Exhibit 4.1
3COM CORPORATION
AND
FLEET NATIONAL BANK
RIGHTS AGENT
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS
AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MARCH 8, 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions.................................................................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent.........................................................................7
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates.....................................................................7
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.........................................................................9
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration...................................................................9
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates...........................................10
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights......................................11
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates................................................13
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares...................................................13
Section 10. Record Date........................................................................................14
Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights.................................14
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares.........................................21
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power...............................21
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares............................................................25
Section 15. Rights of Action...................................................................................26
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders........................................................................26
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.................................................26
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent........................................................................27
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent..........................................27
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.............................................................................28
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.............................................................................30
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates................................................................30
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
Page
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Section 23. Redemption.........................................................................................31
Section 24. Exchange...........................................................................................32
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events...........................................................................34
Section 26. Notices............................................................................................34
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments.........................................................................34
Section 28. Successors.........................................................................................35
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc..........................................35
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement.........................................................................35
Section 31. Severability.......................................................................................35
Section 32. Governing Law......................................................................................36
Section 33. Counterparts.......................................................................................36
Section 34. Descriptive Headings...............................................................................36
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Certificate of Incorporation
Exhibit B Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C Summary of Rights
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SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Second Amended and Restated Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, is
dated as of March 8, 2001, between 3Com Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
and Fleet National Bank, a national banking association, as rights agent (the
"Rights Agent").
WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent are parties to that certain
Rights Agreement entered into as of September 8, 1989 and amended and
restated in full as of December 21, 1994 (the "PRIOR AGREEMENT");
WHEREAS, on September 8, 1989 (the "RIGHTS DIVIDEND DECLARATION DATE"),
the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend of
one right (a "RIGHT") for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the
Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on
September 20, 1989 (the "RECORD DATE"), each Right representing the right to
purchase one-half share of Common Stock of the Company upon the terms and
subject to the conditions herein set forth, and further authorized and
directed the issuance of one Right (as such number may be adjusted pursuant
to the provisions of this Agreement) with respect to each Common Share that
shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the
Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter
defined), and in certain circumstances after the Distribution Date.
WHEREAS, the Company has determined that, pursuant to Section 27 of the
Prior Agreement, the Prior Agreement may be amended and restated as set forth
herein without the approval of the holders of the Rights (as hereinafter
defined) and the Company wishes to amend and restate that Prior Agreement to
provide as follows.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
"ACQUIRING PERSON" shall mean (i) any Person, who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but shall not
include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity
holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring
Person as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which,
by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate
number of shares beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the
Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if a
Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company
and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the
Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company (other than
pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the
outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a split or
subdivision of the outstanding, Common Shares), then such Person shall be
deemed to be an Acquiring Person unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of
such additional Common Shares of the Company such Person does not
beneficially own 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Company's Board of
Directors determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an
"Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph (a), has become such inadvertently (including, without limitation,
because (A) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage
of the Common Shares that would otherwise cause such Person to be an
"Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph (a), or (B) such Person was aware of the extent of the Common
Shares it beneficially owned but had no actual knowledge of the consequences
of such beneficial ownership under this Agreement) and without any intention
of changing or influencing control of the Company, and if such Person
divested or divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of Common
Shares so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person," as
defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), then such
Person shall not be deemed to be or to have become an "Acquiring Person" for
any purposes of this Agreement; and (ii) if, as of the date hereof, any
Person is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares
outstanding, such Person shall not be or become an "Acquiring Person," as
defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), unless
and until such time as such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of
additional Common Shares (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution
paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares
or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares),
unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional Common Shares,
such Person is not then the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common
Shares then outstanding.
(a) "ADJUSTMENT FRACTION" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(i) hereof.
(b) "AFFILIATE" and "ASSOCIATE" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "BENEFICIAL OWNER" of and shall be
deemed to "BENEFICIALLY OWN" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder (or any comparable or
successor law or regulation);
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and
between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public
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offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall not be deemed pursuant to this Section
1(d)(ii)(A) to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (1)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on
behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until
such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, or (2)
securities which a Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
may be deemed to have the right to acquire pursuant to any merger or other
acquisition agreement between the Company and such Person (or one or more of
its Affiliates or Associates) if such agreement has been approved by the
Board of Directors of the Company prior to there being an Acquiring Person;
or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall not be deemed the
Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security under this Section
1(d)(ii)(B) if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such
Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant
to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations of the
Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the
Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with
respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso
to Section 1(d)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no case shall an officer or director of the
Company be deemed (x) the Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially
owned by another officer or director of the Company solely by reason of
actions undertaken by such persons in their capacity as officers or directors
of the Company or (y) the Beneficial Owner of securities held of record by
the trustee of any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company for the benefit of any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company, other than the officer or director, by reason of any
influence that such officer or director may have over the voting of the
securities held in the plan.
(d) "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in New York are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "CLOSE OF BUSINESS" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P. M.,
New York time, on such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(f) "COMMON SHARES" when used with reference to the Company shall
mean the shares of Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.
Common Shares when used with reference to any Person other than the Company
shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting
power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of
another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such
first-mentioned Person.
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(g) "COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(h) "COMPANY" shall mean 3Com Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
subject to the terms of Section 13(a)(iii)(C) hereof.
(i) "CURRENT PER SHARE MARKET PRICE" of any security (a "Security"
for purposes of this definition), for all computations other than those made
pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall mean the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations
made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Per Share Market
Price of any Security on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such Security for the ten (10) consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the
event that the Current Per Share Market Price of the Security is determined
during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of
(i) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such
Security or securities convertible into such shares or (ii) any subdivision,
combination or reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration
of the applicable thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period,
after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record
date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each
such case, the Current Per Share Market Price shall be appropriately adjusted
to reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such Security.
The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or,
in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid
and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported 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 Security is
not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported
in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the
Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed
or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last sale
price or, if such last sale price is not reported, 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 Security
is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in
the Security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any
such date no market maker is making a market in the Security, the fair value
of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company shall be used. If the Preferred Shares are not
publicly traded, the Current Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Shares
shall be conclusively deemed to be the product of (x) the Current Per Share
Market Price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to this Section
1(j), as appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof, multiplied by (y) 1000.
If the Security is not publicly held or so listed or traded, Current Per
Share Market Price shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive
for all purposes.
(j) "CURRENT VALUE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(k) "DISTRIBUTION DATE" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action
of the Company's Board of Directors) after the Shares Acquisition Date (or,
if the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date occurs before the Record
Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date) or (ii) the Close of Business
on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action
of the Company's Board of Directors) after the date that a tender or exchange
offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company,
or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or
given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, if, assuming the successful consummation
thereof, such Person would be an Acquiring Person.
(l) "EQUIVALENT SHARES" shall mean Preferred Shares and any other
class or series of capital stock of the Company which is entitled to the same
rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares.
(m) "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
(n) "EXCHANGE RATIO" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
24(a) hereof.
(o) "EXERCISE PRICE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4(a) hereof.
(p) "EXPIRATION DATE" shall mean the earliest to occur of: (i) the
Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the Redemption Date, or
(iii) the time at which the Board of Directors orders the exchange of the
Rights as provided in Section 24 hereof.
(q) "FINAL EXPIRATION DATE" shall mean March 8, 2011.
(r) "NASDAQ" shall mean the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System.
(s) "PERSON" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other
entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.
(t) "POST-EVENT TRANSFEREE" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(e) hereof.
(u) "PREFERRED SHARES" shall mean shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
(v) "PRE-EVENT TRANSFEREE" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(e) hereof.
(w) "PRINCIPAL PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(b) hereof.
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(x) "RECORD DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals
at the beginning of this Agreement.
(y) "REDEMPTION DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
(z) "REDEMPTION PRICE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
(aa) "RIGHTS AGENT" shall mean (i) Fleet National Bank, (ii) its
successor or replacement as provided in Sections 19 and 21 hereof or (iii)
any additional Person appointed pursuant to Section 2 hereof.
(bb) "RIGHTS CERTIFICATE" shall mean a certificate substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(cc) "RIGHTS AMENDMENT DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.
(dd) "SECTION 11(a)(ii) TRIGGER DATE" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ee) "SECTION 13 EVENT" shall mean any event described in clause
(i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(ff) "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(gg) "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act)
by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become
such; PROVIDED THAT, if such Person is determined not to have become an
Acquiring Person pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition
Date shall be deemed to have occurred.
(hh) "SPREAD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ii) "SUBSIDIARY" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect a majority
of the directors or Persons having similar authority of such corporation or
other entity is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person,
or any corporation or other entity otherwise controlled by such Person.
(jj) "SUBSTITUTION PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(kk) "SUMMARY OF RIGHTS" shall mean a summary of this Agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
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(ll) "TOTAL EXERCISE PRICE" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof.
(mm) "TRADING DAY" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which a referenced security is listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if a referenced security
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a
Business Day.
(nn) A "TRIGGERING EVENT" shall be deemed to have occurred upon any
Person becoming an Acquiring Person.
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 as it may deem
necessary or desirable, upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the
Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in
no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. ISSUANCE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof) by the
certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof
(which certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not
by separate Rights Certificates and (ii) the right to receive Rights
Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of
Common Shares. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration
Date, the surrender for transfer of certificates for Common Shares shall also
constitute the surrender for transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Shares represented thereby. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent
will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the
Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by first-class, postage-prepaid mail,
to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company, a Rights Certificate evidencing one Right for each Common Share so
held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an
adjustment in the number of Rights per Common Share has been made pursuant to
Section 11 hereof, then at the time of distribution of the Rights
Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding
adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights
Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and
cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of the Distribution Date,
the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates and may be
transferred by the transfer of the Rights Certificates as permitted hereby,
separately and apart from any transfer of Common Shares, and the holders of
such Rights Certificates as listed in the records of the Company or any
transfer agent or registrar for the Rights shall be the record holders
thereof.
(b) On the Record Date or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of the Summary of Rights by first-class,
postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close
of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown
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on the records of the Company's transfer agent and registrar. With respect to
certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates
registered in the names of the holders thereof together with the Summary of
Rights.
(c) Unless the Board of Directors by resolution adopted at or
before the time of the issuance of any Common Shares after the Record Date
but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (or,
in certain circumstances provided in Section 22 hereof, after the
Distribution Date) specifies to the contrary, Rights shall be issued in
respect of all Common Shares that are so issued, and Certificates
representing such Common Shares shall also be deemed to be certificates for
Rights, and shall bear the following legend:
THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES THE HOLDER HEREOF TO
CERTAIN RIGHTS AS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
PREFERRED RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN 3COM CORPORATION AND FLEET NATIONAL
BANK, N.A., AS THE RIGHTS AGENT, DATED AS OF MARCH 8, 2001, (THE
"PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF 3COM CORPORATION. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT,
SUCH RIGHTS WILL BE EVIDENCED BY SEPARATE CERTIFICATES AND WILL NO
LONGER BE EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE. 3COM CORPORATION WILL MAIL TO
THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS
AGREEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS AFTER RECEIPT BY IT OF A
WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS PROVIDED IN
THE PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO OR BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS OR THEIR ASSOCIATES OR AFFILIATES (AS
DEFINED IN THE PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY SUBSEQUENT
HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BE LIMITED AS PROVIDED IN THE PREFERRED
SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any
such certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Shares represented thereby.
(d) In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common
Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights
associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so
that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with
the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.
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Section 4. FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
Common Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall
be substantially in the form of EXHIBIT B hereto and may have such marks of
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or a national
market system, on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or
included, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and
Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be
dated as of the Record Date (or in the case of Rights issued with respect to
Common Shares issued by the Company after the Record Date, as of the date of
issuance of such Common Shares) and on their face shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as
shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise
price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share being hereinafter referred
to as the "EXERCISE PRICE" and the aggregate Exercise Price of all Preferred
Shares issuable upon exercise of one Right being hereinafter referred to as
the "TOTAL EXERCISE PRICE"), but the number and type of securities
purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Exercise Price shall be
subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a
Post-Event Transferee, (iii) a Pre-Event Transferee or (iv) any subsequent
transferee receiving transferred Rights from a Post-Event Transferee or a
Pre-Event Transferee, either directly or through one or more intermediate
transferees, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or
Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the
extent feasible) the following legend:
THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR
AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE
DEFINED IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT).
ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY
MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e)
OF THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
Section 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief
Financial Officer, its President or any Vice President, either manually or by
facsimile signature, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed
thereto
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the Company's seal (if any) or a facsimile thereof. The Rights Certificates
shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid
for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such
officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and
issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless,
may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the
Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such
Rights Certificates on behalf of the Company had not ceased to be such
officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificate may be signed on behalf of
the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such
Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its office designated for such purposes, books for
registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the
Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of
the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHTS
CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof,
at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or
prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged
for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the
registered holder to purchase a like number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the
Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office
of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor
the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to
the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered
holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form
of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the person
entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may
be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with
any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation
of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of
indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the
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Company's request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all
reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights
Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company
will make and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights
Agent for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Rights Certificate
so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; EXERCISE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF
RIGHTS.
(a) Subject to Sections 7(e), 23(b) and 24(b) hereof, the
registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced
thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time
after the Distribution Date and prior to the Close of Business on the
Expiration Date by surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together
with payment of the Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other
assets as the case may be) as to which the Rights are exercised.
(b) The Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Preferred Share
issuable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $55.00, shall
be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13
hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America
in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Exercise Price for the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or
other assets as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Rights
Certificate in accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, the Rights Agent shall,
subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from
any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make available, if the Rights
Agent is the transfer agent for the Preferred Shares) a certificate or
certificates for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or,
following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the
case may be) to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes
its transfer agent to comply with all such requests or (B) if the Company
shall have elected to deposit the total number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or
other assets as the case may be) issuable upon exercise of the Rights
hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or
other assets as the case may be) as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the Preferred Shares (or, following a Triggering Event,
other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be) represented by
such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary
agent) and the Company hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with
such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount
of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance
with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or
depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of
the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or
names as may be designated by such holder and
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(iv) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of
the Exercise Price (as such amount may be reduced (including to zero)
pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) and an amount equal to any applicable
transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in
accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, may be made in cash or by certified bank
check, cashier's check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company. In
the event that the Company is obligated to issue securities of the Company
other than Preferred Shares, pay cash and/or distribute other property
pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements
necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are
available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be
issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate or to his or her duly authorized assigns, subject to the
provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of
an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such (a "POST-EVENT TRANSFEREE"), (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring
Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior
to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such
Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration)
from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring
Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing
agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or
(B) a transfer which the Company's Board of Directors has determined is part
of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or
effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e) (a "PRE-EVENT TRANSFEREE") or (iv)
any subsequent transferee receiving transferred Rights from a Post-Event
Transferee or a Pre-Event Transferee, either directly or through one or more
intermediate transferees, shall become null and void without any further
action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with
respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with,
but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or to any
other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with
respect to an Acquiring Person or any of such Acquiring Person's Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any
purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall, in addition to having complied with the requirements of Section
7(a), have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of
the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or
Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
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Section 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split
up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of
its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in 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 any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall
deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights
Agent shall so cancel and retire, any 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 evidencing the
destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF PREFERRED SHARES.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will use its best
efforts to cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and
unissued Preferred Shares not reserved for another purpose (and, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued
Common Shares and/or other securities), the number of Preferred Shares (and,
following the occurrence of the Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other
securities) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights.
(b) If the Company shall hereafter list any of its Preferred Shares
on a national securities exchange, then so long as the Preferred Shares (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other
securities) issuable and deliverable upon exercise of the Rights may be
listed on such exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the
extent that it is reasonably likely that the Rights will be exercised), all
shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official
notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a
Triggering Event in which the consideration to be delivered by the Company
upon exercise of the Rights is described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the
Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii) cause
such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all
times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of
(A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such
securities and (B) the date of expiration of the Rights. The Company may
temporarily suspend, for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days after the
date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the
exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration
statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the
Company shall issue a public announcement stating, and notify the Rights
Agent, that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended,
as well as a public announcement and notification to the Rights Agent at such
time as the suspension is no longer in effect. The Company will also take
such action as may be appropriate
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under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the
various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction, unless the requisite
qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained, or an exemption
therefrom shall be available, and until a registration statement has been
declared and remains effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (or other
securities of the Company) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the
time of delivery of the certificates for such securities (subject to payment
of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully
paid and nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when
due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges
which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the
Rights Certificates or of any Preferred Shares (or other securities of the
Company) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any
transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred
Shares (or other securities of the Company) in a name other than that of, the
registered holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for
exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts
for Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) upon the exercise
of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being
payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or
until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax
is due.
Section 10. RECORD DATE. Each Person in whose name any certificate for
a number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or other securities of the
Company) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be
deemed to have become the holder of record of Preferred Shares (or other
securities of the Company) 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 Total Exercise Price with respect to
which the Rights have been exercised (and any applicable transfer taxes) was
made; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a
date upon which the transfer books of the Company 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
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 holder of Preferred Shares (or other securities of the
Company) for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without
limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or
to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any
notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE, NUMBER OF SHARES OR NUMBER OF
RIGHTS. The Exercise Price, the number and kind of shares or other property
covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
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(a) (i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the
date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable
in Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C)
combine the outstanding Preferred Shares (by reverse stock split or
otherwise) into a smaller number of Preferred Shares, or (D) issue any shares
of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including
any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in
which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each
such event, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11 and Section 7(e)
hereof: (1) the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for
such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification shall be adjusted so that the Exercise Price thereafter
shall equal the result obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such time by a fraction (the "ADJUSTMENT FRACTION"), the
numerator of which shall be the total number of Preferred Shares (or shares
of capital stock issued in such reclassification of the Preferred Shares)
outstanding immediately following such time and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of Preferred Shares outstanding immediately prior
to such time; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall the consideration to
be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate pare value
of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of such
Right; and (2) the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or share
of such other capital stock) issuable upon the exercise of each Right shall
equal the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or share of such
other capital stock) as was issuable upon exercise of a Right immediately
prior to the occurrence of the event described in clauses (A)-(D) of this
Section 11(a)(i), multiplied by the Adjustment Fraction; provided, however,
that, no such adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i) to
the extent that there shall have simultaneously occurred an event described
in clause (A), (B), (C) or (D) of Section 11(n) with a proportionate
adjustment being made thereunder. Each Common Share that shall become
outstanding after an adjustment has been made pursuant to this Section
11(a)(i) shall have associated with it the number of Rights, exercisable at
the Exercise Price and for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
(or shares of such other capital stock) as one Common Share has associated
with it immediately following the adjustment made pursuant to this Section
11(a)(i).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event
that a Triggering Event shall have occurred, then promptly following such
Triggering Event each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e)
hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive for each Right, upon
exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment
of the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the
Triggering Event, in lieu of a number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share, such number of Common Shares of the Company as shall equal the
quotient obtained by dividing (A) the product obtained by multiplying (1) the
Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the
Triggering Event by (2) the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
for which a Right was exercisable (or would have been exercisable if the
Distribution Date had occurred) immediately prior to the first occurrence of
a Triggering Event, by (B) 50% of the Current Per Share Market Price for
Common Shares on the date of occurrence of the Triggering Event; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Exercise Price and the number of Common Shares of the
Company so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to further
adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(e) hereof to reflect
any events occurring in respect of the Common Shares of the Company after the
occurrence of the Triggering Event.
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(iii) In lieu of issuing Common Shares in accordance with
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if the Company's Board of
Directors determines that such action is necessary or appropriate and not
contrary to the interest of holders of Rights and, in the event that the
number of Common Shares which are authorized by the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other
than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the exercise in
full of the Rights, or if any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance
has not been obtained by the Company, the Company shall: (A) determine the
excess of (1) the value of the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
Right (the "CURRENT VALUE") over (2) the Exercise Price (such excess, the
"SPREAD") and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to
substitute for such Common Shares, upon exercise of the Rights, (1) cash, (2)
a reduction in the Exercise Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, shares or units of shares of any series of
preferred stock which the Company's Board of Directors has deemed to have the
same value as Common Shares (such shares or units of shares of preferred
stock are herein called "COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS")), except to the extent
that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory
approval for such issuance, (4) debt securities of the Company, except to the
extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or
regulatory approval for such issuance, (5) other assets or (6) any
combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current
Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Company's Board
of Directors based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by the Company's Board of Directors; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value
pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of
(x) the first occurrence of a Triggering Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of
(x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "SECTION 11(a)(ii) TRIGGER
DATE"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender
for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Exercise Price,
Common Shares (to the extent available), except to the extent that the
Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for
such issuance, and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an
aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Company's Board of Directors
shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional
Common Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the
Rights or that any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance will be
obtained, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the
extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder
approval for the authorization of such additional shares or take action to
obtain such regulatory approval (such period, as it may be extended, the
"SUBSTITUTION PERIOD"). To the extent that the Company determines that some
action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e)
hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and
(y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the
Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares,
to take any action to obtain any required regulatory approval and/or to
decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first
sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a
public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For
purposes of
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this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Shares shall be the Current
Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger
Date and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the
same value as the Common Shares on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this
Agreement, fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants
to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling such holders (for a period
expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares or securities
convertible into Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares at a price per share
(or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into
Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares) less than the then Current Per Share
Market Price of the Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares on such record
date, then, in each such case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such
record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the number of Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any)
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of Preferred Shares or
Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, which the aggregate offering price of
the total number of Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may
be, to be offered or issued (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of
the convertible securities to be offered or issued) would purchase at such
current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of
Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record
date, plus the number of additional Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares, as
the case may be, to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which
the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible);
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall the consideration be paid upon the
exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of
capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of on Right. In case such
subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall
be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as
determined in good faith by the Company's Board of Directors, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent
and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares owned by or held for the account of
the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such
computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants
are not so issued, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise
Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this
Agreement, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders
of the Preferred Shares or of any class or series of Equivalent Shares
(including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or
merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of
evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash
dividend, if any, or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription
rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)),
then, in each such case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the Current Per Share Market Price of a Preferred Share or an
Equivalent Share on such record date, less the fair market value per
Preferred Share or Equivalent Share (as determined in good faith by the Board
of Directors of the Company, whose determination
-17-
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion
of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of
such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a Preferred Share or
Equivalent Share, as the case may be, and the denominator of which shall be
such Current Per Share Market Price of a Preferred Share or Equivalent Share
on such record date; provided, however, that in no event shall the
consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable
upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution
is not so made, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price
which would have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment
in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require
an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1.0%) of the Exercise Price;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(d)
are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account
in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be
made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a Common Share
or other share or one hundred-thousandth of a Preferred Share, as the case
may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(d), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the
earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which
requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(e) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall
become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred
Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon
exercise of any Right and, if required, the Exercise Price thereof, shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly
equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred
Shares contained in Sections 11(a), 11(b), 11(c), 11(d), 11(g), 11(h), 11(i),
11(j), 11(k) and 11(l), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14
with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such
other shares.
(f) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(g) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(h), upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a
result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall
thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price,
that number of Preferred Shares (calculated to the nearest one
hundred-thousandth of a share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of
Preferred Shares covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by
(y) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the
Exercise Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Exercise
Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Exercise Price.
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(h) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) or
(c) to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the
number of Preferred Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of
the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which
a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held
of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that
number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one hundred-thousandth) obtained
by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of
the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after
adjustment of the Exercise Price. The Company shall make a public
announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the
record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Exercise
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if any Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the
public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each
adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(h), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders
of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option
of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by
the Company, new 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
Exercise Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record
of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public
announcement.
(i) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price
or the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights,
the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to
express the Exercise Price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share and
the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which were expressed in
the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(j) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Exercise Price below the par or stated value, if any, of the
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of the
Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion
of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue as fully paid and nonassessable shares such number of
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share at such adjusted Exercise Price.
(k) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
of the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock
or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and
above the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any,
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issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise Price in effect
prior to such adjustment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall deliver
to such holder a due ββββ or other appropriate instrument evidencing such
holder's right to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise)
upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(l) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding,
prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall be entitled to make such
reductions in the Exercise Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly
required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole
discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i)
consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred or Common Shares, (ii) issuance
wholly for cash of any Preferred or Common Shares at less than the current
market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred or Common Shares or
securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for
Preferred or Common Shares, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the
Company to holders of its Preferred or Common Shares shall not be taxable to
such stockholders.
(m) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take
(or permit to be taken) any action if at the time such action is taken it is
reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(n) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the date
of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Shares payable in
Common Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, (C) combine the
outstanding Common Shares (by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a
smaller number of Common Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock
in a reclassification of the Common Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such
event, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e)
hereof: (1) each Common Share (or shares of capital stock issued in such
reclassification of the Common Shares) outstanding immediately following such
time shall have associated with it the number of Rights as were associated
with one Common Share immediately prior to the occurrence of the event
described in clauses (A)-(D) above; (2) the Exercise Price in effect at the
time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be adjusted so that the
Exercise Price thereafter shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the
Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such time by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately prior to the event described in clauses (A)-(D) above, and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately after such event; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall the
consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable
upon exercise of such Right; and (3) the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share (or shares of such other capital stock) issuable upon the
exercise of each Right outstanding after such event shall equal the number of
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or shares of such other capital stock)
as were issuable with respect to one Right immediately prior to such event.
Each Common Share that shall become outstanding after an adjustment has been
made pursuant to this Section 11(n) shall have
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associated with it the number of Rights, exercisable at the Exercise Price
and for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or shares of such
other capital stock) as one Common Share has associated with it immediately
following the adjustment made pursuant to this Section 11(n). If an event
occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(n) and
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(n)
shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
Section 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED EXERCISE PRICE OR NUMBER OF SHARES.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Preferred
Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to
each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 26 hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make
such certification or give such notice shall not affect the validity of such
adjustment or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and
on any adjustment contained therein and shall not be deemed to have knowledge
of such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR
EARNING POWER.
(a) In the event that, following a Triggering Event, directly
or indirectly:
(i) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and
into, any other Person (other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company
in a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state of
incorporation of the Company and which complies with Section 11(m) hereof);
(ii) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge
with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with
such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person (or the Company);
or
(iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or
more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets
or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to
any other Person or Persons (other than the Company or one or more of its
wholly owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which
individually (and together) complies with Section 11(m) hereof),
then, concurrent with and in each such case,
(A) each holder of a Right (except as provided in Section
7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at a price equal to the Total Exercise Price applicable immediately
prior to the occurrence of the Section 13 Event in
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accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly
authorized and issued, fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradeable Common
Shares of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), free of any liens,
encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be
equal to the result obtained by dividing such Total Exercise Price by an
amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the Current Per Share Market Price of
the Common Shares of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such
Section 13 Event, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Exercise Price and the number
of Common Shares of such Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a
Right shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance
with Section 11(e) hereof;
(B) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for,
and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;
(C) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to
refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the
provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party
following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event;
(D) such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its
Common Shares) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as
may be necessary to ensure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and
(E) upon the subsequent occurrence of any consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer of assets or other extraordinary transaction in
respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall thereupon be
entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Total
Exercise Price as provided in this Section 13(a), such cash, shares, rights,
warrants and other property which such holder would have been entitled to
receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the Common
Shares of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of such Right
pursuant to this Section 13(a), and such Principal Party shall take such
steps (including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may
be necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance
with the terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other
property.
(F) For purposes hereof, the "earning power" of the
Company and its Subsidiaries shall be determined in good faith by the
Company's Board of Directors on the basis of the operating income of each
business operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries during the three fiscal
years preceding the date of such determination (or, in the case of any
business not operated by the Company or any Subsidiary during three full
fiscal years preceding such date, during the period such business was
operated by the Company or any Subsidiary).
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "PRINCIPAL PARTY"
shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (i) or
(ii) of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the issuer of the
securities into which the Common
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Shares are converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more
than one such issuer, the issuer the Common Shares of which have the greatest
aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so
issued, (x) the Person that is the other party to the merger, if such Person
survives said merger, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person
the Common Shares of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding or (y) if the Person that is the other party to the merger does
not survive the merger, the Person that does survive the merger (including
the Company if it survives) or (z) the Person resulting from the
consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (iii)
of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions, or, if more than one Person that is a party to
such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or
earning power so transferred and each such portion would, were it not for the
other equal portions, constitute the greatest portion of the assets or
earning power so transferred, or if the Person receiving the greatest portion
of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such
Persons is the issuer of Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market
value of shares outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in any such case
described in the foregoing clause (b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common Shares of
such Person are not at such time or have not been continuously over the
preceding 12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act,
then (1) if such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person
the Common Shares of which are and have been so registered, the term
"Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person, or (2) if such Person is
a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common
Shares of which are and have been so registered, the term "Principal Party"
shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of Common Shares
having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (3) if
such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by
two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly by the same
Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above shall apply to each
of the owners having an interest in the venture as if the Person owned by the
joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint venturers, and
the Principal Party in each such case shall bear the obligations set forth in
this Section 13 in the same ration as its interest in such Person bears to
the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any Section 13 Event unless
the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized Common
Shares that have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless
prior thereto the Company and such issuer shall have executed and delivered
to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that such Principal
Party shall, upon consummation of such Section 13 Event, assume this
Agreement in accordance with Sections 13(a) and 13(b) hereof, that all rights
of first refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of Common
Shares of such Principal Party upon exercise of outstanding Rights have been
waived, that there are no rights, warrants, instruments or securities
outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the
consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially diminish
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights and that such transaction
shall not result in a default by such Principal Party under this Agreement,
and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of such
Section 13 Event, such Principal Party will:
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(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause
such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after
such filing and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to
remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of
the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date, and similarly comply with
applicable state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of)
the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a
national securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements for
quotation on Nasdaq and list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on Nasdaq; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for such Principal Party which comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act.
In the event that at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering Event
some or all of the Rights shall not have been exercised at the time of a
transaction described in this Section 13, the Rights which have not
theretofore been exercised shall thereafter be exercisable in the manner
described in Section 13(a) (without taking into account any prior adjustment
required by Section 11(a)(ii)).
(d) In case the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(b)
hereof has provision in any of its authorized securities or in its
certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other instrument governing its
corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i) causing such
Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to Section
13 hereof), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a
Section 13 Event, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such Principal Party
at less than the then Current Per Share Market Price thereof or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of
such Principal Party at less than such then Current Per Share Market Price,
or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar provision in
connection with the issuance of the Common Shares of such Principal Party
pursuant to the provisions of Section 13 hereof, then, in such event, the
Company hereby agrees with each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate
any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal
Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement providing that the provision in question of such Principal Party
shall have been canceled, waived or amended, or that the authorized
securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable provision will have no
effect in connection with or as a consequence of, the consummation of the
proposed transaction.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, effect or permit to occur any Section 13 Event,
if (i) at the time or immediately after such Section 13 Event there are any
rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements
in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the
benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii) prior to, simultaneously
with or immediately after such Section 13 Event, the stockholders of the
Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the
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"Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(b) hereof shall have received a
distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature of organization of the
Principal Party would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights.
(f) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.
Section 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights
or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In
lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section
14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price
of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such
fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable, as determined pursuant
to the second sentence of Section 1(j) hereof.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other
than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share). Interests in fractions of Preferred Shares in integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of
the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate
agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it; PROVIDED, that
such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts
shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are
entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such
depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not
integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Company
shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such
Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of a Preferred Share. For purposes of
this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred Share shall be
the product equal to (x) one thousandth multiplied by (y) the closing price
of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section
1(j) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise.
(c) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares
upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. In lieu of such fractional Common
Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a
Common Share. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of
a Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(j) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
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(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives his or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of a Right.
Section 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent pursuant
to Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the
Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered
holders of the Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares),
without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may,
in his or her own behalf and for his or her own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to
enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his or her right to exercise the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or
any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at
law for any breach of this Agreement and 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 RIGHTS HOLDERS. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed; and
(c) subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f) hereof, the Company and the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on
the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate made by
anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes
whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by
any notice to the contrary.
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 to be the holder of the Preferred
Shares or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall
anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer
upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a
stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors
or
-26-
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 specifically provided in
Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or
otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate
shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to
time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees
and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The
Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, incurred without gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as finally determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction on the part of the Rights Agent, for any action
taken, suffered, or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the
acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and
expenses of defending against any claim of liability in the premises. In no
event will the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, indirect,
incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, even if
the Rights Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damage.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
in connection with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any
Rights Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Shares or Common Shares
or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer,
power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction,
consent, certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to
be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice
of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
Section 19. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on
the part of any of the parties hereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such
corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent
under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor
Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of
the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any
such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor
Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the
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name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates
and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall
not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such
cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the
Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights
Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any
action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of Current Per Share Market Price) be proved or established by
the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or
matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a
certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial
Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full
authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good
faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and
any other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Rights Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed
to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of
the validity or execution of any 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 or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights
(including
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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 change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Rights Certificates after receipt by the Rights Agent of a
certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12 describing such change or
adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any
Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares will, when issued, be
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge
and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered
all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably
be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the
Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice
or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for
any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with
instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for
those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written
instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set
forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights
Agent under this Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement and the date on
and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be
effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or
omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any
such application on or after the date specified in such application (which
date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days after the date on which
any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any
such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless,
prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an
omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in
response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or
other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were
not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the
Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any
other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by
or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any
such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was
exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.
-29-
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of
such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form
of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either
not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to
such requested exercise 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 thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and
to each transfer agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates
by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise
become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the
Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it
has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the
resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights
Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his or her 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 corporation 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 corporate trust or stockholder services powers and is subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the
time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least $100 million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be
vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had
been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver
any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not
later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file
notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer
agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares, and mail a notice
thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation
or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights
Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights
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Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board
of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price and
the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property
purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or
sale of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the
redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect
to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options
or under any employee plan or arrangement or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of other securities of the Company outstanding at the date hereof or
upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by
the Company and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or
appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Rights
Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with
such issuance or sale; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) no such Rights Certificate
shall be issued and this sentence shall be null and void AB INITIO if, and to
the extent that, such issuance or this sentence would create a significant
risk of or result in material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the
Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or would create a
significant risk of or result in such options' or employee plans' or
arrangements' failing to qualify for otherwise available special tax
treatment and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the
extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of
the issuance thereof.
Section 23 REDEMPTION.
(a) The Company may, at its option and with the approval of the
Board of Directors, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the earlier
of (i) the fifth day following the Shares Acquisition Date (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Company's Board of Directors and
publicly announced by the Company) and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem
all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price
of $0.001 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
redemption price being herein referred to as the "REDEMPTION PRICE") and the
Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares
(based on the Current Per Share Market Price thereof at the time of
redemption) or cash. Such redemption of the Rights by the Company may be made
effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board
of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. The date on which the
Board of Directors elects to make the redemption effective shall be referred
to as the "REDEMPTION DATE."
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have
been filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption
Price. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such
notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Within ten (10) days
after the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the
Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent
and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all
such holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books
of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books
of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in
the
-31-
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. Neither the Company
nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for
value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set
forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24 hereof, and other than in
connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. EXCHANGE.
(a) Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, and subject
to subsection 24(c) below, the Company may, at its option, by action of the
Board of Directors, at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which
shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of
Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common
Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "EXCHANGE RATIO").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered
to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company,
any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or
any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of
such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares
then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection 24(a) of this Section 24
and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise
such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number
of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The
Company shall give public notice of any such exchange; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the
validity of such exchange. The Company shall mail a notice of any such
exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they
appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is
mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not
the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the
method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected
and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the
number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange
of Rights as contemplated in accordance with Section 24(a), the Company shall
either take such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common
Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights or alternatively, at the
option of a majority of the Board of Directors, with respect to each Right
(i) pay cash in an amount equal to the Current Value (as hereinafter
defined), in lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange therefor, or (ii)
issue debt or equity securities or a combination thereof, having a value
-32-
equal to the Current Value, in lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange for
each such Right, where the value of such securities shall be determined by a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by majority vote of
the Board of Directors, or (iii) deliver any combination of cash, property,
Common Shares and/or other securities having a value equal to the Current
Value in exchange for each Right. For purposes of this Section 24(c) only,
the Current Value shall mean the product of the Current Per Share Market
Price of Common Shares on the date of the occurrence of the event described
above in subparagraph (a), multiplied by the number of Common Shares for
which the Right otherwise would be exchangeable if there were sufficient
shares available. To the extent that the Company determines that some action
need be taken pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 24(c),
the Board of Directors may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the
Rights for a period of up to sixty (60) days following the date on which the
event described in Section 24(a) shall have occurred, in order to seek any
authorization of additional Common Shares and/or to decide the appropriate
form of distribution to be made pursuant to the above provision and to
determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company
shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the
Rights has been temporarily suspended.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares.
In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, there shall be paid to the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal
to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common Share (as
determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(j) hereof).
(e) The Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the Board
of Directors, at any time before any Person has become an Acquiring Person,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights for rights of
substantially equivalent value, as determined reasonably and with good faith
by the Board of Directors based upon the advice of one or more nationally
recognized investment banking firms.
(f) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection 24(e) of this Section 24
and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise
such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of rights in exchange therefor as has
been determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with subsection 24(e)
above. The Company shall give public notice of any such exchange; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
affect the validity of such exchange. The Company shall mail a notice of any
such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as
they appear upon the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common
Shares of the Company. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the
exchange of the Rights will be effected.
-33-
Section 25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS.
(a) In case the Company shall propose to effect or permit to occur
any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event, the Company shall give notice
thereof to each holder of Rights in accordance with Section 26 hereof at
least twenty (20) days prior to occurrence of such Triggering Event or such
Section 13 Event.
(b) In case any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event shall occur,
then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter
give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26
hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the
event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Sections
11(a)(ii) and 13 hereof.
Section 26. NOTICES. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent
by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
3Com Corporation
ββββ ββββββββ βββββ
β.β. βββ βββββ
βββββ βββββ, ββββββββββ βββββ-ββββ
Attention: Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand
authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the
holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as
follows:
FLEET NATIONAL BANK, C/O Equiserve L.P.
βββ ββββββ ββββββ
ββββββ, ββ βββββ
Attention: Shareholder Services Division
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the
registry books of the Company.
Section 27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. Prior to the occurrence of a
Distribution Date, the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any
respect without the approval of any holders of Rights and the Rights Agent
shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or amendment. From
and after the occurrence of a Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights
Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of Rights in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii)
correct or supplement any provision
-34-
contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions herein, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or
(iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner that the
Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not adversely affect
the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); PROVIDED, this Agreement may
not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this
sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at
such time as the Rights are not then redeemable or (B) any other time period
unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or
clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights
(other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person). Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of
the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in
compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute
such supplement or amendment. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests
of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the
holders of Common Shares.
Section 28. SUCCESSORS. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ETC.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common
Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of
which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the
exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise
all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board, or the Company, or
as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, the right and power (i) to interpret the
provisions of this Agreement and (ii) to make all determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement).
All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to
the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x)
be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Rights Certificates and all other parties and (y) not subject
the Board or the Continuing Directors to any liability to the holders of the
Rights.
Section 30. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent
and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim pursuant to 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
Common Shares).
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,
-35-
the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision,
covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid,
void or unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the Company determines in
its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this
Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the
right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and
shall not expire until the Close of Business on the tenth day following the
date of such determination by the Board of Directors.
Section 32. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and 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
but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
"COMPANY" 3Com Corporation
By: /s/ ββββ β. βββββββ
-------------------------------------
Name: ββββ β. βββββββ
----------------------------------
Title: Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary
----------------------------------
"RIGHTS AGENT" Fleet National Bank
By: /s/
-------------------------------------
Name:
----------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
-36-
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF RIGHTS, PREFERENCES
AND PRIVILEGES OF
SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF 3COM CORPORATION
The undersigned, _____________ and _____________ do hereby certify:
1. That they are the duly elected and acting President and Secretary,
respectively, of 3Com Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "CORPORATION").
2. That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors
by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the said Corporation, the
said Board of Directors on March 8, 2001 adopted the following resolution
creating a series of 990,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A
Participating Preferred Stock:
"RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of the corporation by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
the Board of Directors does hereby provide for the issue of a series of
Preferred Stock of the Corporation and does hereby fix and herein state and
express the designations, powers, preferences and relative and other special
rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such series of
Preferred Stock as follows:
Section 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK." The Series A
Participating Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.01 per share, and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 990,000.
Section 2. PROPORTIONAL ADJUSTMENT. In the event that the Corporation
shall at any time after the issuance of any share or shares of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock of the
Corporation ("COMMON STOCK") payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the
Corporation shall simultaneously effect a proportional adjustment to the
number of outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.
Section 3. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
(a) Subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends,
the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of
funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash
on the last day of February, May, August and November in each year (each such
date being referred to herein as a "QUARTERLY DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE"),
commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first
issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal
to 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and
1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash
dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of
Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any
share or fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) above
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue on outstanding shares of Series
A Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the
record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case
dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such
shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or
is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly
dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which
events such dividends shall begin to accrue from such Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends
paid on the shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock in an amount
less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable
on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among
all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30
days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 4. VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of shares of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(a) Each share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote
of the stockholders of the Corporation.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a
vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) Except as required by law, the holders of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their
consent shall not be required (except to the extent that they are entitled to
vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any
corporate action.
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Section 5. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.
(a) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any
distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share or fraction of
a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless concurrently
therewith it shall declare a dividend on the Series A Participating Preferred
Stock as required by Section 3 hereof.
(b) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as
provided in Section 3 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in
full, the Corporation shall not
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions
on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on, or make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends
are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends
or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in
exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as
to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock;
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock
ranking on a parity with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock, except
in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such
terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual
dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective
series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and
equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(c) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of
this Section 5, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
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Section 6. REACQUIRED SHARES. Any shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any
manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become
authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part
of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions
of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on
issuance set forth herein and in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
as then amended.
Section 7. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive
an aggregate amount per share equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount to be
distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount
equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends on such shares of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock.
Section 8. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in
which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other
stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case
the shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time
be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to 1,000 times
the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property
(payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of
Common Stock is changed or exchanged.
Section 9. NO REDEMPTION. The shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 10. RANKING. The Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall
rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to
the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of
any such series shall provide otherwise.
Section 11. AMENDMENT. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially
alter or change the powers, preference or special rights of the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series.
Section 12. FRACTIONAL SHARES. Series A Participating Preferred Stock
may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in
proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights,
receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of
all other rights of holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.
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RESOLVED FURTHER, that the President or any Vice President and the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of this corporation be, and they hereby
are, authorized and directed to prepare and file a Certificate of Designation
of Rights, Preferences and Privileges in accordance with the foregoing
resolution and the provisions of Delaware law and to take such actions as
they may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of the
foregoing resolution."
We further declare under penalty of perjury that the matters set forth
in the foregoing Certificate of Designation are true and correct of our own
knowledge.
Executed at Santa Clara, California on ______, 2001.
---------------------------------
President
---------------------------------
Secretary
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EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R- _________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF (i) ______, 2011, (ii) THE DATE
TERMINATED BY THE COMPANY OR (iii) THE DATE THE COMPANY EXCHANGES THE
RIGHTS PURSUANT TO THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT
$0.001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND
RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE
OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE SECOND AMENDED
AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS
MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR
BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING
PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS
AGREEMENT.]*
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
3Com Corporation
This certifies that ______________________________, or registered
assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above,
each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions
and conditions of the Second Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as
of March 8, 2001, (the "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), between 3Com Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Fleet National Bank, ( the "RIGHTS
AGENT"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date
(as such term is defined in the
-----------
* The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., New York time, on March 8, 2011 at
the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office
of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a fully
paid and non-assessable share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the "PREFERRED SHARES"), of the Company, at an
Exercise Price of $55.00 per one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the
"EXERCISE PRICE"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate
with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed.
The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise
hereof) set forth above are the number and Exercise Price as of March 8, 2001
based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the
Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number and kind of Preferred
Shares or other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of the
Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and
adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions
are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to
which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the
rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder
of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates,
which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the
exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in
the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the
principal executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned office of
the Rights Agent.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company, at its option,
at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged by the
Company in whole or in part for Common Shares, substantially equivalent
rights or other consideration as determined by the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may
be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like
tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate amount of securities as the Rights evidenced by the Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such
holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part,
the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not
exercised.
No fractional portion of less than one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced
hereby but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the
Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such,
any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or
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upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give
or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings
or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights
Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise,
until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have
been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of _______________, 2001.
ATTEST: 3COM CORPORATION
By:
------------------------------ ----------------------------
Secretary
Its:
---------------------------
Countersigned:
FLEET NATIONAL BANK
as Rights Agent
By:
---------------------------
Its:
--------------------------
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FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _______________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: _______________, ____
-------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person, or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: _______________, ____
-----------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE -- CONTINUED
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Rights Certificate)
To:___________________________
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
_________________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to
purchase the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the
exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such number of
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance remaining of such
Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: _______________, ____
-------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
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 Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: _______________, ____
------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE -- CONTINUED
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must
conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
EXHIBIT C
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT
3COM CORPORATION
On September 8, 1989, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of one
Right for each share of Common Stock of 3Com Corporation (the "COMPANY")
outstanding as of September 20, 1989 (the "RECORD DATE") and further
authorized the issuance of one Right for each Common Share that shall become
outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date
and the Expiration Date. On December 21, 1994, the Board of Directors amended
and restated the Rights in full. On March 8, 2001, the Board of Directors
determined that it is in the best interest of the Company to amend and
restate the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement to provide as follows:
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS
DISTRIBUTION AND Prior to the Distribution Date referred to below, the Rights will continue to
TRANSFER OF RIGHTS; be evidenced by and trade with the certificates for the Common Stock. After
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE: the Distribution Date, the Company will mail Rights certificates to the
Company's stockholders and the Rights will become transferable apart from the
Common Stock.
DISTRIBUTION DATE: Rights will separate from the Common Stock and become exercisable following
(a) the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by the Company's
Board of Directors) after a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of
15% or more of the Company's Common Stock or (b) the tenth business day (or
such later date as may be determined by the Company's Board of Directors)
after a person or group announces a tender or exchange offer, the
consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of 15%
or more of the Company's Common Stock.
PREFERRED STOCK After the Distribution Date, each Right will entitle the holder to purchase
PURCHASABLE UPON for $ 55.00 (the "EXERCISE PRICE"), a fraction of a share of the Company's
EXERCISE OF RIGHTS: Preferred Stock with economic terms similar to that of one share of the
Company's Common Stock.
FLIP-IN: If an acquiror obtains 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock, thereby
becoming an "Acquiring Person", then each Right (other than Rights owned by
an Acquiring Person or its affiliates) will entitle the holder thereof to
purchase, for the exercise price, a number of shares of the Company's Common
Stock having a then current market value of twice the exercise
price.
FLIP-OVER: If, after an acquiror obtains 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock, (a)
the Company merges into another entity, (b) an acquiring entity mergers into
the Company or (c) the Company sells more than 50% of the Company's assets or
earning power, then each Right (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring
Person or its affiliates) will entitle the holder thereof to purchase, for
the exercise price, a number of shares of Common Stock of the person engaging
in the transaction having a then current market value of twice the exercise
price.
EXCHANGE PROVISION: At any time after the date on which an Acquiring Person obtains 15% or more
of the Company's Common Stock and prior to the acquisition by the Acquiring
Person of 50% of the outstanding Common Stock, a majority of the Board of
Directors and the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights
(other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person or its affiliates), in whole
or in part, for shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exchange ratio of
one share of Common Stock per Right (subject to adjustment).
REDEMPTION OF THE Rights will be redeemable at the Company's option for $0.001 per Right at any
RIGHTS: time on or prior to the fifth day (or such later date as may be determined by
the Company's Board of Directors) after public announcement that a Person has
acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock
(the "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE").
EXPIRATION OF THE The Rights expire on the earliest of (a) March 8, 2011 or (b) exchange or
RIGHTS: redemption of the Rights as described above.
AMENDMENT OF TERMS OF The terms of the Rights and the Second Amended and Restated Preferred Shares
RIGHTS: Rights Agreement may be amended in any respect without the consent of the
Rights holders on or prior to the Distribution Date; thereafter, the terms of
the Rights and the Second Amended and Restated Preferred Shares Rights
Agreement may be amended without the consent of the Rights holders in order
to cure any ambiguities or to make changes which do not adversely affect the
interests of Rights holders (other than the Acquiring Person).
VOTING RIGHTS: Rights will not have any voting rights.
ANTI-DILUTION Rights will have the benefit of certain customary anti-dilution provisions.
PROVISIONS:
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TAXES: The Rights distribution should not be taxable for federal income tax
purposes. However, following an event which renders the Rights exercisable
or upon redemption of the Rights, stockholders may recognize taxable income.
The foregoing is a summary of certain principal terms of the Second Amended
and Restated Preferred Shares Rights Agreement. It may be amended from time
to time. A copy of the Second Amended and Restated Preferred Share Rights
Agreement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated June 12, 2001. A copy
of the Second Amended and Restated Preferred Shares Rights Agreement is
available free of charge from the Company.
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