ASHFORD INC. and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. (Rights Agent) Rights Agreement Dated as of August 30, 2022

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

ASHFORD INC.

 

and

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

 

(Rights Agent)

 

Rights Agreement

 

Dated as of August 30, 2022

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

1. Definitions	1
2. Appointment of Rights Agent	7
3. Issue of Right Certificates	7
4. Form of Right Certificates	9
5. Countersignature and Registration	9
6. Transfer, Split-up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates	9
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights	10
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates	12
9. Status and Availability of Preferred Shares	12
10. Preferred Shares Record Date	12
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights	13
12. Certificate of Adjustment	19
13. Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power	19
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares	20
15. Rights of Action	21
16. Agreement of Right Holders	22
17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇	▇▇
▇▇. Concerning the Rights Agent	23
19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent	23
20. Duties of Rights Agent	24
21. Change of Rights Agent	27
22. Issuance of New Right Certificates	27
23. Redemption	28
24. Exchange	28
25. Notice of Certain Events	30
26. Notices	31
27. Supplements and Amendments	31
28. Successors	32
29. Benefits of This Agreement	32
30. Severability	32
31. Governing Law	32
32. Counterparts	32
33. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation	33
34. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇	▇▇
▇▇. Force Majeure	33

 

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated as of August 30, 2022 is between Ashford Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (the “Rights Agent”).

 

The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) adopted resolutions creating a series of preferred stock designated as “Series F Preferred Stock” and authorized and declared (i) a dividend to the holders of the Common Shares (as defined below) outstanding on the Close of Business (as defined below) on September 9, 2022 (the “Record Date”) of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each Common Share and (ii) a dividend to the holders of the Series D Preferred Shares (as defined below) outstanding on the Close of Business on the Record Date of one Right in respect of each Common Share that is issuable upon conversion of the Company’s Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series D Preferred Shares”) as determined under the Certificate of Designation of the Series D Convertible Preferred Stock of Ashford Inc. (the “Series D Certificate of Designation”), and authorized the issuance, with respect to each additional Common Share, of one Right (subject to adjustment) and, with respect to each additional Series D Preferred Share, of one Right (subject to adjustment) in respect of each Common Share issuable upon conversion of such Series D Preferred Share, in each case, that is issued by the Company between the Record Date and the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, (ii) the Redemption Date or (iii) the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date (as all are defined below), and additional Common Shares and Series D Preferred Shares that shall become outstanding after the Distribution Date as provided in Section 22 of this Agreement, each Right initially representing the right to purchase one one-thousandths (subject to adjustment) of a Preferred Share (as defined below), subject to adjustment, upon the terms and subject to the conditions below.

 

Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

 

1.1 “Acquiring Person” means any Person (other than an Exempt Person) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, (iv) any entity or trustee holding (or acting in a fiduciary capacity in respect of) Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan or for the purpose of funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits for employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, (v) ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and his Affiliates and Associates and (vi) any Person who or which, at the Close of Business on the Record Date, was a Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding, other than a Person who or which is not an Affiliate or Associate of the Beneficial Owner on the Record Date and who or which subsequently becomes an Affiliate or Associate of such Beneficial Owner without the prior written approval of the Board (a “Grandfathered Stockholder”); provided, however, that if a Grandfathered Stockholder becomes, after the Record Date, the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares (other than as a result of (A) a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision or similar transaction effected by the Company in which all registered holders of Common Shares are treated substantially equally, (B) the grant or issuance by the Company to its directors, officers and/or employees of options, warrants, rights or similar interests, or any exchange thereof, to acquire Common Shares by the Company pursuant to any executive compensation plan or arrangement, employee benefit, stock incentive plan, stock option plan or stock ownership plan of the Company adopted by the Board, and the subsequent vesting, exercise or conversion of such options, warrants, rights or similar interests, (C) the grant or issuance by the Company to its directors, officers and/or employees of restricted Common Shares or restricted stock units pursuant to a restricted stock or other compensation plan or arrangement adopted by the Board and the subsequent vesting of such shares or stock units, (D) the acquisition of Common Shares directly from the Company, or (E) the acquisition of Common Shares solely as a result of corporate action of the Company not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person), regardless of whether, thereafter or as a result thereof, there is an increase, decrease or no change in the percentage of Common Shares then outstanding beneficially owned by such Grandfathered Stockholder, then such Grandfathered Stockholder shall be deemed an Acquiring Person unless, upon such acquisition of beneficial ownership of additional Common Shares, such Grandfathered Stockholder is not the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding; provided further that upon the first decrease of a Grandfathered Stockholder’s beneficial ownership below 10%, such Grandfathered Stockholder shall no longer be considered a Grandfathered Stockholder and this clause (v) shall have no further force or effect with respect to such Grandfathered Stockholder.

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an Acquiring Person as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of Common Shares beneficially owned by such Person to ten percent (10%) or more of the then outstanding Common Shares of the Company (or such other percentage as would otherwise result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person); provided, however, that if a Person would, but for the provisions of this paragraph, become an Acquiring Person by reason of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company at any time such that the Person is or thereby becomes the Beneficial Owner of ten percent (10%) or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding (or such other percentage as would otherwise result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person) (other than as a result of (A) a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision or similar transaction effected by the Company in which all registered holders of Common Shares are treated substantially equally, (B) the grant or issuance by the Company to its directors, officers and/or employees of options, warrants, rights or similar interests, or any exchange thereof, to acquire Common Shares by the Company pursuant to any executive compensation plan or arrangement, employee benefit, stock incentive plan, stock option plan or stock ownership plan of the Company adopted by the Board, and the subsequent vesting, exercise or conversion of such options, warrants, rights or similar interests, (C) the grant or issuance by the Company to its directors, officers and/or employees of restricted Common Shares or restricted stock units pursuant to a restricted stock or other compensation plan or arrangement adopted by the Board and the subsequent vesting of such shares or stock units, (D) the acquisition of Common Shares directly from the Company, or (E) the acquisition of Common Shares solely as a result of corporate action of the Company not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person), then such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person.

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 1.1, if the Board determines that a Person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person, has become such inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (A) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned that number of Common Shares that would otherwise cause such Person to be an “Acquiring Person” or (B) such Person was aware of the extent of its beneficial ownership of Common Shares but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such beneficial ownership under this Agreement) and without any intention of obtaining, changing or influencing control of the Company, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable (as determined by the Board ) a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be an Acquiring Person, then such Person shall not be deemed to have become an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a bona fide swaps or derivatives dealer who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person has become so as a result of its actions in the ordinary course of its business that the Board determines, in its sole discretion, were taken without the intent or effect of evading or assisting any other Person to evade the purposes and intent of this Agreement, or otherwise seeking to control or influence the management or policies of the Company, then, and unless and until the Board shall otherwise determine, such Person shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement.

 

1.2 “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

 

1.3 “Authorized Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chairman of the Board, the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company or such other officers of the Company as the Board may from time to time designate.

 

1.4 A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of and shall be deemed to “beneficially own” any securities:

 

1.4.1 which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act;

 

1.4.2 which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has (i) the right or the obligation to acquire (whether such right is exercisable, or such obligation is required to be performed, immediately or only after the passage of time or upon the satisfaction of conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), written or otherwise, 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 to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (w) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, (x) securities which such Person has a right to acquire upon the exercise of Rights at any time prior to the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, (y) securities issuable upon the exercise of Rights from and after the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person if such Rights were acquired by such first Person or any of such first Person’s Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 22 hereof (“Original Rights”) or pursuant to Section 11.9 or Section 11.14 with respect to an adjustment to Original Rights, or (z) securities which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates may acquire, does or do acquire or may be deemed to have the right to acquire, pursuant to any merger or other acquisition agreement between the Company and such Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates) if such agreement has been approved by the Board prior to such Person’s becoming an Acquiring Person; or (ii) 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 by reason of such agreement, arrangement or understanding if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (A) 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 (B) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);

 

 

1.4.3 which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such other Person) with which such first Person or any of such first Person’s Affiliates or Associates has (i) formed, or is acting together as, a group for the purposes of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in clause (ii) of Section 1.4.2) or disposing securities of the Company, regardless of whether such Persons are party to any written or unwritten agreement, arrangement or understanding, (ii) shared information about an upcoming Schedule 13D filing (or amendment thereto) that such Person and/or such first Person and/or their respective Affiliates and Associates will be required to make, to the extent such information is not yet public and communicated with the purpose of causing others to make purchases, and such Person and/or first Person and/or their respective Affiliates and Associates subsequently purchases the Company’s securities based on such information, (iii) entered into any pooling arrangement, whether formal or informal, written or unwritten, (iv) engaged in activities undertaken with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the Company or in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect, or (v) taken concerted actions related to the Company’s equity securities where such Person and such first Person are directly or indirectly obligated to take such concerted action; or

 

1.4.4 which are the subject of, or the reference securities for, or that underlie, any Derivative Interest of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates, with the number of Common Shares deemed beneficially owned being the notional or other number of Common Shares specified in the documentation evidencing the Derivative Interest as being subject to be acquired upon the exercise or settlement of the Derivative Interest or as the basis upon which the value or settlement amount of such Derivative Interest is to be calculated in whole or in part or, if no such number of Common Shares is specified in such documentation, as determined by the Board to be the number of Common Shares to which the Derivative Interest relates.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Owner to the contrary, (i) the phrase “then outstanding,” when used with reference to a Person’s beneficial ownership of securities of the Company, means the number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person would be deemed to beneficially own hereunder, but the number of securities not outstanding that such Person is otherwise deemed to beneficially own for purposes of this Agreement shall not be included for the purpose of computing the percentage of the outstanding securities beneficially owned by any other Person (unless such other Person is also deemed to beneficially own for purposes of this Agreement such securities not outstanding), and (ii) no Person shall be deemed to beneficially own the securities of any other person solely by virtue of being a party to that certain Investor Rights Agreement by and among the Company, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, MJB Investments, LP, the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Max 2019 Gift Trust, the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, III 2019 Gift Trust, the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2019 Gift Trust, the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2019 Gift Trust, the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2019 Gift Trust, the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2019 Gift Trust, the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Flood 2019 Gift Trust, the Supplemental Needs Trust FBO ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and any other documents or agreements made or entered into in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain Combination Agreement dated as of May 31, 2019 and entered into among ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Remington Holdings, L.P., Remington Holdings GP, LLC, MJB Investments, LP, Ashford Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Nevada Holding Corp. and Ashford Merger Sub Inc.

 

 

1.5 “Book Entry” shall mean an uncertificated book entry for the Common Shares.

 

1.6 “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the state of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

1.7 “Close of Business” on any given date means 5:00 p.m., New York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, it means 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

1.8 “Common Shares” when used with reference to the Company or without reference means the shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company. “Common Shares” when used with reference to any Person other than the Company means the capital stock (or, in the case of any entity other than a corporation, the equivalent 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.

 

1.9 “Common Stock Equivalents” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.3(ii)(C).

 

1.10 “Current Per Share Market Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.4.1.

 

1.11 “Current Value” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.3(i)(A).

 

1.12 “Derivative Interest” shall mean any derivative securities (as defined under Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) that increase in value as the value of the underlying equity increases, including, but not limited to, a long convertible security, a long call option and a short put option position, in each case, regardless of whether (x) such interest conveys any voting rights in such security, (y) such interest is required to be, or is capable of being, settled through delivery of such security or (z) transactions hedge the economic effect of such interest.

 

 

1.13 “Distribution Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

 

1.14 “Earning Power” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.4.

 

1.15 “Equivalent Preferred Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2.

 

1.16 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

1.17 “Exchange Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 24.6.

 

1.18 “Exchange Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 24.1.

 

1.19 “Exchange Recipients” has the meaning set forth in Section 24.6.

 

1.20 “Exempt Person” shall mean any Person that the Board determines is exempt from this Agreement (which exemption may, in the determination of the Board, be limited to the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares in a particular transaction or a specified series of transactions involving such Person); provided that such determination is made, and no Person shall qualify as an Exempt Person unless such determination is made, prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person; provided further that any Person will cease to be an Exempt Person if the Board makes a contrary determination with respect to such Person.

 

1.21 “Expiration Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

1.22 “Final Expiration Date” means July 30, 2023.

 

1.23 “NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

 

1.24 “Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, business trust, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

 

1.25 “Preferred Shares” means shares of Series F Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company having such rights and preferences as are set forth in the form of the Certificate of Designation set forth as Exhibit A hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

1.26 “Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.

 

1.27 “Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 23.2.

 

1.28 “Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 23.1.

 

1.29 “Right Certificate” means a certificate evidencing a Right in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto.

 

 

1.30 “Series D Certificate of Designation” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

1.31 “Series D Preferred Shares” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

1.32 “Spread” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.3(i).

 

1.33 “Stock Acquisition Date” means the earlier of (i) the date of the public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such or (ii) the date that a majority of the Board shall become aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person.

 

1.34 “Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation or entity of which securities or other ownership interest having ordinary voting power sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors or other person performing similar functions are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person and any corporation or other entity that is otherwise controlled by such Person.

 

1.35 “Substitution Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.3.

 

1.36 “Summary of Rights” means the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto.

 

1.37 “Trading Day” means a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which a security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if a security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.

 

2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the express terms and conditions hereof (and no implied terms or conditions), and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable, upon ten (10) calendar days’ prior written notice to the Rights Agent. In the event the Company appoints one or more co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any co-Rights Agents under the provisions of this Agreement shall be as the Company shall reasonably determine; provided that such duties of the Rights Agent are consistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and that contemporaneously with such appointment the Company shall notify, in writing, the Rights Agent and any co-Rights Agent of such duties. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.

 

3. Issue of Right Certificates.

 

3.1 Until the earlier of (i) the tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, in the event the Board determines on or before such tenth day Business Day to effect an exchange in accordance with Section 24 and determines in accordance with Section 24.6 that a later date is advisable, such later date that is not more than twenty (20) days after the Stock Acquisition Date) or (ii) the tenth (10th) Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity or trustee holding (or acting in a fiduciary capacity in respect of) Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such benefit plan or for the purpose of funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits for employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company) of, or of the first public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than any of the Persons referred to in the preceding parenthetical) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring Person (including any such date which is after the date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights; such date being herein referred to as the “Distribution Date”, provided, however, that the Distribution Date shall in no event be prior to the Record Date), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3.2) by the certificates for Common Shares and Series D Preferred Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof and not by separate Right Certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares and Series D Preferred Shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, and, at the request of the Company, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if so requested and provided with all necessary information and documents, at the expense of the Company, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares and Series D Preferred Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, evidencing one Right issued to holders of the Common Shares for each Common Share so held, and one Right issued to holders of the Series D Preferred Shares for each Common Share issuable upon conversion of each such Series D Preferred Share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates. The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing upon the occurrence of the Distribution Date. Until such written notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that the Distribution Date has not occurred. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if, at any time after the date hereof and prior to the Distribution Date, the number of Common Shares issuable upon conversion of any Series D Preferred Shares then outstanding is adjusted pursuant to the terms of the Series D Certificate of Designation, then the number of Rights associated with such Series D Preferred Shares shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each such Series D Preferred Share equals the result obtained by multiplying the number of Common Shares issuable upon conversion of such Series D Preferred Share by the number of Rights associated with each Common Share then outstanding. If an Event occurs that would require an adjustment under Section 11 hereof and this Section 3, the adjustments provided for in this Section 3 shall be in addition and prior to any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11 hereof.

 

 

3.2 The Company will make available or cause to be made available, promptly after the Record Date, a copy of the Summary of Rights to any holder of Rights (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) who may so request from time to time prior to the Expiration Date. With respect to certificates representing Common Shares (or Book Entry Common Shares) and Series D Preferred Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the holders thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate representing Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares or the Series D Preferred Share represented thereby, as applicable. With respect to Book Entry Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced by the balances indicated in the Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, the transfer of any Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares outstanding on the Record Date (whether represented by certificates or evidenced by the balances indicated in the Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for Common Shares, and, in either case, regardless of whether a copy of the Summary of Rights is submitted with the surrender or request for transfer), shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares, as applicable.

 

3.3 Certificates for Common Shares and Series D Preferred Shares which are issued (including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares referred to in this Section 3.3) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, (ii) the Redemption Date or (iii) the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:

 

This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Ashford Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., (as Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent thereunder), dated as of August 30, 2022, as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented pursuant to its terms (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 Ashford Inc. 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. Ashford Inc. will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by Acquiring Persons (as defined in the Rights Agreement) will become null and void and will no longer be transferable.

 

If the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares which are no longer outstanding.

 

With respect to Common Shares in Book Entry form for which there has been sent a confirmation or account statement containing the foregoing legend, until the earliest of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares shall be evidenced by such Common Shares alone and registered holders of Common Shares shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any such Common Shares shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such Common Shares.

 

Notwithstanding this Section 3.3, neither the omission of a legend nor the failure to deliver the notice of such legend required hereby shall affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any holder of the Rights.

 

 

4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement (but which do not affect the rights, duties, liabilities or responsibilities of the Rights Agent), 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 other provisions of this Agreement, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the Purchase Price, but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon exercise and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

5. Countersignature and Registration. The Right Certificates (i) shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board or its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its President or any of its Vice Presidents, either manually or by facsimile signature; (ii) shall have affixed thereto the Company’s seal or a facsimile thereof; and (iii) shall be attested by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company or the Treasurer or an assistant treasurer of the Company, 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, either manually or by facsimile. If any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates nevertheless may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the Person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company. Any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, is a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, even if at the date of the execution of this Agreement 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 designated for such purposes, books for registration of the transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates, and the date of each of the Right Certificates.

 

6. Transfer, Split-up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.

 

6.1 Subject to the provisions of Section 14, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, any Right Certificate (other than a Right Certificate representing Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 11.1.2 or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of Preferred Shares as the Right Certificate surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender, together with any required form of assignment and certificate duly executed and properly completed, the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose accompanied by a signature guarantee and such other documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company or the Rights Agent may require payment of a sum sufficient for any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split-up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates. If and to the extent the Company does require payment of any such taxes or charges, the Company shall give the Rights Agent written notice thereof and the Rights Agent shall not deliver any Right Certificate unless and until such payments have been made, and the Rights Agent shall forward any such sum collected by it to the Company or to such Persons as the Company specifies by written notice. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any action with respect to a Rights holder under any Section of this Agreement which requires the payment by such Rights holder of applicable taxes and/or charges unless and until such taxes and/or charges have been paid.

 

 

6.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 14, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company’s or the Rights Agent’s request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and, in case of mutilation, upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate, the Company will make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may amend this Agreement to provide for uncertificated Rights in addition to or in place of Right Certificates, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.

 

7.1 Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall become exercisable on the Distribution Date, and thereafter, the registered holder of any Right Certificate (other than a holder whose Rights have become void pursuant to Section 11.1.2 or have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24) may, subject to Section 11.1.2 and except as otherwise provided herein, exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof properly completed and duly executed, to the Rights Agent at its principal office designated for such purpose accompanied by a signature guarantee and such other documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably request, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share represented by a Right that is exercised and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid pursuant to Section 9, prior to the time (the “Expiration Date”) that is the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed pursuant to Section 23, (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged pursuant to Section 24 or (iv) the Closing of any merger or other acquisition transaction involving the Company pursuant to this Agreement described in Sections 1.4.2(i)(z) and 13.3 at which time the Rights are terminated. If so resolved by the Board, any such exercise of Rights or exchange of Rights pursuant to Section 24 shall be deemed to be a payment of a dividend or other distribution upon the Common Shares and the Series D Preferred Shares.

 

 

7.2 The purchase price to be paid upon the exercise of each Right to purchase one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share represented by a Right shall initially be $275 (the “Purchase Price”) and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with Section 7.3. Each Right shall initially entitle the holder to acquire one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share upon exercise of the Right. The Purchase Price and the number of Preferred Shares or other securities for which a Right is exercisable shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13.

 

7.3 Except as otherwise provided herein, upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the number of Rights exercised and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 by cash, certified check, cashier’s check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from any depositary agent for the Preferred Shares depositary receipts representing such number of Preferred Shares 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 Company hereby directs any such depositary agent to comply with such request; (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional Preferred Shares in accordance with Section 14; (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, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.

 

7.4 Except as otherwise provided herein, if 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 exercisable Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to such holder’s duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14.

 

7.5 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder of Rights upon the occurrence of any purported transfer or exercise of Rights as set forth in Section 6 or this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) properly completed and duly executed the certificate contained in the form of assignment or form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such transfer or exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company and the Rights Agent 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 Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Company, at the Company’s expense, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.

 

9. Status and Availability of Preferred Shares.

 

9.1 The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available, out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares or any Preferred Shares held in its treasury, the number of Preferred Shares that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with Section 7.

 

9.2 The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such Preferred Shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and non-assessable shares.

 

9.3 The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or the issuance and delivery of any certificates or depository receipts or entries in the Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for any Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise, and shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due.

 

10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate or entry in the Book Entry account system of the transfer agent for the Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions, or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.

 

 

11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights.

 

11.1 General.

 

11.1.1 In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (iii) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11.1, the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable upon the exercise of a Rights as of the record date for such dividend or the effective date or such subdivision, combination or reclassification, 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, the holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.

 

11.1.2 Subject to the second paragraph of this Section 11.1.2 and to Section 24, on the Stock Acquisition Date, each holder of a Right shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise of each Right to purchase one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share 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 Common Shares of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by dividing the current Purchase Price by 50% of the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Company’s Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on the Stock Acquisition Date.

 

From and after the Stock Acquisition Date, any Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by (x) such Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person), (y) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or of any such Affiliate or Associate) who becomes a transferee after the Stock Acquisition Date or (z) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or of any such Affiliate or Associate) who became a transferee prior to or on the Stock Acquisition Date pursuant to either (I) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of its equity securities or to any Person with whom it has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) regarding the transferred Rights or (II) a transfer which the Board has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has the purpose or effect of avoiding the provisions of this paragraph, and subsequent transferees, either direct transferees or transferees through one or more intermediate transferees, of such Persons, shall be void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. No Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the preceding sentence. No Right Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to this Section 11.1.2 or to any Associate or Affiliate thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate. Any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence, or to any Associate or Affiliate thereof, shall be canceled.

 

 

11.1.3 If there are not sufficient authorized but unissued Common Shares to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 11.1.2, or should the Board so elect, the Company shall with respect to such deficiency, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any material agreements to which the Company is a party, (i) determine the excess (the “Spread”) of (A) the value of the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right as provided in Section 11.1.2 (the “Current Value”) over (B) the Purchase Price, and (ii) with respect to each Right (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section 11.1.2), make adequate provision to substitute for such Common Shares, upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price, any one or more of the following having an aggregate value determined by the Board to be equal to the Current Value: (A) cash, (B) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (C) Common Shares or other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares, or fractions of shares, of preferred stock which the Board has determined to have the same value as Common Shares (“Common Stock Equivalents”)), (D) debt securities of the Company or (E) other assets; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (ii) above within thirty (30) days following the Stock Acquisition Date, then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, to the extent permitted by law and any material agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, Common Shares (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and cash shall have an aggregate value equal to the Spread.

 

If the Board shall determine that it is likely that sufficient additional Common Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Stock Acquisition Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such period, as it may be extended, the “Substitution Period”). If the Company determines that action need be taken pursuant to this Section 11.1.3, the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7.5 and the last paragraph of Section 11.1.2, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares, decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made and determine the value thereof. If the exercisability of the Rights is suspended pursuant to this Section 11.1.3, the Company shall make a public announcement, and shall deliver to the Rights Agent a statement, stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended. When the suspension is no longer in effect, the Company shall make another public announcement, and deliver to the Rights Agent a statement, so stating. For purposes of this Section 11.1.3, the value of the Common Shares shall be the Current Per Share Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4.1) of the Common Shares as of the Stock Acquisition Date, and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares on such date.

 

 

11.2 If the Company fixes a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within forty-five (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 defined in Section 11.4.2) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be adjusted by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be (A) the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus (B) the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares or Equivalent Preferred Shares to be offered (or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities to be offered) would purchase at such Current Per Share Market Price and (ii) the denominator of which shall be (A) the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus (B) the number of additional Preferred Shares or Equivalent Preferred Shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities 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 Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of one Right. If such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent. Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

 

11.3 If the Company fixes a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11.2), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Shares on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one Preferred Share and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the then 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 Preferred Shares to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed. If such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

 

 

11.4 Current Per Share Market Price.

 

11.4.1 Except as otherwise provided herein, for the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “Current Per Share Market Price” of any security on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such security for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that if the Current Per Share Market Price of the security is determined during a period (i) 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 other securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such security, and (ii) 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 or, if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, in either case as reported by the NYSE, or, if on any such date the security is not quoted by the NYSE, 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.

 

11.4.2 For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “Current Per Share Market Price” of the Preferred Shares, if the Preferred Shares are publicly traded, the Current Per Share Market Price shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in Section 11.4.1. 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 11.4.1 (appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof) multiplied by one thousand. If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so listed or traded, “Current Per Share Market Price” means the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.

 

11.5 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 11.5 are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one ten-millionth of a Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of any other share or security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11.5, any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than three years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment.

 

11.6 If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11.1, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Preferred Shares, the Purchase Price and number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall thereafter 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 11.1 through 11.3, inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.

 

 

11.7 All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

 

11.8 Unless the Company exercises its election as provided in Section 11.9, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11.2 and 11.3, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one ten-millionth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i) multiplying the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.

 

11.9 The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one hundred-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights (with written notice to the Rights Agent), indicating the record date for the adjustment and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. The record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter but, if the Right Certificates have been distributed, shall be at least ten days after the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been distributed, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11.9, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof if required by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates to be so 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.

 

 

11.10 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.

 

11.11 Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value of the fraction of Preferred Shares or other shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable Preferred Shares or other such shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.

 

11.12 If this Section 11 requires that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may defer, until the occurrence of such event, issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring adjustment.

 

11.13 Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) combination or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the Current Per Share 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) dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, or (v) issuance of any rights, options or warrants referred to in Section 11.2 made by the Company after the date of this Agreement to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

 

11.14 If, at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company (i) declares or pays any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (ii) effects a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise other than by payment of dividends in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case (i) the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such event upon exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event, and (ii) each Common Share outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued with respect to it that number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11.14 shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid, or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is affected.

 

 

12. Certificate of Adjustment. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13, the Company shall promptly (i) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (ii) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate, and (iii) if such adjustment occurs following a Distribution Date, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such a certification or give such notice shall not affect the validity of such adjustment or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and shall not be obligated or responsible for calculating any adjustment, nor shall the Rights Agent be deemed to have knowledge of such an adjustment, unless and until it shall have received such certificate.

 

13. Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.

 

13.1 If, at any time after a Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the Company consolidates with, or merges with and into, any other Person; (ii) any Person consolidates with the Company, or merges with and into the Company, and the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares are or will be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or the Company), or cash or any other property; or (iii) the Company sells or otherwise transfers (or one or more of its Subsidiaries sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or Earning Power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or Earning Power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned Subsidiaries, then proper provision shall be made so that (A) each holder of a Right (except for Rights which have become void as provided herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise of each Right to purchase one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share represented by a Right 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 Common Shares of such other Person (including the Company as successor thereto or as the surviving corporation) equal to the result obtained by dividing the then current Purchase Price by 50% of the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares of such other Person (determined pursuant to Section 11.4 hereof) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (B) the issuer of such Common Shares shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term “Company” shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such issuer; and (D) such issuer shall take steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its common stock in accordance with Section 9) in connection with such consummation as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to the common stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; provided that, upon the subsequent occurrence of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets or other extraordinary transaction in respect of such issuer, each holder of a Right shall thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price as provided in this Section 13.1, such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property which such holder would have been entitled to receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned Common Shares of the issuer receivable upon the exercise of a Right pursuant to this Section 13.1, and such issuer shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property.

 

 

13.2 The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for such issuer’s compliance with this Section 13. The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the kind referred to in this Section 13 if, at the time of such transaction, there are any rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. The provisions of this Section 13 shall apply to successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.

 

13.3 Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in the event of any merger or other acquisition transaction involving the Company pursuant to a merger or other acquisition agreement between the Company and any Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates or Associations) which agreement has been approved by the Board prior to any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, this Agreement and the rights of holders of Rights hereunder shall be terminated in accordance with Section 7.1.

 

13.4 For purposes hereof, the “Earning Power” of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be determined in good faith by the Board on the basis of the operating earnings of each business operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries during the three fiscal years preceding the date of such determination (or, in the case of any business not operated by the Company or any Subsidiary during three full fiscal years preceding such date, during the period such business was operated by the Company or any Subsidiary).

 

14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

 

14.1 The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights (except prior to the Distribution Date in accordance with Section 11.14) 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 14.1, the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable.

 

14.2 The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by the Company; provided that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as Beneficial Owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to each registered holder of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised or exchanged as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one Preferred Share as the fraction of one Preferred Share that such holder would otherwise receive upon the exercise of the aggregate number of rights exercised by such holder. For the purposes of this Section 14.2, the current market value of a Preferred Share shall be the closing price of a Preferred Share (pursuant to Section 11.4.1) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.

 

 

14.3 The closing price for any day shall be the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices as reported by the NYSE, or if on any such date the Rights or Preferred Shares, as applicable, 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 or Preferred Shares, as applicable, selected by the Board. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights or Preferred Shares, as applicable, the fair value of the Rights or Preferred Shares, as applicable, on such date as determined by the Board shall be used.

 

14.4 The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives any right to receive fractional Rights or fractional shares upon exercise of a Right (except as provided in this Section 14).

 

14.5 Whenever any payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares is to be made by the Rights Agent under any section of this Agreement, the Company shall (i) promptly prepare and deliver to the Rights Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the facts related to such payments and the prices and formulas utilized in calculating such payments, and (ii) provide sufficient monies to the Rights Agent in the form of fully collected funds to make such payments. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying upon such a certificate and shall have no duty with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of, any payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares under any section of this Agreement relating to the payment of fractional Rights or fractional shares unless and until the Rights Agent shall have received such a certificate and sufficient monies.

 

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, 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 the Series D Preferred Shares. Any registered holder of any Right Certificate or, prior to the Distribution Date, of Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares may, without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate or, prior to the Distribution Date, of Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares, on such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder’s right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this 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 by the Company and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations of the Company.

 

 

16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:

 

16.1 prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares and Series D Preferred Shares;

 

16.2 after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are transferable only on the registry books maintained by the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and

 

16.3 the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares certificate or Book Entry or Series D Preferred Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate or Book Entry or Series D Preferred Shares certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to Section 7.5 hereof, shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends, or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any other securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable on the exercise or exchange of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

 

18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in accordance with a fee schedule to be mutually agreed upon and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery, negotiation, amendment, administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also covenants and agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) that may be paid, incurred or suffered by it, or which it may become subject, without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent (which gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent in connection with the execution, acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim or liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly, or enforcing its rights hereunder. The costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the Company. The provisions under this Section 18, Section 19 and Section 20 below shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the resignation, replacement or removal of the Rights Agent and the exercise, termination and the expiration of the Rights.

 

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 Preferred Shares, Common Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged by an Authorized Officer, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof. The Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any event of which it was supposed to receive written notice thereof hereunder, but for which it has not received such written notice, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability for failing to take action in connection therewith unless and until it has received such written notice.

 

19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. Any entity into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to the corporate trust powers 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 entity would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21. If, at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned. If, at that time, any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent. In all such cases, such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.

 

 

If, at any time, the name of the Rights Agent changes and any of the Right Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned. If, at that time, any of the Right Certificates have not been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name. In all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.

 

In no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, incidental, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action and the Company agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent and to hold it harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law against any loss, liability or expense incurred as a result of claims for special, punitive, incidental, indirect or consequential loss or damages of any kind whatsoever provided in each case that such claims are not based on the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Rights Agent (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall act hereunder solely as agent for the Company and shall not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust with any of the owners or holders of the Right Certificates. The Rights Agent shall perform those duties and obligations upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

 

20.1 The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel selected by it (who may be outside legal counsel for the Rights Agent or the Company), and the opinion or advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent will have no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in the absence of bad faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

 

20.2 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 the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of Current Per Share Market Price) be proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering, or omitting to take any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by any one of an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Rights Agent, and such certificate shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate. In the event the Rights Agent believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Rights Agent hereunder, the Rights Agent, may, in its sole discretion, refrain from taking any action, and shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Company, the holder of any Right Certificate or any other Person for refraining from taking such action, unless the Rights Agent receives written instructions signed by an Authorized Officer which eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of the Rights Agent.

 

 

20.3 The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any liability of the Rights Agent under this Agreement will be limited to the amount of annual fees paid by the Company to the Rights Agent during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from the Rights Agent is being sought.

 

20.4 The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right Certificates (except as to its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same. All such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

 

20.5 The Rights Agent shall not have any liability for nor be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution and delivery 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 liable or responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or failure by the Company to satisfy any condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Sections 11 or 13 or 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 a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12 describing such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Preferred Shares or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate, or as to whether any Preferred Shares or other securities will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

20.6 The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered, all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

20.7 The Rights Agent is ▇▇▇▇▇▇ authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder and certificates delivered pursuant to any provision hereof from any one of the Authorized Officers, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in accordance with instructions of any such officer and such advice or instruction shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with advice or instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions.

 

 

20.8 The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company, or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company, or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not the Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

 

20.9 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. The Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect, or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct absent gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith in the selection and continued employment of such attorneys or agents (which gross negligence or bad faith must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

20.10 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.

 

20.11 The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any fact, event or determination (including, without limitation, any dates or events defined in this Agreement or the designation of any Person as an Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate) under this Agreement unless and until the Rights Agent shall be specifically notified in writing by the Company of such fact, event or determination.

 

20.12 The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility to the Company or any holders of the Right Certificates for interest or earnings on any moneys held by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

 

20.13 The Rights Agent may rely on and be fully authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon (a) any guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” or insurance program in addition to, or in substitution for, the foregoing; or (b) any law, act, regulation or any interpretation of the same even though such law, act, or regulation may thereafter have been altered, changed, amended or repealed.

 

20.14 The Rights Agent shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to any registration statement filed or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or this Agreement, including without limitation obligations under applicable regulation or law.

 

20.15 The Rights Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility in the case of the receipt of any written demand from any holder of the Right Certificates with respect to any action or default by the Company, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or to make any demand upon the Company.

 

 

21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing mailed to the Company and, in the event that the Rights Agent or one of its Affiliates is not also the transfer agent for the Company, if known to the Rights Agent, to each transfer agent of the Common Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares and the Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail. In the event the transfer agency relationship in effect between the Company and the Rights Agent terminates, the Rights Agent will be deemed to have resigned automatically and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement as of the effective date of such termination, and the Company shall be responsible for sending any required notice. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares and the Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and, after the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Right Certificates by first class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed, or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent, or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit such Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers, is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority, and has, along with its Affiliates, at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed, and the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and shall execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose; provided that such predecessor Rights Agent shall not be required to make any additional expenditure or assume any additional liability in connection with the foregoing. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares and the Preferred Shares, and, after the Distribution Date, mail a notice 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 Right Certificates to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board 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 or Series D Preferred Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date and the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, the Company may, with respect to Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares so issued or sold (i) pursuant to the exercise of stock options; (ii) under any employment plan or arrangement; (iii) upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities, notes or debentures issued by the Company; or (iv) pursuant to a contractual obligation of the Company, in each case existing prior to the Distribution Date, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale.

 

 

23. Redemption.

 

23.1 The Board may, at its option, at any time prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share represented by a Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and subject to such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. The Redemption Price shall be payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, Common Shares or such other form of consideration as the Board shall determine.

 

23.2 Immediately upon the time of the effectiveness of the redemption of the Rights or such earlier time as may be determined by the Board in the action ordering such redemption (although not earlier than the time of such action) (the “Redemption Date”), and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Within ten days after action of the Board ordering the redemption of the Rights (or such later time as the Board may establish for the effectiveness of such redemption), the Company shall mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares and the Series D Preferred Shares. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. If the payment of the Redemption Price is not included with such notice, each such notice shall state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24, other than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares or Series D Preferred Shares prior to the Distribution Date.

 

24. Exchange.

 

24.1 The Board may, at its option, at any time after a Stock Acquisition Date, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which excludes Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 11.1.2) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share represented by a Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (the “Exchange Ratio”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of a majority of the Common Shares then outstanding. From and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section 13.1, any rights that theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 24 shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and may not be exchanged pursuant to this Section 24. The exchange of the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish.

 

 

24.2 Immediately upon effectiveness of the action of the Board ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 24.1, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.1.2) held by each holder of Rights.

 

24.3 In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Shares or Common Stock Equivalents for Common Shares exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or an appropriate number of Common Stock Equivalents) 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.

 

24.4 If there shall not be sufficient Common Shares, Preferred Shares or Common Stock Equivalents authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares, Preferred Shares or Common Stock Equivalents for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.

 

24.5 The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu of issuing fractional Common Shares, the Company may instead pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current per share market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this Section 24.5, the current per share market value of a whole Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11.4.1) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section.

 

 

24.6 Notwithstanding anything in this Section 24 to the contrary, the exchange of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. Without limiting the preceding sentence, the Board may (i) in lieu of issuing Common Shares or any other securities contemplated by this Section 24 to the Persons entitled thereto in connection with the exchange (such Persons, the “Exchange Recipients,” and such shares and other securities, together with any dividends or distributions made on such shares or other securities, the “Exchange Property”) issue, transfer or deposit the Exchange Property to or into a trust or other entity that may hold such Exchange Property for the benefit of the Exchange Recipients (provided that such trust or other entity may not be controlled by the Company or any of its Affiliates or Associates, and provided further that the trustee or similar fiduciary of the trust or other entity will attempt to distribute the Exchange Property to the Exchange Recipients as promptly as practicable), (ii) permit such trust or other entity to exercise all of the rights that a stockholder of record would possess with respect to any shares deposited in such trust or entity and (iii) impose such procedures as are necessary to verify that the Exchange Recipients are not Acquiring Persons or Affiliates or Associates of Acquiring Persons as of any time periods established by the Board or such trust or entity. In the event the Board determines, before the Distribution Date, to effect an exchange, such Board may delay the occurrence of the Distribution Date to such time as such Board deems advisable; provided that the Distribution Date must occur no later than twenty (20) days after the Stock Acquisition Date.

 

25. Notice of Certain Events.

 

25.1 If the Company shall, at any time after the Distribution Date, propose (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of the Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of the Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of the 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 the Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred Shares), (iv) to effect any share exchange, consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or Earning Power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such share exchange, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares, the Preferred Shares or all, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least ten (10) days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares, the Series D Preferred Shares, the Preferred Shares or all, whichever shall be the earlier. The failure to give notice required by this Section 25.1 or any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of the action taken by the Company or the vote upon any such action.

 

 

25.2 The Company shall, as soon as practicable after a Stock Acquisition Date, give to each holder of a Right Certificate (or, if occurring prior to the Distribution Date, the holders of Common Shares and Series D Preferred Shares), in accordance with Section 26, a notice that describes the transaction in which a Person became an Acquiring Person and the consequences of the transaction to holders of Rights under Section 11.1.2.

 

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 Company shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing and sent by overnight delivery service or first-class mail, postage prepaid, properly addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

 

Ashford Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel

 

Copy to:

Cadwalader, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing and sent by overnight delivery service or first-class mail, postage prepaid, properly addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) or by facsimile transmission (with receipt confirmation) as follows:

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Client Services

Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

 

Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.

 

27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to time, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any change to or delete any provision hereof or to adopt any other provisions with respect to the Rights which the Company may deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that, from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall not be amended or supplemented in any manner which would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates). Upon the delivery of a certificate from an Authorized Officer 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. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights Agent shall not be required to execute any supplement or amendment to this Agreement that it has determined would adversely affect its own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under this Agreement. No supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless duly executed by the Rights Agent.

 

 

28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

 

29. Benefits of This Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares and Series D Preferred Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares and Series D Preferred Shares).

 

30. 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, null and void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided that, if any such excluded terms, provisions, covenants or restrictions shall adversely affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties, responsibilities or obligations of the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to the Company pursuant to the requirements of Section 26 of this Agreement.

 

31. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Nevada and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state, except that the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state.

 

32. 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. A signature to this Agreement transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.

 

 

33. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. Descriptive headings of the 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. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. Each reference in this Agreement to a period of time following or after a specified date or event shall be calculated without including such specified date or the day on which such specified event occurs.

 

34. Administration. The Board shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer and interpret the provisions of this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or the Company or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement. Without limiting any of the rights and immunities or expanding any of the duties or obligations of the Rights Agent under this Agreement, all such actions, calculations, determinations and interpretations which are done or made by the Board in good faith shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, holders of the Rights and all other parties and shall not subject the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.

 

35. Force Majeure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Rights Agent will not have any liability for not performing, or a delay in the performance of, any act, duty, obligation or responsibility by reason of any occurrence beyond the reasonable control of the Rights Agent (including, without limitation, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or government authority, any act of God, war, civil or military disobedience or disorder, riot, terrorism, fire, earthquake, storm, flood, strike, work stoppage or similar occurrence or breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunctions of any utilities, communications, or computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems). The Rights Agent shall provide the Company prompt notice as soon as practicable in the event that any such delay or failure in performance occurs and keep the Company apprised of developments and mitigation efforts with respect thereto.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

Ashford Inc.

 

By:

/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

	Name:	▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.,

as Rights Agent

 

By:

/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

	Name:	▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Ashford Inc. Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

ATTACHMENT A TO CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

 

of

 

SERIES F PREFERRED STOCK

 

of

 

ASHFORD INC.

 

 

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation be and it hereby is created, and that the designation and amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences, and relative rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:

 

Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of this series shall be designated as Series F Preferred Stock (the “Series F Preferred Stock”), and the number of shares constituting the Series F Preferred Stock shall be two million (2,000,000). Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board without any shareholder approval; provided that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series F Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series F Preferred Stock.

 

Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

 

(a)               Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock (or any other stock of the Corporation) ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series F Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series F Preferred Stock in respect thereof, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date 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 F Preferred Stock, in an amount (if any) per share (rounded to the nearest cent), subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 multiplied by 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 $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Corporation 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 F Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

 

(b)               The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series F Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section 2 immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).

 

(c)               Dividends due pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 2 shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series F Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series F 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 F 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.

 

Except as may be otherwise required by law, the Board may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

 

Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

 

(a)               Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series F Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

 

(b)               Except as otherwise provided in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation (as amended on November 6, 2019 and as further amended or supplemented through the date hereof) (the “Charter”), including any other Certificate of Designation creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(c)               Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise required by law, holders of Series F Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

 

Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

 

(a)               Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series F 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 F Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

 

(i)                 declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series F 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 F Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series F 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; or

 

(iii)            redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series F 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 (as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding-up) to the Series F Preferred Stock.

 

(b)               The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

 

 

Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series F Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation automatically and without further Board action become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock that may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein or in the Charter, including any Certificate of Designation creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or as otherwise required by law.

 

Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up.

 

(a)               Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, voluntary or otherwise, no distribution shall be made to the holders of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series F Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of Series F Preferred Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “Series F Liquidation Preference”) equal to an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(b)               If there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series F Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series F Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series F Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.

 

(c)               Neither the merger nor consolidation of the Corporation into or with another entity nor the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 6.

 

 

Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. If the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series F Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series F Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

Section 8. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series F Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Charter shall not be amended in any manner, including in a merger, consolidation or otherwise, which would alter, change or repeal the powers, preferences or rights of the Series F Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series F Preferred Stock, voting separately a single class.

 

Section 9. Rank. The Series F Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding-up, junior to all other series of Preferred Stock, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Right Certificate

 

Certificate No. R- Rights

 

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY 30, 2023 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.001 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS THAT ARE OR WERE ACQUIRED OR BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY ASSOCIATES OR AFFILIATES THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.

 

Right Certificate
ASHFORD INC.

 

This certifies that ________________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement dated as of August 30, 2022, (as may be further amended from time to time, the “Rights Agreement”), between Ashford Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (or any successor Rights Agent thereunder, the “Rights Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office or offices of its successor as Rights Agent designated for such purpose, one one-thousandths of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series F Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company, at a purchase price of $275.00 per one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (the “Purchase Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of September 9, 2022, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or other securities or property) 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.

 

From and after the occurrence of a Stock Acquisition Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are or were at any time on or after the earlier of (x) the date of such event or (y) the Distribution Date acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights.

 

 

This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are incorporated herein by this reference and made a part hereof, and to which Rights Agreement reference is made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. The Company will mail to the holders of this Right Certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.

 

This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, at the Company’s option, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, or Preferred Shares.

 

No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise or exchange hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.

 

[Signatures follow on the next page]

 

 

WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal.

 

Dated as of ___, ___.

 

Attest:

Ashford Inc.

 

By:			By:
	Name:			Name:
	Title:			Title:

 

Countersigned:

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

 

By:
	Authorized Signature

 

 

[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

(Please print name and address of transferee)

 

Rights represented by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _________________, Attorney, to transfer said Rights on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.

 

DATED: ___________, _____

 

Signature

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (bank, stock broker or savings and loan association with membership in an approved signature medallion program).

 

Certificate

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by and were not acquired by the undersigned from, and are not being assigned to, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof and are not issued with respect to notional Common Shares related to a Derivative Interest described in Section 1.4.4 of the definition of Beneficial Owner (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

DATED: ___________, _____

 

 

Signature

 

 

[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate continued]

 

FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

 

(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Right Certificate)

To ASHFORD INC.:

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares (or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares (or other securities or property) 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 must conform to the holder specified on the Right Certificate)

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (bank, stock broker or savings and loan association with membership in an approved signature medallion program).

 

 

[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate continued]

 

Certificate

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by, were not acquired by the undersigned from and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof and are not issued with respect to notional Common Shares related to a Derivative Interest described in Section 1.4.4 of the definition of Beneficial Owner (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

DATED: ___________, _____

 

 

Signature

 

NOTICE

 

The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election to Purchase must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

 

In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, such assignment or election to purchase will not be honored.

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.

 

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES

 

On August 30, 2022, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Ashford Inc. (the “Company”) declared (i) a dividend to the holders of the Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Shares”), outstanding on September 9, 2022 (the “Record Date”) of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each Common Share and (ii) a dividend to the holders of the Series D Preferred Shares (as defined below) outstanding on the Record Date of one Right in respect of each Common Share that is issuable upon conversion of the Company’s Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series D Preferred Shares”) as determined under the Certificate of Designation of the Series D Convertible Preferred Stock of Ashford Inc. (the “Series D Certificate of Designation”). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandths of a share of Series F Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company, at a price of $275 per one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share represented by a Right (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement dated as of August 30, 2022, by and between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent (as may be amended from time to time, the “Rights Agreement”).

 

Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (with certain exceptions as described below, an “Acquiring Person”) (or, in the event an exchange is effected in accordance with Section 24 of the Rights Agreement and the Board determines that a later date is advisable, then such later date that is not more than 20 days after such public announcement) or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board prior to such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or an exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates, the “Distribution Date”), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.

 

A person shall not be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” if (i) such person, on the date of the first public announcement of the adoption of the Rights Agreement, is a Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding (a “Grandfathered Stockholder”); provided, however, that ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and his Affiliates and Associates shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person; provided further that if a Grandfathered Stockholder becomes, after the Record Date, the Beneficial Owner of additional Common Shares (other than as a result of (A) a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision or similar transaction effected by the Company in which all registered holders of Common Shares are treated substantially equally, (B) the grant or issuance by the Company to its directors, officers and/or employees of options, warrants, rights or similar interests, or any exchange thereof, to acquire Common Shares by the Company pursuant to any executive compensation plan or arrangement, employee benefit, stock incentive plan, stock option plan or stock ownership plan of the Company adopted by the Board, and the subsequent vesting, exercise or conversion of such options, warrants, rights or similar interests, (C) the grant or issuance by the Company to its directors, officers and/or employees of restricted Common Shares or restricted stock units pursuant to a restricted stock or other compensation plan or arrangement adopted by the Board and the subsequent vesting of such shares or stock units, (D) the acquisition of Common Shares directly from the Company, or (E) the acquisition of Common Shares solely as a result of corporate action of the Company not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person) regardless of whether, thereafter or as a result thereof, there is an increase, decrease or no change in the percentage of Common Shares then outstanding beneficially owned by such Grandfathered Stockholder, then such Grandfathered Stockholder shall be deemed an Acquiring Person unless, upon such acquisition of beneficial ownership of additional Common Shares, such Grandfathered Stockholder is not the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding; provided further that upon the first decrease of a Grandfathered Stockholder’s beneficial ownership below 10%, such Grandfathered Stockholder shall no longer be considered a Grandfathered Stockholder and this clause (v) shall have no further force or effect with respect to such Grandfathered Stockholder.

 

 

“Beneficial Ownership” shall include any securities such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates (i) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, (ii) has the right to acquire, (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person (or any affiliate or associate of such other person) with which such first person or any of such first person’s affiliates or associates has (A) formed, or is acting together as, a group for the purposes of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in clause (ii) of Section 1.4.2 of the Rights Agreement) or disposing securities of the Company, regardless of whether such persons are party to any written or unwritten agreement, arrangement or understanding, (B) shared information about an upcoming Schedule 13D filing (or amendment thereto) that such person and/or such first person and/or their respective affiliates and associates will be required to make, to the extent such information is not yet public and communicated with the purpose of causing others to make purchases, and such person and/or first person and/or their respective affiliates and associates subsequently purchases the Company’s securities based on such information, (C) entered into any pooling arrangement, whether formal or informal, written or unwritten, (D) engaged in activities undertaken with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the Company or in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect, or (E) taken concerted actions related to the Company’s equity securities where such person and such first person are directly or indirectly obligated to take such concerted action, and (iv) which are the subject of, or the reference securities for, or that underlie, any derivative securities (as defined under Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) of such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates that increase in value as the value of the underlying equity increases, with the number of Common Shares deemed Beneficially Owned being the notional or other number of Common Shares specified in the documentation evidencing the derivative interest as being subject to be acquired upon the exercise or settlement of the derivative interest or as the basis upon which the value or settlement amount of such derivative interest is to be calculated in whole or in part or, if no such number of Common Shares is specified in such documentation, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion to be the number of Common Shares to which the derivative interest relates.

 

 

The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares and the Series D Preferred Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date or 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 or the Series D Preferred 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 and the Series D Preferred Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

 

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on July 30, 2023 (the “Final Expiration Date”), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below, or upon the occurrence of certain transactions.

 

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is 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 periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

 

The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Preferred Shares 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.

 

Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled, when, as and if declared, to a quarterly dividend payment of 1,000 multiplied by the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a payment per share equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate payment made per Common Share. Each Preferred Share will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares are converted or exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 1,000 multiplied by the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.

 

 

Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights of the Preferred Shares, the value of the one one-thousandths interest in a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one Common Share.

 

From and after the time any person becomes an Acquiring Person, if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are or were at any time on or after the earlier of (i) the date of such event or (ii) the Distribution Date acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an associate or affiliate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights.

 

If, at any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or Earning Power (as defined in the Rights Agreement) are sold, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. If any person becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person and its affiliates and associates (which will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. If the Board so elects, the Company shall deliver upon payment of the exercise price of a Right an amount of cash or securities equivalent in value to the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of a Right; provided that if the Company fails to meet such obligation within 30 days following the date a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company must deliver, upon exercise of a Right but without requiring payment of the exercise price then in effect, Common Shares (to the extent available) and cash equal in value to the difference between the value of the Common Shares otherwise issuable upon the exercise of a Right and the exercise price then in effect. The Board may extend the 30-day period described above for up to an additional 60 days to permit the taking of action that may be necessary to authorize sufficient additional Common Shares to permit the issuance of Common Shares upon the exercise in full of the Rights.

 

At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by any person or group of a majority of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).

 

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 integral multiples of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, 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 time any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of the Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

 

The terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board without the consent of the holders of the Rights, provided that no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.

 

Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

 

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 August 31, 2022. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.