SPACEHAB, INCORPORATED
and
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
as Rights Agent
____________
Rights Agreement
Dated as of March 26, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1. Certain Definitions.....................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent.............................5
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.............................5
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates..............................6
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.......................6
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Right Certificates......................................7
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights..................................................8
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates......9
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares........................9
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date............................9
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or
Number of Rights.......................................10
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares.................................................16
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power..........................................16
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares................17
Section 15. Rights of Action.......................................18
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders.............................19
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder......19
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent............................19
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
Agent..................................................20
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.................................20
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.................................22
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates.....................23
Section 23. Redemption.............................................23
Section 24. Exchange...............................................24
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events...............................25
Section 26. Notices................................................26
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments.............................26
Section 28. Successors.............................................27
Section 29. Benefits of this Rights Agreement......................27
Section 30. Severability...........................................27
Section 31. Governing Law..........................................27
Section 32. Counterparts...........................................27
Section 33. Descriptive Headings...................................27
Exhibit A - Form of Designation of Rights, Terms and Preferences
Exhibit B - Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares
Rights Agreement
Rights Agreement, dated as of March 26, 1999, between Spacehab,
Incorporated, a Washington corporation (the "Company"), and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the "Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared
a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each
Common Share of the Company outstanding on April 9, 1999 (the "Record
Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions herein set forth, and has further authorized and directed
the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common Share that shall
become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of the
Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the Expiration Date.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Rights
Agreement, the 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 (i) the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan, (ii) any Person who or which becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding
as the result of a reduction in the outstanding Common Shares resulting
from acquisition of Common Shares by the Company approved by the Board
of Directors, unless and until such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner
of any additional Common Shares, other than pursuant to a stock
dividend or stock split, (iii) any Person who or which the Board of
Directors of the Company determines, in good faith, became an Acquiring
Person inadvertently, if such Person divests as promptly as practicable
a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no
longer be an Acquiring Person, or (iv) any Person who or which the
Board of Directors of the Company determines, prior to the time such
Person would otherwise be an Acquiring Person, should be exempted from
the definition of Acquiring Person, provided that the Board of
Directors may make such exemption subject to such conditions, if any,
which the Board may determine.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
(c) 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;
(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
these Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise, provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
Beneficially Own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted
for purchase or exchange or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding, provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially
Own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to
vote such security (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 promulgated under 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 with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other
than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling
group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of
securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to
the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or
disposing of any securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial
Ownership to the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used
with reference to a Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the
Company, shall mean the number of such securities then issued and
outstanding together with the number of such securities not then
actually issued and outstanding which such Person would be deemed to
Beneficially Own hereunder.
(d) A determination, approval, consent or other action of the "Board
of Directors" shall require approval or consent by a majority of the
Continuing Directors (as defined below).
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a
Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in New York 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., New
York City time, on such date, provided, however, that, if such date is
not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
next succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Shares" shall mean the shares of common stock, no par
value per share, of the Company, except that "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) "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.
(i) "Continuing Director" shall mean any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company, while such person is a member of the Board of
Directors, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring Person, or a representative or nominee of an Acquiring
Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and who either (i) was a
member of the Board of Directors on the date of this Agreement or (ii)
subsequently became a member of the Board of Directors, and whose
nomination for election or election to the Board of Directors was
recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then
on the Board of Directors. For purposes of this Rights Agreement, a
determination, calculation, interpretation or other action shall not be
deemed approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors unless there
is at least one Continuing Director in office who approved such
action. The immediately preceding sentence shall become inapplicable,
and shall cease to be of any force or effect, six months after such
date as the Continuing Directors shall cease to constitute a majority
of the members of the Board of Directors.
(j) "Current per share market price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(d) hereof.
(k) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
(l) "Equivalent preferred shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b) hereof.
(m) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(n) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
24(a) hereof.
(o) "Expiration Date" shall mean the Close of Business on April 9,
2009.
(p) "NASDAQ" shall mean the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System.
(q) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger
or otherwise) of such entity.
(r) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company having
the rights and preferences set forth in the Form of Designation of
Rights, Terms and Preferences attached to this Rights Agreement as
Exhibit A.
(s) "Purchase Price" shall initially be $35 for each one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share purchasable pursuant to the
exercise of a Right, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time as provided in Section 11 or 13 hereof.
(t) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the second
paragraph hereof.
(u) "Redemption Date" shall mean the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof.
(v) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
(w) "Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the second paragraph
hereof.
(x) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
(y) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereof.
(z) "Security" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i)
hereof.
(aa) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement (including, without limitation, by a filing under
the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an
Acquiring Person has become such or such earlier date as a majority of
the Board shall become aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person.
(bb) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation
or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting
equity securities or equity interest is owned or otherwise controlled,
directly or indirectly, by such Person.
(cc) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the
Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall 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.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates. (a) Until the earlier of the
Close of Business on (i) the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date
or (ii) such date, if any, as may be determined by action of the Board
of Directors of the Company after the date of the commencement 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 entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan) of, or of the first public announcement of the
intention of any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary
of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring
Person (including any such date which is after the date of this Rights
Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights; the earlier of such
dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the
Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b)
hereof) by the certificates for Common Shares registered in the names
of the holders thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be
Right Certificates) and not by separate Right Certificates and (y) the
right to receive Right Certificates will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of Common Shares. 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,
insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares
as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate,
in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"),
evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held. As of the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right
Certificates.
(b) The Company will make available, as promptly as practicable
following the Record Date, a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto, to any holder of
Rights who may so request from time to time prior to the Expiration
Date. 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 and the registered holders of the Common
Shares shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights.
Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date or
the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for
Common Shares in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such Common
Shares.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares which are
issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's treasury) after
the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the
Redemption Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such
Common Shares 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 Spacehab, Incorporated (the "Company") and the
Rights Agent thereunder (the "Rights Agreement"), the
terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference
and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of
the Company. 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. The Company 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, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, rights issued to any person who becomes an
Acquiring Person (as defined in the rights agreement),
including such rights held by a subsequent holder, may
become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing
legend, until the Distribution 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. 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 cancelled 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 Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and
the forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to
be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as
Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification or
designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon
as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with
the provisions of this Rights 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 to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of
Sections 11 and 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the
holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the price per one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share set forth therein, but the number
of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and the Purchase Price
shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Right
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman
of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its
Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer, either manually or by facsimile
signature, shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile
thereof, and shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature.
The Right Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid for
any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company
who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be
such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent
and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates,
nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and
delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the
Person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such
officer of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any Person who, at the actual date of the
execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the
Company to sign such Right Certificate although at the date of the
execution of this Rights Agreement any such Person was not such an
officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will
keep or cause to be kept, at its principal office, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder.
Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders
of the Right Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the Right Certificates and the date of each of the Right
Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, at any time after
the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the
Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the
Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates (other
than Right Certificates representing Rights that have become void
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof or that have been exchanged
pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined
or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates
entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any
registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange
any Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such request in
writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined
or exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent. Thereupon the
Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled
thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be,
as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right
Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or
destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them,
and, at the Company's request, reimbursement to the Company and the
Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate
if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Right Certificate
of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the registered holder
in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the
Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein), in
whole or in part, at any time after the Distribution Date, upon
surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to
purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office of the Rights Agent, together with payment of
the Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share as
to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the earliest of (i)
the Expiration Date, (ii) the Redemption Date or (iii) the time at
which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price shall be payable in lawful money of the United
States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed,
accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be
purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required
to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with
Section 9 hereof by certified check, cashier's check or money order
payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon
promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred
Shares certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be purchased
and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes any such transfer agent
to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which
case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts
shall be deposited by the transfer agent of the Preferred Shares with
such depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs such depositary
agent to comply with such request; (ii) when appropriate, requisition
from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of
fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof; (iii) promptly
after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the
same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of
such Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder; and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt,
promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered
holder of such Right Certificate or to such holder's duly authorized
assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer,
split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company
or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for
cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights
Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Right Certificates shall be
issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the
provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent
shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or
acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The
Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Right Certificates to the
Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such
cancelled Right Certificates, and, in such case, shall deliver a
certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued
Preferred Shares or any Preferred Shares held in its treasury, the
number of Preferred Shares that will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with Section
7. The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all securities delivered upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates
for such securities (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly
and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
(b) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will
pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes
and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery
of the Right Certificates or of any Preferred Shares upon the exercise
of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any
transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or
delivery of Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance
or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred
Shares in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right
Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or
to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares
upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid
(any such tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at
the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the
Company's reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due.
(c) The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that any
securities issued pursuant hereto are issued in compliance with all
applicable laws.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each Person in whose name
any certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of
Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of
record of the Preferred Shares represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase
Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however,
that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the
Preferred Shares 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 Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are open.
Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of
Preferred Shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including,
without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be
entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company,
except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number
of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares 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) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Rights Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares
payable in Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred
Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller
number of Preferred Shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock
in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect
at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective
date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall
be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised
after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and
kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised
immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Shares
transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned
upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; 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.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Rights Agreement, in the
event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right shall
thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price
equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of
one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then
exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Rights Agreement and
in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares as shall
equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for
which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (B) 50%
of the then current per share market price of the Company's Common
Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of the
occurrence of such event. In the event that any Person shall become an
Acquiring Person and the Rights shall then be outstanding, the Company
shall not take any action which would eliminate or diminish the
benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the occurrence of such event, any Rights that are or were
acquired or Beneficially Owned by any Acquiring Person (or any
Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) shall be void and any
holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such
Rights under any provision of this Rights Agreement. No Right
Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 that represents
Rights Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be
void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate
thereof; no Right Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the
transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be
void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate
thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or
Affiliate; and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for
transfer to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to
the preceding sentence shall be cancelled.
(iii) If there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued but not
outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the exercise in full
of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of the Rights. If
the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such
action as may be necessary to authorize such additional Common Shares,
the Company shall substitute, for each Common Share that would
otherwise be issuable upon exercise of a Right, a number of Preferred
Shares or fraction thereof (or a security with substantially similar
rights, privileges, preferences, voting power and economic rights) such
that the current per share market price of one Preferred Share (or such
other security) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the
current per share market price of one Common Share as of the date of
issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof (or other
security).
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares
entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after
such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or
shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the
Preferred Shares ("equivalent preferred shares")) or securities
convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares at a
price per Preferred Share or equivalent preferred share (or having a
conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred
Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the then current per
share market price of the Preferred Shares on such record date, the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall
be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus
the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of
the total number of Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares
so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the
convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current
market price and the denominator of which shall be the number of
Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of
additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares to be
offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible
securities so to be offered are initially convertible); provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the
exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the
shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one
Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration
part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of
such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Preferred Shares owned by
or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding
for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event
that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in
effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or
a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or
warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall
be the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on
such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall
be binding on the Rights Agent and holders of the Rights) of the
portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed
or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one Preferred
Share and the denominator of which shall be such current per share
market price of the Preferred Shares; 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 to be issued 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 Purchase Price
shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in
effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current
per share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose
of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the 30
consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date; provided,
however, that in the event that the current per share market price of
the Security is determined during a period following the announcement
by the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on
such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities
convertible into such shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Security and prior to the expiration of 30
Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or
distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per share
market price shall be appropriately adjusted to 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 quoted price or,
if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in
the over-the-counter market, as reported by the NASDAQ or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted
by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in
the Security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on
any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Security,
the fair value of the Security on such date as determined in good faith
by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used. The term
"Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Security is
not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange,
a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per
share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in
accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). 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 Section 11(d)(i) (appropriately adjusted to reflect any
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the
date hereof), multiplied by one thousand. If neither the Common Shares
nor the Preferred Shares are 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.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the
Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason
of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried
forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All
calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or
to the nearest one-millionth of a Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth
of any other share or security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the
first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this
Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three years
from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii)
the date of the expiration of the right to exercise any Rights.
(f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other
than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment
from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares
contained in Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive, and the provisions
of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall
apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable from time to time
hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further
adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in Sections 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 Purchase
Price, that number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
(calculated to the nearest one millionth of a Preferred Share) obtained
by (A) multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share
covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the
Purchase Price and (B) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase
Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights in substitution for
any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share 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 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 millionth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase
Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The
Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the
number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and,
if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This
record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or
any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have been issued,
shall be at least 10 days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each
adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right
Certificates evidencing, subject to 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 Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new
Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner
provided for herein and shall be registered in the names of the holders
of record of Right Certificates on the record date specified in the
public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the
number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which were expressed
in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below one one-thousandth of the then par value, if
any, of the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the
Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of
its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Preferred Shares at such
adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date
for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the
occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right
exercised after such record date of the Preferred Shares and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise over and above the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the
basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment;
provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due
xxxx or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to
receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase
Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that, it, in its sole discretion,
shall determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or
subdivision of the Preferred Shares, issuance wholly for cash of any
Preferred Shares at less than the current market price, issuance wholly
for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, dividends on
Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter
made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be
taxable to such stockholders.
(n) In the event that at any time after the date of this Rights
Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i)
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common
Shares or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of
the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
dividends in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common
Shares, then in any such case (A) the number of one one-thousandths of
a Preferred Share purchasable after such event upon proper exercise of
each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately prior
to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
Common Shares outstanding immediately before such event and the
denominator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately after such event, and (B) each Common Share outstanding
immediately after such event shall have issued with respect to it that
number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding immediately prior
to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments provided
for in this Section 11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a
dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or
consolidation is effected.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 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 Common Shares or the Preferred Shares a copy of
such certificate and (c) if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a
brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in
accordance with Section 25 hereof.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power. In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after
a Person has become an Acquiring Person, (a) the Company shall
consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person, (b) any
Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the
Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or
part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for stock
or other securities of any other Person (or the Company) or cash or any
other property or (c) 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 other than the Company or one or
more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case,
proper provision shall be made so that
(i) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided herein)
shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof
at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the
number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is
then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Rights Agreement
and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of such
other Person (including the Company as successor thereto or as the
surviving corporation) as shall equal the result obtained by (A)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then
exercisable and dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then current
per share market price of the Common Shares of such other Person
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of
consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer;
(ii) the issuer of such Common Shares shall thereafter be liable for,
and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to
this Rights Agreement;
(iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such
issuer; and
(iv) such issuer shall take such steps (including, but not limited to,
the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares in
accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation
as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation
to the Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the
Rights.
The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and such issuer shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement so providing. The Company shall not enter into any
transaction of the kind referred to in this Section 13 if at the time
of such transaction there are any rights, warrants, instruments or
securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a
result of the consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or
substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights. The 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 Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In
lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered
holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional
Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes
of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall
be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been
otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such
day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in
either case, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed
or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in
the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on
which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights
are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such
date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market
maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors
of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall
be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which 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 which are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share). 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 Right 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 one Preferred Share. For the
purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred
Share shall be the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right (except as expressly
provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Rights Agreement, except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent
under Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered
holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date,
the registered holders of the Common Shares); and any registered holder
of any Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the
Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the
holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, of the Common Shares), may, in such holder's own behalf and for
such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any
suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise
act in respect of, such holder's right to exercise the Rights evidenced
by such Right Certificate in the manner provided in such Right
Certificate and in this Rights Agreement. Without limiting the
foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is
specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an
adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Rights 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 Rights Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights
Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed
or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in
whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
the associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute
owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any
notations of ownership or writing on the Right Certificate or the
associated Common Shares certificate made by anyone other than the
Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote,
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
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 Right Certificate be
construed to confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate, as such,
any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote
for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to
any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions
affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to
receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right
or Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised
in accordance with the provisions 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 Rights Agreement and the exercise and performance of
its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights
Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on
the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the
Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of
this Rights Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending
against any claim of liability in the premises.
(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 Rights Agreement in
reliance upon any Right 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 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 stock transfer or corporate trust powers
of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the
successor to the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any
of the parties hereto; provided that such corporation would be eligible
for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent
shall succeed to the agency created by this Rights Agreement, any of
the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered,
any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the
predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so
countersigned; and, in case at that time any of the Right Certificates
shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent;
and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Rights Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall
be changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have
been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates
shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign
such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed
name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Rights Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Rights Agreement upon the
following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the
holders of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be
bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any
action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Rights
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that
any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to
taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed)
may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a
certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or
the 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 Rights Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only for its own 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 Rights Agreement
or in the Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or
be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals
are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Rights Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except
its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any
breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this
Rights Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be
responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights
(including the Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the
manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Section 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 Right Certificates after actual notice that such
change or adjustment is required); nor shall it by any act hereunder be
deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization
or reservation of any Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this
Rights Agreement or any Right 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 Rights
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 Secretary or the Treasurer of
the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions
in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken 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.
(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 Rights 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.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Rights Agreement upon 30-days' notice in writing mailed to the Company
and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right
Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30-days' notice in writing,
mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares
by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right
Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or
be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company
shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall
fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after giving
notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights
Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who or which shall, with
such notice, submit such holder's Right Certificate for inspection by
the Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may
apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of the State of New
York (or of any other state of the United States so long as such
corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution in
the State of New York, in good standing, having an office in the State
of New York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of
its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50 million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall
be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as
if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or
deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to
the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it
hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance,
act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in
writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, and mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to
give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect
therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation
or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Rights Agreement or of the Rights to the
contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates
evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company to reflect any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Rights Agreement.
Section 23. Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company
may, at its option, at any time prior to such time as any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all but not less than all the then
outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock combination,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof
(such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption
Price"). The redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors of the
Company may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole
discretion, may establish. The Company may, at its option, pay the
Redemption Price in cash, Common Shares (based on the current market
price at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration
deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a)
of this Section 23, 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 10 days after such action of the Board of Directors
of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall
mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding
Rights 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) The Board of Directors of the Company may,
at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable
Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant
to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Shares at an
exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any adjustment in the number of Rights pursuant to Section
11(i) (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors
of the Company 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.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a)
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 Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by such
holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly
give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the
failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the
validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of
any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent.
Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of exchange 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 11(a)(ii) 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 this Section 24,
the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Common Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In
the event the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take
all such action as may be necessary to authorize such additional Common
Shares, the Company shall substitute, for each Common Share that would
otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of Preferred
Shares or fraction thereof (or a security with substantially similar
rights, privileges, preferences, voting power and economic rights) such
that the current per share market price of one Preferred Share (or
other such security) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to
the current per share market price of one Common Share as of the date
of issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof (or other such
security).
(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, the Company shall pay
to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to
which such fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value
of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this paragraph (d), the
current market value of a whole Common Share shall be the closing price
of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of
Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the
date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. (a) In case the Company, at
any time after the Distribution Date, shall propose (i) to pay any
dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred
Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of its
Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii)
to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to
subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares
of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii)
to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other than a
reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding
Preferred Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or
with, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more
of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or
more transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person,
(v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares
payable in Common Shares or to effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise
than by payment of dividends in Common Shares), then, in each such
case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in
accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action,
which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock
dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which
such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date
of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or
Preferred Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice
shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or
(ii) above at least 10 days prior to the record date for determining
holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the
case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the date of
the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein
by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, whichever
shall be the earlier.
(b) In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall
occur, then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to
each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26
hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall
describe such event and the consequences of such event to holders of
Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Rights
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of
any Right Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given
or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until
another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or
demand authorized by this Rights Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights
Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing
with the Company) as follows:
Spacehab, Incorporated
000 X Xxxxxx, XX
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Notices or demands authorized by this Rights Agreement to be
given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any
Right Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the
address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Board of Directors of the
Company may from time to time supplement or amend this Rights Agreement
without the approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order to
cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions
herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights
which the Board of Directors of the Company may deem necessary or
desirable, any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a
writing signed by the Company and the Rights Agent, provided, however,
after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Rights Agreement
shall not be amended in any manner which would adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or
Affiliate or Associate thereof).
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Rights Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights
Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective
successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Rights Agreement. Nothing in this Rights
Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person, other than the
Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares)
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Rights
Agreement; but this Rights Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date,
the Common Shares).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Rights 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 Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Rights Agreement and each Right
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the laws of the State of Washington and for all purposes shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State
applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such
State.
Section 32. Counterparts. This Rights 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 33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Rights Agreement are inserted for convenience only and
shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the
provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Rights
Agreement to be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year
first above written.
SPACEHAB, INCORPORATED
By:
Name:
Title:
American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company
By:
Name:
Title:
Exhibit A
DESIGNATION OF RIGHTS, TERMS AND PREFERENCES
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
SPACEHAB, INCORPORATED
(Pursuant to Chapter 6 of the
Washington Business Corporation Act)
-------------------------------
Spacehab, Incorporated, a corporation organized and existing
under the Business Corporation Act of the State of Washington
(hereinafter called the "Corporation"), hereby certifies that the
following resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation as required by Chapter 6 of the Business Corporation Act at
a meeting duly called and held on March 26, 1999:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in
the Board of Directors of this Corporation (hereinafter called the
"Board of Directors" or the "Board") in accordance with the provisions
of the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates
a series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, par value $.01 per
share (the "Preferred Stock"), and hereby states the designation and
number of shares, and fixes the relative rights, preferences, and
limitations thereof as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock"
(the "Series A Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting
the Series A Preferred Stock shall be 25,000. Such number of shares may
be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then
outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the
exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the
conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation
convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any
series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and
superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the
holders of Common Stock, no par value per share (the "Common Stock"),
of the Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to
receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of
funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in
cash on the first day of March, June, September and December in each
year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A
Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent)
equal to the greater of (a) $10 or (b) subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 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 Preferred Stock. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on
the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a
dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of
shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares
of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this
Section immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the
Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock);
provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been
declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, a dividend of $10 per share on the Series A Preferred
Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares,
unless 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 Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in
either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but
unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of
such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be
allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at
the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for
the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared
thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the
date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Designation
of Rights, Terms and Preferences creating a series of Preferred Stock
or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other
capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall
vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights
and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are
entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for
taking any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in
Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of
Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on
any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions,
on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase
or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for
shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series
A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking
on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance
with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined
by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such
terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective
annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will
result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under
paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such
shares at such time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred
Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation
become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be
reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the
Articles of Incorporation, or in any other Designation of Rights, Terms
and Preferences creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar
stock or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no
distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution
or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto,
the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received
$1,000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends
and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such
payment, provided that the holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share,
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to
1,000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders
of shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock
ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except
distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such
parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of
all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or
winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,
or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise
than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater
or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in
clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. 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 each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at
the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per
share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
equal to 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.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or
lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange
or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with
respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets,
junior to all series of any other class of the Corporation's Preferred
Stock.
Section 10. Amendment. The Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially
alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series
A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a
single class.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Designation of Rights, Terms and
Preferences is executed on behalf of the Corporation by its President
and attested by its Secretary this the 26th day of March, 1999.
SPACEHAB, INCORPORATED
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
Attest:
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
Exhibit B
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. R-
_________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 9, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR
EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT
AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
Rights Certificate
SPACEHAB, INCORPORATED
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 March 26, 1999 (the
"Rights Agreement"), between Spacehab, Incorporated, a Washington
corporation (the "Company"), and American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time
after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on April 9, 2009 at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, or at the office of its
successor as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid
non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
of the Company, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), at a
purchase price of $35 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the
"Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right
Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of
one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon
exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth
above, are the number and Purchase Price as of April 9, 1999, based on
the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the
Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon the
exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject
to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions
and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and
conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a
full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations,
duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and
the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement
are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the
offices of the Rights Agent.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be
exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like
tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a
like aggregate number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by
the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have
entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon
surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for
the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company
at a redemption price of $.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged, in
whole or in part, for Preferred Shares or shares of the Company's
Common Stock, no par value per share.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise
of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts), but in, lieu thereof, a cash payment will be made, as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
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 Right
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights
Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of April 9, 1999.
SPACEHAB, INCORPORATED
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
COUNTERSIGNED:
By_______________________________
Name:
Title:
[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ___________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest
therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on
the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: _______________________
Signature _________________________
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having
an office or correspondent in the United States.
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement). After due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate were not
acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate thereof.
Dated:____________________________
Signature _________________________
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or
any change whatsoever.
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights
represented by the Right Certificate.)
To:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ______
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred
Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that
certificates for such Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying
number:_________________________________________________
_________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
__________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of
such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying
number:_________________________________________________
__________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
__________________________________________
Dated:_______________________________
Signature_____________________________
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having
an office or correspondent in the United States.
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement). After due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate were not
acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate thereof.
Dated:_______________________________
Signature_____________________________
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to
Purchase, as the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon
the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is
not completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the
beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to
be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined
in the Rights Agreement) and such Assignment or Election to Purchase
will not be honored.
Exhibit C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On March 26, 1999, the Board of Directors of Spacehab,
Incorporated (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock,
no par value per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The
dividend is payable on April 9, 1999 (the "Record Date") to the
stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company, par value
$.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), at a price of $35 per one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a
Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
Distribution Date; Exercisability
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Share
certificates and no separate Rights certificates will be issued.
Separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will
be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of
business on the earlier to occur of (i) a public announcement that a
person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring
Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares or (ii) such date as may be determined by
action of the Board of Directors of the Company, upon approval of a
majority of the Continuing Directors (as defined below), following the
commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender
offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the
beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being the
"Distribution Date").
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date
(or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), (i) the Rights
will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares, (ii) new
Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or
new issuance of Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the
Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of
any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date
will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Shares represented by such certificate.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The
Rights will expire on April 9, 2009 (the "Expiration Date"), unless the
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed
or exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.
Flip-In
If a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of
a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise,
Common Shares (or, in certain circumstances, Preferred Shares or other
similar securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times
the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing,
following the existence of an Acquiring Person, all Rights that are, or
(under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void.
For example, at an exercise price of $35 per Right, each Right
not owned by an Acquiring Person following an event set forth in the
preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $70 worth of
Common Shares (or other consideration, as noted above) for $35.
Assuming a value of $17.50 per Common Share at such time, the holder of
each valid Right would be entitled to purchase four Common Shares for
$35.
Flip-Over
In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated
assets or earning power are sold after a person or group has become an
Acquiring Person, proper provision will be made so that each holder of
a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of
shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of
such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise
price of the Right. In the event that any person or group becomes an
Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of
a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person
(which will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to
receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares having a market
value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
Exchange
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person
and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company
may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or
group which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange
ratio of one Common Share, or one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share
(or of a share of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock
having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right
(subject to adjustment).
Redemption
At any time prior to the existence of an Acquiring Person, the
Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights, in whole but
not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The
redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time on such
basis with such conditions as the Board of Directors, in its sole
discretion, may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the
Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Amendment
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors
of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except
that from and after the existence of an Acquiring Person no such
amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the
Rights (other than the Acquiring Person).
Continuing Directors
A determination, approval, consent or other action of the "Board
of Directors" shall require approval or consent by a majority of the
Continuing Directors (as defined below), provided that no such approval
or consent would be required after six months from the date the
Continuing Directors cease to constitute a majority of the members of
the Board of Directors.
"Continuing Director" means a member of the Board of Directors,
who is not an Acquiring Person or a representative or nominee of an
Acquiring Person, and who either (i) was a member of the Board of
Directors on the date of the Rights Agreement or (ii) subsequently
became a member of the Board of Directors, and whose nomination for
election or election to the Board of Directors was recommended or
approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then on the Board of
Directors. For purposes of the Rights Agreement, a determination,
calculation, interpretation or other action shall not be deemed
approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors unless there is at
least one Continuing Director in office who approved such action.
Adjustment
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each
Right are subject to adjustment under certain circumstances.
Preferred Stock
Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth
interest in a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right
should approximate the value of one Common Share.
Rights of Holders
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
Further Information
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on
Form 8-A dated March 30, 1999. A copy of the Rights Agreement is
available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of
the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
