Exhibit 4.1
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of March 11, 2005 (the "Agreement"), between
XXXXXX INTERACTIVE INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY (the "Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Corporation has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share
(as hereinafter defined) of the Corporation outstanding at the close of business
on March 29, 2005 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing the right to
purchase one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter defined), upon
the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has further
authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common
Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of
the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date (as such
terms are hereinafter defined); provided, however, that Rights may be issued
with respect to Common Shares that shall become outstanding after the
Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final
Expiration Date in accordance with the provisions of Section 22 of this
Agreement.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares (other than as a result
of a Permitted Offer (as hereinafter defined)) or was such a Beneficial Owner at
any time after the date hereof, whether or not such person continues to be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include
(i) the Corporation, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Corporation, (iii) any employee
benefit plan of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary of the Corporation, (iv)
any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Corporation for,
or pursuant to, the terms of any such plan, or (v) any Person, who or which
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares as a
result of the acquisition of Common Shares directly from the Corporation, and
(B) no Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" either (X) as a result
of the acquisition of Common Shares by the Corporation which, by reducing the
number of Common Shares outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares
beneficially owned by such Person together with all Affiliates and Associates of
such Person; except that if (i) a Person would become an Acquiring Person (but
for the operation of this subclause (X) as a result of the acquisition of Common
Shares by the Corporation, and (ii) after such share acquisition by the
Corporation, such Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of such Person, becomes
the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares, then such Person shall be
deemed an Acquiring Person, or (Y) if (i) within 8 days after such Person would
otherwise have become an Acquiring Person (but for the operation of this
subclause (Y)), such Person notifies the Board of Directors that such Person did
so inadvertently,
1
and (ii) within 2 days after such notification, such Person is the Beneficial
Owner of less than 15% of the outstanding Common Shares.
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and as in
effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) "Adjusted Number of Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11 hereof.
(d) "Adjusted Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
(e) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11
hereof.
(f) "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 and in effect on the date of
this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(g) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights,
exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or
otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial
Owner of, or to beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for
purchase or exchange, or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security if the
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely
from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public
proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act, and (2) is
not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person
(or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities) relating to the acquisition, holding, voting (except to
the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(g)(ii)(B)) or disposing of
any securities of the Corporation.
2
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to
the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a
Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Corporation, shall mean the
number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number
of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person
would be deemed to own beneficially hereunder.
(h) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
U.S. federal holiday.
(i) "capital stock equivalent" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11 hereof.
(j) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New
York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business
Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(k) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Corporation shall
mean the shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Corporation
or, in the event of a subdivision, combination or consolidation with respect to
such shares of common stock, the shares of common stock resulting from such
subdivision, combination or consolidation. "Common Shares" when used with
reference to any Person other than the Corporation shall mean the capital stock
(or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if
such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which
ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(l) "current per share market price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11 hereof.
(m) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
(n) "equivalent preferred shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11 hereof.
(o) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24
hereof.
(p) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7 hereof.
(q) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean any Acquiring Person or any
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any other Person in which any
such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate has an interest, or any other
Person acting directly or indirectly on behalf of or in concert with any such
Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate.
(r) "NASDAQ" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11 hereof.
(s) "Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender or exchange offer which is
for all outstanding Common Shares at a price and on terms determined, prior to
the purchase of shares under such tender or exchange offer, by at least a
majority of the members of the Board of
3
Directors who are not officers of the Corporation and who are not Acquiring
Persons or Affiliates, Associates, nominees or representatives of an Acquiring
Person, to be adequate (taking into account all factors that such Directors deem
relevant including, without limitation, prices that could reasonably be achieved
if the Corporation or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to
realize maximum value) and otherwise in the best interests of the Corporation
and its stockholders (other than the Person or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof on whose basis the offer is being made) taking into account all factors
that such directors may deem relevant.
(t) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership,
corporation, trust, association, joint venture or other entity, and shall
include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(u) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
with a par value of $.01 per share, of the Corporation having the relative
rights, preferences and limitations set forth in the Form of Certificate of
Designation attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.
(v) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13
hereof.
(w) "Proration Factor" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11
hereof.
(x) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b)
hereof.
(y) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble
hereof.
(z) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7
hereof.
(aa) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23
hereof.
(bb) "Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.
(cc) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
(dd) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ee) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause (x),
(y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(ff) "Security" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11 hereof.
(gg) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to the Exchange Act) by the Corporation or
an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such; provided, that, if
such Person is determined not to have become an Acquiring Person pursuant to
Section 1(a)(B)(y) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition Date shall be deemed to
have occurred.
4
(hh) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
Person of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
(ii) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.
(jj) "TIDE Committee" shall mean a committee of the Board of Directors
of the Corporation comprised of those Directors who (i) are "independent
directors" within the meaning of Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASDAQ listing
requirements and (ii) are not an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring Person.
(kk) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11
hereof.
(ll) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
(mm) "voting securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13 hereof.
2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Corporation hereby appoints the Rights
Agent to act as agent for the Corporation and the holders of the Rights (who, in
accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be
the holders of Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Corporation
may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.
3. Issuance of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the Shares
Acquisition Date (or if the Shares Acquisition Date occurs before the Record
Date, the close of business on the Record Date), or (ii) the close of business
on the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the
Corporation's Board of Directors) after the date of the commencement by any
Person (other than the Corporation, any Subsidiary of the Corporation, any
employee benefit plan of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary of the Corporation
or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Corporation
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) of, or of the first public
announcement of the intention of any Person (other than the Corporation, any
Subsidiary of the Corporation, any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or
of any Subsidiary of the Corporation or any Person or entity organized,
appointed or established by the Corporation for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan) to commence (which intention to commence remains in effect for five
Business Days after such announcement), a tender or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring Person
(including, in the case of both (i) and (ii), any such date which is after the
date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights), the earlier of
such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date," (x) the Rights
will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the
certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof
(which certificates shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by
separate Right Certificates, and (y) the right to receive Right Certificates
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
Common Shares (including a transfer to the Corporation); provided, however, that
if a tender offer is terminated prior to the occurrence of a Distribution Date,
then no Distribution Date shall occur as a result of such tender offer. As soon
as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Corporation will prepare and
execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Corporation will send or
cause to be sent by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of
Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Corporation, a Right
Certificate, substantially in the
5
form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each
Common Share so held. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Corporation will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"),
by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as
of the close of business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown
on the records of the Corporation. With respect to certificates for Common
Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof together with a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto.
Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final
Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common
Shares outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of
Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with such Common Shares.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last
sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest
of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date,
shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following
legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Xxxxxx
Interactive Inc. and AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, dated
as of March 11, 2005 (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which
is on file at the principal executive offices of the Corporation.
Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement,
such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no
longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Corporation will mail to
the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without
charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or
held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
and certain related persons, whether currently held by or on behalf of
such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing
legend, until the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common
Shares represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates
alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented thereby. In the event that the Corporation purchases or acquires any
6
Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any
Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed cancelled and retired
so that the Corporation shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated
with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.
4. Form of Right Certificate.
(a) The Right Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and
of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially in
the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification
or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as
the Corporation 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 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof
to purchase such number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as shall be set
forth therein at the Purchase Price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share
set forth therein, but the amount and type of securities
purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall
be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section
22 hereof that represents Rights which are null and void pursuant to Section
7(e) of this Agreement and any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or
Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Right Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the
extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Right Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Right 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 Right Certificate.
5. Countersignature and Registration. The Right Certificates shall be
executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief
Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer,
either manually or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed thereto the
Corporation's seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, either manually or by
facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights
Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case
any officer of the Corporation who shall have signed any of the Right
Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Corporation before
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the
Corporation, such Right Certificates may nevertheless be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Corporation with the same force and
effect as though the person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to
be such officer of the Corporation, and any Right Certificate may
7
be signed on behalf of the Corporation by any person who, at the actual date of
the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the
Corporation to sign such Right 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 its principal office or offices designated as the appropriate
place for surrender of such Right Certificate or transfer, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books
shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right
Certificates and the certificate number and the date of each of the Right
Certificates.
6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificate. Subject to the
provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, at any time
after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the
close of business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration
Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates may be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates,
entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandth
of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, as the
case may be) as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then
entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase.
Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any
Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such request in writing
delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate or
Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the
principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose.
Neither the Rights Agent nor the Corporation shall be obligated to take any
action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Right
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Right Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Corporation shall reasonably request. Thereupon the
Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof,
countersign and deliver to the Person(s) entitled thereto a Right Certificate or
Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Corporation may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or
exchange of Right Certificates.
Upon receipt by the Corporation and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Corporation's request,
reimbursement to the Corporation and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Corporation will make and deliver a new
Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and
delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
8
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any Right
Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise
provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date
upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase
and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for the total
number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or other securities, as the
case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are exercised, at or prior to
the earliest of (i) the close of business on March 11, 2015 (the "Final
Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided
in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date").
(b) The purchase price for each one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $27.48, shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in the next sentence and in
Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof (as the same may be so adjusted, the "Purchase
Price") and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below. Anything in
this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that at any time
after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the
Corporation shall (i) declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable
in Common Shares, or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of
the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends
in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any
such case, each Common Share outstanding following such subdivision, combination
or consolidation shall continue to have a Right associated therewith and the
Purchase Price following any such event shall be proportionately adjusted to
equal the result obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price immediately prior to
such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of
Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and
the denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately following the occurrence of such event. The adjustment provided for
in the preceding sentence shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is
declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is
effected.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the Preferred Shares (or other
securities, as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 6 hereof by certified check, cashier's
check or money order payable to the order of the Corporation, the Rights Agent
shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the
Preferred Shares certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be purchased
and the Corporation hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply
with all such requests, or (B) if the Corporation, in its sole discretion, shall
have elected to deposit the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Rights hereunder into a depositary, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer
agent with the depositary agent) and the Corporation will direct the depositary
agent to comply with such requests, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the
Corporation the amount of cash to be paid in
9
lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof,
(iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same
to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to
or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate. In the
event that the Corporation is obligated to issue other securities (including
Common Shares) of the Corporation pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the
Corporation will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities
are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, 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 Right
Certificate to the registered holder thereof after imprinting, stamping or
otherwise indicating thereon that the rights represented by such Right
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 Right
Certificate were so exercised, the Rights Agent shall indicate on the Right
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 Right Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his
duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, or the
Rights Agent shall place an appropriate notation on the Right Certificate with
respect to those Rights exercised.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, 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
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 Corporation shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the
10
form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Right
Certificate surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial owner) or
Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Corporation shall reasonably request.
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All Right
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Corporation or to any of
its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled
form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no
Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted
by any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Corporation shall deliver
to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall
so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Corporation otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all cancelled Right Certificates to the Corporation, or shall, at the
written request of the Corporation, destroy such cancelled Right Certificates,
and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the
Corporation.
9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares. The Corporation
covenants and agrees that at all times prior to the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its
authorized and unissued Preferred Shares, or any authorized and issued Preferred
Shares held in its treasury, the number of Preferred Shares that will be
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights and, after
the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, shall, to the extent reasonably
practicable, so reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Common Shares
(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 Preferred Shares (and, after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, Common Shares or any other securities) issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange,
the Corporation shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as
the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be
listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or
other securities, as the case may be) 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 non-assessable shares or securities.
The Corporation further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all U.S. federal and state transfer taxes and charges which
may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates
or of any Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the
case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Corporation shall not, however, be
required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer
or delivery of Right Certificates to a person other than, or the issuance or
delivery of certificates or depository receipts for the Preferred Shares (or
Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than
that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise, or to issue or to deliver any
11
certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares
and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of any Rights,
until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the
holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been
established to the Corporation's reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is
due.
The Corporation shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the Shares Acquisition Date, a registration statement
under 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 and the rules and regulations thereunder)
until the date of the expiration of the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii).
The Corporation will also take such action as may be appropriate under the blue
sky laws of the various states.
10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as
the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be
deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares (or Common
Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and
such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that, if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares (or
Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Corporation are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record
holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next
succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or
other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Corporation are
open.
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) In the event
(i) the Corporation shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred
Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine the
outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares, or (D)
issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the
Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of
the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such
time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of
capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such
date and at a time when the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Corporation
were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been
12
entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to
be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of
the shares of capital stock of the Corporation 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) 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 below and in Section
7(e) hereof) shall, for a period of 60 days after the later of the occurrence of
any such event or the effective date of an appropriate registration statement
under the Act pursuant to Section 9 hereof, have a right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of Preferred Shares as
shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the then number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a
Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, and dividing that product by (y) 50% of the then current per
share market price of the Corporation's Common Shares (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of such first occurrence (such number of
shares being referred to as the "Adjustment Shares"); provided, however, that if
the transaction that would otherwise give rise to the foregoing adjustment is
also subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof, then only the provisions of
Section 13 hereof shall apply and no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this
Section 11(a)(ii);
(iii) that there shall not be sufficient treasury shares or
authorized but unissued (and unreserved) Preferred Shares to permit the exercise
in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) and the
Rights become so exercisable, notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, to the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law, each Right
shall thereafter represent the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the
then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (x)
a number of (or fractions of) Common Shares (up to the maximum number of Common
Shares which may permissibly be issued), and (y) a number of (or fractions of)
other equity securities of the Corporation (or, in the discretion of the Board
of Directors, debt) including, but not limited to, fractions of a Preferred
Share, which the Board of Directors of the Corporation has determined to have
the same aggregate current market value (determined pursuant to Sections
11(d)(i) and 11(d)(ii) hereof, to the extent applicable) as one Common Share
(such number of, or fractions of, Preferred Shares, debt, or other equity
securities or debt of the Corporation being referred to as a "capital stock
equivalent"), equal in the aggregate to the number of Adjustment Shares;
provided, however, if there are unavailable sufficient Preferred Shares, Common
Shares and/or capital stock equivalents, then the Corporation shall, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, take all such action as may he necessary to
authorize additional Preferred Shares, Common Shares or capital stock
equivalents for issuance upon exercise of the Rights, including the calling of a
meeting of stockholders; and provided, further, that if the Corporation is
unable to cause sufficient Preferred Shares, Common Shares and/or capital stock
equivalents to be available for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights,
then each Right shall thereafter represent the right to receive the Adjusted
Number of Shares upon exercise at the Adjusted Purchase Price (as such terms are
hereinafter defined). As used herein, the term "Adjusted Number of Shares" shall
be
13
equal to that number of (or fractions of) Preferred Shares (and/or capital stock
equivalents) equal to the product of (x) the number of Adjustment Shares, and
(y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Preferred Shares (and/or
capital stock equivalents) available for issuance upon exercise of the Rights
and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Adjustment Shares
otherwise issuable upon exercise in full of all Rights (assuming there were a
sufficient number of Preferred Shares available) (such fraction being referred
to as the "Proration Factor"). The "Adjusted Purchase Price" shall mean the
product of the Purchase Price and the Proration Factor. The Board of Directors
may, but shall not be required to, establish procedures to allocate the right to
receive Preferred Shares and capital stock equivalents upon exercise of the
Rights among holders of Rights.
(b) In case the Corporation shall fix a record date for the issuance
of rights (other than the Rights), options or warrants to all holders of
Preferred Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days
after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares
having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares
("equivalent preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares
or equivalent preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share or equivalent
preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the
then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be
in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such
record date plus the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering
price of the total number of Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares
so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the
convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current per
share market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of
Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional
Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation issuable
upon exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration shall be determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent.
Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Corporation shall not
be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the
event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Corporation shall fix a record date for the making of
a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a
dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be
in effect after such record date
14
shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
then current per share market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) of the Preferred Shares on such record date, less the fair market value
(as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, 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 assets or evidences
of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to one Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be such
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares; provided, however, that
in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be
less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the
Corporation to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be
made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that
such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to
be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d) For the purpose of
(i) any computation hereunder, the "current per share market
price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i))
on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per
share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such
term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however,
that in the event that the current per share market price of the Security is
determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such
Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of
such Security or securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security and prior to the
expiration of thirty (30) Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination
or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per share market
price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per
share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is
not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ") or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished
by a professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation. If on any such date no such market maker
is making market in the Security, the fair value of the Security on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be
used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
15
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Security
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a
Business Day.
(ii) any computation hereunder, the "current per share market
price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in accordance with the method
set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred Shares are not publicly traded,
the "current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be
conclusively deemed to be the current per share market price of the Common
Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) (appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof), multiplied by 1,000. If neither the Common Shares nor the
Preferred Shares are publicly held or so listed or traded, "current per share
market price" shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
Rights Agent.
(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
be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent
adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest
cent or to the nearest one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share or one
ten-thousandth of any other share or security as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three
(3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such adjustment, or
(ii) the Final Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall
become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Corporation other
than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of other shares so receivable upon
exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a
manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with
respect to the Preferred Shares contained in Sections 11(a) through 11(c),
inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to
the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Corporation subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) The Corporation may elect on or after the date of any adjustment
of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment
in the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the
exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one
ten-
16
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 Corporation shall make a public
announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the
record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(h), the Corporation shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right
Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Corporation, shall
cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and
replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Corporation, new
Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be
issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall
be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the
record date specified in the public announcement.
(i) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued
may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates
issued hereunder.
(j) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share, Common Shares or other securities issuable
upon exercise of the Rights, the Corporation shall take any corporate action
which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the
Corporation may validly and legally issue such number of fully paid and
non-assessable one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share, Common Shares or other
securities at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(k) 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 Corporation may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the Preferred Shares, Common Shares or other securities of the Corporation, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Shares, Common
Shares or other securities of the Corporation, if any, issuable upon exercise on
the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
however, that the Corporation 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.
(l) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Corporation 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 (i) any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred
17
Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares at less than the
current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or
securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for
Preferred Shares, (iv) stock dividends, or (v) issuance of rights, options or
warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Corporation to
holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(m) The Corporation 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 Corporation in a transaction which does not violate
Section 11(n) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Corporation in a transaction which does not violate Section
11(n) 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
Corporation and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or
Persons (other than the Corporation and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or
more transactions each of which does not violate Section 11(n) 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, 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 Corporation
shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless
prior thereto the Corporation and such other Person shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement evidencing compliance
with this Section 11(m).
(n) The Corporation covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 27 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.
(o) 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.
12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. Whenever
an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 13 hereof, the Corporation
shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment, and a
brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with the
Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares and the
Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary
thereof to each holder of a Right 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.
18
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, on or following the Shares Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Corporation shall consolidate with, or merge
with and into, any Interested Stockholder or, if in such merger or consolidation
all holders of Common Shares are not treated alike, any other Person, (y) the
Corporation shall consolidate with, or merge with, any Interested Stockholder
or, if in such merger or consolidation all holders of Common Shares are not
treated alike, any other Person, and the Corporation shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger (other than, in a case of
any transaction described in (x) or (y), a merger or consolidation which would
result in all of the securities generally entitled to vote in the election of
directors ("voting securities") of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior
thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into securities of the surviving entity) all of the voting securities
of the Corporation or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such
merger or consolidation and the holders of such securities not having changed as
a result of such merger or consolidation), or (z) the Corporation shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or
earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the
Corporation and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Interested
Stockholder or Stockholders or, if in such transaction all holders of Common
Shares are not treated alike, any other Person (other than the Corporation or
any Subsidiary of the Corporation in one or more transactions each of which does
not violate Section 11(n) hereof), then, and in each such case (except as
provided in Section 13(d) hereof), proper provision shall be made so that (i)
each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at a price equal
to the then current Purchase Price, in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of freely tradeable
Common Shares of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), not subject to
any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as
shall equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a
Right is then exercisable (without taking into account any adjustment previously
made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)) and dividing that product by (B) 50% of the
then current per share market price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of
such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for,
and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and
duties of the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term
"Corporation" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it
being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply
only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event; and (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares) in
connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to
assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as
reasonably may be, in relation to the Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon
the exercise of the Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y)
of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of any
securities into which Common
19
Shares of the Corporation are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if
no securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger
or consolidation (including, if applicable, the Corporation if it is the
surviving corporation); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions; provided, however, that in any of the foregoing
cases, (1) if the Common Shares of such Person are not at such time and have not
been continuously over the preceding twelve (12) month period registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of another Person the Common Shares of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) in case such
Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the
Common Shares 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 Shares 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 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 Corporation shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of its authorized Common Shares which have not been issued or reserved
for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with
this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Corporation and such Principal
Party 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 mentioned in paragraph (a) of this
Section 13, the Principal Party at its own expense shall:
(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, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration
statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and
(B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of
the Act) until the Final 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 which comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
20
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 shall survive any exercise thereof.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs
(x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if:
(i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons who
acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a wholly owned
Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons);
(ii) the price per Common Share offered in such transaction is
not less than the price per Common Share paid to all holders of Common Shares
whose shares were purchased pursuant to such Permitted Offer; and
(iii) the form of consideration offered in such transaction is
the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted Offer.
Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d),
all Rights hereunder shall expire.
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights
or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation. If on any such date no such market maker is making
a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be used.
(b) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are one one- thousandth or integral
multiples of one one-
21
thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions
which are one one-thousandth or integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Corporation, be
evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between
the Corporation and a depositary selected by it; provided that such agreement
shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have the
rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial
owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu
of fractional Preferred Shares that are not one one-thousandth or integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Corporation shall pay
to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are
exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of one Preferred Share. For the purposes of this Section
14(b), the current market value of a Preferred Share shall be the closing price
of a Preferred Share (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for
the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of one of the transactions or events
specified in Section 11 giving rise to the right to receive Common Shares,
capital stock equivalents (other than Preferred Shares) or other securities upon
the exercise of a Right, the Corporation shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares or units of such Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or
other securities upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractions of such Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or other
securities. In lieu of fractional shares or units of such Common Shares, capital
stock equivalents or other securities, the Corporation 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 or unit of such Common Shares, capital stock equivalents or
other securities. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value
shall be determined in the manner set forth in Section 11(d) hereof for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise and, if such capital
stock equivalent is not traded, each such capital stock equivalent shall have
the value of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional share upon
exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this Agreement,
excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under Section 18
hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Corporation to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided
in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific
22
performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of the obligations of any Person subject to, this
Agreement.
16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by accepting the
same, consents and agrees with the Corporation and the Rights Agent and with
every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the
appropriate form fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6 and Section 7(f) hereof, the Corporation and
the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Right
Certificate (or prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Right Certificate or the associated Common Shares certificate made by anyone
other than the Corporation or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Corporation nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Corporation 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 executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental
authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation;
provided, however, the Corporation must use its best efforts to have any such
order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such,
of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be
deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any other
securities of the Corporation which may at any time be issuable on the exercise
of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Corporation or
any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive or subscription rights, or
otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall
have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
23
18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Corporation agrees to pay to the
Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder
and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses
and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Corporation also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises. The indemnity provided
for herein shall survive the expiration of the Rights and 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 Right
Certificate or certificate for Common Shares or for other securities of the
Corporation, 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.
19. 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 stock transfer or
all or substantially all of 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 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed
to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall
have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may
adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in
this Agreement.
In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of
the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed
name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
24
20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes only those duties
and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Corporation and the holders of Right
Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Corporation), 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 an Acquiring Person and the
determination of the current market price of any Security) be proved or
established by the Corporation prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the
Secretary of the Corporation 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
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right
Certificates (except its countersignature on such Right 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 Corporation 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 Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Corporation of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the
Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) or any adjustment required
under the provisions of Section 11 or Section 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 Right Certificates after receipt of the
certificate described in Section 12 hereof); nor shall it by any act hereunder
be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any Preferred Shares or Common Shares to be issued pursuant to
this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares or
Common Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.
(f) The Corporation agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge
and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all
such further and
25
other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the
Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the
provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Corporation, and to
apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties,
and shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith or
lack of action in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any
delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application by the
Rights Agent for written instructions from the Corporation may, at the option of
the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or
omitted by the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement and the date on or after
which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights
Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights
Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after
the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five
Business Days after the date any officer of the Corporation actually receives
such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written
instruction 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 Corporation or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Corporation may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Corporation 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 Corporation or for any other
legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Corporation resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has not been
completed, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to
such requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the
Corporation.
26
21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon thirty
(30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Corporation and to each transfer
agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail,
and to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. The
Corporation may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon sixty
(60) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights
Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares or
Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to holders of the Right
Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed
or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Corporation shall appoint a
successor to the Rights Agent. If the Corporation shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of sixty (60) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for
inspection by the Corporation), then the registered holder of any Right
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Corporation or by such a court, shall be a Person organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, in good standing,
which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust, stock transfer,
or stockholder services powers and which has at the time of its appointment as
Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000. After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers,
rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights
Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall
deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held
by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act
or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment the Corporation shall file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares or
Preferred Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders
of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this
Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or
validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of
the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Corporation
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares
following the Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date
and the Final Expiration Date, the Corporation (a) shall with respect to Common
Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any
employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
securities, notes or debentures issued by the Corporation, and (b) may, in any
other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of
Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) the
Corporation shall not be
27
obligated to issue any such Right Certificates if, and to the extent that, the
Corporation shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a
significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Corporation or the
Person to whom such Right Certificate would be issued, and (ii) 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.
23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, at its option, at
any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the Shares
Acquisition Date (or, if the Shares Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior
to the Record Date, the close of business on the Record Date), or (ii) the Final
Expiration Date, (x) redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding
Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right (rounded up to the nearest
whole $0.01 in the case of any holder whose holdings are not in a multiple of
ten), as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price" or (y)
amend this Agreement to change the final Expiration Date to another date,
including without limitation an earlier date. Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the
first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event until such time as the Company's
right of redemption hereunder has expired. The Company may, at its option, pay
the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Shares (based on the current per
share market price, as defined in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of the Common Shares
at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation 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 the Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price
for each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Corporation shall
give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then
outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each holder's
last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior
to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the
Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives a notice. Each such notice of
redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price
will be made.
28
(c) The Corporation may, at its option, discharge all of its
obligations with respect to the Rights by (i) issuing a press release announcing
the manner of redemption of the Rights in accordance with this Agreement, and
(ii) mailing payment of the Redemption Price to the registered holders of the
Rights at their last addresses as they appear on the registry books of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
Transfer Agent of the Common Shares, and upon such action, all outstanding
Rights and Right Certificates shall be null and void without any further action
by the Corporation.
24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, at its option, at
any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of
the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common
Shares of the Corporation at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any
time after any Person (other than the Corporation, any Subsidiary of the
Corporation, any employee benefit plan of the Corporation, or any such
Subsidiary, any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
such a plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to this Section 24(a)
and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise
such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of
such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The
Corporation shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided,
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
affect the validity of such exchange. The Corporation shall promptly mail a
notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the
method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected
and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be
29
effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have
become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each
holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Corporation, at
its option, may substitute Preferred Shares (or equivalent preferred shares, as
such term is defined in Section 11(b) hereof) for some or all of the Common
Shares exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share (or equivalent preferred share) for each Common Share, as
appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the
Preferred Shares pursuant to the terms thereof, so that the fraction of a
Preferred Share delivered in lieu of each Common Share shall have the same
voting rights as one Common Share.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares or
Preferred Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit
any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the
Corporation shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Common Shares or Preferred Shares for issuance upon exchange of the
Rights.
25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Corporation shall propose
(i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders
of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend),
(ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights or
warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred Shares or
shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options,
(iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares
(other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding
Preferred Shares),
(iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Corporation in a transaction which does
not violate Section 11(n) hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or
to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer)
in one or more transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of
the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or
Persons (other than the Corporation and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or
more transactions each of which does not violate Section 11(n) hereof), or
(v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, then, in each such case, the Corporation shall give to each holder
of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such
proposed action to the extent feasible and file a certificate with the Rights
Agent to that effect, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of
such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which
such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the Preferred Shares, if any such date is to be fixed,
and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
30
covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the
record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such
action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days
prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the Preferred Shares, whichever shall be
the earlier.
(b) In case of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, then (i) the Corporation
shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of
such event, which notice shall describe such event and the consequences of such
event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all
references in the preceding paragraph (a) to Preferred Shares shall be deemed
thereafter to refer also to Common Shares and/or, if appropriate, other
securities of the Corporation.
26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given
or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on
the Corporation 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:
Xxxxxx Interactive Inc.
Corporate Xxxxx
Rochester, New York 14623
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand
authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Corporation or by the
holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently
given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until
another address is filed in writing with the Corporation) as follows:
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
00 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by
the Corporation or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate or,
if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
Common Shares shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown
on the registry books of the Corporation.
27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date, the
Corporation and the Rights Agent shall, if the Corporation so directs,
supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Rights or certificates representing Common Shares. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Corporation and the Rights Agent shall, if the
Corporation so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval
of any holders of Rights 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
31
herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or (iv) to
change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the
Corporation may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect
the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, however, that this
Agreement may not be amended to lengthen a time period relating to when the
Rights may be redeemed at a time when the Rights are not then redeemable. Upon
the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Corporation
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, however, that any supplement or amendment that does not
amend Sections 18, 19, 20 or 21 of this Agreement in a manner adverse to the
Rights Agent shall become effective immediately upon its execution by the
Corporation, whether or not also 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 Common Shares.
28. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Corporation 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 Corporation, 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 Common Shares or other securities outstanding at any particular time,
including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such
outstanding Common Shares 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 Corporation,
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.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section 28, the TIDE
Committee shall review and evaluate this Agreement at least once every three
years during the term of this Agreement in order to consider whether the
maintenance of this Agreement continues to be in the interests of the
Corporation, its shareholders, and any other relevant constituencies of the
Corporation. Following each such review, the TIDE Committee will report its
conclusions to the full Board of Directors of the Corporation, including any
recommendation in light thereof as to whether this Agreement should be modified
or the Rights should be redeemed. The TIDE Committee shall have the power to set
its own agenda and to retain, at the expense of the Corporation, legal counsel,
investment bankers or other advisors, in each case as chosen by the TIDE
Committee. The TIDE Committee shall have the authority to review all information
of the Corporation and to consider any and all factors it deems relevant to an
evaluation of whether to maintain or modify this Agreement.
29. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or
for the benefit of the Corporation or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Corporation, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to
the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Corporation, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the
Common Shares).
31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be
invalid, void or unenforceable,
32
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.
32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and
performed entirely within such State.
33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several Sections of
this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect
the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and attested, all as of the date and year first above written.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
33
Xxxxxx Interactive Inc.
Attest:
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. Name: Xxxxxx E, Xxxxx
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
Title: Chief Financial Officer and Title: Chief Executive Officer and
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Corporate Secretary Chairman
------------------------------- -------------------------------
American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company
Attest:
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
Title: Vice President Title: Senior Vice President and
------------------------------- -------------------------------
General Counsel
34
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, NUMBER, POWERS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE,
PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL, AND OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS AND THE
QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS OF SERIES "A" PREFERRED STOCK
OF
XXXXXX INTERACTIVE INC.
(PURSUANT TO SECTION 151(G)
OF THE DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW)
It is hereby certified that:
1. The name of the corporation is Xxxxxx Interactive Inc. (hereinafter
called the "Corporation");
2. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation
(the "Certificate of Incorporation") authorizes the issuance of up to 5,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock of a par value of $.01 each and expressly vests in the
Board of Directors of the Corporation the authority provided therein to issue
any or all of said shares in one or more series and by resolution or
resolutions, the designation, number, full or limited voting powers, or the
denial of voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and
other special rights and qualifications, limitations, restriction, and other
distinguishing characteristics of each series to be issued.
3. The Board of Directors of the Corporation, pursuant to the authority
expressly vested in it as aforesaid, has adopted the following resolutions
creating a Series "A" issue of Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of
the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a
series of Series A Preferred Stock, with a par value of $.01 per share, of
the Corporation and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and
fixes the relative rights, preferences and limitations thereof (in addition
to the provisions set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation which are
applicable to the Preferred Stock of all classes and series) as follows:
Series A Preferred Stock
1. Designation, Par Value and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Preferred Stock" (hereinafter
referred to as "Series A Preferred Stock"), the shares of such series
shall be with par value of $.01 per share, and the number of shares
constituting such series shall be
35
1,000,000; provided, however, that, if more than a total of 1,000,000
shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be issuable upon the exercise
of Rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement,
dated as of March 11, 2005, between the Corporation and AMERICAN
STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Rights Agent (as amended from time
to time, the "Rights Agreement"), the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, pursuant to Section 151(g) of the Delaware Corporation
Law, shall direct by resolution or resolutions that a certificate of
designation be properly executed, acknowledged and filed providing for
the total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock authorized to
be issued to be increased (to the extent that the Certificate of
Incorporation then permits) to the largest number of whole shares,
(rounded up to the nearest whole number) issuable upon exercise of the
Rights.
2. Dividends and Distributions.
(a) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders
of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and
superior to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of
Directors out of assets legally available for the purpose, quarterly
dividends payable in cash on the first business day of October,
January, April and July in each year (each such date being referred to
herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a
share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount
per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (A)
$.01, and (B) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, one thousand times the aggregate per share amount of all cash
dividends, and one thousand times the aggregate per share amount
(payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions
other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, par value
$.001 per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") or a
subdivision of the outstanding, shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with
respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first
issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred
Stock.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) above
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock);
provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have
been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $.01 per share on the Series A
Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
36
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares
of Series A Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares
is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue
from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is
a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date
for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall
begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends
paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than
the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on
such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis
among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors
may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more
than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(a) Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the
holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of
the stockholders of the Corporation.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of
shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) Except as set forth herein (or as otherwise required by
applicable law), holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no
general or special voting rights and their consent shall not be
required for taking any corporate action.
4. Certain Restrictions.
(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in
Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of
Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not
37
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as
to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series
A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration (except as provided in (iv) below) shares of any stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided
that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any
stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock;
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of
stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except
in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication
(as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such
shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration
of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and
preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in
good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the
respective series or classes.
(b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under
paragraph (a) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such
shares at such time and in such manner.
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation
become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be
reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the
Certificate of Incorporation, in any other Certificate of Amendment
creating a series of Preferred Stock or as otherwise required by law.
38
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(a) Subject to the prior and superior rights of holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior
to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to rights upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up (voluntary or otherwise), no
distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received
$1,000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends
and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment (the "Series A Liquidation Preference"). Following the
payment of the full amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference, no
additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares
of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share equal to $.01
(the "Capital Adjustment"). Following the payment of the full amount
of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the Capital Adjustment in
respect of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and
Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Preferred Stock and
holders of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate
share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of 1,000
to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per
share basis, respectively.
(b) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient
assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation
Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of
preferred stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series A
Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed
ratably to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of
such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation
preferences. In the event, however, that there are not sufficient
assets available to permit payment in full of the Capital Adjustment,
then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders
of Common Stock.
7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction
in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into
other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any
such case the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same
time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject
to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 1,000
times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other
property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for
which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.
8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall
not be redeemable.
39
9. Ranking. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank junior to
all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms
of any such series shall provide otherwise.
10. Amendment. The Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner which would
materially alter or change the powers. preferences or special rights
of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority or more of the
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a
class.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the statements contained in the foregoing
Resolution creating and designating the said Series A issue of Preferred
Stock and fixing the number, powers, preferences, and relative, optional,
participating, and other special rights and the qualifications,
limitations, restrictions, and other distinguishing characteristics
thereof, shall, upon the effective date of said series, be deemed to be
included in and be a part of the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation pursuant to the provisions of Sections 104 and 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
4. The effective time and date of the Series herein certified shall be
March 11, 2005.
Signed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chairman of the Board and
attested by its Secretary this _____ day of ___________.
[SEAL]
ATTEST: XXXXXX INTERACTIVE INC.
By:
-------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Name: Name:
-------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Title: Title:
------------------------------- --------------------------------
40
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
CERTIFICATE
NO. R- _____
RIGHTS
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER MARCH 11, 2015, OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE
CORPORATION. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.001 PER RIGHT ON THE
TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
XXXXXX INTERACTIVE 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 March 11, 2005 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Xxxxxx
Interactive Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and AMERICAN
STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Corporation at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in
the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M. New York time, on March 11, 2015,
unless the Rights evidenced hereby shall have been previously redeemed by the
Corporation, at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one
one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Preferred Stock,
par value $.01 (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Corporation, at a purchase price
of $27.48 per one one-thousandth of Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon
presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election
to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate (and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which
may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price
set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of ___________, based on
the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is defined
in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement),
(ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate who
becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person be-comes such, or (iii) under
certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of any
such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate who becomes a transferee prior to
or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such, such Rights shall
become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to
such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
41
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of
one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share or other securities which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events,
including Triggering Events (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement).
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 Corporation and the holders of the Right Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of
the Corporation and the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date
evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of
Preferred Shares or other securities as the Rights evidenced by the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to
purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall
be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Corporation at a redemption price of
$.001 per Right (subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement)
payable in cash.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are one
one-thousandth or integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share,
which may, at the election of the Corporation, be evidenced by depositary
receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the
Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of
any other securities of the Corporation 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 Corporation 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 other distributions or to exercise
any preemptive 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.
42
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Corporation
and its corporate seal. Dated as of, ______________.
[SEAL]
ATTEST: XXXXXX INTERACTIVE INC.
By: By:
---------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Name: Name:
-------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Title: Title:
------------------------------- --------------------------------
Countersigned:
[AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY]
By:
----------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
Name:
--------------------------------
Title:
-------------------------------
43
FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto _____________________________________________ (Please print name and
address of transferee) this Right Certificate, together with all right, title
and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the
within-named Corporation, with full power of substitution.
Dated:
---------------------
---------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
The undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf of
a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof
(as such terms are defined in the Right Agreement) and (2) after due inquiry and
to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire the
Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement).
---------------------------------------
Signature
44
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires
to exercise Rights represented by the Right Certificate.)
To the Rights Agent:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Rights represented by
this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares, Common Shares or other
securities issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that
certificates for such Preferred Shares, Common Shares or other securities be
issued in the name of:
Please insert social security or other identifying number _________________
___________________________________________________ (Please print name and
address).
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such
Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number _________________
___________________________________________________ (Please print name and
address).
Dated:
---------------------
---------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
The undersigned hereby certifies that (I) the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or
was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement) and (2) after due inquiry and to the best
knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned 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 thereof (as such terms are defined in the
Rights Agreement).
---------------------------------------
Signature
45
NOTICE
The signature on the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election and
certificates must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or
the Form of Election to Purchase, as the ease may be, is not completed, the
Corporation 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.
46
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On March 11, 2005, the Board of Directors of Xxxxxx Interactive Inc. (the
"Corporation") declared a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase
right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $.001
per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Corporation. The dividend is payable to
the stockholders of record on March 29, 2005 (the "Record Date"), and with
respect to Common Shares issued thereafter until the Distribution Date (as
defined below) and, in certain circumstances, with respect to Common Shares
issued after the Distribution Date. Except as set forth below, each Right, when
it becomes exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Corporation one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value
$.01 (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Corporation at a price of $[__] per one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Corporation and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), dated as of
March 11, 2005.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates representing
Common Shares then outstanding, and no separate Right Certificates will be
distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares upon the earliest
to occur of (i) the date on which a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons have acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares (except pursuant to a Permitted Offer, as hereinafter defined), or
if such date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the Record
Date; or (ii) 10 days (or such later date as the Board may determine) following
the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in a person or group
becoming an Acquiring Person (as hereinafter defined) (the earliest of such
dates being called the "Distribution Date"). A person or group whose acquisition
of Common Shares causes a Distribution Date pursuant to clause (i) above is an
"Acquiring Person." The date that a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person
is the "Shares Acquisition Date."
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights) new Common Share
certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of
Common Shares 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 Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this
Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates
evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record
of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date (and
to each initial record holder of certain Common Shares issued after the
Distribution Date), and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights.
47
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
at the close of business on March 11, 2015, unless earlier redeemed by
the Corporation as described below.
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person (except pursuant
to a tender or exchange offer which is for all outstanding Common Shares at a
price and on terms which a majority of certain members of the Board of Directors
determines to be adequate and in the best interests of the Corporation, its
stockholders and other relevant constituencies, other than such Acquiring
Person, its affiliates and associates (a "Permitted Offer")), each holder of a
Right will thereafter have the right (the "Flip-In Right") to receive upon
exercise the number of Common Shares or of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Shares (or, in certain circumstances, other securities of the
Corporation) having a value (immediately prior to such triggering event) equal
to two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
following the occurrence of the event described above, all Rights that are, or
(under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate thereof
will be null and void.
In the event that, at any time following the Shares Acquisition Date, (i)
the Corporation is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the holders of all of the outstanding Common Shares
immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction are not the holders of
all of the surviving corporation's voting power, or (ii) more than 50% of the
Corporation's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, in either case
with or to an Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate or any other person
in which such Acquiring Person, affiliate or associate has an interest or any
person acting on behalf of or in concert with such Acquiring Person, affiliate
or associate, or, if in such transaction all holders of Common Shares are not
treated alike, any other person, then each holder of a Right (except Rights
which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the
right (the "Flip-Over Right") to receive, upon exercise, common shares of the
acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the
Right. The holder of a Right will continue to have the Flip-Over Right whether
or not such holder exercises or surrenders the Flip-In Right.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares, Common
Shares or other securities 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 Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than
the then current market price of the Preferred Shares, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.
48
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $.01 per share but, if greater, will be entitled
to an aggregate dividend per share of 1,000 times the dividend declared per
Common Share. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares
will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $10.00 per
share; thereafter, and after the holders of the Common Shares receive a
liquidation payment of $.01 per share, the holders of the Preferred Shares and
the holders of the Common Shares will share the remaining assets in the ratio of
1,000 to 1 for each Preferred Share and Common Share so held, respectively.
Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive
one thousand times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are
protected by customary antidilution provisions.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are one one-thousandth or integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the
Corporation, be evidenced by depositary receipts) and in lieu thereof, an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred
Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the earlier to occur of (i) a person becoming an
Acquiring Person or (ii) the expiration of the Rights, and under certain other
circumstances, the Corporation 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
Shares Acquisition Date, the Corporation 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 Corporation in which all
holders of Common Shares are treated alike but not involving an Acquiring Person
or its affiliates or associates.
All of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board
of Directors of the Corporation prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to make changes
which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the
interests of any Acquiring Person), or, subject to certain limitations, to
shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will
not be taxable to stockholders of the Corporation, stockholders may, depending
upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income should the Rights become
exercisable or upon the occurrence of certain events thereafter.
At least once every three years during the term of the Rights
Agreement, a committee comprised of the independent directors of the Corporation
(the "TIDE Committee") will review the Rights Agreement to determine whether the
Rights Agreement remains in the interests of the Corporation, its stockholders
and any other relevant constituencies. Following each such review, the TIDE
Committee will report its conclusions to the full Board of Directors of the
Corporation, including any recommendation in light thereof as to whether the
Rights Agreement should be modified or the Rights should be redeemed.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K dated March
14, 2005. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Corporation. This summary
49
description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference.
50
