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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ CORPORATION
and
BANK BOSTON, N.A.
Rights Agent
Amended and Restated Rights Agreement
Dated as of September 15, 1988,
as amended as of September 20, 1990,
as amended and restated as of June 18, 1998
======================================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions............................... 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent....................... 5
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates....................... 5
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates........................ 7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration................. 7
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of
Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed,
Lost or Stolen Right Certificates................ 8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration
Date of Rights................................... 9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right
Certificates.....................................11
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares..................11
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date......................12
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares
or Number of Rights..............................12
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number
of Shares........................................20
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
Assets or Earning Power..........................21
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares...........22
Section 15. Rights of Action..................................23
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders........................24
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.25
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent ......................25
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of
Rights Agent.....................................26
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent............................26
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent............................29
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates................30
Section 23. Redemption........................................30
Section 24. Exchange..........................................32
Section 25. Notice or Certain Events..........................33
Section 26. Notices...........................................34
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments........................36
Section 28. Successors........................................35
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement........................37
Section 30. Severability......................................37
Section 31. Governing Law.....................................37
Section 32. Counterparts......................................37
Section 33. Descriptive Headings..............................38
Signatures....................................................36
- i -
Exhibit A - Form of Certificate of Designation,
Preferences and Rights of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock
Exhibit B - Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Shares
- ii -
AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Agreement, dated as of September 15, 1988, as amended as of
September 20, 1990, as amended and restated as of June 18, 1998,
between STATE STREET CORPORATION, a Massachusetts corporation
(the "Company"), and BANKBOSTON, N.A. (the "Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and
declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the
Company outstanding at the close of business on October 7, 1988
(the "Record Date"), each Right representing the right to
purchase one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter
defined), upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set
forth, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of
one Right with respect to each Common Share that shall become
outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of the
Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration
Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined).
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term
is hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all
Affiliates and Associates (as such terms are hereinafter defined)
of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the
Company then outstanding, but shall not include the Company, any
Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an
acquisition of Common Shares by the Company that, by reducing the
number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number
of shares beneficially owned by such Person to 10% or more of the
Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however,
that if a Person shall become the
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Beneficial Owner of 10% 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, then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person". Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person
who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person", as defined pursuant
to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become
such inadvertently, and such Person 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 an "Acquiring Person" for
any purposes under this Agreement.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General
Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date of this
Agreement.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
(i) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;
(ii) that 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
offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, rights (other than these Rights),
warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered
-2-
securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the
right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any
security 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 promulgated under 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) that are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements
with and between underwriters and selling group members with
respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent
contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing
of any securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of
Beneficial Ownership to the contrary, the phrase "then
outstanding," when used with reference to a Person's Beneficial
Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the number of
such securities then issued and outstanding together with the
number of such securities not then actually issued and
outstanding that such Person would be deemed to own beneficially
hereunder.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a
Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 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., Boston, Massachusetts time, on such date; provided,
however, that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean
5:00 P.M., Boston, Massachusetts time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
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(f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company
shall mean the shares of Common Stock, $1 par value, of the
Company. "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 that ultimately control such first-mentioned
Person.
(g) "Continuing Director" shall mean any director of the
Company who (i) is not an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person and (ii) either was (A) a member
of the Board of Directors of the Company on the date hereof or
(B) nominated for his or her initial term of office by (x) at
least one Continuing Director and (y) a majority of the
Continuing Directors in office at the time of such nomination.
(h) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
(i) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7 hereof.
(j) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation
or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or
otherwise) of such entity.
(k) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company
having the rights and preferences set forth in the Form of
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights attached to
this Agreement as Exhibit A.
(l) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7 hereof.
(m) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an
Acquiring Person has become such.
(n) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation
or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the
voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person.
-4-
SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the
holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof,
shall prior to the Distribution Date also be the holders of the
Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment.
The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents
as it may deem necessary or desirable.
SECTION 3. ISSUE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. (a) Until the
earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date or
(ii) the tenth business day (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time
as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of the
commencement by any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding
Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) of,
or of the first public announcement of the intention of any
Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of
the Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant
to the terms of any such plan) to commence, a tender or exchange
offer the consummation of which would result in any Person
becoming the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares aggregating 10% or
more of the then outstanding Common Shares (including any such
date that is after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
issuance of the Rights; the earlier of such dates being herein
referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be
evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by
the certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the
holders thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be
Right Certificates) and not by separate Right Certificates, and
(y) the right to receive Right Certificates will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares. 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, insured, 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 Right Certificate, in
substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right
Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each Common Share so
-5-
held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced
solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable
thereafter, the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights
to Purchase Preferred Shares, in substantially the form of
Exhibit C hereto (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 on the records of the Company. 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 a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto.
Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption
Date or the Final Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of
any certificate for Common Shares outstanding on the Record Date,
with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto,
shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with
the Common Shares represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares that become outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred
to in the last sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record
Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the
Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall have impressed
on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the
following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
hereof to certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement
between State Street Corporation and BankBoston, N.A., dated
as of September 15, 1988, as amended as of September 20,
1990, as amended and restated as of June 18, 1998 (the
"Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on
file at the principal executive offices of State Street
Corporation. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in
the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by
separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by
this certificate. State Street Corporation will mail to the
holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement
without charge after receipt of a written request
therefor. As described in the Rights Agreement, Rights
issued to any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person (as
defined in the Rights Agreement) shall become null and void.
- 6 -
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing
legend, until the Distribution 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. 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 cancelled and retired so that the Company shall
not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common
Shares which are no longer outstanding.
SECTION 4. FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. The Right
Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase Preferred
Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof)
shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B hereto and may have
such marks of identification or designation and such legends,
summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on
which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform
to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 22 hereof, the
Right Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase
such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as shall
be set forth therein at the price per one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the
number of such one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and the
Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
SECTION 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION. The Right
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its
Chairman, its President or any of its Executive Vice Presidents,
either manually or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed
thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be
attested by the Secretary of the Company, either manually or by
facsimile signature. The Right 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 Right Certificates shall cease
to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the
Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right
Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights
Agent and
-7-
issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and
effect as though the person who signed such Right Certificates
had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Right
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person
who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right
Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign
such Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of
this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
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 Right Certificates
issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses
of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number
of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates
and the date of each of the Right Certificates.
SECTION 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF
RIGHT CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT
CERTIFICATES. Subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, at
any time after the close of business on the Distribution Date,
and at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of the
Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right
Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right Certificates
representing Rights that have become void pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) hereof or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section
24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged
for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling
the registered holder to purchase a like number of one
one-hundredths of a preferred Share as the Right Certificate or
Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to
purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right Certificates
shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent,
and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right Certificates
to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office
of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes. Thereupon the
Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the person entitled
thereto a Right Certificate or Right 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 Right Certificates.
-8-
Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction
or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft
or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory
to them, and, at the Company's request, reimbursement to the
Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and
cancellation of the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company
will make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to
the Rights Agent for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of
the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
SECTION 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION
DATE OF RIGHTS. (a) The registered holder of any Right
Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after
the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right 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 purposes, together with payment of the
Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share as
to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the earliest of
(i) the close of business on September 15, 2008 (the "Final
Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed
as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date"), or
(iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in
Section 24 hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall be
$1060 (as amended as of June 18, 1998), 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 Right Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly
executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the
shares to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable
transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof by certified
check, cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the
Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A)
requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares
certificates
-9-
for the number of Preferred Shares to be purchased and the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to
comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of
one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased
(in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares 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 Right Certificate,
registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt, deliver such
cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right
Certificate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new
Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights
remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the
registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly
authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14
hereof.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to
be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued
preferred Shares or any Preferred Shares held in its treasury,
the number of Preferred Shares that will be sufficient to permit
the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with
this Section 7.
SECTION 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHT
CERTIFICATES. All Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose
of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall,
if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be
delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled
form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled
by it, and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof
except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this
Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent
for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or
acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof.
The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Right Certificates
to the Company, or shall, at the written
-10-
request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Right
Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of
destruction thereof to the Company.
SECTION 9. AVAILABILITY OF PREFERRED SHARES. The Company
covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be
necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares delivered upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the
certificates for such Preferred Shares (subject to payment of the
Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and
fully paid and nonassessable shares.
The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes
and charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or
delivery of the Right Certificates or of any preferred Shares
upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required to pay any transfer tax that may be payable in respect
of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a person
other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or
depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares in a name other than
that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate
evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to
deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred
Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall
have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such
Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been
established to the Company's reasonable satisfaction that no such
tax is due.
SECTION 10. PREFERRED SHARES RECORD DATE. Each person in
whose name any certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon
the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have
become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares represented
thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon
which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable
transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of
such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred
Shares 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 Preferred Shares transfer books of the
Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced
thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled
to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares for which the
Rights shall be exercisable,
-11-
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive
rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any
proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
SECTION 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER OF SHARES
OR NUMBER OF RIGHTS. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred
Shares covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding
are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this
Section 11.
(a) (i) in the event the company shall at any time after
the date of This agreement (a) declare a dividend on the
preferred shares payable in Preferred shares, (b) subdivide the
outstanding preferred shares, (c) combine The outstanding
preferred shares 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), except as otherwise
provided in this section 11(a), the purchase Price in effect at
the time of the record date for such dividend or of the Effective
date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and
the Number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such
date, shall be Proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any
right exercised after such Time shall be entitled to receive the
aggregate number and kind of shares of Capital stock that, if
such right had been exercised immediately prior to such Date and
at a time when the preferred shares transfer books of the company
Were open, he would have owned upon such exercise and been
entitled to receive By virtue of such dividend, subdivision,
combination or reclassification; 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 the Right.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the
event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a
Right shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise
thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such
number of Common Shares of the
-12-
Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the
then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable and
dividing that product by (y) 50% of the then current per share
market price of the Company's Common Shares (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of the occurrence of such
event. In the event that any Person shall become an Acquiring
Person and the Rights shall then be outstanding, the Company
shall not take any action that would eliminate or diminish the
benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
From and after the occurrence of any such event, any
Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring
Person) shall be void and any holder of such Rights shall
thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any
provision of this Agreement. No Right Certificate shall be
issued pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights beneficially
owned by an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant
to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof;
no Right Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the
transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would
be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or
Affiliate thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person,
Associate or Affiliate; and any Right Certificate delivered to
the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person whose Rights
would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be
cancelled.
(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient
Common Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but
unissued to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Company
shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of the
Rights. In the event the Company shall, after good faith effort,
be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall
substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise be
issuable upon exercise of a Right, a number of Preferred Shares
or fraction thereof such that the current per share market price
of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number or fraction is
equal to the current per share market price of one Common Share
as of the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction
thereof.
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(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of
preferred Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within 45
calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or
purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same rights,
privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent
preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred
Shares or equivalent Preferred shares at a price per Preferred
Share or equivalent Preferred share (or having a conversion price
per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or
equivalent Preferred shares) less than the then current per share
market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in Section 1(d))
on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Preferred
Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of
Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total
number of Preferred Shares and/or equivalent Preferred Shares so
to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of
the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at
such current market price and the denominator of which shall be
the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent
Preferred Shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or
into which the convertible securities so to be offered are
initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be
less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock
of the Company issuable upon exercise of one 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 Board
of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent. Preferred
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 Purchase Price shall be adjusted
to be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares
(including any such distribution made in
-14-
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 or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in
Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the then current per
share market price of the Preferred Shares on such record date,
less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the
portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable
to one Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be such
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares; 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 to be issued 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 Purchase Price
shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would then
be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of any security (a "Security"
for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be
deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of
such Security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term
is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided,
however, that in the event that the current per share market
price of the Security is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or
distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security
or securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security and
prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days 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
-15-
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 quoted
price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low
asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotations System ("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. The
term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal
national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be
determined in accordance with the method set forth in Section
11(d)(i). 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 current per share market price of
the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)
(appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof),
multiplied by one hundred. If neither the Common Shares nor the
Preferred Shares are 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.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required
unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of
at least l% in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any
adjustments that by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required
to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment. All calculations
-16-
under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the
nearest one one-millionth of a Preferred Share or one
ten-thousandth of any other share or security as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later
than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the
transaction that requires such adjustment or (ii) the date of the
expiration of the right to exercise any Rights.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to
Section 11(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital
Stock of the Company other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the
number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Right 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
Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive, and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with respect to the Preferred Shares
shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent
to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price,
the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable
from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all
subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase
Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and
(c), each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of
such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase,
at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one one-millionth
of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number
of one one-hundredths of a share covered by a Right immediately
prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and
(ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights,
in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise
of a Right. Each of the
-17-
Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights
shall be exercisable for the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately
price to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to
such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number
of Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained
by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company
shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the
number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment,
and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be
made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 days later
than the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates
have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights
pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as
practicable cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right
Certificates on such record date Right 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 Right
Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to
which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment.
Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be
registered in the names of the holders of record of Right
Certificates on the record date specified in the public
announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price or the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to
express the Purchase Price and the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share that were expressed in the initial Right
Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below one one-hundredth of the then
par value, if any, of the Preferred Shares
-18-
issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any
corporate action that may, in the opinion of its counsel, be
necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue
fully paid and nonassessable Preferred Shares at such adjusted
Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that
an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a
record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer
until the occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of
any Right exercised after such record date of the Preferred
Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred
Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase
Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that
the Company shall deliver to such holder a due ▇▇▇▇ or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive
such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring
such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such
reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those
adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the
extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be
advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision of the
Preferred Shares, issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred
Shares at less than the current market price, issuance wholly for
cash of Preferred Shares or securities that by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, dividends
on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or issuance of
rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section
11(b), hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred
Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) In the event that at any time after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall
(i) declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in
Common Shares or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares) into a
greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case
(i) the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share
purchasable after such event upon proper exercise of each Right
shall be determined by multiplying the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately
prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
-19-
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before such
event and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately after such event, and (ii) each Common
Share outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued
with respect to it that number of Rights that each Common Share
outstanding immediately prior to such event had issued with
respect to it. The adjustments provided for in this Section
11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is
declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or
consolidation is effected.
SECTION 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR
NUMBER OF SHARES. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in
Sections 11 and 13 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 Common
Shares or the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c)
mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights
Agent may rely on such certificate and shall not be deemed to
have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall
have received such certificate.
SECTION 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF
ASSETS OR EARNING POWER. In the event, directly or indirectly,
(a) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into,
any other Person, (b) 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 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 cash or any other
property, or (c) 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 other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall
be made so that (i) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise
provided herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
the exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current
Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of
a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in
-20-
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of
Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of such other
Person (including the Company as successor thereto or as the
surviving corporation) as shall equal the result obtained by (A)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then
exercisable and dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then
current per share market price of the Common Shares of such other
Person (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date
of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer;
(ii) the issuer of such Common Shares shall thereafter be liable
for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company
pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to such issuer; and (iv) such
issuer shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the
reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares in
accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such
consummation as may be necessary to assure that the provisions
hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably
may be, in relation to the Common Shares thereafter deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights. The Company shall not
consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer
unless prior thereto the Company and such issuer shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement so providing. The Company shall not enter into any
transaction of the kind referred to in this Section 13 if at the
time of such transaction there are any rights, warrants,
instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or
arrangements that, as a result of the consummation of such
transaction, would eliminate or substantially diminish the
benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. 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 Right Certificates that evidence fractional Rights.
In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the
registered holders of the Right 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
-21-
Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for
any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no
such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid
and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading
on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the
Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not
quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid
and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors
of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is
making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on
such date as determined in ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ by the Board of Directors
of the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon
exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates that
evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions that
are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of
one one-hundredth 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-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of one Preferred Share. For the purposes of
this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred Share
shall be the closing price of a
-22-
Preferred Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of
Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or
any fractional shares upon exercise of a Right (except as
provided above).
SECTION 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in
respect of this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given
to the Rights Agent under Section 18 hereof, are vested in the
respective registered holders of the Right Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right
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 Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his
own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit,
action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise
act in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate in the manner provided in such Right
Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the
foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it
is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not
have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement
and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations
under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations of any Person subject to, this
Agreement.
SECTION 16. AGREEMENT OF RIGHT HOLDERS. Every holder of
a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the
Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a
Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common
Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the principal office of the Rights Agent duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
-23-
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
person in whose name the Right 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 Right 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. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall
be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any
purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any other
securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to
confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of
the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote
for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold
consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings
or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in
Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such
Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with
the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. 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 negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything
done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the
acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the
costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability in
the premises.
-24-
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 Right 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. Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or
consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
stock transfer or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or
any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights
Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any
paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties
hereto, provided that such corporation 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 Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
counter-signature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver
such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such
Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights
Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all
such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
In case Agent any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have
been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt
the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of
the Right Certificates shall not have been
-25-
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and
in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Right 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 Right 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 be proved or established 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, the President, any Executive Vice President, the
Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the
Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to
the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith
by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon
such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the
Company and any other Person only for its own negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason
of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this
Agreement or in the Right 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
-26-
by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution
of any Right 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 Right
Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in the
terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount
thereof) provided for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any
such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of
Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after receipt of a
certificate delivered pursuant to Section 12 hereof, 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 Right 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, the President, any
Executive Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer 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
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 Business
-27-
Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives
such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in
writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such
action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the
Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response
to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer
or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of
the Rights or other securities of the Company or become
pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company
may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company
or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights
Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the
Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or
for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty
hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents,
and the Rights Agent shall not he 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.
SECTION 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent or
any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its
duties under this Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing
mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Common
Shares or Preferred Share by registered or certified mail, and to
the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. The
Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed
or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall
appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall
fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after
giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in
writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right
Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right
Certificate for
-28-
inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any
Right 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 (i) a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts (or of any other state of the
United States so long as such corporation is authorized to do
business as a banking institution in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts), in good standing, having an office in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which is authorized under such
laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is
subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights
Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million or
(ii) an affiliate of an institution that satisfies the
requirements set forth in clause (i) of this sentence. After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had
been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or
deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it
hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than
the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall file
notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and
each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, and
mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the
Right 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 RIGHT CERTIFICATES.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the
Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new
Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be
approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or
change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of
shares or other securities or property purchasable under the
Right Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement.
-29-
SECTION 23. REDEMPTION. (a) The Rights may be redeemed by
action of the Board of Directors pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) of
this Section 23 or by the Continuing Directors pursuant to
paragraph (b)(ii) of this Section 23 and shall not be redeemed in
any other manner. (b) (i) The Board of Directors of the
Company may, at its option, at any time prior to such time as any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all but not less than
all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per
Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof
(such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the
"Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights by the Board
of Directors 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.
(ii) The Continuing Directors then in office may at
any time during the period commencing on the Share Acquisition
Date and terminating 15 days after such Date (which period may be
extended pursuant to Section 26), at their option, upon the
affirmative vote or written consent of not less than two-thirds
of such Continuing Directors redeem all (but not less than all)
of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price. The
redemption of the Rights by the Continuing Directors may be made
effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as
the Continuing Directors in their sole discretion may establish.
(c) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
or the Continuing Directors, as the case may be, of the Company
ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (b)
of this Section 23, and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and
the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to
receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly give
public notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the
failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not
affect the validity of such redemption. Within 10 days after such
action ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall
mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the then
outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the
Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent
for the Common Shares. Any notice that is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder
receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state
-30-
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) The Board of Directors of the
Company may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes
an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding
and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have
become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)
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
of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
subsection (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action
and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall
terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to
the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the
Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of
any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give,
or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of
such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any
such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights
Agent. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by
which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be
effected and, in the event of any partial
-31-
exchange, the number of Rights that will be exchanged. Any
partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number
of Rights (other than Rights that have become void pursuant to
the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder
of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common
Shares or Preferred Shares issued but not outstanding or
authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as
contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company
shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Common Shares or Preferred Shares for issuance upon
exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after
good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be
necessary to authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company
shall substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise be
issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of Preferred Shares
or fraction thereof such that the current per share market price
of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number or fraction is
equal to the current per share market price of one Common Share
as of the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction
thereof.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Common Shares or to distribute certificates that evidence
fractional Common Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common
Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the
Right 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. For the purposes of this paragraph (e), the current
market value of a whole Common Share shall be the closing price
of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence
of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior
to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
SECTION 25. NOTICE OR CERTAIN EVENTS. (a) In case the
Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of
any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any
other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other
than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the
holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe
for or to purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares of
stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options,
(iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares
(other than a
-32-
reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding
Preferred Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger
into or with, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to
permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or
other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or more of
the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in
Common Shares or to effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of dividend in Common Shares), then, in
each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of
such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the
purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or
warrants, or the date on which such reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution,
or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or preferred
Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be
so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii)
above at least 10 days prior to the record date for determining
holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and
in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to
the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or
Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any of the events set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof shall occur, then the Company shall as soon as
practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of
the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such
event and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights
under Section 11(a)(ii) 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 Right 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:
-▇▇-
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Corporation
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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 Right 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:
BankBoston, N.A.
c/o Boston EquiServe Limited Partnership
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, Account Manager
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any
Right 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. The Company may
from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order to cure
any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions herein, or to make any other provisions with respect
to the Rights that the Company may deem necessary or desirable,
any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a writing
signed by the Company and the Rights Agent; provided, however,
that from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, this Agreement shall not be amended in any manner that
would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights
except as set forth in the following sentence. After such time
as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and while the Rights
remain redeemable pursuant to Section 23(b)(ii) hereof, the
Continuing Directors, acting by the vote of two-thirds of the
Continuing Directors then in office, may extend the period during
which the Rights may be redeemed pursuant to Section 23(b)(ii)
hereof.
-34-
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. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to give to any person or corporation
other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to
the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
SECTION 30. SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant
or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants
and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
SECTION 31. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and each Right
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract
made under the laws or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and for
all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of such Commonwealth applicable to contracts to be
made and performed entirely within such State.
SECTION 32. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed
in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall
for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.
SECTION 33. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. Descriptive headings of
the several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for
convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or
construction of any of the provisions hereof.
-35-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and
year first above written.
Attest: STATE STREET CORPORATION
By /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ By /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------- -----------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President and Counsel Title: Executive Vice President
and General Counsel
Attest: BANKBOSTON, N.A.
By /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. By /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Counsel Title: Senior Counsel
Exhibit A
FORM
of
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION,
PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
STATE STREET CORPORATION
(Pursuant to Section 26 of the
Massachusetts Business Corporation Law)
State Street Corporation, a corporation organized and
existing under the Business Corporation Law of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts (hereinafter called the "Corporation"), hereby
certifies that the following resolution was adopted by the Board
of Directors of the Corporation as required by Section 26 of the
Business Corporation Law at a meeting duly called and held on
September 15, 1988:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and
vested in the Board of Directors of this Corporation (hereinafter
called the "Board of Directors" or the "Board") in accordance
with the provisions of the Articles of Organization, the Board of
Directors hereby creates a series of Preferred Stock, without par
value (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Corporation and hereby
states the designation and number of shares, and fixes the
relative rights, preferences, and limitations thereof (in
addition to any provisions set forth in the Articles of
Organization of the Corporation that are applicable to the
Preferred Stock of all classes and series) as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. The shares of such
series shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock" (the "Series A Preferred Stock")
A-1
and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be 400,000. Such number of shares may be increased
or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided,
that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then
outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon
the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.
SECTION 2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of
any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking
prior and superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect
to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
in preference to the holders of Common Stock, $1 par value (the
"Common Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other junior
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 first day of
March, June, September and December in each year (each such date
being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"),
commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the
first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A
Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1 or (b) subject to the
provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the
aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times
the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash
dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable
in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding
snares 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 Preferred Stock. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,
or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock,
then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such
A-2
event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator
of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or
distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in
paragraph (A) of this Section immediately after it declares a
dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in
the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on
the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, a dividend of $1 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock
shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such
shares, 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
Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and
before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which
events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative
from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total
amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such
shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis
among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment
of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date
shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the
payment thereof.
SECTION 3. VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
A-3
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the
holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of
the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater
or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such
case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such
event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other
Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock
or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and
any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting
rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by
law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special
voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to
the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock
as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
SECTION 4. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided
in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on
shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been
paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
A-4
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as
to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to
the Series A Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably
on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on
which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then
entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at
any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such
junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the
Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any
shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred
Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing
or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to
all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of
Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend
rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective
series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in
fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation
could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or
otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
SECTION 5. REACQUIRED SHARES. Any shares of Series A
Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the
Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and
cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation
A-5
become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may
be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to
the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in
the Articles of Organization, or in any other Certificate of
Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar
stock or as otherwise required by law.
SECTION 6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP. Upon
any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no
distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock
unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have received $100 per share, plus an
amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions
thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment,
provided that the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share,
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per
share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders
of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series
A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are
entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In
the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,
or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock,
then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the
preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount
by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
SECTION 7. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. In case the
Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger,
combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common
A-6
Stock are exchanged for or changed into other Stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case
each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject
to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to
100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or
any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into
which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares
of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in
shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares
of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in
the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
SECTION 8. NO REDEMPTION. The shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall not be redeemable.
SECTION 9. RANK. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank
junior with respect to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of assets to all other series of the Corporation's
Preferred Stock.
SECTION 10. AMENDMENT. The Articles of Organization of the
Corporation shall not be amended in any manner that would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special
rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them
adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
voting together as a single class.
A-7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, STATE STREET CORPORATION has caused this
certificate to be executed by its President and attested by its
Clerk this [ ] day of [ ], 1988.
_________________________
President
Attest:
__________________
Clerk
A-8
Exhibit B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
CERTIFICATE NO. R- [ ] RIGHTS
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 OR EARLIER IF
REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS
SET FORTH IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
Right Certificate
STATE STREET 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 Amended and Restated Rights
Agreement, dated as of September 15, 1988, as amended as of
September 20, 1990, as amended and restated on June 18, 1998 (the
"Rights Agreement"), between State Street Corporation, a
Massachusetts corporation (the "Company"), and BankBoston, N.A.
(the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time
after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., Boston, Massachusetts
time, on September 15, 2008 at the office of the Rights Agent
designated for such purposes, or at the office of its successor
as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid non-assessable
share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, without
par value (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company, at a purchase
price of $1060 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the
"Purchase Price"), as amended as of June 18, 1998, upon
presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the
Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share that may be purchased upon
exercise hereof) set forth above, is the number as of October 7,
1988, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.
As provided in the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share that may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the
happening of certain events.
This Right 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
Right Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file
at the principal executive offices of the Company and the
above-mentioned offices of the Rights Agent.
B-1
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right
Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office of the
Rights Agent, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or
Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights
entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of
Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate
or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder
to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in
part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender
hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the
number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the
Rights evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the
Company at a redemption price of $.0025 per Right (as adjusted as
of June 18, 1998) or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part
for Preferred Shares or shares of the Company's Common Stock, $1
par value.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than
fractions that are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right 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 that may at any time be issuable on the
exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder
hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the
Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof,
or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to
receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the
Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have
been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for
any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights
Agent.
B-2
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of
the Company and its corporate seal. Dated as of [
], 19[ ].
ATTEST: STATE STREET CORPORATION
By
-------------------- ------------------------
Secretary Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
Countersigned:
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
By
----------------------
Authorized Signature
B-3
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED [ ] hereby
sells, assigns and transfers unto
------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
----------------------------------------------------------------
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and
interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and
appoint [ ] Attorney, to transfer the
within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: [ ], 19[ ]
-----------------------------
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.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced
by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate of Associate thereof (as defined
in the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement).
--------------------------------
Signature
B-4
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate.)
To: STATE STREET CORPORATION
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise [ ]
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the
Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares be issued in
the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
----------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
----------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate, a new Right 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: [ ], 19[ ]
--------------------------------
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.
B-5
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced
by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined
in the Rights Agreement).
-------------------------------
Signature
================================================================
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and
Election must conform to the name as written upon the face of
this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or
enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form
of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case
may be, is not completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will
deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as defined in the Amended and Restated Rights
Agreement) and such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not
be honored.
B-6
Exhibit C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On September 15, 1988, the Board of Directors of State
Street Corporation (the "Company") declared a dividend of one
preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding
share of common stock, $1 par value (the "Common Shares"), of the
Company. The dividend is payable on October 7, 1988 (the "Record
Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. As adjusted
for two 2-for-1 stock splits since September 15, 1988, each
Right, as of June 18, 1998, entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company one four-hundredth of a share of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, without par value (the
"Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of $1060 per one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price") (which
equates to $265 per one four-hundredth of a Preferred Share),
subject to further adjustment in accordance with the terms of the
Amended and Restated Rights Agreement. The description and terms
of the Rights are set forth in an Amended and Restated Rights
Agreement (the "Amended and Restated Rights Agreement") between
the Company and BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent.
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership
of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares or (ii) 10
business days (or such later date as may be determined by action
of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or
announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange
offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 10% or more of such outstanding
Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being called the
"Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect
to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the
Record Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy of this
Summary of Rights attached thereto.
The Amended and Restated Rights Agreement provides that,
until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with
and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share
certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new
issuance of Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating
the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement by reference. Until
the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the
Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date even without such
notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights being attached
thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such
certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution
Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common
Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and
such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire on September 15, 2008 (the "Final
Expiration Date"), unless the Final Expiration Date is
C-1
extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed by the
Company, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred
Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of
the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent
dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a
subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred
Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred
Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market
price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to
holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of
earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred
Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of
each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock
split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common
Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations
or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights
will not be redeemable. As adjusted as of June 18, 1998, each
Preferred Share would be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share but would be entitled
to an aggregate dividend of 400 times the dividend declared per
Common Share. In the event of liquidation, as adjusted as of
June 18, 1998, the holders of the Preferred Shares would be
entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100
per share but would be entitled to an aggregate payment of 400
times the payment made per Common Share. As adjusted as of June
18, 1998, each Preferred Share would have 400 votes, voting
together with the Common Shares. Finally, in the event of any
merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares
are exchanged, each Preferred Share, as adjusted as of June 18,
1998, would be entitled to receive 400 times the amount received
per Common Share. These rights are protected by customary
antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one
four-hundredth interest in a Preferred Share purchasable upon
exercise of each Right, based upon the adjustments that have been
effected to date, should approximate the value of one Common
Share.
In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or
other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its
consolidated assets or earning power is sold, proper provision
will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have
the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of
common stock of the acquiring company that at the time of such
transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise
price of the Right. In the event that any person becomes an
Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the
Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be void), will thereafter
have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common
Shares having a
C-2
market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. In
the event that there are insufficient Common Shares issued but
not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the exercise
in full of the Rights as described in the immediately preceding
sentence, and if the Company is unable to authorize such
additional Common Shares as is necessary to permit such exercise
following good faith effort to so act, the Company will
substitute a number of Preferred Shares (or fraction thereof)
such that the current per share market price of one Preferred
Share multiplied by such number is equal to the current per share
market price of one Common Share as of the date of issuance of
such Preferred Shares.
At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 10%
or more of the outstanding Common Shares and prior to the
acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company
may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person
or group that have become void), in whole or in part, at an
exchange ratio of one Common Share, or one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share (or of a share of a class or series of the
Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment). In the event
that there are insufficient Common Shares issued but not
outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of
Rights as described in the immediately preceding sentence, and if
the Company is unable to authorize such additional Common Shares
as is necessary for such exchange following good faith effort to
so act, the Company will substitute for each Common Share that
would otherwise be issuable that number of Preferred Shares (or
fraction thereof) such that the current per share market price of
one Preferred Share multiplied by such number is equal to the
current per share market price of one Common Share as of the date
of issuance of such Preferred Shares.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
will be required until cumulative adjustments require an
adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional
Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions that are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share,
which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by
depositary receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash
will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on
the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the acquisition by a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 10%
or more of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors
of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $.0025 per Right as adjusted as of June 18, 1998
(the "Redemption Price"). The Rights may also be redeemed during
the 15-day period (which period may be extended in certain
circumstances) following such acquisition by approval of
two-thirds of the Continuing Directors (as defined in the Rights
Agreement). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective
at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board
of Directors or the Continuing Directors, as the case may be, may
establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the
right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of
the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of
Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of
the Rights, except that from and after such time
C-3
as any person becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may
adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such,
will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including,
without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
A copy of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit
to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated June 29, 1998. A
copy of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is available
free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the
Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
C-4