RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated May 27, 2004 between BAYOU STEEL CORPORATION and Continental stock transfer & trust company as Rights Agent

EXHIBIT 99.2

 

 

 

 

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT     dated   May 27, 2004     between     BAYOU STEEL CORPORATION       and   Continental stock transfer & trust company   as Rights Agent

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
Section 1.	Definitions	1
Section 2.	Appointment of Rights Agent	4
Section 3.	Issuance of Rights Certificates	5
Section 4.	Form of Rights Certificates	6
Section 5.	Countersignature and Registration	6
Section 6.	Transfer and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates	7
Section 7.	Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights	7
Section 8.	Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates	9
Section 9.	Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock	9
Section 10.	Common Stock Record Date	10
Section 11.	Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights	11
Section 12.	Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares	17
Section 13.	Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power	17
Section 14.	Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares	19
Section 15.	Rights of Action	20
Section 16.	Agreement of Right Holders	21
Section 17.	Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder	21
Section 18.	Concerning the Rights Agent	21
Section 19.	Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agents	22
Section 20.	Duties of Rights Agent	23
Section 21.	Change of Rights Agent	25
Section 22.	Issuance of New Rights Certificates	25
Section 23.	Redemption	25
Section 24.	Exchange	26
Section 25.	Notice of Proposed Actions	26
Section 26.	Notices	27
Section 27.	Supplements and Amendments	28
Section 28.	Successors	28
Section 29.	Determinations and Actions by the Board, etc	28
Section 30.	Benefits of this Agreement	28
Section 31.	Severability	28
Section 32.	Governing Law	29
Section 33.	Counterparts	29
Section 34.	Descriptive Headings	29
Exhibit A -	Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit B -	Summary Description of the Stockholder Rights Plan

 

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated May 27, 2004, is by and between Bayou Steel Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent") and is effective on May 28, 2004 (the "Effective Date").

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, on May 21, 2004, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend of one common stock purchase right (a "Right") for each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) outstanding at the close of business on May 28, 2004 (the "Record Date") and has authorized the issuance, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, of one Right (subject to adjustment) in respect of each share of Common Stock issued after the Record Date, each Right representing the right to purchase, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, one (subject to adjustment) share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined);

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

"Acquiring Person" means any Person who, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, is the Beneficial Owner of the Threshold Percentage or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not include an Exempt Person; provided, however, that (a) if the Board determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person has become the Beneficial Owner of a number of shares of Common Stock such that the Person would otherwise qualify as an Acquiring Person inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (i) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an Acquiring Person or (ii) such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement) and without any intention of changing, exercising or influencing control of the Company, then such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have become an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement unless and until such Person shall have failed to divest itself as soon as practicable (as determined, in good faith, by the Board of Directors of the Company) of Beneficial Ownership of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer otherwise qualify as an Acquiring Person; and (b) no Person shall become an Acquiring Person as the result of any acquisition of shares of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person to the Threshold Percentage or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of the Threshold Percentage or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding by reason of such share acquisition by the Company and shall thereafter become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock), then such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of Common Stock such Person does not beneficially own the Threshold Percentage or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

"Affiliate" and "Associate" have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof.

A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be deemed to have Beneficial Ownership of and to beneficially own, any securities:

(a)        that such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof);

(b)        that such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has

(i)        the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only upon the occurrence of certain events or the passage of time or both) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase, (B) securities that such Person has a right to acquire upon the exercise of Rights at any time prior to the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (C) securities issuable upon the exercise of Rights from and after the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person if such Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof ("Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) or Section 11(p) with respect to an adjustment to Original Rights; or

(ii)        the right to vote (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only upon the occurrence of certain events or the passage of time or both) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) or otherwise; provided that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security under this clause (ii) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and (B) is not also then reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or

(c)        that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) and with respect to which such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in subparagraph (b)(ii) immediately above) or disposing of any such securities;

provided, however, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person’s status or authority as such, to be the Beneficial Owner of, to have Beneficial Ownership of or to beneficially own any securities that are beneficially owned, including, without limitation, in a fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director or employee of an Exempt Person.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Louisiana are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

"Close of business" on any given date means 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on such date; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, close of business means 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

"Common Stock" means the Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company, and any other common stock of the Company, except that, when used with reference to any Person other than the Company, Common Stock means the capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such Person.

"Distribution Date" means the earlier of (a) the close of business on the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date and (b) the close of business on the tenth Business Day (or such later day as may be designated prior to the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by action of the Board) after the date of the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by any Person if, upon consummation thereof, such Person would be an Acquiring Person; provided, however, that if either of such dates occurs after the date of this Agreement and on or prior to the Record Date, then the Distribution Date shall be the Record Date.

"Exempt Person" shall mean each of the following: (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, in each case including, without limitation, in its fiduciary capacity, or any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity or trustee holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or for the purpose of funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits for employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any stockholder (but not any transferee or successor to such stockholder) who on the date of the adoption of this Rights Agreement beneficially owns a number of shares of Common Stock that equals or exceeds the Threshold Percentage of shares of Common Stock of the Company, provided in the case of (ii) that if such stockholder acquires any additional shares of Common Stock of the Company on or after the Effective Date of this Rights Agreement, such stockholder will no longer be an Exempt Person.

"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

"Expiration Date" means the earlier of (a) the Final Expiration Date and (b) the time at which all Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 or exchanged as provided in Section 24.

"Final Expiration Date" means the close of business on May 27, 2014.

"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or any other entity or organization.

"Purchase Price" means the price (subject to adjustment as provided herein) at which a holder of a Right may purchase one share of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided herein) upon exercise of a Right, which price shall initially be $100.

"Section 11(a)(ii) Event" means any event described in the first clause of Section 11(a)(ii).

"Section 13 Event" means any event described in clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) that occurs following a Section 11(a)(ii) Event.

"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

"Stock Acquisition Date" means the date of the first public announcement (including through the filing of a report on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report)) by the Company or an Acquiring Person indicating that an Acquiring Person has become such.

"Subsidiary" of any Person means any other Person of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power, in the absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such first Person.

"Threshold Percentage," as of any date of determination, means with respect to any Person and its Affiliates and Associates, 15% of all then-outstanding Common Stock.

"Trading Day" means a day on which the principal national securities exchange (including the Nasdaq Stock Market, if applicable) on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, a Business Day.

"Triggering Event" means 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 hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-rights agents (each, a "Co-Rights Agent") as it may deem necessary or desirable. If the Company appoints one or more Co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any Co-Rights Agents shall be as the Company shall determine, and references herein to the "Rights Agent" shall be deemed to refer to the Rights Agent and/or the Co-Rights Agents, as applicable. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and in no event shall be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such Co-Rights Agent.

Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates. (a) Prior to the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates for the Common Stock and not by separate Rights Certificates (as hereinafter defined) and the registered holders of the Common Stock shall be deemed to be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and (ii) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock. As soon as practicable after the Record Date, the Company will send a copy of the Summary of Rights substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company. Prior to the Distribution Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented thereby.

(b)        As soon as practicable after the Company has notified the Rights Agent of the occurrence of the Distribution Date and has provided the Rights Agent with a list of the holders of the Company’s Common Stock, the Rights Agent will send, by first-class insured mail, postage prepaid, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof), at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more Rights Certificates evidencing one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each share of Common Stock so held. If an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11 the Company shall, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a)) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. From and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.

(c)        Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date or issued (on original issuance or out of treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (i) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold (x) pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement or (y) upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities issued by the Company prior to the Distribution Date and (ii) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided that no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, (i) the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or (ii) appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

(d)        Certificates issued for Common Stock 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:

Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates. The certificates evidencing the Rights (and the forms of assignment, election to purchase and certificates to be printed on the reverse thereof) (the "Rights Certificates") shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and which do not affect the rights, duties or responsibilities of the Rights Agent, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. The Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date.

Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer and President, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer or Secretary, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company’s seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company whose manual or facsimile signature is affixed to 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 may, nevertheless, be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered with the same force and effect as though the Person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company. Any Rights Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.

(b)        Following the Distribution Date and receipt by the Rights Agent of all relevant information, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its office or offices designated as the place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise, transfer or exchange, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates. Such books shall show with respect to each Rights Certificate the name and address of the registered holder thereof, the number of Rights indicated on the certificate and the certificate number.

Section 6. Transfer and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates. (a) At any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, be transferred or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates evidencing a like number of Rights as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered. Any registered holder desiring to transfer or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall surrender such Rights Certificate or Certificates (with, in the case of a transfer, the form of assignment and certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed) to the Rights Agent at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate or Certificates until the registered holder of the Rights has complied with the requirements of Section 7(e). Upon satisfaction of the foregoing requirements, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Sections 7(d), 14 and 24, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Certificates as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate or Certificates. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation under this Section 6 unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charges have been paid in full.

(b)        Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security satisfactory to them, and, at the Company’s or the Rights Agent’s request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will issue and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights. (a) The registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein, including Sections 7(d), 7(e), 9(c), 11(a), 23 and 24) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly and properly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment (in lawful money of the United States of America by certified check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company) of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the Rights then to be exercised and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax or other governmental charge.

(b)        Upon satisfaction of the requirements of Section 7(a) and subject to Section 20(k), the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Common Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent therefor) certificates for the total number of shares of Common 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 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing interests in such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Common Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 and (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts and cash, if any, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate (with such certificates or receipts registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder). If the Company is obligated to deliver other securities or assets pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities and assets are available for delivery by the Rights Agent, if and when necessary to comply with this Agreement.

(c)        In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the number of Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Sections 6 and 14.

(d)        Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or 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 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 (or any such Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person (or in any such Associate or Affiliate) or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which is part of an agreement, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(d) 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 notify the Rights Agent when this Section 7(d) applies and shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(d) are complied with, but neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or other Person as a result of the Company’s failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates and Associates or any transferee of any of them hereunder.

(e)        Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder of Rights upon the occurrence of any purported transfer pursuant to Section 6 or exercise pursuant to this Section 7 unless such registered holder (i) shall have properly completed and duly signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment or election to purchase, as the case may be, set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such transfer or exercise, as the case may be, (ii) shall not have indicated an affirmative response to clause 1 or 2 thereof and (iii) 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 or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request.

Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All Rights Certificates surrendered for exercise, transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no 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 the Rights Agent shall cancel, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.

Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will reserve at least two million shares of Common Stock for issuance to holders of Rights pursuant to this Rights Agreement until such time as the Company amends its restated and amended certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock of the Company. Thereafter, the Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available a number of shares of Common Stock that are authorized but not outstanding or otherwise reserved for issuance sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights as provided in this Agreement.

(b)        When the Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Rights is listed on any national securities exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all securities reserved for such issuance to be listed on any such exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

(c)        The Company shall use its best efforts (i) to file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event as of 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 issuable upon exercise of the Rights, (ii) to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii) to 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. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 90 days after the date set forth in Section 9(c)(i), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent thereof and issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement (with prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent) at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. Notwithstanding any such provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable for securities in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, such exercise therefor shall not be permitted under applicable law or a registration statement in respect of such securities shall not have been declared effective.

(d)        The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to insure that all shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such securities (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

(e)        The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and other governmental charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and of any certificates for Common Stock upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax or other governmental charge that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of any Rights Certificates or of any certificates for Common Stock to a Person other than the registered holder of the applicable Rights Certificate, and prior to any such transfer, issuance or delivery any such tax or other governmental charge shall have been paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate or it shall have been established to the Company’s satisfaction that no such tax or other governmental charge is due.

Section 10. Common Stock Record Date. Each Person (other than the Company) in whose name any certificate for Common Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Common Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any transfer taxes or other governmental charges) was made; provided that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the transfer books of the Company relating to the Common Stock are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the applicable transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company except as provided herein.

Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights. (a) (i) If the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) pay a dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares, (C) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger involving the Company), the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the record date for such dividend or the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Common Stock or other capital stock issuable on such date shall be proportionately adjusted so that each holder of a Right shall (except as otherwise provided herein, including Section 7(d)) thereafter be entitled to receive, upon exercise thereof at the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such date, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Common Stock or other capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the applicable transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have been entitled to receive upon such exercise and by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event occurs that requires 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)        If any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall, at any time after the date of this Agreement, become an Acquiring Person, then each holder of a Right shall (except as otherwise provided herein, including Section 7(d)) thereafter be entitled to receive, upon exercise thereof at the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, such number of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock of the Company (such shares being referred to herein as the "Adjustment Shares") as shall be equal to the result obtained by dividing

(x)        the product obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such first occurrence (such product being thereafter referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right) by

(y) 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)) per share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence;

provided, however, that the Purchase Price (as so adjusted pursuant this clause (ii)) and the number of Adjustment Shares so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall, following the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event, be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f). From and after the occurrence of a Section 13 Event, any Rights that theretofore have not been exercised pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii) shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and not pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii).

(iii)        If the number of shares of Common Stock that are authorized by the Company’s certificate of incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance other than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii), the Company shall, with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, (A) (to the extent available) Common Stock and then, (B) other equity or debt securities of the Company, cash or other assets, a reduction in the Purchase Price or any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value (based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm) equal to the value of the Adjustment Shares; provided that (x) the Company may, and (y) if the Company shall not have made adequate provision as required above to deliver value within 30 days following the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (the "Substitution Period"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price (1) (to the extent available) Common Stock and then (2) other equity or debt securities of the Company, cash or other assets or any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value (based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm) equal to the excess of the value of the Adjustment Shares over the Purchase Price. To the extent that the Company determines that some action is required to be taken pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(d), that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to decide the appropriate form and value of any consideration to be delivered as referred to in the preceding sentence. If any such suspension occurs, the Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent thereof and issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of Common Stock shall be the current market price per share of such Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the date of the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event; any common stock equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock on such date; and the value of other securities or assets shall be determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(iii).

(b)        In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) Common Stock (or securities having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Common Stock ("Equivalent Common Stock")) or securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock (or Equivalent Common Stock) at a price per share of Common Stock (or Equivalent Common Stock) (in each case, taking account of any conversion or exercise price) less than the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) per share of Common 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 date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Common Stock that the aggregate price (taking account of any conversion or exercise price) of the total number of shares of Common Stock (and/or Equivalent Common Stock) so to be offered would purchase at such current market price and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock (and/or Equivalent Common Stock) so to be offered. In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of 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, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. Shares of Common 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 that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

(c)        In case the Company shall fix a record date for making a distribution to all holders of Common Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger involving the Company) of evidences of indebtedness, equity securities other than Common Stock, assets (other than a regular periodic cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company) or rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) per share of Common Stock on such record date, less the value (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(iii)) of such evidences of indebtedness, equity securities, assets, rights, options or warrants so to be distributed with respect to one share of Common Stock and the denominator of which shall be such current market price per share of Common Stock. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and if such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

(d)        (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) or 14, the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the 30 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior but not including such date; for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii), the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Days immediately following but not including such date; and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 14, the "current market price" per share of such Common Stock for any Trading Day shall be deemed to be the closing price per share of such Common Stock for such Trading Day; provided that if the current market price per share of such Common Stock is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the requisite 30 Trading Day or 10 Trading Day period, as set forth above, after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the "current market price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if such shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which such shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if such shares of Common Stock 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 National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use or, if on any such date such shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Common Stock selected by the Board. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in such Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board (or, if at the time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm) shall be used. If Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, the "current market price" per share of such Common Stock means the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, or, if at the time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm, which determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.

(ii)        For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the value of any securities or assets other than Common Stock shall be the fair value as determined in good faith by the Board, or, if at the time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm, which determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.

(e)        Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase Price; provided that any adjustments that by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock or other security, as the case may be.

(f)        If at any time, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a), the holder of any Right shall be entitled to receive upon exercise of such Right any shares of capital stock other than Common Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Common Stock contained in Section 11(a), 11(b), 11(c), 11(e), 11(g), 11(h), 11(i), 11(j), 11(k) and 11(m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Common Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.

(g)        All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the Purchase Price then in effect, the then applicable number of shares of Common Stock and other capital stock of the Company issuable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

(h)        Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) and 11(c), each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of shares of Common Stock (calculated to the nearest one-thousandth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.

(i)        The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock for which such 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 ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement and promptly notify the Rights Agent 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 10 days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

(j)        Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per share and the number of shares that 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 par value, if any, per share of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action that may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable such share of Common Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.

(l)          In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer (and shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing of any such election) until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the number of shares of Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of shares of Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due ▇▇▇▇ or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

(m)        Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such 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 consolidation or subdivision of the Common Stock, issuance wholly for cash of any Common Stock at less than the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of Common Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, stock dividends or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to the holders of its Common Stock, shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

(n)        The Company covenants and agrees that it will not at any time after the Distribution Date (i) consolidate, merge or otherwise combine with or (ii) sell or otherwise transfer (and/or permit any of its Subsidiaries to sell or otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person or Persons if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger, combination or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements in effect that 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, combination or sale, the stockholders of a Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for the purposes of Section 13 shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.

(o)        The Company covenants and agrees that after the Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 and 27, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.

(p)        Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if at any time after the date hereof and prior to the Distribution Date the Company shall (i) pay a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)  subdivide the outstanding Common Stock into a larger number of shares or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter as contemplated by Section 3(c), shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.

Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 13, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts and computations accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing affected shares of Common Stock) in the manner set forth in Section 26. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained, and shall have no duty with respect to and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such a certificate.

Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. (a) If, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, directly or indirectly,

(x)        the Company shall consolidate with, merge into, or otherwise combine with, any other Person, and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation, merger or combination,

(y)        any Person shall merge into, or otherwise combine with, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger or combination and, in connection with such merger or combination, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for other stock or securities of the Company or any other Person, cash or any other property, or

(z)        the Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person or Persons,

then, and in each such case, proper provision shall promptly be made so that

(i)        each holder of a Right shall thereafter be entitled to receive, upon exercise thereof at the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, such number of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of freely tradable Common Stock of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), not subject to any rights of call or first refusal, liens, encumbrances or other claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by dividing

(A)        the product obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such first occurrence (such product being thereafter referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by

(B)        50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, combination, sale or transfer;

provided, however, that the Purchase Price (as so adjusted pursuant to the foregoing clause (i)(A)) and the number of shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) to reflect any events occurring in respect of the Common Stock of such Principal Party after the occurrence of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer;

(ii)        the Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, combination, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;

(iii)        the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; and

(iv)        such Principal Party shall take such steps (including the authorization and reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock to permit exercise of all outstanding Rights in accordance with this Section 13(a)) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to the shares of its Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.

(b) "Principal Party" means

(i)        in the case of any transaction described in Section 13(a)(x) or (y), the Person that is the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted in such merger, consolidation or combination, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that survives or results from such merger, consolidation or combination; and

(ii)        in the case of any transaction described in Section 13(a)(z), the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;

provided that in any such case, (A) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered, Principal Party shall refer to such other Person; and (B) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so registered, Principal Party shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.

(c)        The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, combination, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which are not outstanding or otherwise 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 Section 13(a) and 13(b) and providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger, combination, sale or transfer mentioned in Section 13(a), the Principal Party will:

(i)        prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement (A) to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date; and

(ii)        deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates that comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.

Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p), or to distribute Rights Certificates that evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of any such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market price of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market price of a whole Right shall be the closing price of a Right for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would otherwise have been issuable. The closing price of a Right for any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the current market price of the Rights on such date shall be as determined in good faith by the Board, or, if at the time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm.

(b)        Following the occurrence of any Triggering Event or upon any exchange pursuant to Section 24, the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised or exchanged as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market price of a share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market price of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.

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

Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of certificates representing Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of any certificate representing Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of any certificate representing Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations of any Person subject to, this Agreement.

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

(a)        prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;

(b)        after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;

(c)        subject to Sections 6 and 7, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificate or the certificate representing shares of Common Stock made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(d), 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, judgment or ruling (whether interlocutory or final) 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 that the Company must use its best efforts to have any such order, decree, judgment 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 shares of capital stock that may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 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 the provisions hereof.

Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery, execution, administration or amendment 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, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement or the exercise or performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability. The provisions of this Section 18 and Section 20 below shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the termination and expiration of the Rights. The costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the Company.

(b)        The Rights Agent shall be authorized to rely on, shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement or the exercise or performance of its duties hereunder in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, instruction, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.

Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agents. (a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the stockholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such Person would 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 a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor 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, and only the duties and obligations, expressly imposed by this Agreement (and no implied duties or obligations) upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

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

(b)        Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of "current market price") be proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) shall be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the President and by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

(c)        The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction). Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damage.

(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 have any liability for, nor be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 7(d)) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will, when issued, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

(g)        The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the Chief Executive Officer and President, any Vice President or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and such advice or instructions shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the advice or instructions of any such officer.

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

(i)        The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company or to any holders of Rights or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct 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 it believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

(k)        If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.

Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 30 days’ notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and, subsequent to the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and, subsequent to the Distribution Date, 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 30 days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer or corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate of a Person described in Section 21(a). After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and, subsequent to the Distribution Date, 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, 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 the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares of stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 23. Redemption. (a) The Board may, at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (ii) the close of business on the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. The Redemption Price shall be payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock or such other form of consideration as the Board shall determine.

(b)        Immediately upon the action of the Board electing to redeem the Rights (or at such later time as the Board may establish for the effectiveness of such redemption), and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and thereafter the only right of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held. The Company shall promptly thereafter give written notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights in the manner set forth in Section 26; provided that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.

Section 24. Exchange. (a) At any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Board may, at its option, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(d)) for shares of Common Stock, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after an Acquiring Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Acquiring Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. From and after the occurrence of a Section 13 Event, any Rights that theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a) shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and may not be exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a). The exchange of the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish.

(b)        Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board electing to exchange any Rights pursuant to Section 24(a) and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights will terminate and thereafter the only right of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly thereafter give written notice of such exchange to the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights to be exchanged in the manner set forth in Section 26; provided that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the shares of Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights that will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 7(d)) held by each holder of Rights.

Section 25. Notice of Proposed Actions. (a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Common Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of Common Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of its Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Common Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Common Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision or combination of outstanding shares of Common Stock) or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger with any other Person, or to effect and/or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of 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, or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right, to the extent feasible, and to the Rights Agent, in accordance with Section 26, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of any such dividend, distribution or offering of rights or warrants, or the date on which any 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 Common Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by Section 25(a)(i) or 25(a)(ii) above at least 20 days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Common Stock entitled to participate in such dividend, distribution or offering, and in the case of any such other action, at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of Common Stock, whichever shall be the earlier. The failure to give notice required by this Section or any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of the action taken by the Company or the vote upon any such action.

(b)        Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, prior to the Distribution Date a public filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall constitute sufficient notice to the holders of securities of the Company, including the Rights, for purposes of this Agreement and no other notice need be given to such holders.

(c)        If a Triggering Event shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section 26, and to the Rights Agent, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) or 13, as the case may be.

Section 26. Notices. Notices to or demands on the Company authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the address of the Company indicated on the signature page hereof or such other address as the Company shall specify in writing to the Rights Agent, or by facsimile transmission. Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice to or demand on the Rights Agent authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the address of the Rights Agent indicated on the signature page hereof or such other address as the Rights Agent shall specify in writing to the Company, or by facsimile transmission. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of any certificate representing shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the address of such holder shown on the registry books of the Company.

Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, but subject to the other provisions of this Section, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock. At any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, but subject to the other provisions of this Section, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights; provided, however, that no such supplement or amendment may (a) adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person), (b) cause this Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence, or (c) cause the Rights again to become redeemable. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section, and provided such supplement or amendment does not change or increase the Rights Agent’s duties, liabilities or obligations hereunder, 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, etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement. The Board shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including 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 exchange or not to redeem or exchange the Rights or to amend the Agreement).

Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock).

Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts 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 one and the same instrument.

Section 34. Descriptive Headings. The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall be ignored in the construction and interpretation hereof.

[signatures appear on the following page]

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

	BAYOU STEEL CORPORATION
	By:
		▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
		President and Chief Executive Officer
		Address: 138 Highway 3217, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Attention: Secretary Facsimile: (985) 652- 0498

 

	CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
	By:
		▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Vice President
		Address: ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

 

 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE

No. R-

_______________ Rights

 

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF May [__], 2014 AND THE DATE ON WHICH THE RIGHTS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY THE COMPANY AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED OR TRANSFERRED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER, MAY BE NULL AND VOID.

 

 

RIGHTS CERTIFICATE

 

BAYOU STEEL CORPORATION

 

This Rights Certificate certifies that ______________________, or registered assigns, is the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the holder (upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Rights Agreement dated May 27, 2004 and as amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement") between Bayou Steel Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the "Rights Agent")) to purchase from the Company, at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, one fully paid, nonassessable share of Common Stock (the "Common Stock") of the Company at a purchase price of $100 per share (the "Purchase Price"), payable in lawful money of the United States of America, upon surrender of this Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and related certificate duly executed, and payment of the Purchase Price at an office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose.

 

Terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Rights Agreement.

 

The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number and kind of shares issuable upon exercise of each Right) and the Purchase Price set forth above are as of May 28, 2004, and may have been or in the future be adjusted as a result of the occurrence of certain events, as more fully provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially owned by (a) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (b) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (c) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such, then the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall become null and void, and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.

 

This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.

 

Upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Rights Agreement, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates evidencing a like number of Rights as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,

 

(a)        at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per Right; or

 

(b)        at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (but before such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding) exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights (other than Rights held by the Acquiring Person and certain related Persons) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right. If the Rights shall be exchanged in part, the holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exchanged.

No fractional shares of Common Stock are required to be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

 

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

 

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

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal by its authorized officers.

 

Dated: _________________________, 20__

 

	BAYOU STEEL CORPORATION
	By:
		▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
		President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Countersigned:
Continental stock transfer & trust company, as Rights Agent
By:
	Authorized Officer

 

 

 

 

Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed if the registered 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: _____________________, 20___

	Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

 

CERTIFICATE

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

(1)        the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate ___are ___are not being assigned by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement);

(2)        after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it ___did ___did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.

 

Dated: __________, 20___
	Signature

________________________

The signatures to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

________________________

 

FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

 

 

(To be executed if the registered holder desires to exercise Rights

represented by the Rights Certificate.)

To:      Bayou Steel Corporation

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ____________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such securities be issued in the name of and delivered to:

Please insert social security

or other identifying number

 

(Please print name and address)

If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:

Please insert social security

or other identifying number

 

(Please print name and address)
Dated: ________________, 20___
	Signature
Signature Guaranteed:

 

CERTIFICATE

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

(1)        the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate ___are ___are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement);

(2)        after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it ___did ___did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.

 

Dated: __________, 20___
	Signature

 

_____________________

 

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

EXHIBIT B

AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED OR TRANSFERRED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER, MAY BE NULL AND VOID.

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS

BAYOU STEEL CORPORATION

STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

dated May 27, 2004

Summary of Terms

 

Form of Security	The Board has declared a dividend of one common stock purchase right for each outstanding share of the Company’s Common Stock, payable to holders of record as of the close of business on May 28, 2004 (each a "Right" and collectively, the "Rights")
Exercise	Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will not be exercisable.
	After the Distribution Date, prior to the occurrence of an event described below under "Flip-In" and "Flip-Over," each Right will be exercisable to purchase, for $100 (the "Purchase Price"), one share of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company.
Distribution Date	Distribution Date generally means the earlier of: (1) the 10th day after public announcement that any person or group has become the beneficial owner of the Threshold Percentage or more of the Company’s Common Stock; and (2) the 10th business day after the date of the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by any person which would, if consummated, result in such person becoming the beneficial owner of the Threshold Percentage or more of the Company’s Common Stock.
Threshold Percentage	The beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Company’s Common Stock by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) and its Affiliates and Associates.
Exempt Person	The Company, its Subsidiaries, and any employee benefit plan of the Company. Any stockholder (but not any transferee or successor to such Person) who on the date of the adoption of the Rights Agreement beneficially owns 15% or more of the Common Stock of the Company is also an Exempt Person, provided that if such stockholder acquires any additional shares of Common Stock of the Company following the adoption of the Rights Agreement, such stockholder will no longer be an Exempt Person.
Flip-In	If any person or group (an "Acquiring Person") becomes the beneficial owner of the Threshold Percentage or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, then each Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person and certain affiliated persons) will entitle the holder to purchase, for the Purchase Price, a number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock, having a market value of twice the Purchase Price.
Flip-Over	If, after any person has become an Acquiring Person, (1) the Company is involved in a merger or other business combination in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or its Common Stock is exchanged for other securities or assets or (2) the Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries sell or otherwise transfer assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, then each Right will entitle the holder to purchase, for the Purchase Price, a number of shares of common stock of the other party to such business combination or sale (or in certain circumstances, an affiliate) having a market value of twice the Purchase Price.
Exchange	At any time after any person has become an Acquiring Person (but before any person becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the Company’s Common Stock), the Board may exchange all or part of the Rights (other than the Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person and certain affiliated persons) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right.
Redemption	The Board may redeem all of the Rights at a price of $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the time that any person becomes an Acquiring Person.
Expiration	The Rights will expire on May 27, 2014, unless earlier exchanged or redeemed.
Amendments	For so long as the Rights are redeemable, the Rights Agreement may be amended in any respect.
	At any time after the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Rights Agreement may not be amended in any respect that would adversely affect the Rights holders (other than any Acquiring Person and certain affiliated persons) or cause the Rights again to become redeemable.
Voting Rights	A Rights holder, as such, has no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote and to receive dividends.
Antidilution Provisions	The Rights Agreement includes standard antidilution provisions designed to protect the efficacy of the Rights.
Taxes	The dividend of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company. Stockholders or the Company may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income if the Rights become exercisable.
Legend	Common stock certificates issued on or after May 28, 2004 will contain a new legend referring to the Rights discussed herein. With respect to currently outstanding common stock certificates, the Rights discussed herein will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the holders thereof, together with a copy of this Summary of Rights.
Transfer	Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights generally will be evidenced by the certificates for and will be transferred with the Common Stock, and the registered holders of the Common Stock will be deemed to be the registered holders of the Rights.
	After the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will mail separate certificates evidencing the Rights to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the Rights will be transferable separately from the Common Stock.

 

A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, as amended from time to time, the complete terms of which are hereby incorporated by reference.