Exhibit 4
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GPU, INC.
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
Rights Agent
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Form of Rights Agreement
Dated as of August __, 1998
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Table of Contents
Page
Section 1. Certain Definition 2
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent 5
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates 5
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates 8
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration 9
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates 10
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights 11
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates 14
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Common Stock 15
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date 16
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights 17
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares 31
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power 31
Section 14. Additional Covenant 35
Section 15. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares 35
Section 16. Rights of Action 37
Section 17. Agreement of Rights Holders 38
Section 18. Rights of Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder 39
Section 19. Concerning the Rights Agent 39
Section 20. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent 40
Section 21. Duties of Rights Agent 41
Section 22. Change of Rights Agent 45
Section 23. Issuance of New Rights Certificates 46
Section 24. Exchange 47
Section 25. Redemption and Termination 48
Section 26. Notice of Certain Events 50
Section 27. Notices 51
Section 28. Supplements and Amendments 52
Section 29. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. 53
Section 30. Successors 53
Section 31. Benefits of this Agreement 54
Section 32. Severability 54
Section 33. Governing Law 54
Section 34. Counterparts 54
Section 35. Descriptive Headings 54
Exhibit A - Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit B - Form of Summary of Rights
ii
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Agreement, dated as of August __, 1998, between GPU, Inc., a
Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and
declared a dividend distribution of one common stock purchase right (a "Right")
for each outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $2.50 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding at the close of business on the tenth
business day following the first public announcement by the Company of receipt
of approval of the dividend by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant
to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (the "Record Date"), each
Right representing the right to purchase one tenth of a share of Common Stock,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, and has further
authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each share of
Common Stock that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the
earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date
(as such terms are hereinafter defined); provided, however, that Rights may be
issued with respect to shares of Common Stock that shall become outstanding
after the Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date and
the Expiration Date in accordance with the provisions of Section 23 of this
Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates (as such term is
hereinafter defined) and Associates (as such term is hereinafter defined) of
such Person, without the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the
Company, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding or who was such a Beneficial Owner at any time after the
date hereof, whether or not such Person continues to be the Beneficial Owner of
10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, but shall not include the
Company, any subsidiary of the Company (as such term is hereinafter defined),
any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
entity holding shares of Common Stock organized, appointed or established by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan
or any trustee or administrator of any such plan; provided, however, that no
Person shall be an Acquiring Person if such Person became the Beneficial Owner
of shares of Common Stock or otherwise became an Acquiring Person (but for the
operation of this proviso) inadvertently (or in the good faith belief that an
acquisition of Common Shares would not cause it to become an Acquiring Person or
was unaware of this Rights Agreement) if both (i) within three Business Days
after such Person discovers that it would otherwise have become an Acquiring
Person such Person notifies the Board of Directors of the Company that such
Person would (absent the operation of this proviso) have become an Acquiring
Person inadvertently and (ii) within ten Business Days after such notification
(or such greater time period as the Board of Directors of the Company may set by
a duly adopted resolution prior to such tenth Business Day), such Person divests
itself of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person is
no longer the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock.
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(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in
effect on the date of this Agreement.
(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 or obligation to acquire (whether such
right or obligation is exercisable or effective immediately or only
after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) 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 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 (whether or not in writing); provided, however, that a
Person shall be not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," any security under this clause (B) if the
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1)
arises solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public
proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance
with, the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act and (2)
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is not also then reportable by such person on Schedule 13D under the
Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with any
which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except
pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in clause (B) of
subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (c)) or disposing of any
securities of the Company.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New Jersey are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., Massachusetts time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is
not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New Jersey time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, par value $2.50
per share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference
to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock with the
greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having
power to control or direct the management, of such Person or, if such Person is
a subsidiary of another Person, the Person which ultimately controls such
first-mentioned Person and which has issued and outstanding such capital stock,
equity securities or equity interests.
(g) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity.
(h) "Rights Agreement" shall mean this Agreement, including as it
may hereafter be amended.
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(i) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such. However, a Stock Acquisition Date shall not occur if a Person does
not become an Acquiring Person by reason of the proviso in the definition of
"Acquiring Person".
(j) A "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 voting interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or which
is otherwise controlled by such Person.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms
and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable, upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights
Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and in no event be
liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent. In the event the
Company appoints one or more Co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the
Rights Agents and any Co-Rights Agents shall be as the Company shall determine.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Stock Acquisition Date, (ii)
the tenth Business Day after the date of the commencement of, or first public
announcement of the intent of any Person (other than the Company, any subsidiary
of the Company, or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any trustee or administrator of any such plan in its capacity as
such) to commence (which intention to commence remains in effect for five
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business days after such announcement), a tenderor exchange offer which would
result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person or, if such event occurs
before the Record Date, the Record Date (or such later date determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company which date shall not be later than the date
specified in (i)) (the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the
"Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for Common
Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which
certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for
Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights (and the right to
receive certificates therefor) will be transferable only in connection with the
transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the
Company); provided, however, that if a tender or exchange offer is terminated
prior to the occurrence of the Distribution Date, then no Distribution Date
shall occur as a result of that tender or exchange offer. As soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured,
postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close
of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, a certificate for Rights, in substantially the form of
Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each
share of Common Stock so held. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as
of the date of this Agreement, until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption, expiration or termination of the Rights), the Rights will be
evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered holders
of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated
Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration or
termination of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any of the
certificates for the Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date shall also
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constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such certificate. Upon the request of the holder of any shares of
Common Stock or, after the Distribution Date, the holder of any Rights, the
Company shall, at its expense, provide a copy of the Summary of Rights in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(c) Certificates for the Common Stock issued (or which become
outstanding) after the Effective Date (or as soon thereafter as is reasonably
practicable), but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date (as such term is hereinafter defined), shall be deemed also to
be certificates for Rights, and shall have impressed, printed, stamped, written
or otherwise affixed onto them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement
between GPU, Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
(the "Rights Agent") dated as of August __, 1998 (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 GPU, Inc.. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the
Rights Agreement, such Rights may be redeemed, may expire, or may
be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be
evidenced by this certificate. GPU, Inc. will mail to the holder
of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge
within fifteen days after receipt of a written request therefor.
Under certain circumstances, Rights issued to Acquiring Persons
(as defined in the Rights Agreement) or certain related persons
and any subsequent holder of such Rights may become null and
void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate. If the Company purchases or otherwise acquires shares of Common
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Stock prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common
Stock shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be
entitled to exercise any Right associated with the shares of Common Stock which
are no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall
each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and may have
such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights
may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the
provisions of Section 11 and Section 23 hereof, the Rights Certificates,
whenever distributed, on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to
purchase such number of shares (or fractions thereof) of Common Stock as shall
be set forth therein at the price per share set forth therein (the "Purchase
Price"), but the number of such shares and the Purchase Price shall be subject
to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section
3(a) or Section 23 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by an
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof and any Rights
Certificate issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to such an
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof or to any nominee of such
Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, and any Rights Certificate issued
pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 upon transfer, exchange, replacement or
adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall
contain the following legend:
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The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate were issued to
a Person who was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or an
Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and
the Rights represented hereby are null and void.
The provisions of Section 7(e) of this Rights Agreement shall be operative
whether or not the foregoing legend is contained on any such Rights Certificate.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Rights
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board, any Vice Chairman of the Board, any President or any Vice President,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the
Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Rights Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights
Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case
any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates
shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the
Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates,
nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent, and issued and delivered
by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed
such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and
any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person
who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a
proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the
date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an
officer.
Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause
to be kept, at one of its offices, books for registration and transfer of the
Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
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addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of
Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights Certificates and the
certificate number and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of
Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 15 hereof,
at any time after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or
prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or
Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered holder to
purchase a like number of shares (or fractions thereof) of Common Stock as the
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder
to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or
exchange any Rights Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to
the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal
office of the Rights Agent. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and
deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of
Rights Certificates.
Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
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mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date
of Rights
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder
of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon presentation of the Rights Certificate, with the
appropriate 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 share of Common Stock (or
such other number of shares or other securities) as to which the Rights are
exercised, at or prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on August 6,
2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 25 hereof (such earlier time being herein
referred to as the "Expiration Date"). Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, any Person who prior to the Distribution Date becomes a record
holder of shares of Common Stock may exercise all of the rights of a registered
holder of a Rights Certificate with respect to the Rights associated with such
shares of Common Stock in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, including the provisions of Sections 4(b), 6 and 7(e) hereof, as of
the date such Person becomes a record holder of shares of Common Stock.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
including the provisions of Sections 11 and 13 hereof, when exercisable, each
Right shall represent the right to purchase one tenth of a share of Common
Stock. The Purchase Price for each full share of Common Stock pursuant to the
exercise of a Right shall initially be $120 (being $12 per one tenth of a share
of Common Stock), shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided
in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United
States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
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(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the appropriate form of election to purchase duly executed,
accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares (or other securities
or property) to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax
(as determined by the Rights Agent) in cash, or by certified check or bank draft
payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section
21(k), thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the
shares of Common Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer
agent) certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased and
the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all
such requests, or (B) if the Company, in its sole discretion, shall have elected
to deposit the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights
hereunder into a depositary, requisition from the depositary agent depositary
receipts representing such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be
purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Common Stock represented
by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary
agent) and the Company will direct the depositary agent to comply with such
request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash,
if any, to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with
Xxxxxxx x0, (xxx) 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 Rights 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 Rights
Certificate. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other
securities of the Company, and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section
11(a), the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities and/or property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent,
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if and when appropriate. In addition, in the case of an exercise of the Rights
by a holder pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii), the Rights Agent shall return such
Rights Certificate to the registered holder thereof after imprinting, stamping
or otherwise indicating thereon that the rights represented by such Rights
Certificate no longer include the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii) of the
Rights Agreement and if less than all the Rights represented by such Rights
Certificate were so exercised, the Rights Agent shall indicate on the Rights
Certificate the number of Rights represented thereby which continue to include
the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii).
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise (except pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)) less than all the Rights
evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the
Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered
to the registered holder of such Rights Certificate or to his duly authorized
assigns, subject to the provisions of Section l5 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the time an Acquiring Person first becomes such, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Affiliate
or Associate thereof) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Affiliate
or Associate thereof) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the
Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a
transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders
of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the
Acquiring Person has a continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Corporation has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this
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Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any further action and no
holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such
Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The
Corporation shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of
this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no
liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a result of its
failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its
Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless the certificate contained in the
appropriate form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the
Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise shall have been completed and
signed by the registered holder thereof and the Company shall have been provided
with such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former
Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall
reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for such purpose and cancellation or,
if surrendered to the Rights Agent for such purpose, shall be canceled by it,
and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by any of the provisions of this 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 Rights Certificate purchased or
acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights
Agent shall deliver all canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall,
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at the written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Rights
Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Common Stock. The
Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept
available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, or any
authorized and issued shares of Common Stock held in its treasury, the number of
shares of Common Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of
all outstanding Rights and, after the occurrence of an event specified in
Section 11, shall so reserve and keep available a sufficient number of shares of
Common Stock (and/or other securities) which may be required to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights pursuant to this Agreement.
So long as the shares of Common Stock (and, after the occurrence of
an event specified in Section 11, any other securities) issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange, the
Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the
Rights become exercisable, all shares (or other securities) reserved for such
issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon
such exercise.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Common Stock, Common Stock
and/or other securities delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of
delivery of the certificates for such shares or other securities (subject to
payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and
fully paid and nonassessable shares or securities.
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 Rights Certificates or
of any certificates for shares of Common Stock and/or other securities upon the
exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any
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transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of
Rights Certificates to a person other than, or in respect of the issuance or
delivery of the shares of Common Stock and/or other securities in a name other
than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for shares of
Common Stock and/or other securities in a name other than that of the registered
holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any
such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that
no such tax is due.
The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the Distribution Date, a registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), with respect to the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration
statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and
(iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus
at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the date of the
expiration of the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii). The Company will also
take such action as may be appropriate under the blue sky laws of the various
states.
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name
any certificate for shares of Common Stock (and/or other securities) is issued
upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the
holder of record of the shares of Common Stock and/or other securities
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which
the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly presented and payment of
the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided,
however, that if the date of such presentation and payment is a date upon which
the Common Stock (and/or other securities) transfer books of the Company are
closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such
16
shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day
on which the Common Stock (and/or other securities) transfer books of the
Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the
holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a
stockholder of the Company with respect to 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 and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of 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 Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock
payable in shares or fractional units of shares of Common Stock, (B)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (C) combine the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares or (D) issue any shares
of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock
(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), and Section 7(e), 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 of shares
(or fractions thereof) of Common Stock and the number and kind of
shares of capital stock issuable on such date upon exercise of a
Right, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any
17
Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the
aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock and other
securities which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior
to such date and at a time when the Common Stock transfer books of the
Company were open, he would have owned upon such exercise and been
entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision,
combination or reclassification; provided, however, that in no event
shall the consideration to be paid upon 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. If an event occurs which
would require an adjustment under both Section 11(a)(i) and Section
11(a)(ii), the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall
be in addition to, and shall be made prior to any adjustment required
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 hereof, in the event any Person,
alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall become an
Acquiring Person, then proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall,
for a period of 60 days (or such other longer period as may be
established by action of a majority of the Board of Directors) after
the later of the occurrence of any such event and the effective date
of an appropriate registration statement pursuant to Section 9, have a
right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase
Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of
shares (or fractions thereof) of Common Stock as shall equal the
result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price for
a full share of Common Stock by the then number of one tenths of a
share of Common Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately
18
prior to the first occurrence of such event and dividing that product
by (y) 50% of the current market price per one full share of Common
Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the date of such first
occurrence (such number of one tenths of a share being referred to as
the "number of Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common
Stock which are authorized but not outstanding or reserved for
issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is not
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), then, in the event the Rights
become so exercisable, the Company shall (A) determine the excess of
(1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess,
the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate
provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon exercise of
the Rights and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2)
a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) other equity securities of the
Company (including, without limitation, shares of preferred stock
which a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company have deemed
to have the same value as shares of Common Stock (such shares of
preferred stock, "Common Stock Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of
the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the
foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where
such aggregate value has been determined by a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors
of the Company; provided, however, that if the Company shall not have
made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above
19
within thirty (30) days following the Stock Acquisition Date, then the
Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise
of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares
of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary,
cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the
Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in
good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of
Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of
the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended
to the extent necessary, but not more than one hundred and fifty days
(150) days after the Stock Acquisition Date, in order that the Company
may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional
shares (such period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution
Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some action
need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this
subparagraph (iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section
7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding
Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the
expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any
authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate
form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to
determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the
Company shall issue a public announcement and shall give concurrent
written notice to the Rights Agent stating that the exercisability of
the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement and notice to the Rights Agent at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this subparagraph
(iii), the value of the Common Stock shall be the Current Market Price
20
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common
Stock on the Stock Acquisition Date and the value of any Common Stock
Equivalent shall be deemed to be the same as the value of Common Stock
on such date. The Company shall give the Rights Agent notice of the
selection of any Common Stock Equivalent under this subparagraph
(iii). In the event any applicable law, regulation, requirement of any
federal or state agency, commission or authority, or agreements or
instruments in effect on the Stock Acquisition Date (a "Restriction")
prohibits all or part of the payments or distributions required
hereunder, payments or distributions shall be made pro rata to holders
of Rights to the extent permitted and the Company shall advise the
Rights Agent of any unpaid amounts. If any or all such Restrictions
shall thereafter lapse, additional payments or distributions shall be
made to the extent permitted pro rata to all holders of Rights until
all unpaid amounts have been paid in full. If payment has been
postponed in full or in part as aforesaid, the Company shall notify
all holders of Rights of such postponement and of the maximum amount
that may be paid or distributed consistent with any Restriction. Such
notice shall describe all such Restrictions, specify the amount, if
any, that may be paid or distributed and the amount of the payment of
which must be postponed, and describe the efforts being undertaken by
the Company to eliminate all such Restrictions. At such time as the
Company may make additional payments or distributions, the Company
shall so notify all holders of Rights, which notice shall indicate the
maximum additional amount that the Company may then pay or distribute.
The Company shall use its best efforts to eliminate expeditiously any
and all Restrictions so as to permit the full payment
21
or distribution of amounts acquired hereunder. During such time as
amounts are unpaid the Company shall not make any distributions on, or
repurchases of, or any shares of Common Stock.
(b) If the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance
of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock entitling them
(for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Common Stock (or shares having substantially the same
rights and privileges as shares of Common Stock ("equivalent common stock") or
securities convertible into Common Stock or equivalent common stock) at a price
per share of Common Stock or per share of equivalent common stock (or having a
conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Common Stock or
equivalent common stock) less than the current market price (as defined in
Section 11(d) per share of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock outstanding
on such record date, plus the number of shares of Common Stock which the
aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock and/or
equivalent common stock 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 shares
of Common Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional
shares of Common Stock and/or equivalent common stock 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 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
22
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration shall be determined reasonably and with good faith to the
holders of Rights 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. Shares of Common Stock 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 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) If the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of Common Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the
Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Common Stock, but including
any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights
or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price
to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the current market price (as defined in Section
11(d)) per share of Common Stock on such record date, less the fair market value
(as determined reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights 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)
of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants distributable in respect
of one share of Common Stock and the denominator of which shall be current
market price per share of the Common Stock; provided, however, that in no event
23
shall the consideration to be paid upon exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon
exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such
a record date is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made,
the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would
be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
in Section 11(a)(iii), the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on
any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share
of such Common Stock for the 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is
hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in
the event that the current per share market price of the Common Stock is
determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such
Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in
shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common
Stock or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Common
Stock, 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
market price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend
trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular
way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares
of Common Stock 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
24
on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, 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 National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System
("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares
of Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making
a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.
If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the
fair value of such shares on such date as determined reasonably and with good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used and shall be
binding on the Rights Agent. The term, "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which
the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock
are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if
the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or
not so listed or traded, "current market price" per share shall mean the fair
value per share determined reasonably and with good faith to the holders of
Rights 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.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current market price" of any other security shall be determined in the same
manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause (i) of this Section
11(d).
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, 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
25
be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent
adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest
cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock or other share
of any other capital stock. 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 mandates
such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of any provision of Section 11(a) or Section
13(a), the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Common Stock,
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 shares
of Common Stock contained in Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive, and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 15 hereof with respect to the Common
Stock 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 shares of Common
Stock 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 Section 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of shares (or
fractions thereof) of Common Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth)
obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one tenths of a share of Common
26
Stock covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase
Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(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 shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise
of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of
Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a
public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating
the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights
Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 15 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to
be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the
Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates
27
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option
of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the
names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of one tenths of a share of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per share and the number of
shares which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then stated or par value, if any, of the
shares of Common Stock or other securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights,
the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its
counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock or other securities 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
the shares of Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company,
if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the shares of Common Stock
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.
28
(m) Anything to the contrary in this Section 11 notwithstanding, the
Company, by action of a majority of the Board of Directors, shall be entitled to
make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments
expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole
discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or
subdivision of the Common Stock, issuance wholly for cash of any shares of
Common Stock at less than the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of
shares of Common Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into
or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, stock dividends or issuance of
rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in this Section 11,
hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Common Stock shall not be
taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a
subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which does not violate Section 11(o)
hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction which does not violate Section 11(o) hereof, or
(iii) sell or transfer (or permit any subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one
transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
does not violate Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately
after such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer there are any charter or
by-law provisions or any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities
outstanding or agreements in effect or other actions taken, which would
materially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded
by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such
consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes,
29
or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof
shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or
any of its Affiliates and Associates. The Company shall not consummate any such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and
such other Person shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
certificate certifying compliance with this Section 11(n).
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26 hereof, take
(or permit any subsidiary to take) any action the purpose of which is to, or if
at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that the effect of
such action is to, materially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in
the event that the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement
and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare or pay a dividend on the
outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (iii) combine or consolidate the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue any
shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the outstanding Common
Stock, then in any such case, the number of Rights associated with each share of
Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to
the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of
Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such
event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a
fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
30
outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event. The adjustments
provided for in this Section 11(p) shall be made successively whenever such a
dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination, consolidation
or reclassification is effected.
(q) The exercise of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) shall only result
in the loss of rights under Section 11(a)(ii) to the extent so exercised and
shall not otherwise affect the rights represented by the Rights under this
Rights Agreement, including the rights represented by Section 13.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the
Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly
file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a
copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of
a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 26 hereof. The Rights Agent
shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any
adjustment therein contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such
adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets
or Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, on or following the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with
and into, any other Person, (y) 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 shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock
or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property or all
holders of shares of Common Stock are not treated alike or following the merger
31
or consolidation the holders of Common Stock immediately prior to the
transaction do not hold in the same proportion all of the voting power of the
corporation surviving the transaction, or (z) the Company shall sell, mortgage
or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its subsidiaries shall sell, mortgage
or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person, then, and in each such
case, proper provision shall be made so that (i) following the Distribution
Date, each holder of a Right, shall have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, such number of shares of freely tradable Common Stock of the
Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), free and clear of liens, rights of
call or first refusal, encumbrances or other adverse claims, as shall be equal
to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price for
one full share of Common Stock by the number of one tenths of a share of Common
Stock for which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (2) 50%
of the current market price per one full share of the Common Stock of such
Principal Party (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of
consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (ii) such
Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of
such consolidation, merger sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of
the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically
intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply to such Principal
Party; and (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock
in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation as may
be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
32
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common
Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of this Section 13, the Person that is the
issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the
Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no
securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to the
merger or consolidation (including, if applicable, the Company if it
is the surviving corporation); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (z) of
the first sentence in this Section 13, the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month
period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a
direct or indirect subsidiary or Affiliate of another Person, "Principal Party"
shall refer to such other Person; (2) in case such Person is a subsidiary,
directly or indirectly, or Affiliate of more than one Person, the Common Stocks
of two or more of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall
refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the
greatest aggregate market value; and (3) in case such Person is owned, directly
or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not
owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in (1)
and (2) above shall apply to each of the chains of ownership having an interest
in such joint venture as if such party were a "Subsidiary" of both or all of
such joint venturers and the Principal Parties in each such chain shall bear the
33
obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as their direct or
indirect interests in such Person bear to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and each Principal Party and
each other Person who may become a Principal Party as a result of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer shall have a sufficient number of shares
of its authorized Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for
issuance in order to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with this Section 13 and shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after
the date of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets mentioned in
paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party at its own expense will
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act
with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, will use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing and will use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a
prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the
Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights
and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or
appropriate; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates
34
which comply in all material respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. The rights under this Section 13
shall be in addition to the rights to exercise Rights and adjustments under
Section 11(a)(ii) and, if applicable, the right to receive shares of Common
Stock in exchange for the Rights pursuant to Section 24 hereof and shall survive
any exercise or exchange thereunder.
Section 14. Additional Covenant. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, no adjustment to the Purchase Price, the
number of shares (or fractions of a share) of Common Stock or other securities
for which a Right is exercisable or the number of Rights outstanding or any
similar adjustment shall be made or be effective if such adjustment would have
the effect of reducing or limiting the benefits the holders of the Rights would
have had absent such adjustment, including, without limitation, the benefits
under Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 13, unless the terms of this Agreement are
amended so as to preserve such benefits.
Section 15. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(n),
or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu
of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 15(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 of the Rights for any day shall
be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on
35
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 reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights
by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used and shall be binding on
the Rights Agent.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of
fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders
of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided
an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a
share of Common Stock.
(c) Following the occurrence of one of the transactions or
events specified in Section 11 giving rise to the right to receive shares
of Common Stock or other securities upon the exercise or exchange of a Right,
the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock
36
upon exercise or exchange of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of
Common Stock or of any such other securities, the Company may 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 a unit or share of such securities, as the case may be. For
purposes of this Section 15(c), the current market value of any such unit or
share shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right.
Section 16. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of
this Agreement (other than rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 19 hereof) are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance
of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
37
Holders of Rights shall be entitled to recover the reasonable costs and
expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by them in any action to enforce
the provisions of this Agreement in which they successfully prosecute their
claims.
Section 17. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a
proper instrument of transfer;
(c) subject to Section 6 and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and
the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or a beneficial interest in a Right or other Person as a result of
its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason
of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling
issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or
38
executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority,
prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; provided,
however, the Company shall not have sought or otherwise cooperated in obtaining
such order, decree or ruling and must use its best efforts to have any such
order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 18. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of Common Stock
or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any
Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company
or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted
to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 26 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions thereof.
Section 19. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Company agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in
the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder. The Company shall indemnify the Rights
Agent for, and hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, claim or expense
("Loss") arising out of or in connection with its duties under this Agreement,
39
]
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any Loss, unless
such Loss shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
a result of the Rights Agent's gross negligence or intentional misconduct. The
obligations of the Company under this section shall survive the termination of
this Agreement.
The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for
or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with
its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or
certificate for Common Stock 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.
The Company shall give the Rights Agent notice as promptly as
reasonably practicable of the date set for the Record Date.
Section 20. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from
any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust
business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the
successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto,
provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor
Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 22 hereof. In case at the time such
successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement,
any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered,
any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the
40
predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned;
and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the
successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates in this Agreement.
In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned
but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its
prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name
or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 21. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel
selected by it (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of
such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the
Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in
accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person) be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
41
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any
Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization
to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under
the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for
its own gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct. In no case,
however, will the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect, incidental or
consequential loss or damages of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited
to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the possibility
of such damages.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason
of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in
the Rights Certificates (except as to the fact that it has countersigned the
Rights Certificates) or be required to verify the same, but all such statements
and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility
in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of
the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any Rights becoming null and void
pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof or for any breach by the Company of any covenant
or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall
it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Sections
11 or 13 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such
adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any
such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it be
responsible for any determination by the Board of Directors of the Company of
the current market value of the Rights, Common Stock, or any other security
42
pursuant to the provisions of Section 15 hereof; nor shall it by any act
hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant
to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of
Common Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by
the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed
to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder
and certificates delivered pursuant to any provision hereof from the Chairman of
the Board, any Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, or
the Secretary of the Company, and is authorized 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 to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with instructions of any such officer. Any application by the Rights Agent for
written instructions from the Company may at the option of the Rights Agent, set
forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent
with respect to its duties or obligations under this Agreement and the date on
and/or after which such action taken or omitted in accordance with a proposal
included in any such application on or after the date specified therein (which
date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date any such officer
actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented
in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking or omitting any such
43
action, the Rights Agent has received written instructions from the Company in
response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights
or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by
or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable
or accountable for any act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct of any such
attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company or to the holders of the
Rights resulting from any such act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct,
provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment
thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights
if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds
or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
44
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the Company.
Section 22. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and,
subsequent to the Distribution Date, to holders of the Rights 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 Stock by registered or certified mail, and, subsequent to the
Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become
incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.
If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days
after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of
any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed
by the Company or by such a court, shall be either (a) a corporation organized
and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state, in good
standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers
and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and
which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of such a corporation. 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 Right
Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall
45
deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held
by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act
or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and, if
such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give
any notice provided for in this Section 22, 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 23. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change in the Purchase Price per share and the number or kind or class of
shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates
made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company shall with respect to shares
of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or
under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities, notes or debentures issued by the Company prior to the
Distribution Date, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate number
of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i)
the Company shall not be obligated to issue any such Right Certificate if, and
to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance
would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the
Company or the Person to whom such Right Certificate shall be issued, and (ii)
46
no Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time prior to the time that 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
7(e) hereof) for Common Stock of the Company at an exchange ratio equal to of
the lesser of (i) three shares of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted
to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring
after the date hereof and (ii) a pro rata portion of the total number of shares
of Common Stock available for issuance at the time of the Board action (such
exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to
effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such
Subsidiary, any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan or any trustee, administrator or fiduciary of such a plan), together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner
of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (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 (other than rights to exercise such Rights pursuant to
Section 13, which shall be in addition to the rights under this Section) 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
47
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 set the method by which the exchange
of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any
partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial
exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than
Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof)
held by each holder of Rights.
Section 25. Redemption and Termination.
(a) (i) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time prior to 5:00 P.M., New Jersey time, on the earlier of (x) the Stock
Acquisition Date or (y) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than
all of the then outstanding Rights at the redemption price of $.001 per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being
hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). This Agreement shall
terminate and be of no further force and effect if the Effective Date shall not
have occurred by December 31, 1998 (or such later date as may be determined by
resolution adopted by Board of Directors before such date).
(ii) In addition, a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Company may, at its option, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date and
the expiration of the period during which the rights of holders of Rights
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof may be exercised as a result of the
occurrence of such Stock Acquisition Date, but prior to any event described in
clause (x), (y), or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof, redeem all but not less than
48
all of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price in connection with
any such event in which all holders of shares of Common Stock are treated alike
and not involving an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person or any Person in which the Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person has an interest, or any other Person acting
directly or indirectly on behalf of or in concert with any such Acquiring
Person, Associate or Affiliate (other than involvement by an Acquiring Person,
Affiliate, Associate or such other Person solely as a holder of shares of Common
Stock (of the Company) being treated like all other such holders) or (z)
following the occurrence of an event set forth in, and the expiration of any
period during which the holder of Rights may exercise the rights under, Section
11(a)(ii) if and for as long as the Acquiring Person is not thereafter the
Beneficial Owner of securities representing ten percent or more of the voting
power of all securities of the Company generally entitled to vote for the
election of directors of the Company.
(b) Immediately upon the date for redemption set forth (or
determined in the manner specified) in a resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have
been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price.
Within ten days after the action of the Board of Directors ordering any such
redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to
the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such
notice to the Rights Agent and to all such holders at their last addresses as
they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the
Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common
Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed
49
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.
Section 26. Notice of Certain Events. In case the Company at any
time on or after the Distribution Date shall propose (a) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any
other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company) or
(b) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe
for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock
of any class or any other securities, rights or options, or (c) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving
only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (d) to effect
any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect any sale or other
transfer (or to permit one or more of its subsidiaries to effect any sale or
other transfer), in one or more transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any
other Person, or (e) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a
Rights 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, 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 shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to
be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by
clause (a) or (b) above at least 20 days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such
action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 20 days prior to the
50
date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein
by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock whichever shall be the earlier.
In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) of this
Agreement shall occur, then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as
practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in
accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event,
which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of
Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
Section 27. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
GPU, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Subject to the provisions of Section 22, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Vice President - Administration
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate shall
51
be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 28. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution
Date, the Company may from time to time supplement or amend any provision of
this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of
certificates representing Common Stock and the Rights. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Company may from time to time supplement or amend this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order (i)
to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
(iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or
supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, however, that this Agreement may
not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this
sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such
time as the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless
such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the
rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section
27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment, provided that
such supplement or amendment does not adversely affect the rights or obligations
of the Rights Agent under Section 19 or Section 21 of this Agreement and such
amendment or supplement shall be effective regardless of whether or when
52
executed by the Rights Agent. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of
the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the
holders of shares of Common Stock.
Section 29. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors,
etc.. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers
specifically granted to the Board, or the Company, or as may be necessary or
advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement and
whether any proposed amendment adversely affects the interests of the holders of
Right Certificates). For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the
number of shares of Common Stock or other securities outstanding at any
particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage
of such outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other securities of which any
Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last
sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement. All such actions,
calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of
clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or
made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on
the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Right Certificates and all
other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to any liability to the holders of
the Right Certificates or holders of shares of Common Stock.
Section 30. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
53
Section 31. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole
and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the
Common Stock).
Section 32. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 33. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under
the laws of the State of Pennsylvania 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 to be performed entirely within such State; provided, however,
that all provisions regarding the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights
Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely
within such State.
Section 34. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 35. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
54
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
Attest: GPU, INC.
--------------------------- ---------------------------
By
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Attest: CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES L.L.C.
By
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
55
Exhibit A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- __________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER August ___, 2008 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE
OF REDEMPTION IS GIVEN. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.001 PER RIGHT
ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. [THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED TO A PERSON WHO
WAS AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN ASSOCIATE OR AFFILIATE OF AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE AMENDED
AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT). THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE AND
THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE NULL AND VOID.]*
Rights Certificate
GPU, Inc.
This certifies that , or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement dated as of August __, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement") between GPU,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C. (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 Jersey time) on August __, 2008 at the principal
office of the Rights Agent, or its successors as Rights Agent, one tenth of a
fully paid, nonassessable share of Common Stock of the Company, at a purchase
price of $120 per one share of Common Stock (the "Purchase Price"), being $12
_________
* The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable.
per one tenth of a share, upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the appropriate Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares
which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase
Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of August __, 1998,
based on the Common Stock as constituted at such date.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the
number of shares of Common Stock or other securities which may be purchased upon
the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This 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 Rights Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are
also available upon written request to the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exercised for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date
evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of
shares of Common Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If
this Rights Certificate shall be exercised (other than pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement) in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised. If this Rights Certificate shall
be exercised in whole or in part in pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights
57
Agreement, the holder shall be entitled to receive this Rights Certificate duly
marked to indicate that such exercise has occurred as set forth in the Rights
Agreement.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a
redemption price of $.001 per Right.
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, 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 Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Common
Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or, to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
58
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal. Dated as of , 19 .
Attest: GPU, INC.
By
--------------------- ---------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
[ ]
----------------------
Authorized Signature
59
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder
desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED hereby
----------------------------------------
sells, assigns and transfers unto
------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
-----------------------
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: , 19
----------------- --
----------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
60
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: , 19 ------------------------------
------------------ --- Signature
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment must correspond to the
name as written upon the face of this Rights 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 such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement) and such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
61
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the
Rights Certificate other than pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
of the Rights Agreement.)
To GPU, INC.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Common Stock
(or such other securities of the Company or any other Person) issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued
in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rights Certificate indicating the balances, if any, of such
Rights which may still be exercised pursuant to each of Section 11(a)(ii) and
Section 13 of the Rights Agreement shall be returned to the undersigned unless
such person requests that the Rights Certificate be registered in the name of
and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number (complete
only if Rights Certificate is to be registered in a name other than the
undersigned)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: , 19
-------------------- --
-------------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
62
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: , 19
-------------------- ---
------------------------------------------------
Signature
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Rights 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 such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement) and such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
63
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement.)
To GPU, INC.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Common Stock
(or such other securities of the Company) issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rights Certificate indicating the balances, if any, of such
Rights which may still be exercised pursuant to each of Section 11(a)(ii) and
Section 13 of the Rights Agreement shall be returned to the undersigned unless
such person requests that the Rights Certificate be registered in the name of
and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number (complete
only if Rights Certificate is to be registered in a name other than the
undersigned)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: , 19
-------------------- ----
------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
64
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: , 19
--------------------- -----
-------------------------------------
Signature
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Rights 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 such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement) and such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
65
Exhibit B
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
COMMON STOCK
On August 6, 1998, the Board of Directors of GPU, Inc. (the
"Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding
share of common stock, par value $2.50 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company to stockholders of record as of the close of business on the tenth
business day following the first public announcement by the Company of receipt
of approval of the dividend by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant
to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (the "Record Date"). Except as
set forth below, each Right, when exercisable, entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company one tenth of a share of Common Stock, at a price of
$120 per one share of Common Stock (the "Purchase Price), being $12 per one
tenth of a share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment. The description and
terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights
Agent.
Until the earlier to occur of (i) a public announcement that,
without the prior consent of the Board of Directors of the Company, a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired,
or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) ten
business days (or such later date as the Board may determine) following the
commencement of (or a public announcement of an intention to make) a tender
offer or exchange offer which would result in any person or group and related
persons having beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock without the prior consent of the Board of Directors of the Company,
or (the earliest of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights
will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Stock certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Stock certificate and no
separate Rights Certificates will be distributed. The Rights Agreement provides
that, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only
with Common Stock certificates. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued
after the Record Date (or as soon thereafter as practicable) upon transfer or
new issuance of the Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the
Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any
certificates for Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, will also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such certificate, even without such notation. As soon as
practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing
66
the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the
Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and the
separate Rights Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The
Rights will expire on August 6, 2008, unless earlier redeemed by the Company as
described below.
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, each
holder of a Right generally will thereafter have the right for a 60 day period
after the later of the date of such event or the effectiveness of an appropriate
registration statement (or such other longer period set by the Board of
Directors) to receive upon exercise of the Right that number of shares of Common
Stock (or, under certain circumstances, other securities) having an average
market value during a specified time period (immediately prior to the occurrence
of a Person becoming an Acquiring Person) of two times the then current Purchase
Price (such right being called the "Subscription Right"). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, following the occurrence of a Person becoming an Acquiring Person,
all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement) were, beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person or any affiliate or
associate thereof will be null and void. In addition, the Board of Directors of
the Company may, at its option, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date
and prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes the beneficial owner of more
than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, exchange all or part of the
then outstanding Rights (other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or its affiliates or associates, which Rights have become void) for
shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio equal to the lesser of (i) three
shares of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
split, stock dividend or similar occurrence, and (ii) a pro rata portion of the
total number of shares of Common Stock then available for issuance (such
exchange ratio, the "Exchange Ratio"). Immediately upon such action by the Board
of Directors, the right to exercise the exchanged Rights with respect to the
Subscription Right will terminate and each such Right with respect to the
Subscription Right will thereafter represent the right to receive a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or
50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power are sold (in one
transaction or a series of transactions), proper provision shall be made so that
each holder of a Right (except a Right voided as set forth above) shall
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 (or, in the event there is more than one acquiring
company, the acquiring company receiving the greatest portion of the assets or
earning power transferred) which at the time of such transaction would have a
market value of two times the exercise price of the Right (such right being
called the "Merger Right"). The holder of a Right will continue to have the
67
Merger Right whether or not such holder exercises the Subscription Right or the
Right is exchanged in lieu of the Subscription Right.
The Purchase Price payable, the number of Rights and the number of
shares of the Common Stock or other securities or property issuable upon
exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent
dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination
or reclassification of the Common Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the
Common Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or
certain convertible securities at less than the current market price of the
Common Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Common Stock of
evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends
out of earnings or retained earnings and dividends payable in Common Stock) or
of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustments in the Purchase Price will
be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractions of shares will be issued and, in lieu thereof,
an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Stock
on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the earlier to occur of (i) the close of
business on the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the expiration of the Rights, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per
Right (the "Redemption Price"), which redemption shall be effective upon the
action of the Board of Directors. Additionally, following the Stock Acquisition
Date and the expiration of the period during which the Subscription Right is
exercisable, the Board of Directors may redeem the then outstanding Rights in
whole, but not in part, at the Redemption Price provided that such redemption is
in connection with a merger or other business combination transaction or series
of transactions involving the Company in which all holders of Common Stock are
treated alike but not involving an Acquiring Person (or any person who was an
Acquiring Person) or it affiliates or associates. Upon the effective date of the
redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, 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.
Except as set forth above, the terms of the Rights may be amended by
the Board of Directors of the Company (i) prior to the Distribution Date in any
manner, and (ii) on or after the Distribution Date to cure any ambiguity, to
correct or supplement any provision of the Rights Agreement which may be
68
defective or inconsistent with any other provisions, or in any manner not
adversely affecting the interests of the holders of the Rights.
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. 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
incorporated herein by reference.
69
