EXHIBIT 10.1
NUI CORPORATION
and
MELLON SECURITIES TRUST COMPANY
as Rights Agent
Rights Agreement
Dated as of November 28, 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Section 1. Certain Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and
Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price;
Expiration Date of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of
Capital Stock; Registration of
Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 10. Capital Stock Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and
Kind of Shares or Number of Rights . . . . . . . . . 16
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price
or Number of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or
Transfer of Assets or Earning Power . . . . . . . . 29
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares . . . . . . . 33
Section 15. Rights of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed
a Stockholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of
(i)
Page
Name of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . 41
Section 23. Redemption and Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Section 25. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Section 27. Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the
Board of Directors, etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Section 30. Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Section 31. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Section 32. Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Section 33. Descriptive Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Exhibit A - Form of Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation
Exhibit B - Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C - Form of Summary of Rights
(1)
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 28, 1995 (the
"Agreement"), between NUI Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the
"Company"), and Mellon Securities Trust Company, a New York trust
company (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, on November 28, 1995 (the "Rights Dividend
Declaration Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and
declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each share of common
stock, no par value of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding at
the Close of Business on December 8, 1995 (the "Record Date"), and has
authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may be hereinafter
adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for each
share of Common Stock of the Company issued or delivered (whether
originally issued or delivered from treasury) between the Record Date
and the Distribution Date (as such term is hereinafter defined) and as
otherwise provided herein, each Right initially representing the right
to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (as
hereinafter defined) upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth (individually a "Right" and collectively the
"Rights");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates (as such
term is hereinafter defined) and Associates (as such term is hereinafter
defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary
of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan or employee stock plan
of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company (iv) any dividend
reinvestment plan of the Company or (v) any Person or entity organized,
appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an
"Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of Common Stock by
the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, in-
creases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such
Person to 15% or more of the Common Stock of the Company then
outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Stock of the Company then
outstanding by reason of such an acquisition and shall, after such
acquisition, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of
Common Stock, then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person".
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to beneficially own, any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right or obligation 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," (A) 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)
at any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights or (C) from and
after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, securities issuable
upon exercise of Rights which were acquired by such person or any
of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution
Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the
"Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in
connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original
Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or
dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant
to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act and any successor provision thereof), including
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or
not in writing; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any
security under this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such agree-
ment, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a
revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then reportable by such
Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which
such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has
any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing), but excluding customary agreements with and between
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underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities until the expiration of forty days
after the date of such acquisition, for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described
in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (c)) or
disposing of any voting securities of the Company.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the States of New York
or New Jersey are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., New York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date
is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the
next succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, no par value
of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to
any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital shares 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.
(g) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(h) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(i) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7(a) hereof.
(j) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity.
(k) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Company having the
rights and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of
Designations attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.
(l) "Preferred Stock Fraction" shall mean one one-hundredth
of a share of Preferred Stock.
(m) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
first Whereas clause.
(n) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean the event described
in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(o) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clause (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
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(p) "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.
(q) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any other
Person, any corporation or other entity of which securities or other
ownership interests having ordinary voting power, in the absence of
contingencies, to elect at least a majority of the directors or other
persons performing similar functions is beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person, or which is otherwise controlled by such
Person.
(r) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event
or any Section 13 Event.
Unless otherwise specified, where reference is made in this
Agreement to sections of, and the General Rules and Regulations under,
the Exchange Act, such reference shall mean such sections and rules as
amended from time to time and any successor provisions thereto.
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.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates. (a) Until Close of
Business on the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day
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 the Company's Board of
Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person)
after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than
the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan or
employee stock plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company,
or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the
Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first
published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon
consummation thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15%
or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding (the earlier of
(i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x)
the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b)
of this Section 3) by the certificates for 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
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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 Rights Agent will send by first-class, 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, in
substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (individually a "Rights
Certificate" and collectively the "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(p)
hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the
Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments
(in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) 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 Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Stock, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the
"Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each
record holder of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record
Date, at the address of such holder shown on the recorda of the Company.
With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding on or
after the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock with or without a
copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto 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 with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached
thereto in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also consti-
tute the transfer of the Rights associated with such Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common
Stock which are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of
the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates issued after
the Record Date, but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or
the Expiration Date, shall also be deemed to be Certificates for Rights
and shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between NUI
Corporation and Mellon Securities Trust Company, dated as of
November 28, 1995 (as it may be amended, modified or supplemented
from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on
file at the principal offices of NUI Corporation. Under certain
circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights
will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be
evidenced by this certificate. The Rights will expire on the Close
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of Business on November 27, 2005 unless redeemed prior thereto.
NUI Corporation 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 (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) 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 shall also be the registered holders
of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any of such Certificates
shall also 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) shall each 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. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and
Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall
be dated as of the Record Date (or, in the case of Rights issued with
respect to Common Stock issued by the Company after the Record Date, as
of the date of issuance of such Common Stock), shall note the date of
issuance and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase
such number of Preferred Stock Fractions as shall be set forth therein
at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per Preferred Stock
Fraction, 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 issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof 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 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
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in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring
Person has any continuing plan, 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, agreement,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect
the 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 may become
null and void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the
Rights Agreement.
The provisions of Section 7(e) of this Agreement shall be operative
whether or not the foregoing legend is contained on any such Rights
Certificates.
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 its Secretary, either manually
or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's
seal or a facsimile thereof. The Rights Certificates shall be
countersigned manually by the Rights Agent, and shall not be valid for
any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company
who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be
such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent
and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates,
nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and
delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the
person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such
officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificate 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 such purpose, 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 certificate number of each 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.
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Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of
Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section
7(e) and Section 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on
the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the
Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights
Certificate or certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase
(or receive) a like number of Preferred Stock Fractions (or, following a
Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets,
as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate, or Certificates surren-
dered then entitled such holder or holders in the case of a transfer to
purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine
or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender
the Rights Certificate or 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 set forth on the reverse side of
each 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
reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and
deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may
require payment from the holder of the Right 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) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered
holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced
thereby (except as otherwise provided herein including, without
limitation, the restrictions on exercisability set forth in Section
9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a) hereof) in whole or in part
at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights
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Certificate, with the form of election to purchase set forth on the
reverse side thereof and the certificate contained therein 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 (except as provided in Section 11(q)) with
respect to the surrendered Rights for the total number of the Preferred
Stock Fractions (or Common Stock, other securities or property, as the
case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are exercisable, at or
prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on November 28, 2005
(the "Final Expiration Date") or (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the earlier of (i) or (ii)
being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each Preferred Stock Fraction
pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $50, and shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 and
Section 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph
(c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase set forth on
the reverse side thereof and the certificate contained therein duly
executed, accompanied by payment (except as provided in Section 11(q)),
with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price per
Preferred Stock Fraction (or Common Stock, other securities or property,
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, subject to
Section 20(k) and Section 14(b) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A)
requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or
make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for the shares
of Preferred Stock) certificates for the total number of Preferred Stock
Fractions to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes
its transfer agent to comply with all such requests subject to
applicable law, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the
total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of
Preferred Stock Fractions as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the shares of 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) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if
any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section
14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary
receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or
names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) after receipt
thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the
Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section
11(a)(iii) hereof) shall be made (x) in cash or by certified bank check
or money order payable to the order of the Company, or (y) by delivery
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of a certificate or certificates (with appropriate stock powers executed
in blank attached thereto) evidencing a number of shares of Common Stock
equal to the then Purchase Price divided by the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock
on the date of such exercise. In the event that the Company is
obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock) of the
Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section
11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that
such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for
distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(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,
subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or 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 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
the Acquiring Person has any continuing plan, 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 an plan,
agreement, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose
or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void
without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any
rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any
provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The 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 its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the
occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7
unless 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
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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;
Registration of Securities. (a) The Company covenants and agrees that
it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized
and unissued shares of Preferred Stock (and following the occurrence of
a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common
Stock and/or other securities or out of its authorized and issued shares
held in treasury) the number of shares of Preferred Stock (and following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) that, except as provided in this Agreement including Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of
all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of 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 may
be listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its
best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become
exercisable (and the Company reasonably anticipates that a Right may be
exercised), all shares (or other securities) 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
pursuant to this Agreement (including in accordance with Section
11(a)(iii) hereof), or as soon as is required by law or regulation
following the Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration
statement or statements under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Securities Act"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock or other
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate
form or forms, (ii) cause such registration statement or statements to
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become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii)
cause such registration statement or statements 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 date of the
expiration of the Rights. 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. The Company may temporarily suspend, for
a period of time not to exceed ninety (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 et such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been
obtained or the exercise thereof would be in violation of applicable
law.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all
such action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Stock
Fractions (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.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of
the Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of
Preferred Stock Fractions (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 a number of Preferred Stock
Fractions (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 evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to
issue or deliver any certificates for a number of Preferred Stock
Fractions (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 Certificates at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Capital Stock Record Date. Each person in whose
name any certificate for a number of Preferred Stock Fractions (or
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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 Preferred Stock Fractions (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 Preferred Stock Fraction (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 Preferred Stock
Fraction (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 (fractional or otherwise) 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 Preferred
Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock or other capital stock,
(B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the
outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D)
issue any share of its capital stock in a reclassification of the
Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection
with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided
in Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in
effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the
effective date of such subdivision, combination or re-
classification, and the number and kind of shares of 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 pay-
ment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and
kind of shares of 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 Preferred Stock (or other capital
stock, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company were open,
he would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive
by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an
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adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall
be in addition to, and shall be made prior to any adjustment
required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan or employee
stock plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, any
dividend reinvestment plan of the Company, or any Person or entity
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant
to the terms of any such plan) alone or together with its
Affiliates and Associates, shall, at any time after the date
hereof, becomes an Acquiring Person, unless the event causing such
threshold to be crossed is a transaction set forth in Section 13(a)
hereof, or is an acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to a tender
offer or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock
at a price and on terms determined by at least a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors who are not officers of the
Company and who are not representatives, nominees, Affiliates or
Associates of an Acquiring Person, after receiving advice from one
or more investment banking firms, to be (a) at a price which is
fair to stockholders (taking into account all factors which such
members of the Board deem relevant including, without limitation,
the long-term prospects and value of the Company and the prices
which could reasonably be achieved if the Company or its assets
were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value)
and (b) otherwise in the best interests of (1) the Company and its
stockholders (including the possibility that these interests may
best be served by the continued independence of the Company), (2)
the Company's employees, suppliers, creditors, customers and (3)
the community in which the Company operates, then, promptly
following the first occurrence of the event described in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right (except as provided in Section 11(a)(iii), and in
Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive,
upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of
Preferred Stock Fractions, such number of shares of Common Stock of
the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying
the then current Purchase Price by the then number of Preferred
Stock Fractions for which a Right was exercisable by such holder
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, and (y) dividing that product (such product, 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 (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of such first
occurrence (such number of shares of Common Stock is herein called
the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock
which are authorized but not outstanding or reserved for issuance
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for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is not
sufficient, or there shall not have been received regulatory
approvals necessary, in each case to permit the exercise in full of
the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of
this Section 11(a), the Company shall: (A) determine the excess of
(1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise
of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such
excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make
adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon
payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction
in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity securities
of the Company (including, without limitation, preferred shares, or
Preferred Stock Fractions), which the Board of Directors of the
Company has deemed to have the same value as shares of Common Stock
(such shares, "common stock equivalents")), (4) debt securities of
the Company, (5) other assets or (6) any combination of the
foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value,
where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the Company shall
not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to
clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the first
occurrence of (x) a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or (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, Common Stock
(to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which
shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If
the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith
that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock
could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the
Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended
by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company to the
extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days following the
first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that
the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of
such additional shares (such period, as it may be extended, the
"Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines
that some action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second
sentences of this 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 any 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
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exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as
well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no
longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the
value of the Common Stock shall be the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common
Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any
common stock equivalents shall be deemed to have the same value as
the Common Stock on such date.
(iv) If the rules of the national securities exchange,
registered as such pursuant to Section 6 of the Exchange Act, or of
the national securities association, registered as such pursuant to
Section 15A of the Exchange Act, on which the shares of Common
Stock are principally traded would prohibit such exchange or
association from listing or continuing to list, or from authorizing
for or continuing quotation and/or transaction reporting through an
inter-dealer quotation system, the shares of Common Stock or other
equity securities of the Company if the Rights were to be exercised
for shares of Common Stock in accordance with subparagraph (ii) of
this Section 11(a) because such issuance would nullify, restrict or
disparately reduce the per share voting rights of holders of shares
of Common Stock or for any other reason, the Company shall: (A)
determine the Spread and (B) with respect to each Right, make
adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon
payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) equity
securities of the Company, including, without limitation, "common
stock equivalents," other than securities which would have the
effect of nullifying, restricting or disparately reducing the per
share voting rights of holders of shares of Common Stock or
otherwise cause the prohibition described above, (3) debt
securities of the Company, (4) other assets, or (5) any combination
of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current
Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board
of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the Company shall
not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to
clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following 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, cash having an aggregate
value equal to the Spread. To the extent that the Company
determines that an action needs to be taken pursuant to the first
sentence of this Section 11(a)(iv), the Company (x) shall provide,
subject to Section 7(e), that such action shall apply uniformly to
all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of
the Rights, but not longer than ninety (90) days after the Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order 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
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well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no
longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iv), the
value of the Common Stock shall be the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common
Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any
"common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as
the Common Stock on 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 Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase
(for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such
record date) Preferred Stock, (or shares having the same rights, privi-
leges and preferences as the Preferred Stock ("equivalent Preferred
Stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent
Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or equivalent
Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent Preferred Stock) less
than the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase
Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of
shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the
number of shares of Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price
of the total number of shares of 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 Preferred Stock outstanding on such record
date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or
equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase
(or onto which the convertible securities to be offered are initially
convertible). 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. 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.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of 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 paid out of the
earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a
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dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable
in capital stock other than 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 (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed
with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences
of indebtedness to be distributed or of such subscription rights or
warrants applicable to a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of
which shall be such current market price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in
the event that such distribution is not 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) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other
than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the
"current market price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be
deemed to be the average of the daily closing price per share of Common
Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is
hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the current
market price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be
the average of the daily closing price per share of Common Stock for the
ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date;
provided, however, that in the event that the then current market price
per share of Common Stock is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (i) any dividend or
distribution on such Common Stock payable in such shares of Common Stock
or securities convertible into shares of Common Stock (other than the
Rights), (ii) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
shares of Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the requisite
thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth
above, after the exdividend date for such dividend or distribution, or
the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification,
then, in each such case, the current market price shall be properly
adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price
for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no
such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the
principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common
Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common
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Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted sale price or, if not so quoted, the average
of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use,
or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Common
Stock selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such
date no market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair
value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company shall be used and shall be conclusive
for all purposes. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the
principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common
Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the
Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, current
market price per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose deter-
mination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent
and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current market price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined
in the same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in Section
11(d)(i) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the current market
price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner
provided above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed
or traded in a manner described in Section 11(d)(i), the "current market
price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be
an amount equal to 100 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for
such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with
respect to the Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement)
multiplied by the current market price per share of Common Stock. If
neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so
listed or traded, "current market price" per share of Preferred Stock
shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
conclusive for all purposes. For all purposes of this Agreement, the
"current market price" of a Preferred Stock Fraction shall be equal to
the "current market price" of one share of Preferred Stock divided by
100.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding,
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent
(1%) to the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments
which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall
be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.
All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent
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or to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock or other
share or one one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the case
may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the
earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which
mandates such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any capital shares other than
Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares 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
Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h),
(i), (j), (k) (m) and (q) hereof, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9,
10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on
like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to
any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of
Preferred Stock Fractions (or other consideration, as the case may be)
purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all
subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as
a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (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 Preferred Stock Fractions (calculated to the
nearest one one-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of
Preferred Stock Fractions covered by a Right immediately prior to this
adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so
obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in
substitution for any adjustment in the number of Preferred Stock
Fractions 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 Preferred Stock Fractions 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
-20-
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 (10) days later than the date of the public announcement.
If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the
number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of
Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing,
subject to Section 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 Rights 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.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of Preferred Stock Fractions issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per
Preferred Stock Fraction and the number of Preferred Stock Fractions
which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued
hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below one one-hundredth of the then stated
value, if any, of the number of Preferred Stock Fractions 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
Preferred Stock Fractions at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that
an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record
date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer, until the
occurrence of such event, the issuance to the holder of any Right
exercised after such record date the number of Preferred Stock Fractions
and other capital shares or securities of the Company, if any, issuable
upon such exercise over and above the number of Preferred Stock
Fractions and other capital shares and 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) of Common Stock and other capital shares or
securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
-21-
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Board of Directors shall be entitled to make such
reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments
expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that 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 Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of
shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current market price, (iii)
issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities
which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of
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 holder of its Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such
stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at
any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof) or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit
any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction or a series of
related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50%
of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to, any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each
of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or
immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale 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 or (y)
prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation,
merger or sale, the shareholders of the Person who constitutes, or would
constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof
shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such
Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or
Section 26 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if
at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such
action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after
the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date (i)
declare 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
-22-
thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately
adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each
share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share
of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the
numerator 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.
(q) In the event that the Rights become exercisable following
a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Company by action of a majority of the
Board of Directors, at its option, may provide that each Right, subject
to section 7(e), shall be exchanged for one share of Common Stock (or
cash or other securities or assets to be substituted for the Adjustment
Shares pursuant to subsection 11(a)(iii)) appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring
after the date hereof, in consideration of the surrender to the Company
of the Rights so exercised and without other payment of the Purchase
Price. Upon the Company's election to provide for such exchange, all
Rights shall be terminated and the only right thereafter of a holder of
such Rights shall be to receive the above described securities.
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 wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, any
employee benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any
entity holding shares of Common Stock 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 shares of
Common Stock then outstanding.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number
of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or
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 Preferred Stock and the Common
Stock, a copy of such certificate and (c) 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 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be
fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment
therein contained.
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 (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than
a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
-23-
11(o) hereof) 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 (other than the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in each such case and
except as set forth in Section 13(d) hereof, proper provision shall be
made so that:
(i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section
7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized
and issued, fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradeable shares
of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter
defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first
refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result
obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the
number of Preferred Stock Fractions for which a Right is
exercisable by such holder immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
has occurred prior to the Section 13 Event, multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence
of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the number of Preferred Stock
Fractions for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
such first occurrence) and dividing that product (such product,
following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be
referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all
purposes of this Agreement) by (2) 50% of the current market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof with respect to the
Common Stock) per share of 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
-24-
any such transaction as may be necessary to insure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as
reasonably may be, in relation to its 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 twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of
another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered,
"Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) in case such
Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person,
the Common Stock of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons
is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market
value; and (3) in case such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by
a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned,
directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in (1)
and (2) above shall apply to each of the chains of ownership having an
interest in such joint venture as if such party were a "Subsidiary" of
both or all of such joint ventures and the Principal Parties in each
such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in
the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear
to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a
sufficient number of authorized shares of 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
-25-
or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the
Principal Party at its own expense will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities 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 Securities Act) until the Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights
and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under
the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or
appropriate; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which
comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on
Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. 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).
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described
in subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is
consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock
pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding shares
of Common Stock that complies with the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof (or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons),
(ii) the price per Common Share offered in such transaction is not less
than the price per share of Common Stock paid to all holders of Common
Stock whose shares were purchased pursuant to such tender offer or
exchange and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the
remaining holders of Common Stock pursuant to such transaction is the
same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such tender offer or
exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated
by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a)
The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights, except
prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p) hereof, 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
-26-
this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be
the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise
issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such
day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in
either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed
or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in
the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which
the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the
last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and
low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ
or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are
not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market
in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on
any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights the
fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company shall be used and shall be conclusive
for all purposes.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock (other than integral multiples of Preferred
Stock Fractions) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other
than integral multiples of Preferred Stock Fractions). In lieu of
fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not Preferred Stock
Fractions or integral multiples thereof, 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 a share of Preferred Stock. For
purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of one share of
Preferred Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of 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 closing price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the
date of such exercise.
-27-
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this
Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in
respect of this Agreement, except those rights of action vested in the
Rights Agent pursuant to Sections 18 through 20 inclusive, are vested in
the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior
to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock);
and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf
and for his own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any
suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise
act in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such
Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and
in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies
available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that
the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance
of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject
to this Agreement. Holders of Rights shall be entitled to recover the
reasonable costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by
them in any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement.
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) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the
Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name
a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated
Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof
and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common
Stock certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights
Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the
Rights Agent shall, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof,
be required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
-28-
(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 the number of Preferred Stock Fractions or any other
securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained
herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a
stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of
directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting
thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders
(except as provided in Section 24 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
for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense,
incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part
of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in
connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement,
including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability in the premises.
(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
-29-
genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
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
stock transfer 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.
(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 opinion of such counsel shall
be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as
to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance
with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any
fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any
Acquiring Person and the determination of current market prices) be
-30-
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, any Vice President, the Treasurer
or the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and
such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any
action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of
this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its
own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or
in the 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 and delivery 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 adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 11 or Section 13 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or
amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of
facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the
exercise of Rights evidenced by 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 Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant
to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any 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 any of the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice
President, the Treasurer and the Secretary of the Company, and to apply
to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to
-31-
be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such
officer.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer
or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the
Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily
interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or
contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and
freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing
herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity
for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder
either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights
Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default,
neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to
the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct;
provided, however, reasonable care was exercised in the selection and
continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the
exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for
believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to
the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate contained in
the form of assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on
the reverse thereof, as the case may be, has 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.
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
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
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
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writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by any registered holder of a Rights
Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then 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, doing business and in good standing under the laws of the
United States or of the States of New York or New Jersey (or of any
other state of the United States so long as such corporation is
authorized to do business in the State of New York or New Jersey),
having a principal office in the State of New York or New Jersey, which
is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock
transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal
or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as
Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 or
(b) an affiliate of any such corporation described in clause (a) above.
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 Preferred
Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of
the Rights Certificates or, prior to the Distribution Date, the regis-
tered holders of shares of Common Stock. Failure to give any notice
provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall
not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the
Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the
case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New 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 Common Stock following the Distribution Date and
prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to
Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options
or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of securities 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
-33-
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 date on which a Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs or
(ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the
then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, as
such amount shall 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"); and the Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price
either in cash or securities or both having a current market price, as
of a date determined by the Board of Directors, of $.001.
(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.
Section 24. 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 shares of any class of capital stock to the
holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the
holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend
paid out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to
offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe
for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of
stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii)
to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a
reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or
with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof) or to effect any
sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to
effect any sale or other transfer), in one transaction or series of
-34-
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
(other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), 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 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify
the record date for the purposes of such share 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 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 twenty (20) days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the Preferred Stock for purposes of such action,
and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days
prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the Preferred Stock, whichever
shall be the earlier.
(b) Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, (i) the
Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a
Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible, in accordance with Section
25 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such 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 Preferred Stock shall
be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate,
other securities.
Section 25. 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:
NUI Corporation
βββ βββββ βββ-βββ
β.β. βββ βββ
ββββββββββ, βββ ββββββ βββββ-ββββ
Attention: Secretary and
General Counsel
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:
-35-
Mellon Securities Trust Company
c/o Chemical Mellon Shareholder
Services L.L.C.
βββ ββββ ββββ ββββββ
ββββ βββββ
βββ ββββ, βββ ββββ βββββ
Attention: Vice President -
Relationship Management
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 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 26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the
Distribution Date and subject to the next to last sentence of this
Section 26, the Company may, by resolution of its Board of Directors and
the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend
any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
certificates representing Common Stock. From and after the Distribution
Date and subject to the next to last sentence of this Section 26, the
Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs,
supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders
of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to
correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to
change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the
Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than
an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person), or (iv) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder;
provided, this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen,
pursuant to clause (iv) of this sentence, (A) a time period relative to
when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then
redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is for
the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or
the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that
the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of
this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or
amendment. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made which changes the
Redemption Price, the Final Expiration Date, the Purchase Price, or the
number of Preferred Stock Fractions for which a Right is exercisable.
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.
-36-
Section 27. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of
this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent
shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and
assigns hereunder.
Section 28. 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 Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner,
shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d(1)(i) of
the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect as
of the date hereof. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have
the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to
exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or the
Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of
this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to
(i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of
this Agreement (including 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 of Directors to any
liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the
Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the 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 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant
or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, 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
-37-
until the Close of Business on the tenth day following the date of such
determination by the Board of Directors.
Section 31. 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 New Jersey 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 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all
purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 33. 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.
* * *
-38-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be
hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above
written.
Attest: NUI CORPORATION
By /S/ βββββ β. ββββββ By /S/ βββββ β. βββ ββββ
Name: βββββ β. ββββββ Name: βββββ β. βββ ββββ
Title: Asst. Secretary Title: Secretary and General
Counsel
Attest: MELLON SECURITIES TRUST COMPANY
By /S/ βββββ βββββββββ By /S/ ββββ β. ββββββ
Name: βββββ βββββββββ Name: ββββ β. ββββββ
Title: Account Officer Title: Vice President
-39-
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
of
NUI CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 14A: 7-2(4) of the New Jersey
Business Corporation Act
NUI CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under
the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 14A:7-2(4) thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of
Directors by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
the said Corporation, the said Board of Directors on November 28, 1995
adopted the following resolutions creating a series of Preferred Stock
designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board
of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of
its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a series of
Preferred Stock of the Corporation be and it hereby is created and that
the designation and amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences
and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights of the
shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof are as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock"
and the number of shares constituting such series shall initially be one
hundred thousand (100,000), no par value, such number of shares to be
subject to increase or decrease by action of the Board of Directors as
evidenced by a certificate of designations.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior
to the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with
respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A 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
EXHIBIT A
Page 2
on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of
a share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent)
equal to the greater of (a) $10 or (b) subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share
amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share
amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other
distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or
a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock, no par
value, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the immediately
preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first
Quarterly Dividend payment Date, since the first issuance of any share
or fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time after November 28, 1995
(the "Rights Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common
Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding
sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series A 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); provided that, in the event no dividend or
distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the
period between any quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $10 per share
on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless
be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock from
the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of
such shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the
date of issue of such share is prior to the record date for the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares
shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless
the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date
after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
Quarterly Dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in
either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
EXHIBIT A
Page 3
cumulative from such quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but
unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock in an amount less than
the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on
such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among
all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix
a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no
more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting
rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a
vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the corpora-
tion shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of hares, then in each such case the
number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such
event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders
of shares of Series A 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.
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount
equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of
such contingency shall ββββ the beginning of a period (herein
called a "default period") which shall extend until such time when
all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly
dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on
all shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock then
outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for
payment. During each default period, all holders of Preferred
Stock (including holders of the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to
(6) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of
series, shall have the right to elect two (2) Directors.
EXHIBIT A
Page 4
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of the
holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be
exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to
subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of
stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders,
provided that neither such voting right nor the right of the
holders of any other series of Preferred Stock, if any, to
increase, in certain cases, the authorized number of Directors
shall be exercised unless the holders of ten percent in number of
shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or
by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock
shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Preferred Stock of
such voting right. At any meeting at which the holders of Pre-
ferred Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an
existing default period, they shall have the right, voting as a
class, to fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors as
may then exist up to two (2) Directors or, if such right is
exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two (2) Directors. If the
number which may be so elected at any special meeting does not
amount to the required number, the holders of the Preferred Stock
shall have the right to make such increase in the number of
Directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of
the required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock
shall have exercised their right to elect Directors in any default
period and during the continuance of such period, the number of
Directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the
holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the
rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu
with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during
an existing default period, have previously exercised their right
to elect Directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any
stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than
ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding, irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a
special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting
shall thereupon be called by the Chairman of the Board, the
President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such
meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred
Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this paragraph (C)(iii)
shall be given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by
mailing a copy of such notice to him at his last address as the
same appears on the books of the Corporation. Such meeting shall
be called for a time not earlier than 10 days and not later than 60
days after such order or request, such meeting may be called on
similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the
aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of
shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting
EXHIBIT A
Page 5
shall be called during the period within 60 days immediately
preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the
stockholders.
(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common Stock,
and other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable, shall
continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of Directors
until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their
right to elect two (2) Directors voting as a class, after the
exercise of which right (x) the Directors so elected by the holders
of Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors
shall have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of
the default period, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors
may (except as provided in paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be
filled by vote of a majority of the remaining Directors theretofore
elected by the holders of the class of stock which elected the
Director whose office shall have become vacant. References in this
paragraph (C) to Directors elected by the holders of a particular
class of stock shall include Directors elected by such Directors to
fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period,
(x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect
Directors shall cease, (y) the term of any Directors elected by the
holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the
number of Directors shall be such number as may be provided for in
the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws irrespective
of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph
(C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to
change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws). Any vacancies in the
Board of Directors effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and
(z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the
remaining Directors.
(D) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and
their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are
entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for
taking any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared,
on shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding
shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
EXHIBIT A
Page 6
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other
distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as
to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends
paid ratably on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in
arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of
all such shares are then entitled;
(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 A 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 A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any
shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase
offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board
of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the
Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual
dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will
result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series
or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under
paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such
shares at such time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the
Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled
promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares 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
EXHIBIT A
Page 7
created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject
to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
Section 6. 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 A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have received $100 per share,
plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions
thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the
"Series A Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full
amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference, no additional
distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series A 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 A Liquidation Preference by (ii) 100 (as appropriately adjusted
as set forth in subparagraph C below to reflect such events as stock
splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common
Stock) (such number in clause (ii), the "Adjustment Number"). Following
the payment of the full amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference
and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively,
holders of Series A 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 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common
Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient
assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation
Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of
preferred stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series A 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.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable
in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock,
or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect
immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such
Adjustment Number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
EXHIBIT A
Page 8
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the
Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or
other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for
or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other
property, then in any such case the shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly ex-
changed or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 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. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock
into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount set
forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which
is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after
such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Ranking. The Series A 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.
Section 10. Amendment. The Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be further amended in any
manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or
special rights of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock so
as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders
of two-thirds (2/3) or more of the outstanding shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series A 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 A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
EXHIBIT A
Page 9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this
Certificate and do affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of
perjury this ____ day of ___________ __, 1995.
Name:
Title:
Attest:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- _________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT REFERRED TO BELOW). THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.001 PER RIGHT ON THE
TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES,
RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR
ASSOCIATE OF 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 MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID
IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT.](1)
Rights Certificate
NUI CORPORATION
This certifies that ____________________________, or reg-
istered assigns, is the registered holder 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
November 28, 1995 (as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between NUI Corporation, a New
Jersey corporation (the "Company"), and Mellon Securities Trust Company,
a New York trust company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York time) on the Expiration
Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), which shall not be later than
November 28, 2005 at the office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-
hundredth of a share of the Company's Series A Junior Participating
Preferred stock, no par value (the "Preferred Stock"), at a purchase
price of $50 (the "Purchase Price") per one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Stock (such fraction, a "Preferred Stock Fraction"), upon presentation
and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to
Purchase set forth on the reverse hereof and the Certificate contained
therein duly executed. Except as otherwise provided in Section 11(q) of
the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price shall be paid at the election
of the holder in cash or by certified bank check or money order payable
to the order of the Company. The number of Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate and the number of Preferred Stock Fractions which may
be purchased upon exercise thereof and the Purchase Price per Preferred
Stock Fraction, set forth above, are the number of Rights, number of one
Preferred Stock Fractions and Purchase Price as of _____________,
19__,(2) based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date.
EXHIBIT B
Page 2
Except as otherwise provided in the Rights Agreement, upon the
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the
Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person,
Associate or Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified
in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a person who, concurrently with
or after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void
and no holder hereof shall have any rights with respect to such Rights
from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and
the number and kind of Preferred Stock or other securities, which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the
happening of certain events, including Triggering Events (as such term
is defined in the Rights Agreement).
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 holder of the Rights Certificate, 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 office of
the Rights Agent as set forth in the Rights Agreement and are also
available upon written request to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights
Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office or offices 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
number of Preferred Stock Fractions 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.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Board of Directors
of the Company at its option at a redemption price of $.001 per Right at
any time prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which a Section
11(a)(ii) Event occurs and (ii) the Final Expiration Date.
EXHIBIT B
Page 3
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon
the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share
of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment
will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
shares of Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company
which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall
anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to
confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a
stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of
directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting
thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders
(except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or
subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced
by this 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.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of __________, 19__
ATTEST: NUI CORPORATION
__________________________ By_____________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
MELLON SECURITIES TRUST COMPANY
By___________________________
Name:
Title:
(1) The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
(2) Insert the Distribution Date.
EXHIBIT B
Page 4
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED __________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto (Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest
therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company with full power of substitution.
Dated: ____________________, 19____
__________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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 an Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined in 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: __________________, 19__ _________________________________
Signature
NOTICE
The signatures 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.
EXHIBIT B
Page 5
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if the registered holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.)
To: NUI CORPORATION
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of
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 print name and address)
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: ___________________________________
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 print name and address)
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:___________________________________
Dated: ____________, 19____
_________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
EXHIBIT B
Page 6
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 an Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined in 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: ______________, 19____ ___________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signatures 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.
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK
On November 28, 1995, the Board of Directors of NUI
Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), declared a
dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding share of common
stock, no par value (the "Common Stock") of the Company, to stockholders
of record at the close of business on December 8, 1995 (the "Record
Date"). Each Right entitles the record holder to purchase from the
Company one one-hundredth of a share ("Preferred Stock Fraction") of the
Company's Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value
(the "Preferred Stock") at a price of $50 (the "Purchase Price"),
subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Except as otherwise
provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price may be paid, at the
election of the registered holder, in cash or be certified bank check or
money order payable to the order of the Company. The description and
terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of
November 28, 1995 (as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and Mellon
Securities Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to the certificates
representing outstanding shares of Common Stock, and no Rights
Certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the
Common Stock and a Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i)
the close of business on the tenth day after the date of a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
(an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire,
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) the close of business on
the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by the
Company's Board of Directors prior to such time as any person becomes an
Acquiring Person) after the commencement of a tender offer or exchange
offer if, upon consummation thereof, the person or group making such
offer would be the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights
will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will be
transferred with and only with such Common Stock certificates, (ii) new
Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a
notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding
will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable
following the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date and, thereafter, such separate Rights Certificates
alone will evidence the Rights. Except in certain limited
circumstances, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
EXHIBIT C
Page 2
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at the close of business on November 27, 2005 unless earlier
redeemed by the Company as described below.
Except in the circumstances described below, after the
Distribution Date each Right will be exercisable into a Preferred Stock
Fraction. Each Preferred Stock Fraction carries voting and dividend
rights that are intended to produce the equivalent of one share of
Common Stock. The voting and dividend rights of the Preferred Stock are
subject to adjustment in the event of dividends, subdivisions and
combinations with respect to the Common Stock of the Company. In lieu
of issuing certificates for fractions of shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of Preferred Stock
Fractions), the Company may pay cash in accordance with the Rights
Agreement.
In the event that, at any time following the Distribution
Date, a Person becomes an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to an
offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms
which the majority of the independent Directors determine to be fair to,
and otherwise in the best interests of, stockholders), the Rights
Agreement provides that proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash,
property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two
(2) times the exercise price of the Right. In lieu of requiring payment
of the Purchase Price upon exercise of the Rights following any such
event, the Company may provide that each Right be exchanged for one
share of Common Stock (or cash, property or other securities, as the
case may be). The only right of a holder of Rights following the
Company's election to provide for such exchange shall be to receive the
above described securities. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing,
following the occurrence of any of the events set forth in this
paragraph, any Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by an
Acquiring Person shall immediately become null and void.
For example, at an exercise price of $50 per Right, each Right
not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties)
following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle
its holder to purchase $100 worth of Common Stock (or other
consideration, as noted above) for $50. Assuming that the Common Stock
had a per share value of $25 at such time, the holder of each valid
Right would be entitled to purchase four shares of Common Stock for $50.
Alternatively, the Company could permit the holder to surrender each
Right in exchange for one share of Common Stock (with a value of $25)
without the payment of any consideration other than the surrender of the
Right.
EXHIBIT C
Page 3
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which the
Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) the Company engages in a
merger or consolidation with another person in which the Company is the
surviving corporation, but in which all or part of its Common Stock is
changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or
earning power is sold or transferred (except with respect to clauses (i)
and (ii), a merger or consolidation (a) which follows an offer described
in the second preceding paragraph and (b) in which the amount and form
of consideration is the same as was paid in such offer), the Rights
Agreement provides that proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as
set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof, common stock of the acquiring company having a value
equal to two (2) times the exercise price of the Right. The events set
forth in this paragraph and in the second preceding paragraph are
referred to as the "Triggering Events."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Stock
Fractions or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the
Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution
(i) in the event of a stock dividend on the Preferred Stock or other
capital stock, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the
Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock
of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or
securities convertible into Preferred Stock at less than the current
market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to
holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets
(excluding regular quarterly cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of
at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of Preferred
Stock Fractions) will be issued upon exercise of the Rights and, in lieu
thereof, a cash payment will be made based on the market price of the
Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, the
Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but
not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right, payable in cash or
securities or both (the "Redemption Price"). Immediately upon the
action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering redemption of
the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders
of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
EXHIBIT C
Page 4
Issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of Rights is
subject to regulatory approval. Until a Right is exercised, the holder
thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company,
including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive
dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to
stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the
circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights
become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the
Company or for common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement, other than
certain provisions relating to the principal economic terms of the
Rights, may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to
the Distribution Date. Thereafter, the provisions, other than certain
provisions relating to the principal economic terms of the Rights, of
the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in order: to cure any
ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; to shorten or lengthen any time
period under the Rights Agreement; or in any other respect that will not
adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the
interests of any Acquiring Person); provided that no amendment to adjust
the time period governing redemption shall be made at such time as the
Rights are not redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement will be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration
Statement of the Company on Form 8-A. A copy of the Rights Agreement is
available free of charge from the Company upon written request therefor.
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.