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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
ILLUMINA, INC.
AND
EQUISERVE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
AS RIGHTS AGENT
DATED AS OF
MAY 3, 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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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...................................................6
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.............................................7
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates......................8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.................9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates..........................10
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock..............................11
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date..................................................12
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights...........12
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares...................20
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.........20
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares......................................23
Section 15. Rights of Action.............................................................24
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders..................................................24
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder...........................25
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent..................................................25
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent....................26
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.......................................................26
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.......................................................28
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates..........................................29
Section 23. Redemption and Termination...................................................29
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Section 24. Exchange.....................................................................30
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.....................................................31
Section 26. Notices......................................................................32
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments...................................................33
Section 28. Successors...................................................................33
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors.........................33
Section 30. Benefits of This Agreement...................................................34
Section 31. Severability.................................................................34
Section 32. Governing Law................................................................34
Section 33. Counterparts.................................................................34
Section 34. Descriptive Headings.........................................................34
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock
Exhibit B Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Series A Preferred Stock
ii.
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of May 3, 2001 (the "Agreement"), by
and between Illumina, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
Equiserve Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association (the "Rights
Agent").
WHEREAS, effective May 3, 2001 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
Date"), the board of directors of the Company authorized and declared a
distribution of one Right (each, a "Right") for each share of Common Stock (as
hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as
hereinafter defined) on May 14, 2001 (the "Record Date"), each Right initially
representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share (a "Unit") of
Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined) upon the terms and subject to the
conditions herein set forth, and has further authorized and directed the
issuance of one Right with respect to each share of Common Stock that shall
become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution
Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are
hereinafter defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound,
hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement,
the following terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates
(as such terms are 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 of the Company then outstanding, but shall not include (1) the
Company, any Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or
any entity holding shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(i) no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of
an acquisition of shares of Common Stock by the Company which, by
reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate
number of shares beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding; provided,
however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or
more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding by
reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share
purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional
shares of Common Stock of the Company, then such Person shall be deemed
to be an "Acquiring Person" hereunder; and
(ii) if the board of directors of the Company determines in good
faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" as
defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has
become such inadvertently, and such
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Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of shares
of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring
Person" (as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph (a)), then such Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person" for any purpose of this Agreement.
"Adjustment Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii).
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act (as such term is hereinafter defined).
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder (or any
comparable or successor law or regulation); or
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has (A) the right to acquire
(whether such right is exercisable immediately, contingently or only
after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing, other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with
respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the
exercise (whether or not then vested) of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or
otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, securities tendered
pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the
right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding;
provided further, 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 agreement, arrangement or
understanding: (x) 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 Exchange Act and
the Exchange Act Regulations, and (y) is not 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,
other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and
selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of
securities), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to
the extent contemplated by the proviso to (B) of subparagraph (ii)
above) or disposing of any securities of the Company; provided, however,
that in no case shall an officer or director of the Company be deemed
(A) the
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Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially owned by another officer
or director of the Company solely by reason of actions undertaken by
such persons in their capacity as officers or directors of the Company
or (B) the Beneficial Owner of securities held of record by the trustee
of any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company for the benefit of any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company, other than the officer or director, by reason of any
influence that such officer or director may have over the voting of the
securities held in the plan;
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of "Beneficial Owner" and
"beneficially own" to the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used
with reference to a Person who is the Beneficial Owner of securities of the
Company, shall mean the number of such securities then issued and outstanding
together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and
outstanding which such Person would be deemed to beneficially own hereunder.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a
Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York is
located are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New
York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
"Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
the shares of common stock, par value $.01, of the Company. "Common Stock" when
used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital
stock (or other equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other
Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or
Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
"Current Per Share Market Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(d)(i).
"Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii).
"Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a).
"Equivalent Preferred Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b).
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any successor statute.
"Exchange Act Regulations" shall mean the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time (including any
successor rules).
"Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24.
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"Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(a).
"Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a).
"NASDAQ" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d).
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other
entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
"Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
par value $.01, of the Company having the rights and preferences set forth in
the Form of Certificate of Designation attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.
"Preferred Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii).
"Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.
"Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(b).
"Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
"Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(a).
"Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a).
"Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
"Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals
to this Agreement.
"Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a).
"Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
"Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Section 11(a)(ii)(A), (B) or (C).
"Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii).
"Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause (x),
(y) or (z) of Section 13(a).
"Section 24(a) Exchange Ratio" has the meaning set forth in
Section 24(a).
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or any successor statute.
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"Share Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the
Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
"Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii).
"Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
"Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(b).
"Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i).
"Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint co-Rights Agents as it
may deem necessary or desirable upon ten (10) day's prior written notice to the
Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no
event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day
after the Share Acquisition Date and (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth
Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Company's
board of directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person
and of which the Company will give the Rights Agent prompt written notice) 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 of the Company or of
any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding shares of Common Stock for
or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given
within the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a) of the Exchange Act Regulations or of the
first public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding shares of Common Stock
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to commence, a tender or exchange
offer, if upon consummation thereof such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding (the
earlier of (i) and (ii) above being the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights
will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b)) by the
certificates for shares of Common Stock of the Company registered in the names
of the holders thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights
Certificates) and not by separate Rights Certificates, and (y) the right to
receive Rights Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the
transfer of shares of Common Stock of the Company. As soon as practicable after
the Distribution Date, the Company will notify the Rights Agent of the
occurrence of the Distribution Date and the Company will prepare and execute,
the Rights Agent
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will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights
Agent will, if requested, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail,
to each record holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company as of the Close
of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, a Rights Certificate, in substantially the form of
Exhibit B (a "Rights Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each share of
Common Stock so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced
solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, in
substantially the form of Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class,
postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Common Stock of the
Company as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company. Until the Distribution Date (or the
Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for shares of
Common Stock of the Company outstanding on the Record Date shall also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock
represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for shares of Common Stock which become outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired shares of Common Stock referred to in
the last sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the
earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date shall have impressed
on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between
Illumina, Inc. and Equiserve Trust Company, N.A. dated as of May
3, 2001 (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file
at the principal executive offices of Illumina, Inc. Under
certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such
Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no
longer be evidenced by this certificate. Illumina, Inc. will mail
to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement
without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under
certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement,
Rights issued to any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person (as
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.
If the Company purchases or acquires any shares of Common Stock of the Company
after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated
with such shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be deemed cancelled and
retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights
associated with any shares of Common Stock of the Company which are no longer
outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
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(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase Units
of Preferred Stock and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall
be substantially the same as Exhibit B 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 or transaction reporting system on which the Rights may
from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage. Subject to the
provisions of Sections 11 and 22, the Rights Certificates shall entitle the
holders thereof to purchase the number of Units of Preferred Stock as shall be
set forth therein at the price per Unit of Preferred Stock set forth therein,
but the number of such Units of Preferred Stock and the Purchase Price shall be
subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Agreement 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 in such Acquiring Person or to
any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
which the board of directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance
of Section 7(e) 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 between Illumina,
Inc., and Equiserve Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent, dated
as of May 3, 2001 (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.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by any officer of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature, shall
have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be
attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be
countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless
countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of
the 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
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and effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not
ceased to be such officer of the Company. 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 this Agreement any such person
was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause
to be kept, at its office designated for such purpose, books for registration
and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued under this Agreement. Such books
shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights
Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 14, at any time
after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the
Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered holder to
purchase a like number of Units of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering
Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to
purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or
exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates shall make such request
in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither
the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action
whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 14, countersign and deliver to
the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the
case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights
Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to
them, and, at the Company's request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights
Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the
Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the
Company will make and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the
Rights Agent for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Rights
Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
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Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) Except as provided in Sections 23(c) and 7(e), the registered holder
of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase and the related certification duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together
with payment of the Purchase Price for each Unit of Preferred Stock as to which
the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth anniversary hereof (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the
time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 (the "Redemption
Date"), or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in
Section 24 (the earlier of (i), (ii) and (iii) being the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each Unit of Preferred Stock pursuant to the
exercise of a Right shall initially be $100, shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 and shall be payable in lawful
money of the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights
(with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of
the Purchase Price for the number of Units of Preferred Stock (or other
securities, cash or property, as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount
equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such
Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9 in cash, or by certified check,
wire transfer or bank draft payable to the order of the Company), the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k), thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition
from any transfer agent of the Preferred Stock a certificate or certificates for
the number of Units of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby
irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests or
(B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of Units of
Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary
agent, requisition from the depositary agent of a depositary receipt or
depositary receipts representing such number of Units of Preferred Stock as are
to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Units of Preferred Stock
represented by such receipt or receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent
with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the depositary agent
to comply with such request; (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company
the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 14; (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) when appropriate, after receipt
thereof, deliver such cash 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 (including to zero) pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)) may be made in cash
or by certified bank check, wire transfer or bank draft payable to the order of
the Company. If the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the
Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a),
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.
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(d) If the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise
less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing
a number of Rights equivalent to the number of Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate or to such registered holder's duly authorized assigns, subject to
Section 14.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and
after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights beneficially owned
by (i) an Acquiring Person or an 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; (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 agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the board of directors of the Company has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e); or (iv) any
subsequent transferee 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 ensure that the provisions of this Section
7(e) and Section 4(b) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any
holder of Rights Certificates or to any other Person as a result of its failure
to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of such
Acquiring Person's Affiliates, Associates or transferees.
(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
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 to any of
its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled
form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no
Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by 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.
10.
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Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will use its best efforts
to cause to be reserved and kept available out of and to the extent of its
authorized and unissued Units of Preferred Stock not reserved for another
purpose that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights. Upon the occurrence of any events resulting in an increase
in the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock (or other equity securities
of the Company) issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Rights above the
number then reserved, the Company shall make appropriate increases in the number
of shares so reserved.
(b) If the Units of Preferred Stock to be issued and delivered upon the
exercise of the Rights are at any time listed on a national securities exchange
or included for quotation on any transaction reporting system, the Company shall
during the period from the Distribution Date to the Expiration Date use its best
efforts to cause all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such
exchange or included for quotation on any such transaction reporting system 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 in which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section
11(a)(iii), or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as
the case may be, a registration statement under the Securities Act, with respect
to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate
form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and (iii) cause such registration statement to
remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no
longer exercisable for such securities and (B) the Expiration Date. The Company
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. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction, unless the requisite qualification of the offering made upon
exercise of the Rights in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained, or an
exemption therefrom shall be available and until a registration statement has
been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all Units of Preferred Stock (and, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, any other securities that may be delivered
upon exercise of Rights) shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for
such Units of Preferred Stock (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be
duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and non-assessable.
(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 or
of any Units of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall
not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in
respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for
Units of Preferred Stock in a name other than that of, the registered holder of
the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights
11.
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surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates or
depositary receipts for Units of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of any Rights
until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the
holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been
established to the Company's reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose
name any certificate for Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence
of a Triggering Event, other securities) is issued upon the exercise of Rights
shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the
Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
other securities) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated,
at the Close of Business on the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, other securities) transfer books
of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record
holder of such shares at the Close of Business on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock transfer
books of the Company are open; provided further, however, that if delivery of
Units of Preferred Stock is delayed pursuant to Section 9(c), such Persons shall
be deemed to have become the record holders of such Units of Preferred Stock
only when such Units first become deliverable. 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
securities 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 expressly provided in this
Agreement. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of
a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of a Unit
of Preferred Stock 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 of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kinds of securities 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, (B) subdivide the outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a
smaller number of shares Preferred Stock or (D) issue any shares of its
capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including
any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger
in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except
as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in
effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the
effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and
the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date,
shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Rights
exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the
12.
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aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such
Rights had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time
when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, such
holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive
by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the
consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issuable upon exercise of one Right. If an event occurs which would
require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section
11(a)(ii), the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be
in addition to, and shall be made prior, to any adjustment required
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 if (A) any Acquiring Person or any
Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person, at any time after the
date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, shall (1) merge into the
Company or otherwise combine with the Company and the Company shall be
the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger or combination
and shares of Common Stock of the Company shall remain outstanding and
unchanged, (2) in one transaction or a series of transactions, transfer
any assets to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in exchange (in
whole or in part) for shares of Common Stock of the Company, for other
equity securities of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or for
securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of equity
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether shares of
Common Stock of the Company or otherwise) or otherwise obtain from the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, with or without consideration, any
additional shares of such equity securities or securities exercisable
for or convertible into such equity securities (other than pursuant to a
pro rata distribution to all holders of shares of Common Stock of the
Company), (3) sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge,
transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose of, in one transaction or a
series of transactions, to, from or with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such
plan acting in such capacity, assets (including securities) on terms and
conditions less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary or plan than
those that could have been obtained in arm's-length negotiations with an
unaffiliated third party, other than pursuant to a transaction set forth
in Section 13(a), (4) sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge,
transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose of, in one transaction or a
series of transactions, to, from or with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such
plan acting in such capacity (other than transactions, if any,
consistent with those engaged in, as of the date hereof, by the Company
and such Acquiring Person or such Associate or Affiliate), assets
(including securities or intangible assets) having an aggregate fair
market value of more than $5,000,000, other than pursuant to a
transaction set forth in Section 13(a), (5) receive, or any designee,
agent or representative of such Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or
Associate of such Acquiring Person shall receive, any compensation from
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than compensation for
full-time employment as a regular employee at rates in accordance with
the Company's (or its Subsidiaries') past practices, or (6) receive the
benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a holder of
shares of Common Stock of the Company or as required by law or
governmental regulation), of any loans, advances,
13.
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guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or
other tax advantages provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan
acting in such capacity; or (B) any Person shall become an Acquiring
Person, unless the event causing the Person to become an Acquiring
Person is a transaction set forth in Section 13(a); or (C) during such
time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall be any
reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or
recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or consolidation of the
Company with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction or series
of transactions involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other
than a transaction or transactions to which the provisions of Section
13(a) apply (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an
Acquiring Person), which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of
increasing by more than one percent the proportionate share of the
outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries that is directly or indirectly beneficially
owned by any Acquiring Person or any Person or any Associate or
Affiliate of any Acquiring Person; then promptly following the
occurrence of an event described in Section 11(a)(ii)(A), (B) or (C) (a
"Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e), shall thereafter
have the right to receive for each Right, upon exercise thereof in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the
then-current Purchase Price, in lieu of the number of Units of Preferred
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, such number of Units of
Preferred Stock as shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the
then-current Purchase Price by the then number of Units of Preferred
Stock for which a Right was exercisable (or would have been exercisable
if the Distribution Date had occurred) immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Triggering Event, and dividing that product by 50% of
the Current Per Share Market Price for shares of Common Stock on the
date of occurrence of the Triggering Event (such number of Units of
Preferred Stock being hereinafter referred to as the "Adjustment
Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of Units of Preferred Stock
which are authorized by the Company's certificate of incorporation but
not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon
exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the exercise in full
of the Rights, or if any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance
has not been obtained by the Company, the Company shall, in lieu of
issuing Units of Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Units of
Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current
Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess being referred to as
the "Spread") and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate
provision to substitute for such Units of Preferred Stock, upon exercise
of the Rights, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3)
other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation,
Common Stock of the Company or shares or units of shares of any series
of preferred stock which the board of directors of the Company shall
have conclusively deemed to have the same value as the Units of
Preferred Stock (such shares or units of preferred stock are herein
called "Preferred Stock Equivalents")), except to the extent that the
Company has not obtained any necessary regulatory approval for such
issuance, (4) debt securities of the Company, except to the extent that
the Company has not
14.
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obtained any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance, (5) other
assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate
value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value shall have
conclusively 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 days following the later of
(x) occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) the date on which
the Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the
later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(iii)
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, Units of Preferred Stock (to the extent available),
except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary
regulatory approval for such issuance, and then, if necessary, cash,
which Units and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread.
(b) If the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights,
options or warrants to all holders of Units of Preferred Stock entitling them
(for a period expiring within forty five calendar days after such record date)
to subscribe for or purchase Units of Preferred Stock (or shares having the same
rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock ("Equivalent Preferred
Stock")) or securities convertible into Units of Preferred Stock or Equivalent
Preferred Stock at a price per Unit of Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred
share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into
Units of Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock) less than the then
Current Per Share Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) of a
Unit 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 sum of the number of Units of Preferred Stock outstanding on
such record date plus the number of Units of Preferred Stock which the aggregate
offering price of the total number of Units 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
Per Share Market Price and the denominator of which shall be the sum of the
number of Units of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date plus the
number of additional Units of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock
to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible
securities so to be offered are initially convertible). If such subscription
price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form
other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined 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 and
binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Units of 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 if such rights,
options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to
be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(c) If the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to all
holders of Units of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving corporation) of evidences of
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indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), assets (other
than a dividend payable in Units of Preferred Stock but including any dividend
payable in equity securities other than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights
or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(d)), the Purchase Price
to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the then Current Per Share Market Price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) of the 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 and shall be conclusive and binding on the Rights
Agent and the holders of the Rights) of the cash, assets or evidences of
indebtedness to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
distributable in respect of a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of
which shall be such Current Per Share Market Price of a 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 so made, the Purchase
Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in
effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"Current Per Share Market Price" of any security on any date shall be
deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such
security for the thirty consecutive Trading Days (as such term is
hereinafter defined) ending on and including the Trading Day immediately
prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the
Current Per Share Market Price of the security is determined during a
period following the announcement by the issuer of such security of (A)
a dividend or distribution on such security payable in shares of such
security or securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such security and prior
to the expiration of thirty Trading Days after and not including the
ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date
for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each
such case, the Current Per Share market price shall be appropriately
adjusted to reflect the current market price per share equivalent of
such security. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale
price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either
case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the
Nasdaq National Market System ("NASDAQ") or, if the security is not
listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which
the security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the security is not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the
last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and
low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the
NASDAQ or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the
security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in the security selected by the board of directors of
the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in
the security, the Current Per Share Market Price of such security on
such date as determined in good faith by the board of directors of the
Company as provided for above shall be used. The term "Trading Day"
shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on
which the
16.
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security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the security is not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the Current
Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Stock shall be determined in
accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Current
Per Share Market Price of the 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 this Section 11(d)(i), the
Current Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Stock shall be
conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to the product of $1,000 (as
such amount may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock
splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to shares of
Common Stock of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement)
multiplied by the Current Per Share Market Price of Common Stock of the
Company. If no shares of the Common Stock of the Company or the
Preferred Stock are publicly held or so listed or traded, Current Per
Share Market Price" of the 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 and binding on the Rights
Agent and the holders of the Rights. For all purposes of this Agreement,
the Current Per Share Market Price of a Unit of Preferred Stock shall be
equal to the Current Per Share Market Price of one share of Preferred
Stock divided by 1000.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent in the
Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this
Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken
into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section
11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one one-millionth of a
share of Preferred Stock or one one-hundredth of any other share or security as
the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier
of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which requires such
adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii),
the holder of any Rights thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive
any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Units of Preferred Stock,
thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Rights 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), (d), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m), and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 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 shall evidence the right to purchase, at
the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Units of Preferred Stock purchasable
from time to time upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment
as provided in this Agreement.
17.
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(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election under 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 Units of Preferred
Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock)
obtained by dividing (i) the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of
Units of Preferred Stock 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 by, (ii) 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 Units of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the
exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of Units of Preferred Stock
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each
Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall
become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one one-thousandth)
obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately
after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public
announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the
record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(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, 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 to be so distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be registered in
the names of the holders of record of 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 Units of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights,
the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to
express the Purchase Price per Unit and the number of Units of Preferred Stock
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 the then par value of the number of Units of Preferred
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate
action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the
Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable number of
Units of Preferred Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
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(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 issuing to the holder of any Rights exercised after such record date
of that number of Units of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities
of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Units of
Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior
to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such
holder a due ββββ or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right
to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) upon the occurrence
of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in
order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii)
issuance wholly for cash of any Unit of Preferred Stock at less than the Current
Per Share Market Price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Stock or
securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for
Preferred Stock, (iv) dividends on Preferred Stock payable in Preferred Stock or
(v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11,
hereafter made by the Company to holders of Units of its Preferred Stock shall
not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Company 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)), (ii) merge with or into any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o)), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any
Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of
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)), 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
Person which constitutes, or would constitute the Principal Party (as defined in
Section 13(b)) shall have distributed or otherwise transferred to its
stockholders or other persons holding an equity interest in such Person, Rights
previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates;
provided, however, this Section 11(n) shall not affect the ability of any
Subsidiary of the Company to consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell or
transfer assets or earning power to, any other Subsidiary of the Company.
(o) After the Distribution Date, the Company shall not, except as
permitted by Section 23 or Section 26, take (or permit any of its Subsidiaries
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.
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23
(p) If, at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or pay any dividend on
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company payable in shares of Common
Stock of the Company or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation
of the Common Stock of the Company (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of dividends in shares of Common Stock of the Company) into a greater or
lesser number of shares of Common Stock of the Company, then in any such case
the number of Units of Preferred Stock purchasable after such event upon proper
exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number of Units of
Preferred Stock so purchasable immediately prior to such event by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock of the
Company outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which
shall be the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding
immediately after such event. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(p)
shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such
a subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the shares of Common Stock of
the Company or Units of Preferred Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail
a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance
with Section 25 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure by
the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the
validity of or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment contained therein and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets
or Earning Power.
(a) Except as provided in Section 13(b), in the event that, following a
Share 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)),
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 11(o)) shall consolidate with the
Company, or merge with and 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 shares of
Common Stock of the Company 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) to any Person or Persons (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)),
in one or more transactions, directly or indirectly, assets or earning power
aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), (any such event being a "Section 13 Event"),
then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each
holder of a Right,
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except as provided in Section 7(e), shall thereafter have the right to receive,
upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price, such number of
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common
Stock of the Principal Party, which shares shall not be subject to any liens,
encumbrances, rights of first refusal, transfer restrictions or other adverse
claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the number of Units of Preferred Stock for which a
Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such Units of
Preferred Stock for which a Right would be exercisable hereunder but for the
occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price which would be
in effect hereunder but for such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that product
(which, following the direct occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be the
"Purchase Price" for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Per
Share Market Price of the shares 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, for all purposes of this Agreement, thereafter be
deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the
provisions of Section 11 shall apply only to such Principal Party following the
first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take
such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient
number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any
such transaction as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions of this
Agreement shall thereafter be applicable to its shares of Common Stock
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) shall be of no further 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), (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, or, if there is
more than one such issuer, the issuer of shares of Common Stock that has
the highest aggregate Current Per Share Market Price and (B) if no
securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such
merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such Person, the
Person the Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate Current Per
Share Market Price; 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 largest portion of the assets or earning power transferred
pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is
a party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of
the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or
transactions or if the Person receiving the largest portion of the
assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever Person the
Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate Current Per Share Market
Price; 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-month period registered under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act ("Registered Common Stock"), or such Person is not a
corporation, and such Person is a direct or
21.
25
indirect Subsidiary of another Person that has Registered Common Stock
outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) if
the Common Stock of such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such
Person is not a corporation, and such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of another Person but is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary
of another Person which has Registered Common Stock outstanding,
"Principal Party" shall refer to the ultimate parent entity of such
first-mentioned Person; (3) if the Common Stock of such Person is not
Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such
Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and
one or more of such other Persons has Registered Common Stock
outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such other
Persons is the issuer of the Registered Common Stock having the highest
aggregate Current Per Share Market Price; and (4) if the Common Stock of
such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a
corporation, and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by
more than one Person, and none of such other Persons has Registered
Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever
ultimate parent entity is the corporation having the greatest
stockholders' equity or, if no such ultimate parent entity is a
corporation, shall refer to whichever ultimate parent entity is the
entity having the greatest net assets.
(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 the Principal Party will:
(i) (A) file on an appropriate form, as soon as practicable
following the execution of such agreement, a registration statement
under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Common Stock of
such Principal Party that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights,
(B) cause such registration statement to remain effective (and to
include a prospectus complying with the requirements of the Securities
Act) until the Expiration Date, and (C) as soon as practicable following
the execution of such agreement take such action as may be required to
ensure that any acquisition of such shares of Common Stock of such
Principal Party upon the exercise of the Rights complies with any
applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws; and
(ii) 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
(or any successor form) under the Exchange Act.
(d) In case the Principal Party which is to be a party to a transaction
referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other instrument
governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i)
causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of
Common Stock of such
22.
26
Principal Party at less than the then Current Per Share Market Price or
securities exercisable for, or convertible into, shares of Common Stock of such
Principal Party at less than such then Current Per Share Market Price or (ii)
providing for any special payment, tax or similar provisions in connection with
the issuance of the shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party pursuant to
the provisions of this Section 13, then, in such event, the Company shall not
consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such
Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing that the provision in question of such
Principal Party shall have been cancelled, waived or amended, or that the
authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable provision will
have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of
the proposed transaction.
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event
that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such
fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Per Share
Market Price of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the
Current Per Share Market Price of a whole Right shall be the closing price of
the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such
fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any
day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes
place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way,
in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ
or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ, 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 the 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 conclusively used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Stock (other than fractions
which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock). Fractions of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced
by depositary receipts,
23.
27
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary
selected by it; provided, however, that such agreement shall provide that the
holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and
preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred
Stock represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of
Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share
of Preferred Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Per Share Market Price of one
share of Preferred Stock.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of
this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of
certificates representing shares of Common Stock of the Company); and any
registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
a certificate representing shares of Common Stock of the Company), without the
consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, of a certificate representing shares of
Common Stock of the Company), may, in such holder's own behalf and for such
holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action
or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of,
such holder's right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such 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 will be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations hereunder, and injunctive relief against actual
or threatened violations of the obligations of any Person subject to this
Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right,
by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only
in connection with the transfer of shares of Common Stock of the Company;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer;
(c) subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f), the Company and the Rights Agent
may deem and treat the person in whose name the 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
24.
28
or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor
the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a
Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use
commercially reasonably 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 Units of Preferred
Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained in this Agreement 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 25), 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 this Agreement.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Company agrees to
pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
under this Agreement and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its
reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the
administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance
of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent
for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred
without gross negligence, or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent,
for any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with
the execution, acceptance and administration of this Agreement and the exercise
and performance of its duties, including the costs and expenses of defending
against and appealing any claim of liability in the premises. This indemnity
shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the expiration of the
Rights. The costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of
indemnification shall be paid by the Company.
The Rights Agent may conclusively rely upon and 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 and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder in reliance
upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Units of Preferred Stock or
shares of Common Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument of
assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter,
notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed
25.
29
and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper person or persons,
or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
stock transfer or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto; provided, that such corporation must be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21. 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 the 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
Rights Agent 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 and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this
Agreement against the Rights Agent, by all of which the Company and the holders
of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) Before the Rights Agent acts or refrains from acting, it may consult
with legal counsel of its choice (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and
the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization
and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the administration, exercise and performance of its
duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or
desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior
to taking, suffering or omitting 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
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any officer of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action
taken, suffered or omitted in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
successor to the Company (by merger or otherwise) only for its own gross
negligence 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 (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any liability or responsibility
in respect of the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the
execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution by the Rights Agent) or
in respect of the legality, validity or enforceability or the execution of any
Rights Certificate (except its countersignature); nor shall it be liable or
responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained
in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for
any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming
void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights
(including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Section 3, 11,
13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require
any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Rights Certificates after receipt of the certificate described in
Section 12); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Units
of Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Stock will, when 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 administration, exercise and performance of its
duties hereunder from any one officer of the Company, and to apply to such
officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall
not be responsible or liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay
in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application by the Rights
Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights
Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the
Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action
shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not
be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in
accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date
specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business
Days after the date any officer of the Company actually received such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an
27.
31
omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response
to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers vested in it or perform any duty under this Agreement either itself or by
or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable
or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys
or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employment thereof.
(j) 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
the Rights Agent in good faith believes 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 Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange, the
certification on the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the
case may be, that the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate are not owned
by an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate thereof, has either not
been completed or in any manner indicates any other response thereto, the Rights
Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise,
transfer, split up, combination or exchange, 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 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock of the Company or Preferred Stock (as to
which the Rights Agent has received prior written notice) by registered or
certified mail, and the Company shall mail notice thereof 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 days' notice in writing, mailed to the
Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock (as to which the Rights Agent has
received prior written notice) 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 days after giving notice of
such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights
Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any
Rights
28.
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Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, in
good standing, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock
transfer powers, and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock, and mail a
notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as
the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding
any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its board of directors to reflect any adjustment
or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or
other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock of the Company following the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with
respect to shares of Common Stock of the Company so issued or sold pursuant to
the exercise of stock options or under any employee benefit plan or arrangement
or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities of the Company
currently outstanding or issued at any time in the future 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 and this sentence shall be
null and void ab initio if, and to the extent that, such issuance or this
sentence would create a significant risk of or result in material adverse tax
consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would
be issued or would create a significant risk of or result in such options' or
employee plans' or arrangements' failing to qualify for otherwise available
special tax treatment 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 Company may, at its option, upon approval by the board of
directors, at any time on or prior to the Close of Business (or such later date
as may be determined by its board of directors) on the earlier of (i) the
Distribution Date or (ii) the Final Expiration Date redeem all but not less than
all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring
29.
33
after the date of this Agreement (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, shares of Common Stock of the Company
(based on the Current Per Share Market Price thereof at the time of redemption),
or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by its board of directors.
The redemption of the Rights by the board of directors of the Company may be
made effective at such time on such basis and with such conditions as the board
of directors of the Company in its sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the board of directors of the Company
ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to Section 23(a), and without any
further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will
terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to
receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly give public notice of
any such redemption; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect
in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Within 10
days after such action of the board of directors of the Company ordering the
redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to
the Rights Agent and shall mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the
then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry
books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry
books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in
such manner shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of
the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates
or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time
in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in
Section 24, and other than in connection with the purchase of shares of Common
Stock prior to the Distribution Date.
(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable pursuant to Section 7(a) at any
time when the Rights are redeemable hereunder.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Company, at its option, upon approval by its board of directors,
at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, may exchange all or
part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include
Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof)
for Units of Preferred Stock at an exchange ratio equal to, subject to
adjustment to reflect stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions
occurring after the date hereof, that number obtained by dividing the Purchase
Price by the then Current Per Share Market Price per Unit of Preferred Stock on
the earlier of (i) the date on which any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and
(ii) the date of commencement of a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other
than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan
maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary
with respect to such plan acting in such capacity), if upon consummation thereof
such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common
Stock of the Company then outstanding (such exchange ratio being hereinafter
referred to as the "Section 24(a) Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company may not effect such exchange at any time after any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any
30.
34
employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity),
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company
then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the board of directors of the Company
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section
24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise
such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of Units of Preferred Stock equal to the
number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Section 24(a)
Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such
exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly
shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at
their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent.
Any notice which is mailed in the manner provided in this Agreement shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of
exchange will state the method by which the exchange of Units of Preferred Stock
for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the
number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected
pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e)) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that the number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized
by the Company's certificate of incorporation but not outstanding or reserved
for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are not
sufficient to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with
this Section 24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize additional shares of Preferred Stock for issuance upon exchange of the
Rights or make adequate provision to substitute (1) cash, (2) Common Stock of
the Company or other equity securities of the Company, (3) debt securities of
the Company, (4) other assets, or (5) any combination of the foregoing, having
an aggregate value equal to the Adjustment Spread, where such aggregate value
has been determined by the board of directors of the Company. To the extent that
the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to Section 24(a),
the board of directors of the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability
of the Rights for a period of up to sixty days following the date on which the
event described in Section 24(a) shall have occurred, in order to seek any
authorization of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to the above provision 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.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions smaller than or
to distribute certificates which evidence fractions smaller than one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock. In lieu thereof, the Company shall
pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which
such fractional Units would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the Current Per Share Market Price of one Unit of Preferred
Stock.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
31.
35
(a) In case the Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend payable in
stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Stock or to make any other
distribution to the holders of its Preferred Stock (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Stock
rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Units of
Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights
or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred
Stock), (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)), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or
more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more
transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or (vi) to declare or pay
any dividend on the Common Stock of the Company payable in shares of Common
Stock of the Company or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of
the shares of Common Stock of the Company (by reclassification or otherwise than
by payment of dividends in shares of Common Stock), then, in each such case, the
Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with
Section 26, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record
date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or
warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock of
the Company and/or shares 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 ten days prior to the record date for determining
holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the
case of any such other action, at least ten days prior to the date of the taking
of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of
the shares of Common Stock of the Company and/or shares of Preferred Stock,
whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) shall
occur, then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event and the
consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii). In the
event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company will promptly notify
the Rights Agent thereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Equiserve, L.P.
βββ ββββββ ββββββ
ββββββ, βββββββββββββ βββββ
Attention: Client Adminstration
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
32.
36
Agent shall be sent by registered or certified mail and shall be deemed given
upon receipt and addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) as follows:
Illumina, Inc.
ββββ βββββ ββββββ βββββ
βββ βββββ, ββββββββββ βββββ
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
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 shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution
Date, the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any respect, without
the approval of any holders of Rights, by action of its board of directors, and
the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or
amendment. From and after the Distribution Date, the Company may from time to
time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Rights, by action of its board of directors 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 shorten or
lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) 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), including, without limitation, to change the Purchase
Price, the Redemption Price, any time periods herein specified, and any other
term hereof, any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a writing
signed by the Company and the Rights Agent; provided, however, that from and
after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall
not be amended in any manner which would adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights. Upon receipt of a certificate from an appropriate officer of
the Company that the proposed supplement or amendment is consistent with this
Section 27 and, after such time as any Person has become an Acquiring Person,
that the proposed supplement or amendment does not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights, the Rights Agent shall execute such
supplement or amendment.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company outstanding at any particular time, including for
purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall
be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the
Exchange Act. The board of directors of the Company shall have the exclusive
power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and
powers specifically granted to the board of directors, or the Company, or as may
be necessary or advisable in the
33.
37
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 of directors of
the Company in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights Certificates and all other
parties and (y) not subject the board of directors of the Company to any
liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 30. Benefits of This Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, shares of Common Stock of the Company) 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, shares of Common Stock of the Company).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the board of
directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 shall
be reinstated and shall not expire until the tenth Business Day following the
date of such determination by the board of directors of the Company.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such state.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several sections of this Agreement are inserted or convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions of
this Agreement.
34.
38
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement
to be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above
written.
ILLUMINA, INC.
By: /s/ βββββββ β. ββββ
--------------------------------
Name: βββββββ β. ββββ
Title: Chief Financial Officer
EQUISERVE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By: /s/ βββββββ ββββββ
--------------------------------
Name: βββββββ ββββββ
------------------------------
Title: Managing Director,
-----------------------------
Client Administration
-----------------------------
39
Exhibit A
FORM
of
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
Illumina, Inc.
(Pursuant to Section 151 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law)
----------------------------------
Illumina, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by
the board of directors of the Corporation as required by Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law at a meeting duly called and held on May 3, 2001;
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in
the board of directors of the Corporation (hereinafter the "Board") in
accordance with the provisions of the certificate of incorporation of the
Corporation, as currently in effect, the Board hereby creates a series of
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the
Corporation and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and fixes
the relative rights, preferences, and limitations thereof as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A
Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be 120,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by
resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce
the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the
number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation
convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.
A-1
40
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of
Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series
A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, each holder of a share of Series A
Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of common stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other
junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when declared by the Board out of
funds legally available for the purpose, dividends in an amount per share
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash
dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of
all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in
shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were
entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2(a) immediately after
it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that, in the
event no dividend or distribution shall be declared by the Board on the Common
Stock for which it does not declare the dividend required to be declared on the
Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 2(a).
(c) Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid
on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total
amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be
allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time
outstanding. The Board may fix a record date for the determination of holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than sixty
days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000
votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on
the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a
A-2
41
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A 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, in any other Certificate of
Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by
law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares
of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general
voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a
vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, holders
of Series A 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 Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears,
thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether
or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have
been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on
any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions,
on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock,
except dividends paid ratably on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and all
such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to
the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; provided, that the
Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any
such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up)
to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a
parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase
offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board) to all
holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board, after consideration of the
respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of
A-3
42
the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in
fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation
to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under Section 4(a), purchase or
otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the
Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designations
creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise
required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(a) Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
no distribution shall be made (i) to the holders of shares of stock ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall have received the greater of (x) $1,000 per
share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions
thereon, to the date of such payment (the "Series A Liquidation Preference");
and, (y) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount to be
distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock (the "Common
Adjustment"), or (ii) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
such event under the proviso in clause (i) 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 ("Adjustment Number").
(b) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any,
which rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, then such remaining
assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event, however,
that there are not sufficient assets
A-4
43
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 May 14, 2001
(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 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 each share of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 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 declare or pay any dividend on
the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the
exchange or change of shares of Series A 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 Preferred Stock shall
not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series
of any other class of the Corporation's Preferred Stock.
Section 10. Amendment. The certificate of incorporation of the
Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock
so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting
together as a single class.
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44
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation is executed
on behalf of the Corporation as of May __, 2001.
ILLUMINA, INC.
By:
-------------------------------
Name: βββββββ β. ββββ
Title: Chief Financial Officer
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Exhibit B
Form of Rights Certificate
Certificate No. R- ________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER MAY 14, 2011 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE
COMPANY AT $0.01 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE 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 SUCH AGREEMENT.]*
Rights Certificate
Illumina, Inc.
This certifies that _____________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2001 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Illumina,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Equiserve Trust Company, N.A.,
as Right Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time
after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement)
and prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on May 14, 2011 at the office of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as
Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (a "Unit") of a fully paid non-assessable share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Series A Preferred Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of $100 per Unit
of Series A Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and
surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly
executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the
number of Units of Series A Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon exercise
hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number
and Purchase Price as of May 14, 2001 based on the Series A Preferred Stock as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase
Price and the number of Units of Series A Preferred Stock which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the
----------
* The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
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46
Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and
adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and
conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof
and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of
the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder
of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of
the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights
Certificates, upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of Series A Preferred Stock 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 Company at a redemption
price of $.01 per Right.
No fractional shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be issued
upon the exercise of any Rights or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions
which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Series A
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, as such, shall be entitled
to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Units of
Series A 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 Rights or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
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47
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal. Dated as of ________ __, __________ .
Illumina, Inc.
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
--------------------------
Title:
-------------------------
Countersigned:
Equiserve Trust Company, N.A.
as Rights Agent
By:
-------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
Name:
------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
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48
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: ,
----------------------- ----
-----------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in a Securities
Transfer Association Inc. recognized signature guarantee medallion program.
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CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (each as defined in the Rights Agreement).
-----------------------------------
Signature
-----------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Form of Assignment must conform to
the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Assignment is not completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the
beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (each as defined in the
Rights Agreement) and such Assignment will not be honored.
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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.)
To Illumina, Inc.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
___________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase
the Units of Series A Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Rights
and requests that certificates for such Series A Preferred Stock be issued in
the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number ____________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number ____________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
DATED: ,
----------------------- ----
-----------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in a Securities
Transfer Association Inc. recognized signature guarantee medallion program.
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CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (each as defined in the Rights Agreement).
-----------------------------------
Signature
-----------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Form of Election to Purchase must
conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, the Company and the
Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (each as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such Election to Purchase
will not be honored.
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52
Exhibit C
ILLUMINA, INC.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SHARES OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
On May 3, 2001, your board of directors declared a dividend
distribution of one right for each outstanding share of our common stock to
stockholders of record at the close of business on May 14, 2001. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the company one one-thousandth
of a share of Series A Junior Participating preferred stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a purchase price of $100, subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and Equiserve Trust
Company, N.A., as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all common stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the common stock
and a distribution date will occur upon the earlier of (i) ten days following a
public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
(an "Acquiring Person") has (subject to certain exceptions) acquired, or
obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of our common stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), other
than as a result of repurchases of stock by the Company, or (ii) ten days (or
such later date as the board shall determine) following the commencement of a
tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group
beneficially owning 15% or more of such outstanding shares of our 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. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement,
the company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a
Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number
of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of preferred stock will be
issued.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at the close of business on May 14, 2011, unless earlier redeemed by
the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
certificates will be mailed to holders of record of our common stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by
the board, only shares of our common stock issued prior to the Distribution Date
will be issued with Rights.
In the event that an Acquiring Person becomes (subject to certain
exceptions) the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding shares
of common stock (other than pursuant to an offer for all the outstanding shares
of common stock that our board of directors determines to be fair to and
otherwise in the best interests of the company and its stockholders),
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each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise,
Preferred Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other
securities of the company) having a value equal to two times the exercise price
of the Right. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of
any of the events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under
certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially
owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void.
For example, at an exercise price of $100 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
$200 worth of Preferred Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $100.
Assuming that our Preferred Stock had a per share value of $25 at such time, the
holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 8 shares of Preferred
Stock for $100.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) we are acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction
in which we are not the surviving corporation (other than a merger which follows
an offer described in the second preceding paragraph), or (ii) 50% or more of
our assets, cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a
Right (except Rights which previously have been voided) shall have the right to
receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value
equal to two 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."
At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding
common stock, the board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the
person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange
ratio of one share of common stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of
preferred stock (or of a share of a class or series of our preferred stock
having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to
adjustment).
At any time until 10 days following the Stock Acquisition Date,
the board may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01
per Right (payable in cash, common stock or other consideration deemed
appropriate by the board). Immediately upon the action of the board ordering
redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the
holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.01 redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder of a Right will have no
rights by virtue of ownership 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 Preferred Stock (or
other consideration) of the company or for common stock of the acquiring
company.
Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the board prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the
provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the board in order to cure
any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of
holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time
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period under the Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment may be
made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of
the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the company. This summary
description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein
by reference.
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