or, if the
Common Shares of the Principal Party shall not be listed or admitted to trading
on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities exchange, to cause the
Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of the Rights to be
authorized for quotation on Nasdaq or on such other system then in use;
(3) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements
for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act; and
22
(4) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive
rights in respect of the Common Shares of the Principal Party subject to
purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
In case the Principal Party has provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other instrument
governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i)
causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant
to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the
consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, Common Shares or
common stock equivalents of such Principal Party at less than the then current
market price per share thereof (determined pursuant to Section 11.4) or
securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Shares or common stock
equivalents of such Principal Party at less than such then current market price,
or (ii) providing for any special payment, taxes or similar provision in
connection with the issuance of the Common Shares of such Principal Party
pursuant to the provision of Section 13, then, in such event, the Company hereby
agrees with each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate any such
transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing
that the provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled,
waived or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that
the applicable provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a
consequence of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after
the Trigger Event, enter into any transaction of the type described in clauses
(A) through (C) of this Section 13.1 if (i) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other transaction there are any
rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in
effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii) prior to, simultaneously with or
immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other
transaction, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would
constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section 13.2 shall have received
a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature of organization of the
Principal Party would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights. The
provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers.
13.2 PRINCIPAL PARTY. "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (A) or (B) of the
first sentence of Section 13.1: (i) the Person that is the issuer of the
securities into which the Common Shares are converted in such merger or
consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer the Common
Shares of which have the greatest aggregate market value of
23
shares outstanding, or (ii) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that
is the other party to the merger, if such Person survives said merger, or, if
there is more than one such Person, the Person the Common Shares of which have
the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding or (y) if the Person
that is the other party to the merger does not survive the merger, the Person
that does survive the merger (including the Company if it survives) or (z) the
Person resulting from the consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (C) of the first
sentence in Section 13.1, the Person that is the party receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction
or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such transaction or
transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning power so
transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or
earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons is the issuer of
Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in any such case described in the foregoing clause (A)
or (B) of this Section 13.2, if the Common Shares of such Person is not at such
time or has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person is a direct or
indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Shares of which is and has been
so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person, or
(2) if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one
Person, the Common Shares of all of which is and has been so registered, the
term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of
Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding,
or (3) if such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture
formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the
same Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above shall apply to
each of the owners having an interest in the venture as if the Person owned by
the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint ventures, and
the Principal Party in each such case shall bear the obligations set forth in
this Section 13 in the same ratio as its interest in such Person bears to the
total of such interests.
13.3 APPROVED ACQUISITIONS. Notwithstanding anything contained herein
to the contrary, in the event of any merger or other acquisition transaction
involving the Company pursuant to a merger or other acquisition agreement
between the Company and any Person (or one or more of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates) which agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors of
the Company prior to any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, this Agreement and
the rights of holders of Rights hereunder shall be terminated in accordance with
Section 7.1.
Section 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.
14.1 CASH IN LIEU OF FRACTIONAL RIGHTS. The Company shall not be
required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which
evidence fractional Rights
24
(except prior to the Distribution Date in accordance with Section 11.15). 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 14.1,
the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the
Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such
fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any
day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes
place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way,
in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if
the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq
or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not
quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such
market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on
such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company
shall be used.
14.2 CASH IN LIEU OF FRACTIONAL COMMON SHARES. The Company shall not
be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional Common Shares upon the exercise or exchange of Rights.
In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common Share (as
determined in accordance with Section 14.1) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
14.3 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO RECEIVE FRACTIONAL RIGHTS OR SHARES. The
holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly waives his right to
receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise or exchange
of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect of
this Agreement, except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the
25
Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce this
Agreement, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against
the Company to enforce this Agreement, or otherwise enforce or 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 shall be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of, the obligations of any Person (including, without
limitation, the Company) subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. AGREEMENT OF RIGHT HOLDERS. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
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 the Common Shares;
(b) as of and after the Distribution Date, the Right
Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer with all required
certifications completed; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
Person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
the associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common Shares
certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all
purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary.
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 Common Shares or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be 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 or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 24), 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.
26
Section 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT. The Company agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder in accordance with a fee schedule to be mutually agreed upon and, from
time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel
fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of
this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The
Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent 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 acceptance and administration
of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any
claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly. In no case will
the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect, incidental or consequential
loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost
profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the possibility of such
loss or damage.
The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for
or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with
its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or
certificate for the Common Shares or the Common Shares 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. Any corporation or limited liability company into which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be
consolidated, or any corporation or limited liability company resulting from any
merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation or limited liability company 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 corporation or limited
liability company 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 the predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in
all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the
Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
27
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:
20.1 LEGAL COUNSEL. The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel
selected by it (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.
20.2 CERTIFICATES AS TO FACTS OR MATTERS. Whenever in the
performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it
necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the
Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter
(unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may
be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by
any one of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer,
the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer,
the Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or 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 or suffered in good faith
by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
20.3 STANDARD OF CARE. The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder
only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
20.4 RELIANCE ON AGREEMENT AND RIGHT CERTIFICATES. 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 as to
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.
20.5 NO RESPONSIBILITY AS TO CERTAIN MATTERS. 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
28
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 11.1.2) or any adjustment required under the provisions of Sections 3,
11, 13, 23 or 27 or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such
adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any
such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Right Certificates after actual notice of any such change or adjustment); nor
shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty
as to the authorization or reservation of any Common Shares or other securities
to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to
whether any Common Shares will, when so issued, be validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
20.6 FURTHER ASSURANCE BY COMPANY. 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.
20.7 AUTHORIZED COMPANY OFFICERS. The Rights Agent is hereby
authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance
of its duties hereunder from any one of the Chairman of the Board of Directors,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any
Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or
Assistant Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties under this Agreement, and it shall
not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith
in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting
while waiting for these instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for
written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent,
set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights
Agent with respect to its duties or obligations under this Agreement and the
date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be
effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable to the Company for any action
taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal
included in any such application on or after the date specified therein (which
date shall not be less than three business days after the date any such officer
actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented
in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking of any such action (or
the effective date in the case of omission), the Rights Agent shall have
received written instructions in response to such application specifying the
action to be taken or omitted.
20.8 FREEDOM TO TRADE IN COMPANY SECURITIES. 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 Rights Agent under this Agreement.
29
Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity
for the Company or for any other legal entity.
20.9 RELIANCE ON ATTORNEYS AND AGENTS. 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, omission, default,
neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the
Company resulting from any such act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct,
PROVIDED that reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued
employment thereof.
20.10 INCOMPLETE CERTIFICATE. If, with respect to any Rights
Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the
certificate contained in the form of assignment or the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse thereof, as the case may be, has not been
completed to certify the holder is not an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof), the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with
respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the
Company.
20.11 RIGHTS HOLDERS LIST. At any time and from time to time after
the Distribution Date, upon the request of the Company, the Rights Agent shall
promptly deliver to the Company a list, as of the most recent practicable date
(or as of such earlier date as may be specified by the Company), of the holders
of record of Rights.
Section 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to
each transfer agent of the Common Shares, as applicable, by registered or
certified mail. Following the Distribution Date, the Company shall promptly
notify the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail of any such
resignation. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the
Common Shares, as applicable, by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the
resigning, removed, or incapacitated Rights Agent shall remit to the Company, or
to any successor Rights Agent designated by the Company, all books, records,
funds, certificates or other documents or instruments of any kind then in its
possession which were acquired by such resigning, removed or incapacitated
Rights Agent in connection with its services as Rights Agent hereunder, and
shall thereafter be discharged from all duties and obligations hereunder.
Following notice of such removal, resignation or incapacity, the Company shall
appoint a successor to such Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make
such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Right Certificate
30
(who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the
Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States or of the State of New York or the State of California (or any other
state of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized to do
business as a banking institution in the State of New York or California) in
good standing, having an office in the State of New York or the State of
California, 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 $10 million. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
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 Shares, as applicable, and, following 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, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of
the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHT CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares 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 Common Shares following the Distribution Date and
prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to Common
Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any
employee plan or arrangement, granted or awarded as of the Distribution Date, or
upon exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the
Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by
the Board of Directors of the Company, issue 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 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, (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 and (iii) at the
time of a determination by the Board of Directors to cause the Company to issue
a Right Certificate under clause (b) above, there must
31
be Continuing Directors then in office and any such determination shall require
the approval of at least a majority of such Continuing Directors.
Section 23. REDEMPTION.
23.1 RIGHT TO REDEEM. The Board of Directors of the Company may, at
its option, at any time prior to the close of business on the tenth day
following the Shares Aquisition Date, redeem all but not less than all of the
then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being
hereinafter referred to as the "REDEMPTION PRICE"), and the Company may, at its
option, pay the Redemption Price in Common Shares (based on the "current per
share market price," determined pursuant to Section 11.4, of the Common Shares
at the time of redemption), cash or any other form of consideration deemed
appropriate by the Board of Directors; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Board of
Directors of the Company authorizes redemption of the Rights after the time a
Person becomes an Acquiring Person, then there must be Continuing Directors then
in office and such authorization shall require the approval of at least a
majority of such Continuing Directors. The preceding sentence notwithstanding,
prior to the expiration of the period during which the Rights may be redeemed as
specified therein (or such longer period as the Board of Directors of the
Company may select pursuant to this sentence), the Board of Directors of the
Company may extend, one or more times, the period during which the Rights may be
redeemed beyond the close of business on the tenth day following the Shares
Acquisition Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that there must be Continuing Directors
then in office and any such extension shall require the approval of at least a
majority of such Continuing Directors. The redemption of the Rights by the
Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and subject
to such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Rights shall not be exercisable following a transaction or
event described in Section 11.1.2 prior to the expiration or termination of the
Company's right of redemption hereunder.
23.2 REDEMPTION PROCEDURES. Immediately upon the action of the Board
of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights (or at such
later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the effectiveness of such
redemption), 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 give public notice of such redemption; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the
validity of such redemption. The Company shall promptly give, or cause the
Rights Agent to give, notice of such redemption to the holders of the then
outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at their last
addresses as they 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 Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall
be deemed given,
32
whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption
shall state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be
made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem,
acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than
that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 27, and other than
in connection with the purchase, acquisition or redemption of Common Shares
prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS. In case the Company shall
propose at any time after the earlier of the Shares Acquisition Date and the
Distribution Date (a) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Common Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Common Shares (other than a regular periodic cash dividend at a rate not in
excess of 125% of the rate of the last regular periodic cash dividend
theretofore paid or, in case regular periodic cash dividends have not
theretofore been paid, at a rate not in excess of 50% of the average net income
per share of the Company for the four quarters ended immediately prior to the
payment of such dividends, or a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination
or reclassification of the Common Shares), or (b) to offer to the holders of
Common Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional
Common Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or
options, or (c) to effect any reclassification of its Common Shares (other than
a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Common Shares),
or (d) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect any sale
or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any
sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or more of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to, any other Person (other than pursuant to a merger or other acquisition
agreement of the type described in Section 1.3(ii)(A)(z)), or (e) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (f) to declare or pay
any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares),
then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and to each
holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 25, a notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such
stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the Common Shares, if any such date is to be fixed,
and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause
(a) or (b) above at least ten (10) days prior to the record date for determining
holders of the Common Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of any
such other action, at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the taking of
such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the
Common Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
In case any event set forth in Section 11.1.2 or Section 13 shall
occur, then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable
thereafter give to the Rights Agent and to each holder of a Right Certificate,
in accordance with Section 25, a notice of the occurrence of
33
such event, which notice shall describe the event and the consequences of the
event to holders of Rights under Section 11.1.2 and Section 13.
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.
Section 25. 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:
In Focus Systems, Inc.
00000X X.X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 and Section 24, 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:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Relationship Management
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 Common
Shares) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the
registry books of the Company.
Section 26. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. For so long as the Rights
are then redeemable, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and
the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any
provision of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders
of Rights or Common Shares. From and after the time that the Rights are no
longer redeemable, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company
so directs, from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of Rights (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions
34
herein, (ii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder (which shortening
or lengthening, after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, shall be
effective only if there are Continuing Directors and shall require the approval
of at least a majority of such Continuing Directors) or (iii) to make any other
changes or provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder which
the Company may deem necessary or desirable, including but not limited to
extending the Final Expiration Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such supplement
or amendment shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights as
such (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person), and no such supplement or amendment may cause the Rights
again to become redeemable or cause this Agreement again to become amendable
other than in accordance with this sentence; PROVIDED FURTHER, that the right of
the Board of Directors to extend the Distribution Date or the Redemption Date
shall not require any amendment or supplement hereunder. 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
26, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Without
limiting the foregoing, at any time prior to such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, the Company and the Rights Agent may amend this Agreement to
lower the thresholds set forth in Sections 1.1 and 3.1 to not less than the
greater of (i) any percentage greater than the largest percentage of the
outstanding Common Shares then known by the Company to be beneficially owned by
any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity
holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) and (ii)
10%. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any supplement or
amendment to this Agreement, after the time that a Person becomes an Acquiring
Person shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Continuing
Directors.
Section 27. EXCHANGE.
27.1 EXCHANGE OF COMMON SHARES FOR RIGHTS. The Board of Directors of
the Company may, at its option, at any time after the occurrence of a Trigger
Event, exchange Common Shares for all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.1.2) by exchanging at an exchange ratio
of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof
(such amount per Right being hereinafter referred to as the "EXCHANGE
CONSIDERATION"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Board of Directors
shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Acquiring
Person shall have become the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common
Shares then outstanding and (ii) the Board shall not be empowered to effect an
exchange for more than that number of Rights for which there are sufficient
Common Shares authorized but unissued, or held by the Company as treasury
shares, to permit the exchange for Rights. From and after the occurrence of an
event specified in Section 13.1, any Rights that theretofore have not been
exchanged pursuant to this Section 27.1 shall thereafter be exerciseable only in
accordance with Section 13 and may not be exchanged
35
pursuant to this Section 27.1. The exchange of the Rights by the Board of
Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
27.2 EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. Immediately upon the action of the Board
of Directors of the Company ordering the exchange for any Rights pursuant to
Section 27.1 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 one Common Share. 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 promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all
of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange shall state the method by which the
exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of
any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial
exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than
the Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.1.2)
held by each holder of Rights.
27.3 INSUFFICIENT SHARES. The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional Common Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company
shall pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to
which such fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable in an amount in
cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common
Share. For the purposes of this Section 27.3, the current market value of a
whole Common Share shall be the current per share market value (as determined
pursuant to Section 11.4 for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
exchange pursuant to this Section 27.
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. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any Person or corporation other than the Company,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole
and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the
Common Shares).
Section 30. DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this
36
Agreement and to exercise the rights and powers specifically granted to the
Board of Directors of the Company or to the Company, or as may be necessary or
advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination
to redeem or not redeem the Rights or amend this Agreement). All such actions,
calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of
clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or
made by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, shall (x) be final,
conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the
Rights, as such, and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of
Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 31. SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Oregon 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
but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADING. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
37
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed, as of the day and year first above written.
IN FOCUS SYSTEMS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Relationship Manager
38
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Right Certificate]
Certificate No. R- _______ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY 16, 2007 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION OR
EXCHANGE IS GIVEN OR IF THE COMPANY IS MERGED OR ACQUIRED PURSUANT TO AN
AGREEMENT OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED IN SECTION 1.3(ii)(A)(z) OF THE AGREEMENT.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT, AND TO EXCHANGE ON
THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
(SPECIFIED IN SECTION 11.1.2 OF THE AGREEMENT), RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY OR TRANSFERRED TO AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE AGREEMENT), OR
ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO
LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
Right Certificate
In Focus Systems, Inc.
This certifies that , or registered assigns,
is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement, dated as of July 16, 1997 as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Agreement"), between In Focus Systems, Inc., an Oregon
corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a New
Jersey limited liability company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to
purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to
5:00 P.M. California time on July 16, 2007, at the offices of the Rights Agent,
or its successors as Rights Agent, designated for such purpose, one-half of one
fully paid, nonassessable common share (the "Common Shares") of the Company, at
a purchase price of $130.00 per whole Common Share, subject to adjustment (the
"Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate
with the Form of Election to Purchase and certification duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of Common
Shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the
Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of July 31,
1997 based on the Common Shares as constituted at such date. Capitalized terms
used in this Right Certificate without definition shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Agreement. As provided in the Agreement, the Purchase
Price and the number of Common Shares 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.
A-1
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Agreement
reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of
rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the
Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of the Agreement are
on file at the principal offices of the Company and the Rights Agent.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the 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
of Common Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this
Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Agreement, the Board of Directors
may, at its option, (i) redeem the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate at
a redemption price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the close of business
on the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) exchange Common
Shares for the Rights evidenced by this Certificate, in whole or in part. The
period during which redemption of the Rights is permitted may be extended by the
Board of Directors of the Company, but such an extension shall require the
concurrence of a majority of the Continuing Directors. Under certain
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, the decision to redeem shall
require the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing Directors.
No fractional Common Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be
made, as provided in the Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common
Shares 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 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
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 Agreement.
If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of the Agreement is
held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void
or unenforceable, the remainder
A-2
of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of the Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or binding 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 _______________.
Attest: IN FOCUS SYSTEMS, INC.
By ______________________ By _________________________________
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent
By_____________________________
Authorized Signature
A-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)
Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and
interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________
________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books
of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: _______________
---------------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
--------------------------
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" as defined
in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
A-4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not
beneficially owned by and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or an Associate thereof; and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
the undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
from any person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated: _______________
-----------------------------------
Signature
A-5
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate.)
To: IN FOCUS SYSTEMS, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Common Shares
issuable upon the exercise of such 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:
____________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
____________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
____________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
____________________________________________________________
Dated: __________________
______________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
_____________________________
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" as
defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
A-6
The undersigned hereby certifies that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially
owned by and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or an
Associate thereof; and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from
any person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated:_______________
-------------------------------------
Signature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Form of Assignment and Form of Election to
Purchase must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment
or Form of Election to Purchase is not completed, the Company will deem the
beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate hereof and such Assignment or
Election to Purchase will not be honored.
A-7
EXHIBIT B
AS DESCRIBED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS WHICH ARE
HELD BY OR HAVE BEEN HELD BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ASSOCIATES
OR AFFILIATES THEREOF (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN
TRANSFEREES THEREOF SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE
TRANSFERABLE.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
COMMON SHARES
On July 16, 1997 the Board of Directors of In Focus Systems, Inc. (the
"COMPANY") declared a dividend of one right (a "Right") for each share of common
stock, without par value (the "COMMON SHARES"), of the Company outstanding at
the close of business on July 31, 1997 (the "RECORD DATE"). As long as the
Rights are attached to the Common Shares, the Company will issue one Right
(subject to adjustment) with each new Common Share so that all such shares will
have attached Rights. When exercisable, each Right will entitle the registered
holder to purchase from the Company one-half of one Common Share at a price of
$130.00 per whole Common Share, subject to adjustment (the "PURCHASE PRICE").
The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement,
dated as of July 16, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"AGREEMENT"), between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.,
as Rights Agent (the "RIGHTS AGENT").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) ten (10) days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has
acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more
of the Common Shares (an "ACQUIRING PERSON") or (ii) ten (10) business days (or
such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior
to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring
Person) following the commencement or announcement of an intention to make a
tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the
beneficial ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the Common Shares
(the earlier of (i) and (ii) being called the "DISTRIBUTION DATE"), the Rights
will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate together
with a copy of this Summary of Rights.
The Agreement provides that until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption exchange, termination, or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will
be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share
certificates issued after the close of business on the Record Date upon transfer
or new issuance of the Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption,
exchange, termination or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer
of any certificates for Common Shares, with or without such notation or a copy
of this Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as
practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates
B-1
evidencing the Rights ("RIGHT CERTIFICATES") will be mailed to holders of record
of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and
such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on July 16, 2007, subject to the Company's right to extend such date
(the "FINAL EXPIRATION DATE"), unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the
Company or terminated.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Common Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Common
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Common Shares of certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares or convertible securities at
less than the current market price of the Common Shares or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Common Shares of evidences of indebtedness, cash,
securities or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends at a rate not in
excess of 125% of the rate of the last regular periodic cash dividend
theretofore paid or, in case regular periodic cash dividends have not
theretofore been paid, at a rate not in excess of 50% of the average net income
per share of the Company for the four quarters ended immediately prior to the
payment of such dividend, or dividends payable in Common Shares (which dividends
will be subject to the adjustment described in clause (i) above)) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person or if the Company
were the surviving corporation in a merger with an Acquiring Person or any
affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person and the Common Shares were not
changed or exchanged, each holder of a Right, other than Rights that are or were
acquired or beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which Rights will
thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise
that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the then current
Purchase Price of the Right. In the event that, after a person has become an
Acquiring Person, the Company were acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or more than 50% of its assets or earning power were
sold, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current Purchase Price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of
the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction would have a market
value of two times the then current Purchase Price of the Right.
At any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the
earlier of one of the events described in the last sentence of the previous
paragraph or the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors may cause the Company to
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person which will
have become void), in whole or in part, for Common Shares at an exchange rate of
one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).
B-2
No adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative
adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No
fractional Common Shares will be issued, and in lieu thereof, a payment in cash
will be made based on the market price of the Common Shares on the last trading
date prior to the date of exercise.
The Rights may be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01
per Right (the "REDEMPTION PRICE") by the Board of Directors at any time prior
to the close of business on the tenth day following the first date of public
announcement that a Person has become an Acquiring Person. The Board of
Directors, with the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing Directors (as
defined below), may extend the period during which the Rights are redeemable
beyond the ten (10) days following the public announcement that a Person has
become an Acquiring Person. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights
Agreement, the decision to redeem shall require the concurrence of a majority of
the Continuing Directors. 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 only right of
the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company beyond those as an existing stockholder,
including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
Any of the provisions of the Agreement may be amended by the Board of
Directors of the Company for so long as the Rights are then redeemable, and
after the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may amend or supplement
the Agreement in any manner that does not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Rights.
A copy of the Agreement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an Exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of the
Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary
description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Agreement, which is incorporated herein by
reference.
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