Exhibit 4.1
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF AUGUST 12, 2003
BETWEEN
MEDSOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
AND
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Table of Contents
Section 1. Certain Definitions.............................................................................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent.....................................................................................6
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates....................................................................................6
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.....................................................................................7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration...............................................................................8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed,
Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates..............................................................................8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights...................................................9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates............................................................11
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock..................................................................11
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date....................................................................................13
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights....................................13
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...............................................................................................22
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders....................................................................................23
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.............................................................23
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent....................................................................................24
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent......................................................24
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.........................................................................................25
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.........................................................................................27
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates............................................................................28
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.....................................................................................28
Section 24. Exchange.......................................................................................................29
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.......................................................................................30
Section 26. Notices........................................................................................................30
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments.....................................................................................31
Section 28. Successors.....................................................................................................31
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, Etc......................................................31
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement.....................................................................................32
Section 31. Severability...................................................................................................32
Section 32. Governing Law..................................................................................................32
Section 33. Counterparts...................................................................................................32
Section 34. Descriptive Headings...........................................................................................32
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Rights Agreement dated as of August 12, 2003 (this "Agreement")
is between MedSource Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and Wachovia Bank, National Association (the "Rights Agent"). Capitalized terms
used but not defined elsewhere herein are defined in Section 1.
Recital
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Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth,
the Board of Directors of the Company has: (i) authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each share of
Common Stock outstanding at the Close of Business on August 29, 2003 (the
"Record Date"), each Right initially representing the right to purchase one
thousandth of a share of Series G Preferred Stock; and (ii) further authorized
and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each share of Common
Stock that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of
the Distribution Date.
Agreement
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The parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not
include: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company; (iii) any employee
benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company; or (iv) any
Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan. No Person shall become an "Acquiring
Person" solely as the result of an acquisition of Common Stock by the Company
which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate
number of shares Beneficially Owned by a Person to 15% or more of the Common
Stock of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Stock of the Company
then outstanding solely by reason of purchases of Common Stock by the Company
and shall, after such purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of
any additional shares of Common Stock, then such Person shall be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person." If the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good
faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become an
"Acquiring Person" inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as
practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person
would no longer be an "Acquiring Person," then such Person shall not be deemed
to be an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement unless and until
such Person shall again become an "Acquiring Person."
(b) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meaning
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act.
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "Beneficially Own," any securities:
(i) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns (for purposes of Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder, together with any
comparable or successor law or regulation), including, without limitation,
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in
writing;
(ii) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, 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 (whether or not in writing) or upon
the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options,
or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "Beneficially Own" securities tendered pursuant to
a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for
purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, provided, however, that a Person shall not be
deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security if
the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security: (I) 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
(II) 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 (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person (or
any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing), for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in
the proviso to subparagraph (ii)(B) of this paragraph (c) or disposing of any
voting securities of the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this
paragraph (c) shall cause a person engaged in business as an underwriter of
securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any
securities acquired through such person's participation in good faith in a firm
commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty days after the date of
such acquisition.
The term "outstanding" when used with reference to a Person's
Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the number of
securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such
securities not then issued and outstanding with such Person would be deemed to
Beneficially Own hereunder.
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(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any
Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with
the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest
having power to control or direct the management, of such Person.
(h) "Current Market Price" of any security as of any date shall mean
the average of the daily closing prices of such security for the 30 consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations
made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Market Price of such
security as of any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing
prices per security for the 10 consecutive Trading Days immediately following
such date; provided, however, that in the event that the Current Market Price
per security is determined during a period following the announcement by the
issuer of such security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such security
payable in shares of such security or securities convertible into such security
(other than the Rights) or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification
of such security, and the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or
the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall not
have occurred prior to the commencement of the requisite 30 Trading Day or 10
Trading Day period, as set forth above, then, and in each such case, the Current
Market Price shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend
trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular
way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq National Market or the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the security not listed or admitted to trading on the
Nasdaq National Market, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the security is listed or admitted to trading or,
if the security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq
or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the securities 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. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in
the security, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good
faith by the Board shall be used. If the security is not publicly held or not so
listed or traded, Current Market Price shall mean the fair value as determined
in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
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(i) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(j) "Distribution Date" shall mean earlier of (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of
the Company's Board of Directors) after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the
tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the
Close of Business on the Record Date), or (ii) the Close of Business on the
tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of such
Board) after the date of the commencement by any Person (other than the Company,
any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of
any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity organized, appointed or established
by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) of, or of the
first public announcement or the intention of any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to
commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in
any Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding.
(k) "Equivalent Preferred Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b) hereof.
(l) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, together with any successor or replacement law or regulation.
(m) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
24(a) hereof.
(n) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(a) hereof.
(o) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(p) "Nasdaq" shall mean the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System.
(q) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or other entity and shall include any
successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(r) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)
hereof.
(s) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the recital
hereof.
(t) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(a) hereof.
(u) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
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(v) "Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the recital hereof.
(w) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereof.
(x) "Rights Certificate" shall mean a rights certificate in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(y) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall mean August 12, 2003.
(z) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(aa) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(bb) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clauses
(x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(cc) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933.
(dd) "Series G Preferred Stock" shall mean the Company's Series G
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, having the
rights and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designation,
Preferences and Rights attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(ee) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof.
(ff) "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) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(gg) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation or other entity of which an amount of voting securities sufficient
to elect at least a majority of the directors of such corporation is
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise
controlled by such Person.
(hh) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ii) "Summary of Rights" means the summary of rights, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(jj) "Trading Day" shall mean, with respect to any security, a day on
which the principal national securities exchange on which such security is
listed or admitted for trading (including, without limitation, the Nasdaq
National Market) is open for the transaction of business or, if such security is
not so listed or admitted, a Business Day.
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(kk) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights
(who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date
also be the holders of the Common 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. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and
shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights
Agent. In the event the Company appoints one or more co-Rights Agents, the
respective duties of the Rights Agents and any co-Rights Agents will be as the
Company may determine.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the Distribution Date, (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 3) by the
certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the
Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be
certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute,
and the Rights Agent will countersign and send by first-class, insured, postage
prepaid mail to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the Close of
Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, one or more Rights Certificates evidencing one Right for
each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In
the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock
has been made pursuant to Section 11 hereof at the time of distribution of the
Rights Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate
rounding adjustments so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers
of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As
of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such
Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the Company
will send a copy of the Summary of Rights to each record holder of the Common
Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for the
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock and the
registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of
the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date, the transfer of any certificates representing shares of Common
Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock
that are issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's treasury) after
the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date. Certificates representing such
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shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and
shall bear a legend reading substantially as follows:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between MedSource
Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") and Wachovia Bank, National
Association (the "Rights Agent"), dated as of August 12, 2003 (the
"Rights Agreement"), as the same may be amended from time to time,
the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a
copy of which is on file at the principal office 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, as in
effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt
of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth
in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who
is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person, or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether
currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent
holder, may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (x) the Distribution Date and (y) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock also
shall be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of
any of such certificates also shall constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) each shall be
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks
of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. The Rights Certificates, whenever
distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date and on their face shall
entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one-thousandths of a
share of Series G Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set
forth therein (such exercise price per one-thousandth of a share, as adjusted
pursuant to the terms hereof, the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of
securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price
thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate that represents Rights Beneficially Owned
by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person; (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
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Person becomes such; or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any
such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently
with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to
either: (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring
Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person
with whom such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or
understanding regarding the transferred Rights; or (B) a transfer which the
Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement
or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section
7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section
11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights
Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible)
the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights
Certificate and the Rights represented hereby shall become null and
void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights
Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the
Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the
Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and
effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased
to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the
appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights
Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) At any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date,
and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights
Certificate or Rights
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Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered holder to
purchase a like number of one-thousandths of a share of Series G Preferred Stock
(or, following a Triggering Event, shares of Common Stock, other securities,
cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the case
of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split
up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates shall make
such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined
or exchanged at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered
Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed
the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall request. Thereupon the Rights Agent
shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up,
combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) The registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the
Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in
part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights
Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on the
reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the principal office
or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of
one-thousandth of a share (or shares of Common Stock, other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then
exercisable, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on August
29, 2013 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the Close of Business on the date
on which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the
"Redemption Date"), or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged
pursuant to Section 24 hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein
referred to as the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $40.00,
and 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 in
accordance with paragraph (c) below.
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(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised of the Purchase
Price per one-thousandth of a share of Series G Preferred Stock (or shares of
Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be
purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax,
the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly: (i) (A) requisition from any transfer
agent of the shares of Series G Preferred Stock (or make available, if the
Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total
number of one-thousandths of a share of Series G Preferred Stock to be purchased
and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with
all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total
number of shares of Series G Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of one-thousandths of a share of
Series G Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for
the shares of Series G Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will
direct the depositary agent to comply with such request; (ii) when appropriate,
requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of
fractional shares; (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary
receipts, cause the same to be registered in the name of and delivered to the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder; and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt, deliver
such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate. The Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence
of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be
exercised so that only whole shares of Series G Preferred Stock would be issued.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder.
(e) From and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights
Beneficially Owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of
such Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of such Acquiring Person (or of any
such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such (a "Post-Event Transferee"), (iii) a transferee of such Acquiring
Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to
or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights
pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the
Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to
any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
that the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect the
avoidance of this Section 7(e) (a "Pre-Event Transferee") and (iv) any
subsequent transferee
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receiving transferred Rights from a Post-Event Transferee or a Pre-Event
Transferee, either directly or through one or more intermediate transferees
shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such
Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether
under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder
of Rights Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any
determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of its respective
Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.
For the avoidance of doubt, from and after the occurrence of
Triggering Event: (x) any Rights that are or were acquired or Beneficially Owned
by any Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such Acquiring Person)
shall be void and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to
exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement; and (y) no Rights
Certificate shall be issued that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by an
Acquiring Person whose rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence
or any Affiliate or Associate thereof; no Rights Certificate shall be issued at
any time upon the transfer or any Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights
would be void pursuant to the preceding clause (x) or any Associate or Affiliate
thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate; and
any Rights Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an
Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence
shall be cancelled.
(f) Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of
any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form
of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights
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 Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request
of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case
shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital 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 Series
G Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
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Common Stock and/or other securities) or any shares of Series G Preferred Stock
(and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) held in its treasury, the number of shares of Series G Preferred
Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or
other securities) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights. The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Series G Preferred Stock
(and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of
the certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be
duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
(b) If the Company shall hereafter list any Series G Preferred Stock
(and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights on any
national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the
extent it is reasonably likely the Rights will be exercised), all shares
reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of
issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with this Agreement or
as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the case may
be, a registration statement under the Securities Act, with respect to the
shares of Common Stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the
date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and
(B) the Expiration Date. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of
time not to exceed 90 days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first
sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to
prepare and file such registration statement 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. In
addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is
required following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend
the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has
been declared effective. The Company will also take such action as may be
appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
(d) The Company 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 Rights Certificates and of
any Series G Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the
case may be) 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 Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or
delivery of shares of Series G Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than that of, the
registered holder of the Rights Certificates
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evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any shares of
Series G Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case
may be) in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of
any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by
the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has
been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name
any certificate for any shares of Series G Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of
Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of
such Series G Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the
case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the
date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer
taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the Series G Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are
closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such
shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be dated, the
next succeeding Business Day on which the Series G Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares
or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered
by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment
from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Series G Preferred Stock payable in
shares of Series G Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Series G
Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Series G Preferred Stock into a
smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Series G 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 Purchase Price in effect at the time of the
record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Series G
Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date,
shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised
after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price
then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Series G Preferred
Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been
exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Series G
Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, he or she would have
owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that
in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be
less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issuable upon exercise of such one Right.
-13-
(ii) In the event that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person
(such event, a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), then, promptly following the
occurrence of such event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of
a Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of
one-thousandths of a share of Series G Preferred Stock, such number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the quotient obtained by (x)
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of
such Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the number of one-thousandths of a share of
Series G Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
such occurrence, and (y) by dividing that product (which, following such first
occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each
Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price
per share of Common Stock as of the date of such occurrence (such number of
shares, the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that either (x) the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock are not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the
Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a)
or (y) the Company shall not have obtained any necessary regulatory approval to
permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), then the Company shall take all such
action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Common Stock for
issuance upon exercise of the Rights or to obtain such approval, as the case may
be. However, in the event the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable
to authorize such additional shares of Common Stock (or to obtain such necessary
regulatory approval, as the case may be), the Company shall (A) determine the
value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the
"Current Value"), and (B) with respect to each Right (subject to Section 7(e)
hereof), make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon
the exercise of a Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash,
(2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) other equity securities of the
Company, (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any
combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current
Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where such
aggregate value has been determined by the Board based upon the advice of a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board; provided,
however, that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver
value pursuant to clause (B) above within 30 days following the later of (x) the
first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of
(x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"),
then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise
of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common
Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares
and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. For purposes of the
preceding sentence, the term "Spread" shall mean the excess of (i) the Current
Value over (ii) the Purchase Price. If the Board determines in good faith that
it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be
authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the 30 day period
set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than 90
days after the Section 11(a)(ii)
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Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the
authorization of such additional shares (such 30 day period, as it may be
extended, is herein called the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that action
is to be taken pursuant to the first and/or third sentences of this Section
11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that
such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend
the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period
in order to seek such stockholder approval for such authorization of additional
shares, to take any action to obtain any required regulatory approval and/or to
decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first
sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement 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 each Adjustment Share shall be the
Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii)
Trigger Date and the per share or per unit value of any Common Stock Equivalent
shall be deemed to equal the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock
as of such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights (other than the Rights), options or warrants to all holders of Series G
Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period
expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) Series G Preferred
Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the
shares of Series G Preferred Stock ("Equivalent Preferred Stock")) or securities
convertible into Series G Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a
price per share of Series G Preferred Stock or per share of Equivalent Preferred
Stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into
Series G Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock) less than the Current
Market Price per share of Series G Preferred Stock as of 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 Series G
Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares of
Series G Preferred Stock that the aggregate offering price of the total number
of shares of Series G Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock 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 Series G Preferred Stock
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of Series
G Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon 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 such one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid by
delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than cash,
the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent
and the holders of the Rights. Shares of Series G Preferred Stock owned by or
held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the
purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or
warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.
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(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to
all holders of Series G Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly
cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets
(other than a dividend payable in Series G Preferred Stock, but including any
dividend payable in stock other than Series G 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 Current Market Price per
share of Series G Preferred Stock as of such record date, less the fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights) of
the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or
of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Series G
Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price
per share of Series G 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 issuable upon
exercise of such 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 be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would
have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent in the
Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this
Section 11(d) 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 ten-thousandth of a share
of Common Stock or other share or one-millionth of a share of Series G Preferred
Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section
11(d), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than
the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which mandates
such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(e) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised
shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Series G
Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon
exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof 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 Series G Preferred Stock
contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and
the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Series
G Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
-16-
(f) 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-thousandths of a
share of Series G Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon
exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(g) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(h), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately
prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one-thousandths of a
share of Series G Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth)
obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one-thousandths of a share covered
by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii)
dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately
after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(h) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in
the number of one-thousandths of a share of Series G Preferred Stock purchasable
upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the
adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of
one-thousandths of a share of Series G 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 ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may
be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but,
if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten days later
than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been
issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(h), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 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 Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase
Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(i) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of one-thousandths of a share of Series G Preferred Stock issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one-thousandth
of a share and the number of one-thousandths of a share which were expressed in
the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
-17-
(j) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of the number of
one-thousandths of a share of Series G Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and nonassessable such number of one-thousandths of a
share of Series G Preferred Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(k) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the number of one-thousandths of a share of Series G Preferred Stock and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise
over and above the number of one-thousandths of a share of Series G 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 ββββ or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to
receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(l) Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall be entitled to
make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments
expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good
faith judgment the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine to be
advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Series G
Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Series G
Preferred Stock at less than the Current Market Price, (iii) issuance wholly for
cash of shares of Series G Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms
are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Series G Preferred Stock,
(iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to
in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Series G
Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(m) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, 24 or Section 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 substantially or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(n) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights
Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a
dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine
the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or
issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the
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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.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13
hereof, the Company shall: (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment;
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Series G Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate; and
(c) mail or cause the Rights Agent to mail a brief summary thereof to each
holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to each
holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in accordance with
Section 26 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any
such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and shall not be
obligated or responsible for calculating any adjustment nor shall it be deemed
to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received
such a certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date, directly
or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into,
any other Person and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person shall consolidate
with, or merge with or into, the Company and the Company shall be the continuing
or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with
such consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any
other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or
earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons, then,
and in each such case (except as may be contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof),
proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as
otherwise provided herein, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid,
non-assessable and freely tradable 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 be equal to the result
obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of
one-thousandths of a share of Series G Preferred Stock for which a Right is
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or,
if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such one-thousandths of a share for
which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that product (which, following the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase Price"
for each
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Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price
per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of
consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event,
all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii)
the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party,
it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall
apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section
13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common
Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be
necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable,
as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first occurrence
of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y)
of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of any
securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted in
such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person
that is the other party to such merger or consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding 12 month
period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and
has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; and
(2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than
one Person, the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for
issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this
Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13
and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any
consolidation, merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this
Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act, with
respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights
on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration
statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and
(B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of
the Act) until the Expiration Date; and
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(ii) will deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply in
all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the
Exchange Act; and
(iii) use its best efforts to obtain any necessary regulatory
approvals in respect of the securities purchasable upon exercise of outstanding
Rights; and
(iv) use its best efforts, if such shares of Common Stock of the
Principal Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Nation
Market or 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 Nasdaq
National Market or the New York Stock Exchange or such securities exchange, or,
if the securities of the Principal Party purchasable upon exercise of the Rights
shall not be listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq National Market or the
New York Stock Exchange or a national securities exchange, to cause the Rights
and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights to be reported by
such other system then in use.
(d) In case the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(b)
hereof has provision in any of its authorized securities or in its certificate
of incorporation or by-laws or other instrument governing its corporate affairs,
which provision would have the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to
issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to Section 13 hereof), in
connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a Section 13 Event,
Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such Principal Party at less than the then
Current Per Share Market Price thereof or securities exercisable for, or
convertible into, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such Principal Party at
less than such then Current Per Share Market Price, or (ii) providing for any
special payment, tax or similar provision in connection with the issuance of the
Common Shares of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13
hereof, 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 Distribution Date, effect or permit to occur any Section 13 Event, if
(i) at the time or immediately after such Section 13 Event there are any rights,
warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect
which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended
to be afforded by the Rights, (ii) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately
after such Section 13 Event, the stockholders of the Person who 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.
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(f) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event
that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or
to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market
value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights as of the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable, determined in accordance with the second sentence
of the definition of Current Market Value.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Series G Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of
one-thousandth of a share of Series G Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the
Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Series
G Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of
one-thousandth of a share of Series G Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional
shares of Series G Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of
one-thousandth of a share of Series G Preferred Stock, the Company may pay to
the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are
exercised, as herein provided, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of
the current market value of one-thousandth of a share of Series G Preferred
Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of
one-thousandth of a share of Series G Preferred Stock shall be one-thousandth of
the closing price of a share of Series G Preferred Stock as of the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise, determined in accordance with
the second sentence of the definition of Current Market Value.
(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company shall
not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of
the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay
to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are
exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of one share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section
14(c), the current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the of one
share of Common Stock as of the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
such exercise, determined in accordance with the second sentence of the
definition of Current Market Value.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly
waives his or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, except the rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant to
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date,
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the registered holders of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock),
without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in
his or her own behalf and for his or her own benefit, enforce, and may institute
and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or
otherwise act in respect of, his or her right to exercise the Rights evidenced
by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and
in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to
the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of
Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement
and shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations
hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in
whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the
associated Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof
and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership
or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate
made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes
whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be required to be
affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any Series G Preferred
Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable
on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained
herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of
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any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the
Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter
submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent
to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions
affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance
with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements 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, its directors,
officers, employees and agents for, and to hold each of them harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by any such indemnified party in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending
against any claim of liability in the premises.
(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 Rights
Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
(c) The indemnity provided in this Section 18 shall survive the
expiration of the Rights, the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent and the
termination of this Agreement.
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 corporate trust or stockholder services business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto; provided, however, 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 Rights
Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
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(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned
but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its
prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name
or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 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 Rights 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 advice or 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 advice
or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of Current Market Price) 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
Chairman of the Board, the President or any Senior Vice President of the Company
and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full
authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith
by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or 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 Rights
Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the
Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) or any adjustment required
hereunder or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment
or the ascertaining of the existence of facts
-25-
that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of
Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such
adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares
of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or
any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred
Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the
Chairman of the Board, the President or any Senior Vice President 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 to
be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer
or for any delay in acting while awaiting 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 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 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, however, the Rights Agent was not grossly
negligent in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
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(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the Company.
(l) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no
event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential
loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost
profits).
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 thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock and Series G Preferred Stock, by registered
or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon
thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock
and Series G Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the
Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail
to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice
of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then the Company shall become the Rights Agent
until a successor Rights Agent has been appointed, and any registered holder of
any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed
by the Company or by such a court, shall be (A) a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States or of the State of New York
(or of any other state of the United States so long as such corporation is
authorized to do business as a banking institution in the State of New York), in
good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
powers 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 $100,000,000 or (B) a
subsidiary of a corporation described in clause (A) of this sentence. 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 and the
Series G Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered
holders of the Rights 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.
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Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or
other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a)
shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted or
awarded as of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any
other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights
in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall
be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of
material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such
Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be
issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day
following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall
have occurred prior to the Record Date, the Close of Business on the tenth day
following the Record Date) or such letter date as the Board shall determine, or
(ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then
outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, as such amount may
be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being
hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights
by the Board of Directors of the Company may be made effective at such time, on
such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company, in
its sole discretion, may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been
filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption
to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing
such notice to all such holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not
the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the
method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
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Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the
then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for shares
of 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 after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any
time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity
holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner
of 50% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder
of such Rights 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 promptly shall mail a
notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the
method by which the exchange of the Common Stock for Rights will be effected
and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number
of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions
of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common
Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any
exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional
shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there shall be
paid 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 of the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange
pursuant to this Section 24, determined in accordance with the second sentence
of the definition of Current Market Value.
-29-
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Series G Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the
holders of Series G Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash
dividend out of earnings or retained earnings or the Company), or (ii) to offer
to the holders of Series G Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for
or to purchase any additional shares of Series G Preferred Stock or shares of
stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to
effect any reclassification of its Series G Preferred Stock (other than a
reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Series
G Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit
one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the assets
or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person or Persons, or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to
each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance
with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify
the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights
or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Series G 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 20 days prior to
the record date for determining holders of the shares of Series G Preferred
Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Series G Preferred
Stock whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case a Triggering Event shall occur, (i) the Company shall as
soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to
the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of
the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all
references in the preceding paragraph to Series G Preferred Stock shall be
deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate, other
securities.
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 Rights
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
MedSource Technologies, Inc.
βββ ββββββββ ββββ, βββββ βββ
βββββββββββ, ββ βββββ
Attention: President
-30-
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Wachovia Bank, National Association
ββββ ββββ β.β. ββββββ βββββββββ, βββ
βββββββββ, ββ βββββ-ββββ (first class mail)
βββββββββ, ββ βββββ-ββββ (overnight courier)
Attention: Shareholder Services Division
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) 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. Prior to the occurrence of a
Distribution Date, the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any
respect without the approval of any holders of Rights and the Rights Agent
shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or amendment. From and
after the occurrence of a Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent
may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of
any holders of Rights in order to: (a) cure any ambiguity; (b) correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein; (c) shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder; or (d) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner
that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, however, this
Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (c)
of this sentence: (x) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed
at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable; or (y) any other time period
unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or
clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights (other
than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person).
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no
supplement or amendment that adversely changes the rights, duties or liabilities
of the Rights Agent under this Agreement shall be effective without the consent
of the Rights Agent. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate
officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is
in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute
such supplement or amendment. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of
the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the
holders of Common Stock.
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.
-31-
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors,
Etc. 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 Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the
exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all
rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or 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 a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 30. 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 Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
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;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the
tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be 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.
[The next page is the signature page]
-32-
The parties have executed and delivered this Rights Agreement as of
the date first written above.
MEDSOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ βββββββ β. ββββββββ
------------------------------
Name: βββββββ β. ββββββββ
Title: Senior Vice President -
Finance and Chief
Financial Officer
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
By: /s/
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-33-
Exhibit A
---------
MEDSOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF
SERIES G JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
Pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
MedSource Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), DOES
HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors
of the Corporation by its certificate of incorporation (the "Charter"), the
Board of Directors of the Corporation has duly adopted the following resolution
creating a series of Preferred Stock designated as Series G Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, and such resolution has not been modified and is in full force
and effect on the date hereof:
RESOLVED that, pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, a
series of the authorized Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Corporation is hereby created and that the designation and number of shares
thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional
and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof are as follows:
Section 1.Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock" and the number of
shares constituting such series shall be 70,000.
Section 2.Proportional Adjustment. In the event that the Corporation
shall at any time after the issuance of any share or shares of Series G Junior
Participating Preferred Stock: (a) declare any dividend on the Corporation's
common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), payable in shares of
Common Stock; (b) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock; or (c) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the Corporation shall simultaneously effect a proportional adjustment to the
number of outstanding shares of Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
Section 3.Dividends and Distributions.
(a) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares
of Series G Junior Participating Stock, the holders of shares of Series G Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June,
September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as
a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded
to the nearest cent) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all
cash dividends and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind)
of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable
in shares of
Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock, since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) above
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series
G 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 G 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 G 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 G Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more
than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 4. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series G Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(a) each share of Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of
the stockholders of the Corporation;
(b) except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
shares of Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of
shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation; and
(c) Except as set forth herein or as provided by law, holders of
Series G 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.
2
Section 5. Certain Restrictions.
(a) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any
distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a
share of Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless concurrently
therewith it shall declare a dividend on the Series G Junior Participating
Preferred Stock as required by Section 3 hereof.
(b) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series G 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 G 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 G 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 G Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the
Series G 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;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series G Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at
any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such
parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) to the Series G Junior Participating
Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of
stock ranking on a parity with the Series G 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 such shares upon such terms as the Board of
Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend
rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective
series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair
and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(c) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of
this Section 5, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
3
Section 6. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series G Junior
Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation
in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation 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 the conditions and restrictions on issuance
set forth herein and in the Corporation's certificate of incorporation.
Section 7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(a) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, 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 G Junior Participating Preferred Stock
unless, prior thereto, the holders or shares of Series G Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall have received $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared,
to the date of such payment (the "Series G Liquidation Preference"). Following
the payment of the full amount of the Series G Liquidation Preference, no
additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series G
Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of
shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the "Common
Adjustment") equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series G
Liquidation Preference by (ii) 1,000 (such number in clause (ii), the
"Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series G
Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding
shares of Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common Stock,
respectively, holders of Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock and
holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate
share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment
Number to one with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per
share basis, respectively.
(b) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series G Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if any,
which rank on a parity with the Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such
parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the
event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment
in full of the Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be
distributed ratably to the holders of Common Stock.
Section 8. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series G Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount
of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the
case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged.
4
Section 9. No Redemption. The shares of Series G Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable. However, the Company may purchase
Series G Preferred Stock in the open market or pursuant to an offer to a holder
or holders of Series G Preferred Stock.
Section 10. Ranking. The Series G Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock
as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms
of any such series shall provide otherwise. The Series G Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall rank senior to the Corporation's Common Stock.
Section 11. Amendment. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation
shall not be further amended in any manner which would alter or change the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series G Junior Participating
Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority or more of the outstanding shares of Series G Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 12. Fractional Shares. Series G Junior Participating
Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which 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 G Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
[The next page is the signature page]
5
()()
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, MedSource Technologies, Inc. has caused this
Certificate to be executed on this __ day of August, 2003.
MEDSOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
6
Exhibit B
---------
(FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE)
Certificate No. R- __________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER AUGUST 29, 2013 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET
FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT)
AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A
PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT).
ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY SHALL
BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH
AGREEMENT.](1)
Rights Certificate
MEDSOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
This certifies that ___________________, or registered assigns, is
the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement dated as of August 12, 2003, as the same may be amended
from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between MedSource Technologies,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Wachovia Bank, National
Association (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time prior
to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on August 29, 2013 at the office or offices of
the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent,
one one-thousandth of a fully paid, non-assessable share of Series G Junior
Participating Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Series G Preferred Stock"),
at a purchase price of $40.00 per one one-thousandth of a share (the "Purchase
Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the
Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The number
of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares which
may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price
per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of August, 29,
2003 based on the Series G Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. As
provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number and kind of
Preferred Shares or other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of
the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and
adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
----------
1 The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions
and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions
are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of
the Company and the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company, at its
option, at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged by
the Company in whole or in part for Common Shares, substantially equivalent
rights or other consideration as determined by the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like
tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate amount of securities as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase.
If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be
entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
No fractional portion of less than one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of
a share of Series G Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time
be issuable on the exercise 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 Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
2
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Dated as of ______________, _____
MEDSOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
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Name:
Title:
Attest:
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[Assistant] Secretary
Countersigned:
[RIGHTS AGENT]
By:
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Authorized Signatory
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(FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE)
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if
such holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfer unto
(Please print name and address of transferee) this Rights
Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does
hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ____________________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within named Company,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: _______________________, _____
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Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate ( ) is ( ) is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it ( ) did ( ) did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _______________________, _____
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Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
------
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by
the Rights Certificate.)
To: MedSource Technologies, Inc.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Series G
Junior Participating Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights
(or such other securities of the Company or of any other person which may be
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for
such shares be issued in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number ____________________
(Please print name and address) If such number of Rights shall not be
all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered
to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number ____________________
(Please print name and address)
Dated: _______________________, _____
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Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate ( ) are ( ) are
not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it ( ) did ( ) did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _______________________, _____
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Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
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Exhibit C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SERIES G JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSFER OF RIGHTS;
RIGHTS CERTIFICATES................The Board of Directors has declared a
dividend of one Right for each outstanding
share of Common Stock of MedSource
Technologies, Inc. Prior to the
Distribution Date referred to below, the
Rights will be evidenced by and trade with
the certificates for the Common Stock.
After the Distribution Date, the Company
will mail Rights certificates to the
Company's stockholders and the Rights will
become transferable apart from the Common
Stock.
DISTRIBUTION DATE.....................Rights will separate from the Common Stock
and become exercisable following (a) the
tenth business day after a person or group
acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the Company's Common Stock or (b)
the tenth business day (or such later date
as may be determined by the Company's
Board of Directors) after a person or
group announces a tender or exchange
offer, the consummation of which would
result in ownership by a person or group
of 15% or more of the Company's Common
Stock.
PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASABLE
UPON EXERCISE OF RIGHTS..... After the Distribution Date, each Right
will entitle the holder to purchase for
$40.00 (the "Exercise Price"), a fraction
of a share of the Company's Preferred
Stock with economic terms similar to that
of one share of the Company's Common
Stock.
FLIP-IN...............................If an acquirer (an "Acquiring Person")
obtains 15% or more of the Company's
Common Stock, then each Right (other than
Rights owned by an Acquiring Person or its
affiliates) will entitle the holder
thereof to purchase, for the Exercise
Price, a number of shares of the Company's
Common Stock having a then-current market
value of twice the Exercise Price.
FILP-OVER.............................If, after an Acquiring Person obtains 15%
or more of the Company's Common Stock, (a)
the Company merges into another entity,
(b) an acquiring entity merges into the
Company or (c) the Company sells more than
50% of the Company's assets or earning
power, then each Right (other than Rights
owned by an Acquiring Person or its
affiliates) will entitle the holder
thereof to purchase, for the Exercise
Price, a number of shares of Common Stock
of the person engaging in the transaction
having a then current market value of
twice the Exercise Price.
EXCHANGE PROVISION....................At any time after the date on which an
Acquiring Person obtains 15% or more of
the Company's Common Stock and prior to
the acquisition by the Acquiring Person of
50% of the outstanding Common Stock, the
Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights
owned by the Acquiring Person or its
affiliates), in whole or in part, for
shares of Common Stock of the Company at
an exchange ratio of one share of Common
Stock per Right (subject to adjustment).
REDEMPTION OF RIGHTS..................Rights will be redeemable at the Company's
option for $0.001 per Right at any time on
or prior to the tenth day (or such later
date as may be determined by the Company's
Board of Directors) after public
announcement that a Person has acquired
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
Company's Common Stock.
EXPIRATION OF RIGHTS..................The Rights expire on the earliest of (a)
August 29, 2013 or (b) exchange or
redemption of the Rights as described
above.
AMENDMENT OF TERMS OF THE RIGHTS......The terms of the Rights and the Rights
Agreement may be amended in any respect
without the consent of the Rights holders;
provided, that after the distribution date
the terms of the Rights and the Rights
Agreement may be amended without the
consent of the Rights holders in order to
cure any ambiguities or to make changes
which do not adversely affect the
interests of Rights holders (other than
the Acquiring Person).
VOTING RIGHTS.........................Rights will not have any voting rights.
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ANTI-DILUTION PROVISIONS..............Rights will have the benefit of certain
customary anti-dilution provisions.
TAXES.................................The Rights distribution should not be
taxable for federal income tax purposes.
However, following an event which renders
the Rights exercisable or upon redemption
of the Rights, stockholders may recognize
taxable income.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company.
This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
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