Exhibit 1
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MAY 6, 2004
BETWEEN
YP CORP.
AND
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER COMPANY, AS RIGHTS AGENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right
Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights, Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights . . 9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. . . . . . . .10
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares and
Number of Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. . . .19
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Section 15. Rights of Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder . . . . . . . .24
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent . . . .25
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
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Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Section 23. Redemption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Section 24. Exchange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Section 26. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Section 28. Successors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors. . . . . . .32
Section 31. Severability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Section 32. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Section 33. Counterparts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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Rights Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2004 ("Agreement"), between YP Corp.,
a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and Registrar and Transfer Company, as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each share of
Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close
of Business (as defined below) on May 4, 2004 (the "Record Date"), each Right
representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth (subject to adjustment) of
a share of Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject
to the conditions herein set forth, and has further authorized and directed the
issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) with respect to
each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding between the Record Date
and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms
are hereinafter defined); provided, however, that Rights may be issued with
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respect to shares of Common Stock that shall become outstanding after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with Section
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22.
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Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
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following terms have the meaning indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) that shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include an Exempt Person (as such term is hereinafter
defined); provided, however, that (i) if the Board of Directors of the Company
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determines in good faith that a Person that would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person" became the Beneficial Owner of a number of shares of Common Stock such
that the Person would otherwise qualify as an "Acquiring Person" inadvertently
(including, without limitation, because (A) such Person was unaware that it
beneficially owned a percentage of Common Stock 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 Stock but had no actual knowledge of the
consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement) and without any
intention of changing or influencing control of the Company, then such Person
shall not be deemed to be or to have become an "Acquiring Person" for any
purposes of this Agreement unless and until such Person shall have failed to
divest itself, as soon as practicable (as determined, in good faith, by the
Board of Directors of the Company), of Beneficial Ownership of a sufficient
number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer otherwise
qualify as an "Acquiring Person"; (ii) if, as of the date hereof or prior to the
first public announcement of the adoption of this Agreement, any Person is or
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock
outstanding, such Person shall not be deemed to be or to become an "Acquiring
Person" unless and until such time as such Person shall, after the first public
announcement of the adoption of this Agreement, become the Beneficial Owner of
additional
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shares of Common Stock (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid
or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Stock or pursuant to a split or
subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock), unless, upon becoming the
Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of Common Stock, such Person is not
then the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding; and (iii) no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the
result of an acquisition of shares of Common Stock by the Company that, by
reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding, provided, however, that if a Person
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shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding by reason of such share acquisitions by the Company and shall
thereafter become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock
(other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company
on the outstanding Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the
outstanding Common Stock), then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person" unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of
Common Stock such Person does not beneficially own 15% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding. For all purposes of this Agreement, any
calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any
particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage
of such outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial
Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i)
of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date hereof.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) 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:
(i) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates is deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, within the
meaning of Rule l3d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange
Act as in effect on the date hereof;
(ii) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a
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Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (x)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf
of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase, (y) 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 or (z) 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
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such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the
Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof ("Original
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Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) or Section 11(n) with respect to an
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adjustment to Original Rights; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall
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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 (1) arises solely from a
revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or
consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also
then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report); or
(iii) that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other Person and with respect to which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other
than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group
members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the
proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of such securities of the Company;
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provided, however, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
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Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned" (as defined in this Section l(c)), including, without limitation, in a
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fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director
or employee of an Exempt Person.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the city in
which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New
York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
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Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
the Common Stock, presently par value $0.001 per share, of the Company. "Common
Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean
the common stock (or, in the case of an unincorporated entity, 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 that
ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(g) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(h) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(i) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
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hereof.
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(j) "Equivalent Preferred Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b) hereof.
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(k) "Exempt Person" shall mean: (i) the Company or any Subsidiary (as
such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, in each case including,
without limitation, in its fiduciary capacity, or any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity or trustee
holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such 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; (ii) ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇, for so long as such Person, together with any of his Affiliates and
Associates, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more, but not 18% or more,
of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, provided that such Persons shall
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cease to be an Exempt Person at such time when such Person, together with any of
his Affiliates and Associates, (A) shall become the Beneficial Owner of less
than 15% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding or (B) shall commerce or
publicly announce the intention to commence a tender or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in such Persons becoming the Beneficial Owner
of shares of Common Stock aggregating 18% or more of the Common Stock then
outstanding; (iii) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Markson Ltd., an Antiguan corporation, for so long
as such Person, together with its Affiliates and Associates (other than ▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ltd.), shall be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more, but not 24% or more,
of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, provided that such Person shall
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cease to be an Exempt Person at such time when such Person (A) shall become the
Beneficial Owner of less than 15% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding
or (B) shall commerce or publicly announce the intention to commence a tender or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in such Person, together
with its Affiliates and Associates (other than ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ltd.), becoming
the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 24% or more of the
Common Stock then outstanding; and (iv) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ltd., an Antiguan
corporation, for so long as such Person, together with its Affiliates and
Associates (other than ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Markson Ltd.), shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more, but not 24% or more, of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, provided that such Person shall cease to be an Exempt Person at
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such time when such Person (A) shall become the Beneficial Owner of less than
15% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding or (B) shall commerce or
publicly announce the intention to commence a tender or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in such Person, together with its Affiliates
and Associates (other than ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ltd.), becoming the Beneficial
Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 24% or more of the Common Stock then
outstanding.
(l) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24
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hereof.
(m) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7
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hereof.
(n) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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7 hereof.
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(o) "Flip-In Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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11(a)(ii) hereof.
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(p) "NASDAQ" shall mean The Nasdaq Stock Market.
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(q) "New York Stock Exchange" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc.
(r) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, trust or other entity, and shall include any
successor (by merger or otherwise) to such entity.
(s) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company having the rights
and preferences set forth in the Form of Certificate of Designation attached to
this Agreement as Exhibit A.
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(t) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b)
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hereof.
(u) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b)
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hereof.
(v) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7
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hereof.
(w) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23
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hereof.
(x) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
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hereof.
(y) "Security" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i)
hereof.
(z) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(aa) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(bb) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
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hereof.
(cc) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the
Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such, or such
earlier date as a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company shall become
aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person.
(dd) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors of such
corporation or other persons performing similar functions for such other entity
are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, and any
corporation or other entity that is otherwise controlled by such Person.
(ee) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(ff) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
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hereof.
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(gg) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i)
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hereof.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
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Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date be the
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holders of Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and
the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to
time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
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(a) Until the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day
after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth Business Day (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors of the Company
prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of
the commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or of the first
public announcement of the intention of such Person (other than an Exempt
Person) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would
result in any Person (other than an Exempt Person) becoming an Acquiring Person
(the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date",
provided, however, that if either of such dates occurs after the date of this
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Agreement and on or prior to the Record Date, then the Distribution Date shall
be the Record Date), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions
of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for Common Stock registered in the
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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
Stock. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will
prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will
send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by
first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common
Stock 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 (a "Right Certificate"),
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evidencing one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each share
of Common Stock so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Preferred
Stock, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"),
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by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Stock as
of the Close of Business on the Record Date (other than any Acquiring Person or
any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person), at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution
Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for Common Stock 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 Stock represented thereby.
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(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock
issued or disposed of (including, without limitation, upon disposition of Common
Stock out of treasury stock or issuance or reissuance of Common Stock out of
authorized but unissued shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier
of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, or in certain circumstances
provided in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates issued
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for Common Stock (including, without limitation, upon transfer of outstanding
Common Stock, disposition of Common Stock out of treasury stock or issuance or
reissuance of Common Stock out of authorized but unissued shares) after the
Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the 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 a Rights Agreement
between YP Corp. (the "Company") and Registrar and Transfer
Company, as Rights Agent, dated as of May 6, 2004 and as
amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the
terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference
and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive
offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set
forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced
by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by
this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of
this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without
charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under
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certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement,
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Rights owned by or transferred to any Person who is or
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becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights
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Agreement) and certain transferees thereof will become null
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and void and will no longer be transferable.
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With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate, except as otherwise provided
herein, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or
otherwise acquires any Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the
Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Stock shall be deemed
canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any
Rights associated with the Common Stock that are no longer outstanding.
Notwithstanding this Section 3(c), the omission of a legend shall not
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affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any
holder of the Rights.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
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forms of election to purchase shares and of assignment to be printed on the
reverse thereof) shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B
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hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto
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or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or interdealer quotation
system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted, or to
conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Right
Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at
the Purchase Price, but the number of such one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as
provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
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(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by the President of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature,
shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof and shall
be attested by the Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Right Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights
Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any
officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall
cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights
Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates,
nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered
by the Company with the same force and effect as though the Person who signed
such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and
any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any Person who,
at the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of
the execution of this Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at an office or agency designated for such purpose, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right
Certificates, and the date of each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
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Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
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(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at any time after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or
Right Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder
to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such
holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person
entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be,
as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.
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(b) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at any time after the
Distribution Date and prior to the 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 request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent
of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights
Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will
make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for
delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights, Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
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(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall become
exercisable on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the registered holder of
any Right Certificate may, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and except as
-----------------
otherwise provided herein, exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in
part upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to
purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the
office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as to which the Rights are exercised, at any
time that is both after the Distribution Date and prior to the time (the
"Expiration Date") that is the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on April
26, 2014 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date") or (iii) the
----------
time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.
----------
(b) The Purchase Price shall be initially $36.50 for each one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. The Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock or other securities or property to be acquired upon exercise of
a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections
--------
11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of
-- --
America in accordance with this Section 7(c).
-------------
(c) 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 aggregate Purchase Price
for the shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof, in cash or by certified check,
---------
cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights
Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of
the Preferred Stock, or make available if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent
for the Preferred Stock, certificates for the number of shares of Preferred
Stock to be purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its
transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from a
depositary agent appointed by the Company depositary receipts representing
interests in such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as
are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Stock
represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the
9
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 shares in
accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) promptly after receipt of such
-----------
certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such
name or names as may be designated by such holder, (iv) when appropriate, after
receipt, promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Right Certificate, and (v) deliver to the Company the cash,
certified check, cashier's check or money order received as payment of the
exercise price for such Rights.
(d) Except as otherwise provided herein, in case the registered holder
of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all of 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 his duly authorized assigns,
subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
-----------
(e) 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 pursuant to Section 6 hereof or this Section 7
--------- ---------
unless such registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed 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) thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All Right
--------------------------------------------------
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in 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, 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.
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock.
----------------------------------------------
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved
and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock
or any shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury, the number of shares of
Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise
of Rights may be listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ, the
10
Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the
Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed or
admitted to trading on such exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ, upon official notice
of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) From and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, the
Company shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to permit the issuance of
shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights, to register and qualify
such shares of Preferred Stock under the Securities Act and any applicable state
securities or "Blue Sky" laws (to the extent exemptions therefrom are not
available), cause such registration statement and qualifications to become
effective as soon as possible after such filing and keep such registration and
qualifications effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of the date as of which
the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities and the Expiration
Date. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed
90 days, the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file a
registration statement under the Securities Act and permit it to become
effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no
longer in effect. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until
a registration statement under the Securities Act shall have been declared
effective, unless an exemption therefrom is available.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock delivered upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates therefor
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges that may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of
any shares of Preferred Stock 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 Stock in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right
Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver
any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Stock upon the exercise of
any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable
by that 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.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
-----------------------------
certificate for Preferred Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares of
Preferred Stock 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 Stock transfer books of the Company
are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have
11
become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated,
the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock 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 Stock for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends or other distributions,
and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the
Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares and
-------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred Stock
------------------
or other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of each Right, and the
number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in this Section 11.
-----------
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date
of this Agreement (A) declare and pay a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable
in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C)
combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares of
Preferred Stock or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a),
-------------
the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of a Right
as of the record date for such dividend or the effective date of 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 that, if such
Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, the holder would have
owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event any
-----------
Person becomes an Acquiring Person (the first occurrence of such event being
referred to hereinafter as the "Flip-In Event"), then (A) the Purchase Price
shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the
Flip-In Event multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
Flip-In Event, whether or not such Right was then exercisable, and (B) each
holder of a Right, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a)(ii) and
-----------------
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
-------------------
exercise thereof at a price equal to the Purchase Price (as so adjusted), in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred
Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained
by dividing the Purchase Price (as so adjusted) by 50% of the current per share
market price of the Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
-------------
on the date of such Flip-In Event; provided, however, that the Purchase Price
-------- -------
(as so adjusted) and the number of shares of Common Stock so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall, following the Flip-In Event, be subject to further
adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof.
--------------
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, however, from and
after the Flip-In Event, any Rights that are beneficially owned by (x) any
Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person), (y) a
transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who
12
becomes a transferee after the Flip-In Event or (z) a transferee of any
Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who became a transferee
prior to or concurrently with the Flip-In Event pursuant to either (I) a
transfer from the Acquiring Person to holders of its equity securities or to any
Person with whom it has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (II) a transfer that the Board of Directors
of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
that has the purpose or effect of avoiding the provisions of this Section
-------
11(a)(ii), and subsequent transferees of such Persons, shall be void without any
---------
further action and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no rights
whatsoever with respect to such Rights under any provision of this Agreement.
The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of
this Section 11(a)(ii) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any
------------------
holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make
any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder. From and after the Flip-In Event, no Right
Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 6 hereof that
--------- ---------
represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 11(a)(ii), and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent
-----------------
that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the provisions
of this Section 11(a)(ii) shall be canceled. From and after the occurrence of
-----------------
an event specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that theretofore have not
-------------
been exercised pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii) shall thereafter be
------------------
exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and not pursuant to this Section
---------- -------
11(a)(ii).
---------
(iii) The Company, at its option, may substitute for a share of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with Section
-------
11(a)(ii) a number of shares of Preferred Stock or fraction thereof such that
---------
the current per share market price of one share of Preferred Stock multiplied by
such number or fraction is equal to the current per share market price of one
share of Common Stock. In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares
of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit
the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii), the
-----------------
Board of Directors of the Company shall, with respect to such deficiency, to the
extent permitted by applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to
which the Company is a party, (A) determine the excess (such excess, the
"Spread") of (1) the value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of a Right in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) (the "Current Value")
-----------------
over (2) the Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii)),
-----------------
and (B) with respect to each Right (other than Rights that have become void
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)), make adequate provision to substitute for the
------------------
shares of Common Stock issuable in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) upon
-----------------
exercise of the Right and payment of the Purchase Price (as adjusted in
accordance therewith), (1) cash, (2) a reduction in such Purchase Price, (3)
shares of Preferred Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, shares or fractions of shares of preferred stock that, by
virtue of having dividend, voting, and liquidation rights substantially
comparable to those of the shares of Common Stock, are deemed in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company to have substantially the same value as
the shares of Common Stock (such shares of Preferred Stock and shares or
fractions of shares of preferred stock are hereinafter referred to as "Common
Stock Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or
(6) any combination of the foregoing, having a value that, when added to the
value of the shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of such Right, shall
have an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any
reduction in such Purchase
13
Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking
firm selected in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided,
--------
however, that if the Company shall not make adequate provision to deliver value
-------
pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the Flip-In Event
(the date of the Flip-In Event being the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then
the Company shall be obligated to deliver, to the extent permitted by applicable
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 such
Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available), and then, if
necessary, such number or fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (to the extent
available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an
aggregate value equal to the Spread. If, upon the occurrence of the Flip-In
Event, the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith that
it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be
authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, then, if the Board
of Directors of the Company so elects, the thirty (30) day period set forth
above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90)
days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may
seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such
thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended, is herein called the
"Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some
action need be taken pursuant to the second and/or third sentence of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 11(a)(ii)
------------------- -----------------
hereof and the last sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii), that such action shall
------------------
apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability
of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek
any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of
distribution to be made pursuant to such second sentence and to determine the
value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a
public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been
temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the
------------------
value of the shares of Common Stock shall be the current per share market price
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)) on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger
-----------------
Date and the per share or fractional value of any "Common Stock Equivalent"
shall be deemed to equal the current per share market price of the Common Stock.
The Board of Directors of the Company may, but shall not be required to,
establish procedures to allocate the right to receive shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of the Rights among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section
-------
11(a)(iii).
----------
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them
(for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights,
privileges, and preferences as the Preferred Stock ("Equivalent Preferred
Shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred
Shares at a price per share of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Shares
(or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into shares
of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Shares) less than the then-current
per share market price of the Preferred Stock (determined pursuant to Section
-------
11(d) hereof) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such
-----
record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the number of shares of
14
Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Shares
that the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred
Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the
number of shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Shares outstanding
on such record date plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock
and/or Equivalent Preferred Shares to be offered for subscription or purchase
(or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially
convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be
-------- -------
paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the
shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. In
case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which
shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
Shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Shares owned by or held for
the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of
any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are
not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price
that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the Preferred Stock (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to
in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record
--------------
date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
then-current per share market price of the Preferred Stock (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date, less the fair market value (as
--------------
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of
the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or
of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one share of Preferred
Stock, and the denominator of which shall be such current per share market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the Preferred Stock; provided,
------------- --------
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise
-------
of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock
of the Company to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall
be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that
such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to
be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d) (i) Except as otherwise provided herein, for the purpose of any
computation hereunder, the "current per share market price" of any security (a
"Security" for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed
----------------
to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the
30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately
prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current per
-------- -------
share market price of the Security is determined during a period following the
announcement by
15
the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Security
payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares,
or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security, and
prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination
or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per share market
price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per
share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported by the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is
not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices on NASDAQ or in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or
such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not
quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Security
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. The term "Trading Day" shall
mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the
Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, if the
Preferred Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Stock shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in
Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred Stock is not publicly traded but the Common
-----------------
Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred
Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market price of
the Common Stock as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) multiplied by the
----------------
then-applicable Adjustment Number (as defined in and determined in accordance
with the Certificate of Designation for the Preferred Stock). If neither the
Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly traded, "current per share
market price" shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments that by reason of this Section
-------- ------- -------
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
-----
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock or one-hundredth of a share of Common Stock or other
share or security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of
this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no
------------- ----------
later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction that
requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
16
(f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
-------------
hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than the Preferred
Stock, thereafter the Purchase Price and the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a),
--------------
11(b), 11(c), 11(e), 11(h), 11(i), and 11(m) hereof, as applicable, and the
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13, and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred
---------- - -- -- --
Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise
of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in
Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
--------------
calculations made in Sections 11(b) and 11(c), each Right outstanding
--------------- -----
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one
hundred-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) obtained by (i) multiplying
(x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share purchasable upon the exercise
of a Right immediately prior to such adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such adjustment and (ii) dividing the product so
obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Purchase Price pursuant to Sections 11(b) or 11(c) hereof to adjust the number
-------------- -----
of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock 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 share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
one-hundredth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a
public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating
the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. Such record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, then upon each adjustment
of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i) the Company may, as
-------------
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right
Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
----------
as a result of such adjustment or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to
be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the
Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be
17
entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be
issued, executed, and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall
be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the
record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon
the exercise of a Right, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock that were expressed in the initial
Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the fraction of
Preferred Stock or other shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of a
Right, the Company shall take any corporate action that may, in the opinion of
its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally
issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock or other such
shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
-----------
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the
Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Stock and other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the
basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
--------
however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due ▇▇▇▇ or other
-------
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional
shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
----------
Company shall be entitled to make such adjustments 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) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii)
issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the
current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Stock or
securities that by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for
Preferred Stock, (iv) dividends on Preferred Stock payable in shares of
Preferred Stock, or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in
Section 11(b), hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock
--------------
shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event that at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Distribution Date the Company shall (i) declare and pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in Common Stock or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination
or consolidation of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend payable in Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then, in each such case, the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or
delivered thereafter, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of
Rights thereafter associated with each share of
18
Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by
multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock
immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be
the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of
such event.
(o) The Company agrees that, after the earlier of the Distribution Date
or the Stock Acquisition Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23,
-----------
24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the
-- --
time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will
diminish substantially or eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
------------------------------------------------------------
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 13 hereof, the
---------- --
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock and the
Preferred Stock a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof (if
----------
so required under Section 25 hereof). The Rights Agent shall be fully protected
----------
in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and
shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it
shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
--------------------------------------------------------------
Power.
-----
(a) In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after the Flip-In
Event (i) the Company shall consolidate with or shall merge into any other
Person, (ii) any Person shall merge with and into the Company and the Company
shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in
connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Stock shall be changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or of the
Company) or cash or any other property, or (iii) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50%
or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any other Person (other than the Company or one or more
wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company), then upon the first occurrence of
such event, proper provision shall be made so that (A) each holder of a Right
(other than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof)
-----------------
shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the
Purchase Price (as theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii)
-----------------
hereof), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of
Preferred Stock or Common Stock of the Company, such number of validly
authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of
Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not
subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse
claims, as shall equal the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price (as
theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) by 50% of the
-----------------
current per share market price of the Common Stock of such Principal Party
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of
--------------
such consolidation, merger, sale or
19
transfer; provided, however, that the Purchase Price (as theretofore adjusted in
-------- -------
accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) and the number of shares of Common
------------------
Stock of such Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be
subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f)
-------------
hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect of the Common Stock of such
Principal Party after the occurrence of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer; (B) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall
assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the
obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term
"Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party; and (D)
such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the
reservation of a sufficient number of its shares of Common Stock in accordance
with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation of any such
----------
transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to the
shares of its 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 Principal Party, 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(a), such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property
--------------
that such holder would have been entitled to receive had such holder, at the
time of such transaction, owned the Common Stock of the Principal Party
receivable upon the exercise of a Right pursuant to this Section 13(a), and such
-------------
Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to,
reservation of shares of stock) as may be necessary to permit the subsequent
exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms hereof for such cash,
shares, rights, warrants and other property.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (i) or (ii) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, (A) the Person that is the issuer of the
-------------
securities into which the shares of Common Stock are converted in such merger or
consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer the shares
of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that is the
other party to the merger, if such Person survives said merger, or, if there is
more than one such Person, the Person the shares of Common Stock of which have
the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding or (y) if the Person
that is the other party to the merger does not survive the merger, the Person
that does survive the merger (including the Company if it survives) or (z) the
Person resulting from the consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (iii) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving
-------------
the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such
transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning
power so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the
assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding; provided, however, that in any such case described in the foregoing
-------- -------
clause (b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time
or has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under
Section 12 of
20
the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of
another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered, the term
"Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person, or (2) if such Person is a
Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Stock of
all of which is and has been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall
refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of Common Stock having the
greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (3) if such Person is
owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or more Persons
that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set
forth in clauses (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the owners having an
interest in the venture as if the Person owned by the joint venture was a
Subsidiary of both or all of such joint venturers, and the Principal Party in
each such case shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the
----------
same ratio as its interest in such Person bears to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer referred to in Section 13(a) hereof unless prior thereto the Company
-------------
and the Principal Party involved therein shall have executed and delivered to
the Rights Agent an agreement confirming that the requirements of Sections 13(a)
--------------
and (b) hereof shall promptly be performed in accordance with their terms and
---
that such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets shall not result in
a default by the Principal Party under this Agreement as the same shall have
been assumed by the Principal Party pursuant to Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof
-------------- ---
and providing that, as soon as practicable after executing such agreement
pursuant to this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
----------
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities
Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing, and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement
to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of
the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date and similarly comply with
applicable state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the Principal
Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or
on another national securities exchange, to list or admit to trading (or
continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise
of the Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities exchange, or, if
the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities exchange, to
cause the Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of the Rights to be
authorized for quotation on NASDAQ or on such other system then in use;
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party that comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act; and
(iv) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive
rights in respect of the Common Stock of the Principal Party subject to purchase
upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
21
(d) In case the Principal Party has a provision in any of its
authorized securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other
instrument governing its affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i)
causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant
to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the
-----------
consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common
----------
Stock or Common Stock Equivalents of such Principal Party at less than the
then-current market price per share thereof (determined pursuant to Section
-------
11(d) hereof) or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock
-----
or Common Stock Equivalents of such Principal Party at less than such
then-current market price, or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or
similar provision in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such
Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13, then, in such event,
----------
the Company hereby agrees with each holder of Rights that it shall not
consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such
Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing that the provision in question of such
Principal Party shall have been canceled, waived or amended, or that the
authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable provision will
have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of
the proposed transaction.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Flip-In Event, enter into any transaction of the type described in
clauses (i) through (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof if (i) at the time of or
--------------
immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other
transaction there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities
outstanding or agreements in effect that would substantially diminish or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii)
prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer or other transaction, the stockholders of the Person that
constitutes, or would constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section
-------
13(b) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
-----
such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature
of organization of the Principal Party would preclude or limit the
exercisability of the Rights.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
-------------------------------------------
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights
(except prior to the Distribution Date in accordance with Section 11(n) hereof)
-------------
or to distribute Right Certificates that evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current
-------------
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
22
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices on NASDAQ or in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or
such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted
by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected
by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market
maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such
date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall
be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of
a share of Preferred Stock) or to distribute certificates that evidence
fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions that are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon the exercise
or exchange of Rights. Interests in fractions of Preferred Stock in integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock may, at the
election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an
appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it;
provided, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary
--------
receipts shall have all the rights, privileges, and preferences to which they
are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Stock represented by such
depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are
not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the
Company shall pay to the registered holders 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 a whole share of
Preferred Stock (as determined in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) for the
-------------
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
(c) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. In lieu of such
fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of
Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock (as
determined in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) for the Trading Day
--------------
immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
(d) By the acceptance of a Right, the holder of such Right expressly
waives his, her, or its right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise or exchange of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
------------------
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
-----------
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent
23
or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, of the Common Stock), on his, her, or its own behalf and for his, her, or
its own benefit, may enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his,
her, or its right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, such Common Stock) in the manner provided
therein and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies
available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the
holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of
this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations
under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the
obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
-----------------------------
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of the Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in
whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Right Certificates or the Common Stock certificate made by anyone other than the
Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the
Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, shall be affected
------------
by any notice to the contrary.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder,
-------------------------------------------------
as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Stock 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, 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 this Agreement), 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.
24
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
------------------------------
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection
with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right
Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Stock or Common Stock or for other
securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by
the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set
forth in Section 20 hereof.
-----------
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
stock transfer or corporate trust powers of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto; provided, that such corporation would be eligible for
--------
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
----------
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights
Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such
Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates
and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time
any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name
25
or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have
the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
-------------------------
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by the President and the Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full
authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith
by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the
Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in
-----------------
the terms of the Rights provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23, and 24, or the
---------- -- -- -- --
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right
Certificates after receipt of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12,
----------
describing such change or adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be
deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any shares of Preferred Stock or other securities to be issued
pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any shares
of Preferred Stock or other securities will, when issued, be validly authorized
and issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
26
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge, and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be one of the President or the
Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of
any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those
instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from
the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any
action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement
and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission
shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken
by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in
any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which
date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any officer of the
Company actually receives such application unless any such officer shall have
consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action
(or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have
received written instructions in response to such application specifying the
action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from
acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection
--------
and continued employment thereof.
(j) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate contained in the form of
assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse thereof,
as the case may be, has not been completed to certify the holder is not an
Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate thereof) or a transferee thereof,
the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
-------------------------
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Stock or Preferred
27
Stock by registered or certified mail, and, following the Distribution Date, to
the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock by
registered or certified mail, and, following 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 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 his Right Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate
may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new
Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by
such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws
of the United States or the laws of any state of the United States or the
District of Columbia, in good standing, having an office in the State of Nevada
or the State of New York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50
million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers, rights, duties, and responsibilities as if it had been originally
named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights
Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at
the time held by it hereunder and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock or
Preferred Stock and, following the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any
notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall
----------
not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
------------------------------------
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such forms
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and
prior to the Expiration Date, the Company may with respect to shares of Common
Stock so issued or sold (i) pursuant to the exercise of stock options, (ii)
under any employee 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 Rights Certificates representing the appropriate
number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale.
28
Section 23. Redemption.
----------
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company, at any time prior to the
Flip-In Event, may cause the Company to redeem all but not less than all the
then-outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring in respect of the Common Stock after the date hereof (the redemption
price being hereinafter referred to as 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 of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion may
establish. The Redemption Price shall be payable, at the option of the Company,
in cash, shares of Common Stock, or such other form of consideration as the
Board of Directors of the Company shall determine.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to Section 23 (a) (or at
--------------
such later time as the Board of Directors of the Company may establish for the
effectiveness of such redemption), and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price.
The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption; provided,
--------
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not
-------
affect the validity of such redemption. Within 10 days after such action of the
Board of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights (or such
later time as the Board of Directors of the Company 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
Stock. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed
given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of
redemption shall state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price
will be made.
Section 24. Exchange.
--------
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company, at its option, at any time
after the Flip-In Event, may cause the Company to exchange all or part of the
then-outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for
-----------------
Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring in respect of the Common Stock after the date hereof (such
amount per Right being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company shall not
be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after an Acquiring Person shall
have become the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 50% or
more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. From and after the
occurrence of an event specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that
--------------
theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a) shall
-------------
thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and may not be
----------
exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a). The exchange of the Rights by the
-------------
Board of Directors of the Company may be made effective at such time, on such
29
basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company in its
sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section
-------
24(a) and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
-----
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder
of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock 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 shall promptly mail a
notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of the Rights so exchanged at
their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent.
Any notice that 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 shares of Common Stock for
Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of
Rights that will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata
based on the number of Rights (other than Rights that have become void pursuant
to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
-----------------
(c) The Company, at its option, may substitute and, in the event that
there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding
or authorized but unissued to permit an exchange of Rights for Common Stock as
contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall substitute to
----------
the extent of such insufficiency, for each share of Common Stock that would
otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of Preferred
Stock or fraction thereof (or Equivalent Preferred Shares, as such term is
defined in Section 11(b)) such that the current per share market price
--------------
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of one share of Preferred Stock
-------------
(or Equivalent Preferred Share) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal
to the current per-share market price of one share of Common Stock (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) as of the date of such exchange.
-------------
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
---------------------------
(a) In case the Company shall at any time after the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date propose (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Stock or to make
any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Stock (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock
(other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision or combination of
outstanding Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, or (v) to pay any dividend on the Common Stock
payable in Common Stock or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation
of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
dividends in Common Stock), 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 dividend or distribution or offering of rights or warrants, or
the date on which
30
such liquidation, dissolution, winding up, reclassification, subdivision,
combination or consolidation is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock, if any such
date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 days prior to the record date
for determining holders of the Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and
in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the date of the
taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the
holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock, whichever shall be the
earlier.
(b) In case any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13
----------------- ----------
shall occur, then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to
each holder of a Right Certificate (or if occurring prior to the Distribution
Date, the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
----------
notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event
and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii)
-----------------
and Section 13 hereof.
-----------
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
-------
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
YP Corp.
Attention: President
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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 sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Registrar and Transfer Company
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Except as provided in the
----------------------------
penultimate sentence of this Section 27, for so long as the Rights are then
-----------
redeemable, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights
Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this
Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of the Rights. At
any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, except as provided
31
in the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, the Company may, and the Rights
----------
Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement
without the approval of any holders of Rights, provided that no such supplement
or amendment may (a) adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights as
such (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person), (b) cause this Agreement again to become amendable other than
in accordance with this sentence or (c) cause the Rights again to become
redeemable. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made that changes the Redemption
Price. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the
Company that states that the supplement or amendment is in compliance with the
terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or
-----------
amendment, provided that any supplement or amendment that does not amend
--------
Sections 18, 19, 20 or 21 hereof or this Section 27 in a manner adverse to the
------------ -- -- -- ----------
Rights Agent shall become effective immediately upon execution by the Company,
whether or not also executed by the Rights Agent.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
----------
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. 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 Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent, and the registered holders of the Right Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock).
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors. The
-------------------------------------------------------
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise the rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board of Directors of the Company or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination
to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend or not amend this Agreement).
All such actions, calculations, interpretations, and determinations that are
done or made by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith shall be
final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of
the Rights, as such, and all other parties.
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
------------
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants, and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. 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 New Jersey and
32
for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within
such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
---------------------
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
33
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
YP CORP.
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
---------------------------------
Title:
--------------------------------
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER COMPANY,
as Rights Agent
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
---------------------------------
Title:
--------------------------------
34
Exhibit A
---------
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
YP CORP.
YP CORP., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State
of Nevada (the "Corporation"), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors of the
Corporation (the "Board of Directors") in accordance with the provisions of the
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the said Corporation, the said
Board of Directors on April 26, 2004 adopted the following resolution creating a
series of 800,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as "Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock":
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the
Board of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with
the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation a series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001
per share, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and
that the designation and number of shares thereof and the
voting and other powers, preferences, and relative,
participating, optional or other rights of the shares of
such series and the qualifications, limitations and
restrictions thereof are as follows:
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preferred Stock
that shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock," and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 800,000. Such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock to less than the number of shares then
issued and outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding
securities issued by the Corporation.
2. Dividends and Distribution.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking prior and
superior to the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with
respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series
A-1
of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock in respect thereof, shall be entitled to receive, when, as, and
if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of January, April,
July and October, in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a
"Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded
to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $10.00 or (b) the Adjustment
Number (as defined below) times the aggregate per share amount of all cash
dividends declared on the Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the
Corporation (the "Common Stock"), plus the Adjustment Number times the aggregate
per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other
distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a
subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise) declared on the Common Stock, in each case since the immediately
preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The
"Adjustment Number" initially shall be 1000. In the event the Corporation shall
at any time after May 18, 2004 (i) declare and pay any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock,
or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such
event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment 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) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2(A)
------------
above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of
such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date
of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of
which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear
interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the
time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board
of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend
A-2
or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 60
days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall entitle the holder thereof to a number of votes equal to the Adjustment
Number on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation.
(B) Except as required by law, by Section 3(C), and by Section 10
------------ ----------
hereof, holders of Series A Junior Participating 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.
(C) If, at the time of any annual meeting of stockholders for the
election of directors, the equivalent of six quarterly dividends (whether or not
consecutive) payable on any share or shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock are in default, the number of directors constituting the Board
of Directors of the Corporation shall be increased by two. In addition to
voting together with the holders of Common Stock for the election of other
directors of the Corporation, the holders of record of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class to the exclusion of
the holders of Common Stock, shall be entitled at said meeting of stockholders
(and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders), unless all dividends in
arrears on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock have been paid or
declared and set apart for payment prior thereto, to vote for the election of
two directors of the Corporation, the holders of any Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock being entitled to cast a number of votes per share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as is specified in Section
-------
3(A). Until the default in payments of all dividends that permitted the
election of said directors shall cease to exist, any director who shall have
been so elected pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3(C) may be removed
------------
at any time, without cause, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of the
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at the time entitled to
cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast for the election of any such
director at a special meeting of such holders called for that purpose, and any
vacancy thereby created may be filled by the vote of such holders. If and when
such default shall cease to exist, the holders of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall be divested of the foregoing special voting
rights, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent like
default in payments of dividends. Upon the termination of the foregoing special
voting rights, the terms of office of all persons who may have been elected
directors pursuant to said special voting rights shall forthwith terminate, and
the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be reduced by
two. The voting rights granted by this Section 3(C) shall be in addition to any
------------
other voting rights granted to the holders of the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock in this Section 3.
----------
A-3
4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as
provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and
----------
unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full,
the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other
distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends
or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which
dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which
the holders of all such shares are then entitled; or
(iii) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock
ranking on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, or to such holders and holders of any such shares
ranking on a parity therewith, upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after
consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights
and preferences
A-4
of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result
in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under Section 4(A),
-----
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their retirement become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to
any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
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 shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have received an amount per share (the
"Series A Liquidation Preference") equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 plus an
amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether
or not declared, to the date of such payment, or (ii) the Adjustment Number
times the per share amount of all cash and other property to be distributed in
respect of the Common Stock upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the
Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for
such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or 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.
---------
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the Corporation shall enter
into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
outstanding shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock
or securities, cash and/or any other
A-5
property, then in any such case each share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an
amount per share equal to the Adjustment Number times the aggregate amount of
stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case
may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged.
8. No Redemption. Shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall not be subject to redemption by the Corporation.
9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
rank junior to all other series of the Preferred Stock as to the payment of
dividends and as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and
shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Amended and Restated Articles
of Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended, by merger,
consolidation or otherwise, in any manner that would materially alter or change
the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of
the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in
proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights,
receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all
other rights of holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate this ___
day of May, 2004.
YP CORP.
----------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Chief Executive Officer
A-6
Exhibit B
---------
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. R-______ _____ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 26, 2014 OR EARLIER IF
REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS
SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS
OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON THAT 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 EXERCISABLE OR TRANSFERABLE.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
YP CORP.
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 May 6, 2004, as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between YP Corp., a Nevada corporation
(the "Company"), and Registrar and Transfer Company, as Rights Agent (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 City time, on April 26, 2014 at the office or agency of the Rights
Agent designated for such purpose, or of its successor as Rights Agent, one
one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Preferred
Stock"), of the Company at a purchase price of $36.50 per one one-thousandth of
a share of Preferred Stock (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 Rights Certificate (and the
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock that may be
purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set
forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of April 26, 2004, based on
the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights
Agreement, the Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock (or other securities or property) that may be purchased upon the
exercise of the Rights, and the number of Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of
certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions, and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions, and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by
B-1
reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is
hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights,
obligations, duties, and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company,
and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on
file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned
office or agency of the Rights Agent. The Company will mail to the holder 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 agency 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 shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the
Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such
holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the
holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right
Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of
$.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of the
Company's Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, or shares of Preferred
Stock.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock will be issued upon
the exercise or exchange of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than
fractions of Preferred Stock that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depository 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 Stock
or of any other securities of the Company that 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.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
B-2
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal. Dated as of _________ __, 2004.
YP CORP.
By:
------------------------------------
President
ATTEST:
------------------------------
Secretary
Countersigned:
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER COMPANY, as Rights Agent
By
------------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------
Title:
----------------------------
B-3
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 a bank, trust company, broker, dealer or
other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(To be completed)
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 (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
------------------------------
Signature
B-4
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 Rights Certificate)
TO YP CORP.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
(or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock (or such other
securities) be issued in the name of:
_________________________________________________________________________
(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 print name and
address below):
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:
Dated:
-----------------------------------
------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must conform to holder specified on Right Certificate)
Signature Guaranteed:
Signature must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer or
other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed)
B-5
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
The undersigned certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not beneficially owned by, and were not acquired by the
undersigned from, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
defined in the Rights Agreement).
------------------------------
Signature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
------
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to Purchase, as
the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or
the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, such
Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
B-6
Exhibit C
---------
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON THAT
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 EXERCISABLE OR TRANSFERABLE.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK OF
YP CORP.
On April 26, 2004, the Board of Directors of YP Corp. (the "Company")
declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each
outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company
(the "Common Stock"). The dividend is payable on May 18, 2004 (the "Payment
Date") to the stockholders of record on May 4, 2004 (the "Record Date"). Each
Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the "Preferred Stock") at a price of
$36.50 per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase
Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set
forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of May 6, 2004, as the same may be amended
from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and Registrar
and Transfer Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has become an
"Acquiring Person" (as described below) or (ii) 10 business days (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors of the Company
prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention
to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result
in any person or group of affiliated persons becoming an Acquiring Person (the
earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be
evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Stock certificates outstanding as
of the Record Date, by such Common Stock certificate together with this Summary
of Rights. Except in certain situations, a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons becomes an "Acquiring Person" upon acquiring beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
In the case of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ and his affiliates (which together currently
own approximately 15.4% of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock),
those persons will become an Acquiring Person if such persons, together with
their respective affiliates and associates, (a) have acquired beneficial
ownership of 18% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (b)
beneficially own 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and
commence or announce a tender or exchange offer to acquire beneficial ownership
of 18% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, or (c) at any time beneficially
own less than
C-1
15% of the outstanding Common Stock and acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or commence or announce a tender
or exchange offer to acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock. In the case of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Markson, Ltd. (which
currently owns 22.2% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock) or ▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇▇, Ltd. (which currently owns 21.7% of the Company's outstanding shares of
Common Stock), either of those persons will become an Acquiring Person if such
entity, together with its affiliates and associates, (a) has acquired beneficial
ownership of 24% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (b)
beneficially owns 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and
commences or announces a tender or exchange offer to acquire beneficial
ownership of 24% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, or (c) at any time
beneficially own less than 15% of the outstanding Common Stock and acquire
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
or commence or announce a tender or exchange offer to acquire beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock.
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 Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the
Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon
transfer or new issuances of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating
the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such
notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer
of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock 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 Stock 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 April 26, 2014 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is advanced or extended or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock 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
Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price, less than
the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights is subject to adjustment in the event of a
stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or
subdivisions,
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consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.
Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not
be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as, and if
declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of the greater of
(a) $10.00 per share, and (b) an amount equal to 1000 times the dividend
declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled
to a minimum preferential payment of the greater of (a) $1.00 per share (plus
any accrued but unpaid dividends), and (b) an amount equal to 1000 times the
payment made per share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have
1000 votes, voting together with the Common Stock. If the Company fails to pay
dividends on the Preferred Stock for six quarters (whether or not consecutive),
the size of the Company's Board of Directors will be increased by two members
and the holders of Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, will be entitled
to elect the two additional directors. The holders of Preferred Stock will
retain this right until all dividend arrearages on the Preferred Stock have been
cured, at which time the two additional members will cease to be directors of
the Company and the size of the Company's Board of Directors will be decreased
by two members.
In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
outstanding shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged, each share of
Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1000 times the amount received per
share of Common Stock. These rights are protected by customary antidilution
provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation, and
voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a share of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one share of Common Stock.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated persons
becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void),
will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right that number
of shares of Common Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price
of the Right.
In the event that, after a person or group has become 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 are sold, proper
provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person, which will have become void) will
thereafter have the right to receive upon the exercise of a Right that number of
shares of common stock of the person with which the Company has engaged in the
foregoing transaction (or its parent) that at the time of such transaction have
a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraph or the
acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, the Board of
C-3
Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by
such Acquiring Person, which will have become void), in whole or in part, for
shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or a series of the Company's
preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences, and privileges), at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or a fractional share of Preferred
Stock (or other preferred stock) equivalent in value thereto, per Right.
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 shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock
will be issued (other than fractions of Preferred Stock that are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, that 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 current market price of
the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock.
At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the Board
of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at
a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price") payable, at the option of the
Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock or such other form of consideration as
the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine. The redemption of the
Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis, and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion may
establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise
the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.
For so long as the Rights remain redeemable, the Company may, except with
respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner.
After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect
to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not
adversely affect the interests of 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 Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
May, 2004. 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, as the
same may be amended from time to time, which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
C-4