Exhibit 4
TCSI Corporation
and
BankBoston, N.A.
Rights Agent
PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of February 16, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions...........................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent...................................7
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates...............................7
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates...................................9
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration............................10
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Rights Certificates..........................................10
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.......................................................11
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates..........13
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares.............13
Section 10. Record Date..................................................14
Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares or Number of
Rights.......................................................15
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares...21
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power................................................21
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares......................25
Section 15. Rights of Action.............................................26
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders..................................26
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder...........26
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent..................................27
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent....27
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.......................................28
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.......................................30
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates..........................30
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
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Section 23. Redemption...................................................31
Section 24. Exchange.....................................................32
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.....................................34
Section 26. Notices......................................................34
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments...................................35
Section 28. Successors...................................................35
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. ..35
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement...................................36
Section 31. Severability.................................................36
Section 32. Governing Law................................................36
Section 33. Counterparts.................................................36
Section 34. Descriptive Headings.........................................36
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Certificate of Designation
Exhibit B Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C Summary of Rights
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Agreement, dated as of February 16, 1999, between TCSI Corporation, a
Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and BankBoston, N.A., a national banking
association ("Rights Agent").
On February 16, 1999 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the Board of
Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend of one Preferred
Share Purchase Right (a "Right") for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined)
of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined)
on March 11, 1999 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing the right to
purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock
(as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement),
having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in the form of
Certificate of Designations of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and
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subject to the conditions herein set forth, and further authorized and directed
the issuance of one Right (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement) with respect to each Common Share that shall
become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution
Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), and in
certain circumstances after the Distribution Date.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
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following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but
shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any employee
benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity
holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall be deemed to be 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 15% or more of the
Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a
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Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company
and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial
Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company (other than pursuant to a
dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common
Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the
outstanding Common Shares), then such Person shall be deemed to be an
Acquiring Person unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional
Common Shares of the Company such Person does not beneficially own 15% or more
of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (i) if the Company's Board of Directors determines in good faith
that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such
inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (A) such
Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of the Common
Shares that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person," as
defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), or (B)
such Person was aware of the extent of the Common Shares it beneficially owned
but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such beneficial ownership
under this Agreement) and without any intention of changing or influencing
control of the Company, and if such Person divested or divests as promptly as
practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no
longer be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be
or to have become an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement;
and (ii) if, as of the date hereof, any Person is the Beneficial Owner of 15%
or more of the Common Shares outstanding, such Person shall not be or become
an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph (a), unless and until such time as such Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of additional Common Shares (other than pursuant to a
dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common
Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the
outstanding Common Shares), unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such
additional Common Shares, such Person is not then the Beneficial Owner of 15%
or more of the Common Shares then outstanding.
(b) "Adjustment Fraction" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(i) hereof.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this
Agreement.
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall
be deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder (or any comparable or
successor law or regulation);
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to 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), 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 pursuant to this
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Section 1(d)(ii)(A) to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (1)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on
behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until
such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, or (2)
securities which a Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates 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
its Affiliates or Associates) if such agreement has been approved by the Board
of Directors of the Company prior to there being an Acquiring Person; or (B)
the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
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Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security under this Section
1(d)(ii)(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 which such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has 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) for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso
to Section 1(d)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company;
provided, however, that in no case shall an officer or director of the
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Company be deemed (x) the Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially
owned by another officer or director of the Company solely by reason of
actions undertaken by such persons in their capacity as officers or directors
of the Company or (y) the Beneficial Owner of securities held of record by the
trustee of any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company for the benefit of any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company, other than the officer or director, by reason of any influence
that such officer or director may have over the voting of the securities held
in the plan.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
Eastern time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
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Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(g) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall
mean the shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.001 par value. Common
Shares when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall
mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of
such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person,
the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(h) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(i) "Company" shall mean TCSI Corporation, a Nevada corporation,
subject to the terms of Section 13(a)(iii)(C) hereof.
(j) "Current Per Share Market Price" of any security (a
"Security" for purposes of this definition), for all computations other than
those made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall mean the average of
the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30)
consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of
computations made pursuant to
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Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Per Share Market Price of any Security on
any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share
of such Security for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to
such date; provided, however, that in the event that the Current Per Share
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Market Price of the Security is determined during a 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 the applicable thirty (30)
Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, 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 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 sale price or, if such last sale
price is not reported, 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 market maker is
making a market in the Security, the fair value of such shares on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be
used. If the Preferred Shares are not publicly traded, the Current Per Share
Market Price of the Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the
Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to
this Section 1(j), as appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof, multiplied by
1000. If the Security is not publicly held or 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, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive
for all purposes.
(k) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(l) "Distribution Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth
day after the Shares Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the Close
of Business on the Record Date) or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth
Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Company's
Board of Directors) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule
14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if,
assuming the successful consummation thereof, such Person would be an Acquiring
Person.
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(m) "Equivalent Shares" shall mean Preferred Shares and any other
class or series of capital stock of the Company which is entitled to the same
rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares.
(n) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(o) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
24(a) hereof.
(p) "Exercise Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4(a) hereof.
(q) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earliest to occur of: (i)
the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the Redemption Date,
or (iii) the time at which the Board of Directors orders the exchange of the
Rights as provided in Section 24 hereof.
(r) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean March 11, 2009.
(s) "Nasdaq" shall mean the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System.
(t) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or
other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.
(u) "Post-Event Transferee" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(u) hereof.
(v) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company.
(w) "Pre-Event Transferee" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(e) hereof.
(x) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(b) hereof.
(y) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.
(z) "Redemption Date"shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
(aa) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
(bb) "Rights Agent" shall mean BankBoston, N.A. or its successor or
replacement as provided in Sections 19 and 21 hereof.
(cc) "Rights Certificate" shall mean a certificate substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
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(dd) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in the recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.
(ee) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ff) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause
(i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(gg) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(hh) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such;
provided that, if such Person is determined not to have become an Acquiring
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Person pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition Date shall be
deemed to have occurred.
(ii) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof.
(jj) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect a
majority of the directors or Persons having similar authority of such
corporation or other entity is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person, or any corporation or other entity otherwise controlled by such
Person.
(kk) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ll) "Summary of Rights" shall mean a summary of this Agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
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(mm) "Total Exercise Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof.
(nn) "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which a referenced security is listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if a referenced security is
not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a
Business Day.
(oo) "Transaction" shall mean any merger, consolidation or sale of
assets described in Section 13(a) hereof or any acquisition of Common Shares
which would result in a Person becoming an Acquiring Person.
(pp) A "Triggering Event" shall be deemed to have occurred upon any
Person, becoming an Acquiring Person.
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Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
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Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also
be the holders of the Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights
Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event
be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates.
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(a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof) by the
certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof
(which certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not by
separate Rights Certificates and (ii) the right to receive Rights Certificates
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares.
Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the
surrender for transfer of certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute
the surrender for transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented thereby. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the
Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the
Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if
requested, send) by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder
of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Rights
Certificate evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held, subject to
adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number
of Rights per Common Share has been made pursuant to Section 11 hereof, then
at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall make
the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section
14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of
Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As
of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights
Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Rights Certificates
as permitted hereby, separately and apart from any transfer of Common Shares,
and the holders of such Rights Certificates as listed in the records of the
Company or any transfer agent or registrar for the Rights shall be the record
holders thereof.
(b) On the Record Date or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of 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's transfer agent and registrar. With respect to
certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates
registered in the names of the holders thereof together with the Summary of
Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the
surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Shares outstanding 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.
(c) Unless the Board of Directors by resolution adopted at or
before the time of the issuance of any Common Shares specifies to the
contrary, Rights shall be issued in respect of all
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Common Shares that are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier
of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances
provided in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates
representing such Common Shares shall also be deemed to be certificates for
Rights, and shall bear the following legend:
THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES THE HOLDER HEREOF TO CERTAIN
RIGHTS AS SET FORTH IN A RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN TCSI CORPORATION AND
BANKBOSTON, N.A., AS THE RIGHTS AGENT, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 16, 1999, (THE
"RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY
REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES
OF TCSI CORPORATION. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, SUCH RIGHTS WILL BE EVIDENCED BY SEPARATE CERTIFICATES
AND WILL NO LONGER BE EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE. TCSI CORPORATION WILL
MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT
WITHOUT CHARGE AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO, OR HELD
BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE
OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT),
WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT
HOLDER, MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such
certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Shares represented thereby.
(d) 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.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
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(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase Common Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof)
shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks
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of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange or automated quotation system, on which
the Rights may from time to time be listed or included, or to
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conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof,
the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record
Date (or in the case of Rights issued with respect to Common Shares issued by
the Company after the Record Date, as of the date of issuance of such Common
Shares) and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at
the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share being hereinafter referred to as the "Exercise Price" and the
aggregate Exercise Price of all Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of one
Right being hereinafter referred to as the "Total Exercise Price"), but the
number and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and
the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such or (iii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person
becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of
equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such
Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Company's Board
of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and
any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon
transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate
referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the
following legend:
THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR
ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED
IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
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(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief
Financial Officer, its President or any Vice President, either manually or by
facsimile signature, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed
thereto the Company's seal (if any) or a facsimile thereof. The Rights
Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not
be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the
Company who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be
such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and
issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless,
may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company
with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights
Certificates
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on behalf of the Company had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and
any Rights Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person
who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be
a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at
the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not
such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep
or cause to be kept, at its office designated for such purposes, books for
registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the
Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the
Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
------------------------------------------------------
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof,
at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or
prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered
holder to purchase a like number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or,
following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the
case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then
entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer,
split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall
surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred,
split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent.
Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action
whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the
Rights Agent shall, subject to Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, countersign
and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may
be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange
of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation
of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of
indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, 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 Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and
deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for
delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
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Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
-------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Subject to Sections 7(e), 23(b), 27(a) and hereof, the
registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced
thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time
after the Distribution Date and prior to the Close of Business on the
Expiration Date by surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the principal office of the Rights Agent, together with payment of
the Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or, following
a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be)
as to which the Rights are exercised.
(b) The Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share issuable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be Thirteen
Dollars ($13.00), shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided
in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the
United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Exercise Price for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other
assets as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Rights
Certificate in accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, the Rights Agent shall,
subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from
any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make available, if the Rights
Agent is the transfer agent for the Preferred Shares) a certificate or
certificates for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or,
following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the
case may be) 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 one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other
assets as the case may be) issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with
a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts
representing such number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or,
following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the
case may be) as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
Preferred Shares (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or
other assets as the case may be) 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 such request, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in
lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof,
(iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the
same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by
such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such
cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.
The payment of the Exercise Price (as such amount may be reduced (including to
zero) pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Rights
Certificate in accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, may be made in cash or by
certified bank check, cashier's check or bank draft payable to the order of
the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue securities of
the Company other than Preferred
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Shares, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the
Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be
issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Rights Certificate
or to his or her duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section
14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of
an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such (a "Post-Event Transferee"), (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring
Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior
to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such
Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration)
from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring
Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing
agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or
(B) a transfer which the Company's Board of Directors has determined is part
of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or
effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e) (a "Pre-Event Transferee") or (iv)
any subsequent transferee receiving transferred Rights from a Post-Event
Transferee or a Pre-Event Transferee, either directly or through one or more
intermediate transferees, shall become null and void without any further
action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with
respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but
shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or to any other
Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to
an Acquiring Person or any of such Acquiring Person's Affiliates, Associates
or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any
purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall, in addition to having complied with the requirements of Section
7(a), have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of
the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or
Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
---------------------------------------------------
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or 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 Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall
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so cancel and retire, any Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the
written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and
in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the
Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares.
------------------------------------------------
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will use its best
efforts to cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and
unissued Preferred Shares not reserved for another purpose (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued Common
Shares and/or other securities), the number of Preferred Shares (and,
following the occurrence of the Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other
securities) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights.
(b) If the Company shall hereafter list any of its Preferred
Shares on a national securities exchange, then so long as the Preferred Shares
(and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or
other securities) issuable and deliverable upon exercise of the Rights may be
listed on such exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from
and after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the extent
that it is reasonably likely that the Rights will be exercised), all shares
reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice
of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon
as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a
Triggering Event in which the consideration to be delivered by the Company
upon exercise of the Rights is described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution
Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the Securities Act
with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective
as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii) cause such registration
statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of
which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities and (B) the
date of expiration of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a
period not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i)
of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights
in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to
become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
announcement stating, and notify the Rights Agent, that the exercisability of
the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement
and notification to the Rights Agent at such time as the suspension is no
longer in effect. The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate
under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the
various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
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, or an exemption
therefrom shall be available, and until a registration statement has been
declared effective.
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(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (or other
securities of the Company) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the
time of delivery of the certificates for such securities (subject to payment
of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully
paid and nonassessable shares.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges
which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the
Rights Certificates or of any Preferred Shares (or other securities of the
Company) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any
transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred
Shares (or other securities of the Company) in a name other than that of, the
registered holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for
exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for
Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) upon the exercise of any
Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by
the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it
has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate for a
-----------
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or other securities of the
Company) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed
to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares (or other securities
of the Company) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the
date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price with respect to which the Rights
have been exercised (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided,
--------
however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the
-------
transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have
become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated,
the next succeeding Business Day on which the transfer books of the Company are
open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred
Shares (or other securities of the Company) for which the Rights shall be
exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall
not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except
as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares or Number of
-----------------------------------------------------------
Rights. The Exercise Price, the number and kind of shares or other property
------
covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in
Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine
the outstanding Preferred Shares (by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a
smaller number of Preferred Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital
stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such event,
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11 and Section 7(e) hereof: (1)
the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such
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dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification shall be adjusted so that the Exercise Price thereafter shall
equal the result obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior to such time by a fraction (the "Adjustment Fraction"), the numerator of
which shall be the total number of Preferred Shares (or shares of capital
stock issued in such reclassification of the Preferred Shares) outstanding
immediately following such time and the denominator of which shall be the
total number of Preferred Shares outstanding immediately prior to such time;
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 such Right; and (2) the
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or share of such other capital
stock) issuable upon the exercise of each Right shall equal the number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share (or share of such other capital stock) as was
issuable upon exercise of a Right immediately prior to the occurrence of the
event described in clauses (A)-(D) of this Section 11(a)(i), multiplied by the
Adjustment Fraction; provided, however, that, no such adjustment shall be made
pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i) to the extent that there shall have
simultaneously occurred an event described in clause (A), (B), (C) or (D) of
Section 11(n) with a proportionate adjustment being made thereunder. Each
Common Share that shall become outstanding after an adjustment has been made
pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i) shall have associated with it the number of
Rights, exercisable at the Exercise Price and for the number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share (or shares of such other capital stock) as
one Common Share has associated with it immediately following the adjustment
made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event a
Triggering Event shall have occurred, then promptly following such Triggering
Event each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall
thereafter have the right to receive for each Right, upon exercise thereof in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the Exercise Price
in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Triggering Event, in lieu
of a number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share, such number of Common
Shares of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the
Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Triggering
Event by the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right
was exercisable (or would have been exercisable if the Distribution Date had
occurred) immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, and
dividing that product by 50% of the Current Per Share Market Price for Common
Shares on the date of occurrence of the Triggering Event; provided, however,
that the Exercise Price and the number of Common Shares of the Company so
receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as
appropriate in accordance with Section 11(e) hereof to reflect any events
occurring in respect of the Common Shares of the Company after the occurrence
of the Triggering Event.
(iii) In lieu of issuing Common Shares in accordance with
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if the Company's Board of Directors
determines that such action is necessary or appropriate and not contrary to
the interest of holders of Rights and, in the event that the number of Common
Shares which are authorized by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation but
not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise
of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights,
or if any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance has not been
obtained by the Company, the Company shall: (A) determine the excess of (1)
the value of the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the
"Current Value") over (2) the Exercise Price (such
-15-
excess, the "Spread") and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate
provision to substitute for such Common Shares, upon exercise of the Rights,
(1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Exercise Price, (3) other equity securities
of the Company (including, without limitation, shares or units of shares of
any series of preferred stock which the Company's Board of Directors has
deemed to have the same value as Common Shares (such shares or units of shares
of preferred stock are herein called "Common Stock Equivalents")), except to
the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or
regulatory approval for such issuance, (4) debt securities of the Company,
except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary
stockholder or regulatory approval for such issuance, (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 Company's
Board of Directors based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by the Company's Board of Directors; provided, however,
-------- -------
if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value
pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of
(x) the first occurrence of a Triggering Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of
(x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"),
then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for
exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Exercise Price,
Common Shares (to the extent available), except to the extent that the Company
has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for such
issuance, and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an
aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Company's Board of Directors shall
determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional Common
Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights or
that any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance will be obtained, the
thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent
necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii)
Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the
authorization of such additional shares or take action to obtain such
regulatory approval (such period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution
Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be
taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this Section
11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof,
that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may
suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the
Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares,
to take any action to obtain any required regulatory approval and/or to decide
the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first
sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a
public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For
purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Shares shall be
the Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares on the Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be
deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this
Agreement, fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to
all holders of Preferred Shares entitling such holders (for a period expiring
within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or
purchase Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares or securities convertible into
Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares at a price per share (or having a
conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or
Equivalent Shares) less than the then Current Per Share Market Price of the
-16-
Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares on such record date, then, in each such
case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of
Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date,
plus the number of Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be,
which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares or
Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, to be offered or issued (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities to be offered
or issued) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of
which shall be the number of Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any)
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional Preferred Shares
or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, 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 Company's
Board of Directors, 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. Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares owned by or held for the
account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any
such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are
not so issued, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price
which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this
Agreement, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of
the Preferred Shares or of any class or series of Equivalent 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 or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend, if any, or
a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights, options or
warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), then, in each such
case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Per Share
Market Price of a Preferred Share or an Equivalent Share on such record date,
less the fair market value per Preferred Share or Equivalent Share (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of
the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a Preferred
Share or Equivalent Share, as the case may be, and the denominator of which
shall be such Current Per Share Market Price of a Preferred Share or Equivalent
Share on such record date; 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. 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 Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would have
been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
-17-
(d) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Exercise Price; provided,
--------
however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(d) 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 one hundred-thousandth of a Preferred Share, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(d), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i)
three (3) years from the date of the transaction which requires such
adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(e) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a) or 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall
become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred
Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise
of any Right and, if required, the Exercise Price thereof, shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares contained
in Sections 11(a), 11(b), 11(c), 11(d), 11(g), 11(h), 11(i), 11(j), 11(k) and
11(l), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the
Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(f) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(g) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(h), upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a
result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall
thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price,
that number of Preferred Shares (calculated to the nearest one hundred-
thousandth of a share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of Preferred
Shares covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the
Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Exercise
Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Exercise Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment of the Exercise Price.
(h) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment
of the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) or
(c) to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the
number of Preferred Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of
the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a
Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of
record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that
number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one hundred-thousandth) obtained
by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of
the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after
adjustment of the Exercise 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
-18-
be the date on which the Exercise Price is adjusted or any day thereafter,
but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10)
days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates
have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to
this Section 11(h), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be
distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date
Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional
Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment,
or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such
holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates
held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender
thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all
the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment.
Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and
countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option
of the Company, the adjusted Exercise Price) and shall be registered in the
names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(i) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise
Price or the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue
to express the Exercise Price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share and
the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which were expressed in the
initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(j) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Exercise Price below the par or stated value, if any, of the
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of the
Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion
of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally
issue as fully paid and nonassessable shares such number of one-thousandths of
a Preferred Share at such adjusted Exercise Price.
(k) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
of the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock
or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and
above the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the
basis of the Exercise Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
--------
however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due xxxx or other
--------
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such
additional shares (fractional or otherwise) upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.
(l) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding,
prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall be entitled to make such
reductions in the Exercise 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 (i) consolidation
or subdivision of the Preferred or Common Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for
cash of any Preferred or Common Shares at less than the current market price,
(iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred or Common Shares or securities
-19-
which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred or
Common Shares, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or
warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to
holders of its Preferred or Common Shares shall not be taxable to such
stockholders.
(m) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take
(or permit to be taken) any action if at the time such action is taken it is
reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(n) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common
Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, (C) combine the
outstanding Common Shares (by reverse stock split or otherwise) 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), then, in each such event, except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof: (1) each
Common Share (or shares of capital stock issued in such reclassification of
the Common Shares) outstanding immediately following such time shall have
associated with it the number of Rights as were associated with one Common
Share immediately prior to the occurrence of the event described in clauses
(A)-(D) above; (2) the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date
for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification shall be adjusted so that the Exercise Price thereafter shall
equal the result obtained by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such time by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be
the total number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to the event
described in clauses (A)-(D) above, and the denominator of which shall be the
total number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event;
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 such Right; and (3) the
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or shares of such other
capital stock) issuable upon the exercise of each Right outstanding after such
event shall equal the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or
shares of such other capital stock) as were issuable with respect to one Right
immediately prior to such event. Each Common Share that shall become
outstanding after an adjustment has been made pursuant to this Section 11(n)
shall have associated with it the number of Rights, exercisable at the
Exercise Price and for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or
shares of such other capital stock) as one Common Share has associated with it
immediately following the adjustment made pursuant to this Section 11(n). If
an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section
11(n) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this
Section 11(n) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any
adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares.
----------------------------------------------------------
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Shares a copy of
such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights
Certificate in
-20-
accordance with Section 26 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the
failure of the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall
not affect the validity of such adjustment or the force or effect of the
requirement for such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in
relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment contained therein and
shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it
shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
--------------------------------------------------------------
Power.
-----
(a) In the event that, following a Triggering Event, directly or
indirectly:
(i) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and
into, any other Person (other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in
a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state of
incorporation of the Company and which complies with Section 11(m) hereof);
(ii) 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 consolidation or merger and, in connection with such
merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged
for stock or other securities of any other person (or the Company); or
(iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or
more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power 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 (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly
owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which individually
(and together) complies with Section 11(m) hereof),
then, concurrent with and in each such case,
(A) each holder of a Right (except as provided in
Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at a price equal to the Total Exercise Price applicable
immediately prior to the occurrence of the Section 13 Event in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued,
fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradeable Common Shares of the Principal
Party (as hereinafter defined), free of any liens, encumbrances, rights of
first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result
obtained by dividing such Total Exercise Price by 50% of the Current Per Share
Market Price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party on the date of
consummation of such Section 13 Event, provided, however, that the Exercise
-------- -------
Price and the number of Common Shares of such Principal Party so receivable
upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate
in accordance with Section 11(e) hereof;
(B) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable
for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations
and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;
-21-
(C) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to
refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the
provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party
following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event;
(D) such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its
Common Shares) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as
may be necessary to ensure 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; and
(E) 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
thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the
Total Exercise Price as provided in this Section 13(a), 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 such Right
pursuant to this Section 13(a), 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.
(F) For purposes hereof, the "earning power" of the
Company and its Subsidiaries shall be determined in good faith by the
Company's Board of Directors on the basis of the operating earnings of each
business operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries during the three fiscal
years preceding the date of such determination (or, in the case of any
business not operated by the Company or any Subsidiary during three full
fiscal years preceding such date, during the period such business was operated
by the Company or any Subsidiary).
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Principal Party"
shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (i)
or (ii) of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) 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 shares
outstanding, or (B) 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 clause
(iii) of Section 13(a) hereof, 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 more than one Person that is a party to
such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or
earning power so transferred and each such portion would, were it not for the
other equal portions, constitute the greatest portion of the
-22-
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
-------- -------
(b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common Shares of such Person are not at such time or
have 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 are and have 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 which are and have 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 venturers, 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.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any Section 13 Event unless
the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized Common Shares
that have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in
full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto
the Company and such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights
Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that such Principal Party shall,
upon consummation of such Section 13 Event, assume this Agreement in
accordance with Sections 13(a) and 13(b) hereof, that all rights of first
refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of
such Principal Party upon exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived,
that there are no 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 and that such transaction shall not result in a
default by such Principal Party under this Agreement, and further providing
that, as soon as practicable after the date of such Section 13 Event, such
Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause
such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after
such filing 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;
(ii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing
of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a
national securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements for
quotation on Nasdaq and list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on Nasdaq; and
-23-
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for such Principal Party which comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act.
In the event that at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering Event
some or all of the Rights shall not have been exercised at the time of a
transaction described in this Section 13, the Rights which have not theretofore
been exercised shall thereafter be exercisable in the manner described in
Section 13(a) (without taking into account any prior adjustment required by
Section 11(a)(ii)).
(d) In case the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(b)
hereof 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 Section 13
hereof), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a
Section 13 Event, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such Principal Party
at less than the then Current Per Share Market Price thereof or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of
such Principal Party at less than such then Current Per Share Market Price, or
(ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar provision in connection
with the issuance of the Common Shares of such Principal Party pursuant to the
provisions of Section 13 hereof, 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.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Distribution Date, effect or permit to occur any Section 13
Event, if (i) at the time or immediately after such Section 13 Event 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 Section 13 Event, the
stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the
"Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(b) hereof 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.
(f) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
---------------------------------------
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights.
In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights
would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of
the current market value of a
-24-
whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value
of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been
otherwise issuable, as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section
1(j) hereof.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-
thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions
that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share).
Interests in fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-
thousandth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between
the Company and a depositary selected by it; provided, that such agreement
--------
shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the
rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial
owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In
lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-
thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a Preferred Share. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current
market value of a Preferred Share shall be one thousand times the closing
price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of
Section 1(j) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise.
(c) 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 Rights
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a
Common Share. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of
a Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(j) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right
expressly waives his or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-
thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of a Right.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
----------------
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Rights 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 Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his or her own behalf and for
his or her own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action
or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of,
his or her right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in
the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is
specifically
-25-
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at
law for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of, the obligations of any Person subject to this
Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
---------------------------
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a
proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates
fully executed; and
(c) subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f) hereof, the Company and the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights
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 Rights 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. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder,
--------------------------------------------------
as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose to be the holder of the Preferred 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 Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any
Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company
or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted
to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
---------------------------
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The
Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless
against, any loss, liability or expense, incurred without gross negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything
done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
-26-
In no event will the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect, incidental
or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, even if the Rights
Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damage.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any
Rights Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Shares or Common Shares or
for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer,
power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to
be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of
counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
---------------------------------------------------------
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on
the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such
-------- -------
corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent
under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor
Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the
Rights 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 Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name
of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates
shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this
Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall
not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such
cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the
Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
----------------------
and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Company), and the written advice or opinion of such
counsel shall be full and complete authorization
-27-
and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in
good faith and in accordance with such written advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact
or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person
and the determination of Current Per Share Market Price) be proved or
established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief
Financial Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full
authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good
faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable only to the Company for its
own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any
of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Rights Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed
to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the
validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any
covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights
Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability
of the Rights or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the
manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 or
24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such
change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced
by Rights Certificates after receipt by the Rights Agent of a certificate
furnished pursuant to Section 12 describing 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 Preferred Shares to be issued
pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any
Preferred Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge
and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all
such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be
required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights
Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any
-28-
Assistant Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice
or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for
any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with
instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for
those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written
instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set
forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights
Agent under this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such
action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent
shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent
in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the
date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five (5)
Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date
in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written
instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken
or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any 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. Nothing herein shall preclude the
Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any
other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights
or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or
by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any
such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was
exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of
such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to
such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
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 Preferred Shares and the Common Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
-29-
agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If
the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become
incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights
Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of
thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been
notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who
shall, with such notice, submit his or her Rights Certificate for inspection
by the Company), then the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may
apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new
Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or
by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the
laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, in good
standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or
stockholder services 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 $100 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
Preferred Shares and the Common Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing
to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any
notice provided for in this Section 21, 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 Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
-----------------------------------
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such
form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or
change in the Exercise Price and the number or kind or class of shares or
other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and
prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, 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 or upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of other securities of the Company outstanding at the
date hereof or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities
hereinafter issued by the Company and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company, issue
Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in
connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such
-------- -------
Rights Certificate shall be issued and this sentence shall be null and void
ab initio if, and to the extent that, such issuance or this sentence would
---------
create a significant risk of or result in material adverse tax consequences to
the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or
would create a significant risk of or result in such options' or employee
plans' or arrangements' failing to qualify for otherwise available special tax
treatment and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the
extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of
the issuance thereof.
-30-
Section 23. Redemption.
----------
(a) The Company may, at its option and with the approval of the
Board of Directors, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Distribution
Date or (ii) the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, redeem all
but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of
$0.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
redemption price being herein referred to as the "Redemption Price") and the
Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares
(based on the Current Per Share Market Price thereof at the time of
redemption) or cash. Such redemption of the Rights by the Company 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. The date on which the Board of
Directors elects to make the redemption effective shall be referred to as the
"Redemption Date."
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have
been filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price.
The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption; provided,
--------
however, that the failure to give or any defect in, any such notice shall not
-------
affect the validity of such redemption. Within ten (10) days after the action
of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company
shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of
the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at
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, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of
its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any
Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in
this Section 23 or in Section 24 hereof, and other than in connection with the
purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. Exchange.
--------
(a) Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, and
subject to subsection 24(c) below, the Company may, at its option, by action
of the Board of Directors, at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering
Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights
(which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of
one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered
to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company,
any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any
such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding.
-31-
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection 24(a) and without
any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights
shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall
be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights
held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall give
public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to
-------- -------
give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such
exchange. The Company shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the
holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the
exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of
any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any
partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights
(other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of
Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange
of Rights as contemplated in accordance with Section 24(a), the Company shall
either take such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common
Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights or alternatively, at the
option of a majority of the Board of Directors, with respect to each Right (i)
pay cash in an amount equal to the Current Value (as hereinafter defined), in
lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange therefor, or (ii) issue debt or
equity securities or a combination thereof, having a value equal to the
Current Value, in lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange for each such
Right, where the value of such securities shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by majority vote of the Board of
Directors, or (iii) deliver any combination of cash, property, Common Shares
and/or other securities having a value equal to the Current Value in exchange
for each Right. For purposes of this Section 24 only, the Current Value shall
mean the product of the Current Per Share Market Price of Common Shares on the
date of the occurrence of the event described above in subparagraph (a),
multiplied by the number of Common Shares for which the Right otherwise would
be exchangeable if there were sufficient shares available. To the extent that
the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) or (iii) of this Section 24(c), the Board of Directors may temporarily
suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to sixty (60) days
following the date on which the event described in Section 24(a) shall have
occurred, in order to seek any authorization of additional Common Shares
and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to
the above provision 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.
(d) 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, there shall be paid to the
registered holders of the Rights 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 pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(j) hereof).
-32-
(e) The Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the Board
of Directors, at any time before any Person has become an Acquiring Person,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights for rights of
substantially equivalent value, as determined reasonably and with good faith
by the Board of Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally
recognized investment banking firms.
(f) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection 24(e) of this
Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder
of such Rights shall be to receive that number of rights in exchange therefor
as has been determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with subsection
24(e) above. The Company shall give public notice of any such exchange;
provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice
-------- -------
shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company shall 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 transfer agent for the
Common Shares of the Company. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.
Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of
the Rights will be effected.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
------------------------
(a) In case the Company shall propose to effect or permit to
occur any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event, the Company shall give notice
thereof to each holder of Rights in accordance with Section 26 hereof at least
twenty (20) days prior to occurrence of such Triggering Event or such Section
13 Event.
(b) In case any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event shall occur,
then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter
give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26
hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the
event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Sections
11(a)(ii) and 13 hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be
-------
given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to
or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
TCSI Corporation.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Ram Banin
-33-
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx
Professional Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand
authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder
of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given
or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
BankBoston, N.A.
c/o EquiServe Limited Partnership
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Client Administration
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments.
--------------------------
(a) Prior to the occurrence of a Distribution Date, the Company
may supplement or amend this Agreement in any respect without the approval of
any holders of Rights and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs,
execute such supplement or amendment. From and after the occurrence of a
Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time
supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Rights in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any
provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any
other provisions herein, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder
or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner that
the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, this Agreement
--------
may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of
this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed
at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable or (B) any other time
period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or
clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights (other
than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person).
Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company
that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with
the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement
or amendment. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common
Shares.
-34-
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement
----------
by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. For
----------------------------------------------------------
all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of 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 Exchange Act. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board, or the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the
administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and
power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith,
shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Rights Certificates and all other parties and (y) not subject the
Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
--------------------------
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights 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 Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
------------
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
-------- -------
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing
the invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23
hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on
the tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of
Directors.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right and each Rights
-------------
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Nevada 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.
-35-
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
--------------------
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
-36-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
"COMPANY" TCSI CORPORATION
/s/ Ram Banin
By:______________________________________
Ram Banin
Name:____________________________________
President and CEO
Title:___________________________________
"RIGHTS AGENT" BANKBOSTON, N.A.
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
By:______________________________________
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Name:____________________________________
Senior Acct. Manager
Title:___________________________________
[PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE]
EXHIBIT A
---------
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF RIGHTS,
PREFERENCES AND PRIVILEGES OF
SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF TCSI CORPORATION
The undersigned, Ram Banin and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx do hereby certify:
1. That they are the duly elected and acting President and Secretary,
respectively, of TCSI Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Corporation").
2. That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors
by the Certificate of Incorporation of the said Corporation, the said Board of
Directors on February 16, 1999 adopted the following resolution creating a
series of 75,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Participating
Preferred Stock:
"RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors
of the corporation by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of
Directors does hereby provide for the issue of a series of Preferred Stock of
the Corporation and does hereby fix and herein state and express the
designations, powers, preferences and relative and other special rights and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such series of Preferred Stock
as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
----------------------
designated as "Series A Participating Preferred Stock." The Series A
Participating Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.001 per share, and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 75,000.
Section 2. Proportional Adjustment. In the event the Corporation shall at
-----------------------
any time after the issuance of any share or shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock of the Corporation, par
value $0.0067 per share ("Common Stock"), payable in shares of Common Stock,
(ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the
Corporation shall simultaneously effect a proportional adjustment to the number
of outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.
Section 3. Dividends and Distributions.
---------------------------
(a) Subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends,
the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of
funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash
on the last day of January, April, July and October in each year (each such
date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after
the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to
1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000
times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash
dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of
Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share
or fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) above
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue on outstanding shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the
record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case
dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such
shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is
a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly
dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which
events such dividends shall begin to accrue from such Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends
paid on the shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock in an amount less
than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on
such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all
such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record
date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution
declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30 days prior to the
date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 4. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Participating
-------------
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(a) Each share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote
of the stockholders of the Corporation.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a
vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) Except as required by law, holders of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall
not be required (except to the extent they
-2-
are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for
taking any corporate action.
Section 5. Certain Restrictions.
--------------------
(a) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any
distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a
share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless concurrently therewith it
shall declare a dividend on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as
required by Section 3 hereof.
(b) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as
provided in Section 3 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in
full, the Corporation shall not
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other
distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Participating
Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on, make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with Series A
Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders
of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends
or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in
exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as
to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock;
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock
ranking on a parity with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock, except in
accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such
terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual
dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective
series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and
equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(c) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the
-3-
Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section 5, purchase or
otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
Section 6. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Participating
-----------------
Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.
All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued
shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein and, in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as then amended.
Section 7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation,
--------------------------------------
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount
per share equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share
to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and
unpaid dividends on such shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.
Section 8. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
---------------------------
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in
which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock
or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to 1,000 times the
aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable
in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common
Stock is changed or exchanged.
Section 9. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Participating Preferred
-------------
Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 10. Ranking. The Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall rank
-------
junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any
such series shall provide otherwise.
Section 11. Amendment. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
---------
Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially
alter or change the powers, preference or special rights of the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 12. Fractional Shares. Series A Participating Preferred Stock
-----------------
may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in
proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights,
receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all
other rights of holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.
-4-
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the President or any Vice President and the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of this corporation be, and they hereby
are, authorized and directed to prepare and file a Certificate of Designation of
Rights, Preferences and Privileges in accordance with the foregoing resolution
and the provisions of Nevada law and to take such actions as they may deem
necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of the foregoing resolution."
We further declare under penalty of perjury that the matters set forth in
the foregoing Certificate of Designation are true and correct of our own
knowledge.
Executed at Alameda, California, on February ___, 1999.
_______________________________________
Ram Banin, President
_______________________________________
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Secretary
-5-
EXHIBIT B
---------
FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R- _________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF (i)MARCH 11 (ii) THE DATE TERMINATED
BY THE COMPANY OR (iii) THE DATE THE COMPANY EXCHANGES THE RIGHTS PURSUANT
TO THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE
OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON
(AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT
HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY
THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS
OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING
PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY,
THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL
AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH RIGHTS
AGREEMENT.]*
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
TCSI Corporation
This certifies that ______________________________, or registered
assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each
of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement dated as of February 16, 1999, (the "Rights
Agreement"), between TCSI Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"),
and BankBoston, N.A. (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any
time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., New York time, on March 11, 2009 at the
principal office of the Rights Agent, or at the office of its successor as
Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a fully paid non-assessable
share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, (the
"Preferred Shares"), of the Company, at a Exercise Price of _______ Dollars
($____) per one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Exercise Price"), upon
presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of
________________________
* The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable and
shall replace the preceding sentence.
Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The number of
Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth
above are the number and Exercise Price as of February 16, 1999 based on the
Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights
Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number and kind of Preferred Shares or
other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and
adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the
rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of
the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates,
which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the
exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in
the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the
principal executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned office of
the Rights Agent.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company, at its option,
at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged by the
Company in whole or in part for Common Shares, substantially equivalent rights
or other consideration as determined by the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date
evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate amount of
securities as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this
Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
No fractional portion of less than one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share 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 Rights
Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such,
any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
-2-
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of _______________, 19____.
ATTEST: TCSI Corporation
____________________________ By:____________________________
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Secretary Ram Banin, President
Countersigned:
____________________________
as Rights Agent
By:_________________________
Its:________________________
-3-
Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto
______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
______________________________________________________________________________
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-
named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: _______________, 19____
____________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a
bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with
membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to
Rule 17Ad-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
CERTIFICATE
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person,
or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: _______________, 19____
___________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a
bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with
membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to
Rule 17Ad-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate -- continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
----------------------------
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Rights Certificate)
To: ___________________________
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ______________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights 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: ___________________ , 19____
________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership in an
approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
CERTIFICATE
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are
not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: _______________, 19____
_______________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership in an
approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate -- continued
NOTICE
------
The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must
conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
EXHIBIT C
---------
PROPOSED STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
TCSI CORPORATION
Summary of Rights
-----------------
Distribution and The Board of Directors has declared a dividend of one
---------------- Right for each share of TCSI Corporation Common Stock
Transfer of Rights; outstanding. Prior to the Distribution Date referred to
------------------- below, the Rights will be evidenced by and trade with
Rights Certificate: the certificates for the Common Stock. After the
------------------ Distribution Date, TCSI Corporation (the "Company") will
mail Rights certificates to the Company's stockholders
and the Rights will become transferable apart from the
Common Stock.
Distribution Date: Rights will separate from the Common Stock and become
----------------- exercisable (the "Distribution Date") following (a) the
tenth day after a person or group acquires beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock
or (b) the tenth business day (or such later date as may
be determined by the Company's Board of Directors) after
a person or group announces a tender or exchange offer,
the consummation of which would result in ownership by a
person or group of 15% or more of the Company's Common
Stock.
Preferred Stock After the Distribution Date, each Right will entitle the
--------------- holder to purchase for $13.00 (the "Exercise Price") a
Purchasable Upon fraction of a share of the Company's Preferred Stock
---------------- with economic terms similar to that of one share of the
Exercise of Rights: Company's Common Stock.
------------------
Flip-In: If an acquiror (an "Acquiring Person") obtains 15% or
------- more of the Company's Common Stock, then each Right
----
(other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person or its
affiliates) will entitle the holder thereof to purchase
for the Exercise Price, a number of shares of the
Company's Common Stock having a then current market
value of twice the Exercise Price.
Flip-Over: If, after an Acquiring Person obtains 15% or more of the
--------- Company's Common Stock, (a) the Company merges into
another entity, (b) an acquiring entity merges into the
Company
or (c) the Company sells more than 50% of the Company's
assets or earning power, then each Right (other than
----
Rights owned by an Acquiring Person or its affiliates)
will entitle the holder thereof to purchase, for the
Exercise Price, a number of shares of Common Stock of
the person engaging in the transaction having a then
current market value of twice the Exercise Price.
Exchange Provision: At any time after an event triggering the flip-in or
------------------ flip-over rights and prior to the acquisition by the
Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding
Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the
Acquiring Person or its affiliates), in whole or in part
for shares of Common Stock of the Company, at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right
(subject to adjustment).
Redemption of Rights will be redeemable at the Company's option for
------------- $0.01 per Right at any time on or prior to the
the Rights: Distribution Date.
----------
Expiration of The Rights expire on the earliest of (a) March 11, 2009,
------------- or (b) exchange or redemption of the Rights as described
the Rights: above.
----------
Amendment of The terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be
------------ amended in any respect without the consent of the Rights
Terms of Rights: holders on or prior to the Distribution Date;
--------------- thereafter, the terms of the Rights and the Rights
Agreement may be amended without the consent of the
Rights holders in order to cure any ambiguities or to
make changes which do not adversely affect the interests
of Rights holders (other than the Acquiring Person).
Voting Rights: Rights will not have any voting rights.
-------------
Anti-Dilution Rights will have the benefit of certain customary anti-
------------- dilution provisions.
Provisions:
----------
Taxes: The Rights distribution should not be taxable for
----- federal income tax purposes. However, following an
event which renders the Rights exercisable or upon
redemption of the Rights, stockholders may recognize
taxable income.
The foregoing is a summary of certain principal terms of the Stockholder Rights
Plan only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed terms of
the Rights Agreement dated as of February 16, 1999, between the Company and the
Rights Agent.
-2-
