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EXHIBIT 1
_________________________________________________
GIANT GROUP, LTD.
and
CHEMICAL MELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.,
as Rights Agent
_________________________________________________
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 4, 1996
_________________________________________________
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 3. Issue of 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. . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares and
Number of Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earnings Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Section 15. Rights of Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 23. Redemption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 24. Exchange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Section 26. Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 28. Successors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 31. Severability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 32. Governing Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 33. Counterparts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Rights Agreement, dated as of January 4, 1996 ("Agreement"), between
GIANT GROUP, LTD., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and CHEMICAL MELLON
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (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 share of
Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the
Close of Business (as defined below) on January 16, 1996 (the "Record Date"),
each Right representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth (subject to
adjustment) of a share of Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined), upon the
terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has further
authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as
provided herein) with respect to each share of Common Stock that shall become
outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date
and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined); provided,
however, that Rights may be issued with respect to shares of Common Stock that
shall become outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior to the
Expiration Date in accordance with Section 22.
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 meaning indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term
is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include an Exempt Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined); provided, however, that (i) if the Board of Directors of
the Company determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an
"Acquiring Person" became such inadvertently (including, without limitation,
because (A) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of
Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person"
or (B) such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of
Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial
Ownership under this Agreement) and without any intention of changing or
influencing control of the Company, and if such Person as promptly as
practicable divested or divests itself of Beneficial Ownership of a sufficient
number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an
"Acquiring Person," then such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have
become an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement; (ii) if, as of
the date hereof, any Person is the Beneficial Owner of a number of shares of
Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring
Person," such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have become an "Acquiring
Person" unless and until such time as such Person shall become the Beneficial
Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock (other than pursuant to a
dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common
Stock in shares of Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the
outstanding Common Stock, and other than any such additional shares
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of Common Stock of which such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner pursuant
to or as the result of any employee benefit plan, employee stock or stock
option plan, employment agreement or other compensation agreement of or with
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company relating to such Person's
employment with or service as a director of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company) unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional
shares of Common Stock, such Person is not then the Beneficial Owner of 15% or
more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; and (iii) no Person shall
become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of shares of
Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares
outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding, provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding
by reason of such share acquisitions by the Company and shall thereafter become
the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock, then such Person
shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" unless upon becoming the Beneficial
Owner of such additional shares of Common Stock such Person is not the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common
Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance
with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date hereof.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Rights Agreement.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, shall be
deemed to have "Beneficial Ownership" of and shall be deemed to "beneficially
own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates is deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange
Act as in effect on the date of this Rights Agreement;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (x)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf
of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase, (y) securities which such Person
has a right to acquire upon the exercise of Rights at any time prior to the
time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (z) securities issuable
upon the exercise of Rights from and after the time that any Person
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becomes an Acquiring Person if such Rights were acquired by such Person
or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date
or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof ("original Rights") or
pursuant to Section 11(i) or Section 11(n) with respect to an adjustment to
original Rights; 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 by reason
of such agreement, arrangement or understanding 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) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
by any other Person and with respect to 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 such
securities of the Company;
provided, however, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned" (as defined in this Section 1(c)), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director
or employee of an Exempt Person.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of California 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.,
Los Angeles, California time, on such date; provided, however, that if such
date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Los Angeles, California
time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company shall
mean the Common Stock, presently par value $.01 per share, of the Company.
"Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company
shall mean the common stock (or, in the case of an unincorporated entity, the
equivalent equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person
or, if such other Person is a subsidiary of another Person, the Person or
Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(g) "Common Stock equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(h) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(i) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
(j) "equivalent preferred shares" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(b) hereof.
(k) "Exempt Person" shall mean the Company or any Subsidiary (as
such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, in each case including,
without limitation, in its fiduciary capacity, or any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity or trustee
holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or for the
purpose of funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits for
employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company.
(l) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
24 hereof.
(m) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7 hereof.
(n) "Flip-In Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(o) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7 hereof.
(p) "NASDAQ" shall mean The NASDAQ Stock Market.
(q) "New York Stock Exchange" shall mean the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc.
(r) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity, and shall
include any successor (by merger or otherwise) to such entity.
(s) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company having the rights and
preferences set forth in the Form of Certificate of Designation attached to
this Rights Agreement as Exhibit A.
(t) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(b) hereof.
(u) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7 hereof.
(v) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23 hereof.
(w) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
(x) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(y) "Section 11(a) (ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(z) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(aa) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such, or
such earlier date as a majority of the Board of Directors shall become aware of
the existence of an Acquiring Person.
(bb) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons
performing similar functions are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person, and any corporation or other entity that is otherwise controlled
by such Person.
(cc) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(dd) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
(ee) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) hereof.
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
be the holders of Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day
after the Stock 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 an Exempt Person) of, or of the first
public announcement of the intention of such Person (other than an Exempt
Person) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would
result in any Person (other than an Exempt Person) becoming the Beneficial
Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 15% or more of the Common Stock
then outstanding (including any such date which 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 Stock registered in the names of the holders thereof
and not by separate Right Certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock. 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 Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, a Right Certificate, in substantially the
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form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right (subject
to adjustment as provided herein) for each share of Common Stock so 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 Shares of Preferred
Stock, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"),
by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Stock as
of the Close of Business on the Record Date (other than any Acquiring Person or
any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person), at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date,
the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of
the holders thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution
Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a
copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented thereby.
(c) Certificates issued for Common Stock (including, without
limitation, upon transfer of outstanding Common Stock, disposition of Common
Stock out of treasury stock or issuance or reissuance of Common Stock out of
authorized but unissued shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier
of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date shall have impressed on,
printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between GIANT GROUP,
LTD. and CHEMICAL MELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C., as Rights
Agent, dated as of January 4, 1996 as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the
principal executive offices of GIANT GROUP, LTD. 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. GIANT GROUP, LTD. will mail to the holder of
this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after
receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances,
as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights owned by or transferred
to any Person who is or becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the
Rights Agreement) and certain transferees thereof will become null and
void and will no longer be transferable
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate, except as otherwise provided
herein, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or
otherwise acquires any Common Stock after the Record Date but
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prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Stock
shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled
to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Stock which are no longer
outstanding.
Notwithstanding this paragraph (c), the omission of a legend shall not
affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any
holder of the Rights.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and
the forms of election to purchase shares and of assignment to be printed on the
reverse thereof) shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B
hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed or quoted, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of
Sections 11, 13 and 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the
number of such one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and the
Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer or the President of the Company, either manually or by
facsimile signature, shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a
facsimile thereof and shall be attested by the Secretary 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 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 Agreement any such
Person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at an office or agency designated for such purpose, 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.
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Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 11(a)(ii) and 14
hereof, at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates 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-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock 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
or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. 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.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, at any
time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, 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) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall become
exercisable on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the registered holder of
any Right Certificate may, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and except as
otherwise provided herein, exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in
part 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 or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as to which the Rights are exercised, at any
time which is both after the Distribution Date and prior to the time (the
"Expiration Date") that is the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on January
4, 2006 (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 shall be initially $30 for each one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. The Purchase Price
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and the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock or other
securities or property to be acquired upon exercise of a Right 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) of this Section 7.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, upon receipt of a Right
Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to
purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the aggregate Purchase Price
for the shares of Preferred Stock 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, in cash or 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 Stock certificates for the number of shares of Preferred Stock 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 interests in such number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which
case certificates for the Preferred Stock 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)
promptly 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, promptly deliver such
cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) Except as otherwise provided herein, in case the registered
holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all of the Rights
evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the
exercisable 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) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder of Rights upon the occurrence of any
purported transfer or exercise of Rights pursuant to Section 6 hereof or this
Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment or form of election to purchase
set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such
transfer or exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity
of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request.
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 canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver
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13
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 canceled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the
written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and
in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock or any shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury, the
number of shares of Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the
time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, shares of Common Stock and
other securities) issuable upon the exercise of Rights may be listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ,
the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as
the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be
listed or admitted to trading on such exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ, upon
official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) From and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, the
Company shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to permit the issuance of
shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the time that any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, shares of Common Stock and other securities) upon the
exercise of Rights, to register and qualify such shares of Preferred Stock
(and, following the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, shares of
Common Stock and other securities) under the Securities Act and any applicable
state securities or "Blue Sky" laws (to the extent exemptions therefrom are not
available), cause such registration statement and qualifications to become
effective as soon as possible after such filing and keep such registration and
qualifications effective until the earlier of the date as of which the Rights
are no longer exercisable for such securities and the Expiration Date. The
Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 90 days,
the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file a registration
statement under the Securities Act and permit it to become effective. Upon any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a
public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification
in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until a registration
statement under the Securities Act (if required) shall have been declared
effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock (and,
following the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, shares of
Common Stock and other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at
the time of delivery of the certificates therefor
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14
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when
due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which
may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates
or of any shares of Preferred Stock (or shares of Common Stock or other
securities) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any
transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred
Stock (or shares of Common Stock or other securities) in a name other than that
of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates or depositary
receipts for Preferred Stock (or shares of Common Stock or other securities)
upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any
such tax being payable by that 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 Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name
any certificate for Preferred Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall
for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares of
Preferred Stock 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 Stock 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 Stock 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
Stock for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends or other distributions, and shall not
be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as
provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares
and Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of each Right
and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to
time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares
of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine
the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares of Preferred
Stock or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the
Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving
corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase
Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the
effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of
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15
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 which, if such Right
had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, the holder would have
owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that
in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right
be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the
Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event
any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (the first occurrence of such event
being referred to hereinafter as the "Flip-In Event"), then (A) the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
the Flip-In Event multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a share
of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
Flip-In Event, whether or not such Right was then exercisable, and (B) each
holder of a Right, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a)(ii) and
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price equal to the Purchase Price (as so adjusted), in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred
Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained
by dividing the Purchase Price (as so adjusted) by 50% of the current per share
market price of the Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
on the date of such Flip-In Event; provided, however, that the Purchase Price
(as so adjusted) and the number of shares of Common Stock so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall, following the Flip-In Event, be subject to further
adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, however, from and
after the Flip-In Event, any Rights that are beneficially owned by (x) any
Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person), (y) a
transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who
becomes a transferee after the Flip-In Event or (z) a transferee of any
Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who became a transferee
prior to or concurrently with the Flip-In Event pursuant to either (I) a
transfer from the Acquiring Person to holders of its equity securities or to
any Person with whom it has any continuing agreement, arrangement or
understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (II) a transfer which the
Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or
understanding which has the purpose or effect of avoiding the provisions of
this paragraph, and subsequent transferees of such Persons, shall be void
without any further action and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have
no rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights under any provision of this
Agreement. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the
provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii) are complied with, but shall have no
liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a result of
its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or
its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder. From and after the Flip-In
Event, no Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 6
hereof that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the
provisions of this paragraph, and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights
Agent that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the
provisions of this paragraph shall be cancelled. From and after the occurrence
of an event specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that theretofore have
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16
not been exercised pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii) shall thereafter be
exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and not pursuant to this Section
11(a)(ii).
(iii) The Company may at its option substitute for a share
of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii) a number of shares of Preferred Stock or fraction
thereof such that the current per share market price of one share of Preferred
Stock multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current per share
market price of one share of Common Stock. In the event that there shall not be
sufficient shares of Common Stock 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 Board of Directors shall, to the extent
permitted by applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to which
the Company is a party (A) determine the excess (such excess, the "Spread") of
(1) the value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a
Right in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) (the "Current Value")
over (2) the Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii)), and (B) with respect to each Right (other than Rights which
have become void pursuant to the foregoing subparagraph (ii)), make adequate
provision to substitute for the shares of Common Stock issuable in accordance
with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) upon exercise of the Right and payment of
the Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance therewith), (1) cash, (2) a
reduction in such Purchase Price, (3) shares of Preferred Stock or other equity
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares or fractions
of shares of preferred stock which, by virtue of having dividend, voting and
liquidation rights substantially comparable to those of the shares of Common
Stock, are deemed in good faith by the Board of Directors to have substantially
the same value as the shares of Common Stock (such shares of Preferred Stock
and shares or fractions of shares of preferred stock are hereinafter referred
to as "Common Stock equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5)
other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having a value which,
when added to the value of the shares of Common Stock actually issued upon
exercise of such Right, shall have an aggregate value equal to the Current
Value (less the amount of any reduction in such Purchase Price), where such
aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors upon the advice
of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected in good faith by
the Board of Directors; provided, however, that if the Company shall not make
adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty
(30) days following the Flip-In Event (the "Section 11(a) (ii) Trigger Date"),
then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to which the Company
is a party, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring
payment of such Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent
available), and then, if necessary, such number or fractions of shares of
Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which
shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If, upon the
occurrence of the Flip-In Event, the Board of Directors shall determine in good
faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could
be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, then, if the
Board of Directors so elects, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be
extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the
Section 11(a) (ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder
approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such thirty (30) day
period, as it may be extended, is herein called the "Substitution Period"). To
the extent that the
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Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the second and/or
third sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide,
subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and the last sentence of this Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding
Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the
expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of
additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be
made pursuant to such second sentence and to determine the value thereof. In
the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended,
as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the shares of
Common Stock shall be the current per share market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)) on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the per
share or fractional value of any "Common Stock equivalent" shall be deemed to
equal the current per share market price of the Common Stock. The Board of
Directors of the Company may, but shall not be required to, establish
procedures to allocate the right to receive shares of Common Stock upon the
exercise of the Rights among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(a)(iii).
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance
of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them
(for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights,
privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock ("equivalent preferred
shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent
preferred shares at a price per share of Preferred Stock or equivalent
preferred shares (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into shares of Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred shares) less
than the then current per share market price of the Preferred Stock (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be
in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock and
equivalent preferred shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of
shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred shares which the aggregate
offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock 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 shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred shares outstanding on
such record date plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock 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.
Shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent 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
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18
issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of
a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Stock (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a
dividend payable in Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be
in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the then current per share market price of the
Preferred Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) 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 share of Preferred Stock, and the denominator of which shall
be such current per share market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) of the Preferred Stock; 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 which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d)(i) Except as otherwise provided herein, 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 average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported by 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 NASDAQ or such other
system then in use,
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19
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, if the
Preferred Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Stock shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in
Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred Stock is not publicly traded but the Common
Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred
Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market price of
the Common Stock as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) multiplied by the
then applicable Adjustment Number (as defined in and determined in accordance
with the Certificate of Designation for the Preferred Stock). If neither the
Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly 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 1% in the
Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this
Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken
into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section
11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one hundred-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock or share of Common Stock or other share or
security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section
11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than
the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which requires
such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than the Preferred
Stock, thereafter the Purchase Price and the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of a 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 Stock contained in Sections 11(a),
11(b), 11(c), 11(e), 11(h), 11(i) and 11(m) hereof, as applicable, and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred
Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of
a share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon
exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
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20
(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-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
one hundred-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share covered by a Right
immediately prior to such 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 pursuant to Sections 11(a)(i), 11(b) or 11(c) hereof to
adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number
of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the
exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of
the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately
prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of
the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the
nearest one-hundredth) 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
may, 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-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock 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-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock which were expressed in the
initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the fraction
of Preferred Stock or other
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21
shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall
take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be
necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid
and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock or other such 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 Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Stock and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise
on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment;
provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due ββββ or
other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such
additional shares 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 adjustments 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 Stock, issuance
wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current
market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Stock or securities which
by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Stock,
dividends on Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock or issuance
of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b),
hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock shall not be
taxable to such stockholders.
(n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in
the event that at any time after the date of this Rights Agreement and prior to
the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in Common Stock or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination
or consolidation of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend payable in Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then, in each such case, the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or
delivered thereafter, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of
Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such
event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a
fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
(o) The Company agrees that, after the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Stock Acquisition Date, it will not, except as permitted by
Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any
action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that
such action will diminish substantially or eliminate the benefits intended to
be afforded by the Rights.
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Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 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
Stock and the Preferred Stock 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 (if so required under Section 25 hereof). The Rights Agent
shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any
adjustment therein contained 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
Earnings Power.
(a) In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after the
Flip-In Event (i) the Company shall merge with and into any other Person, (ii)
any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or any Person shall 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 Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other Person (or of the Company) or cash or any other
property, or (iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more
of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person (other than the Company or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries
of the Company), then upon the first occurrence of such event, proper provision
shall be made so that: (A) each holder of a Right (other than Rights which
have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) shall thereafter have
the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the Purchase Price (as
theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof), in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred
Stock or Common Stock of the Company, such number of validly authorized and
issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock
of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject to
any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as
shall equal the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price (as theretofore
adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) by 50% of the current per
share market price of the Common Stock of such Principal Party (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; provided, however, that the Purchase
Price (as theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) and
the number of shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in
accordance with Section 11(f) hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect
of the Common Stock of such Principal Party after the occurrence of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (B) such Principal Party 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 Rights Agreement; (C) the term "Company" shall thereafter be
deemed to refer to such Principal Party; and (D) such Principal Party shall
take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient
number of its shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in
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connection with such consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary
to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly
as reasonably may be, in relation to the shares of its Common Stock thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; provided that, upon the subsequent
occurrence of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets or other
extraordinary transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a
Right shall thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and
payment of the Purchase Price as provided in this Section 13(a), such cash,
shares, rights, warrants and other property which such holder would have been
entitled to receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the
Common Stock of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of a Right
pursuant to this Section 13(a), and such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be
necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with
the terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (i) or
(ii) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the
issuer of the securities into which the shares of Common Stock are converted in
such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the
issuer the shares of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market
value of shares outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the
Person that is the other party to the merger, if such Person survives said
merger, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person the shares of
Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding or (y) if the Person that is the other party to the merger does not
survive the merger, the Person that does survive the merger (including the
Company if it survives) or (z) the Person resulting from the consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (iii) of
the first sentence in Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred
pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a
party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the
assets or earning power so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such
Persons as is the issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market
value of shares outstanding; provided, however, that in any such case described
in the foregoing clause (b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time or has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month
period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person
is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which
is and has been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such
other Person, or (2) if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of
more than one Person, the Common Stock of all of which is and has been so
registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons
is the issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of
shares outstanding, or (3) if such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by
a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or
indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2)
above shall apply to each of the owners having an interest in the venture as if
the Person owned by the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such
joint venturers,
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24
and the Principal Party in each such case shall bear the obligations set forth
in this Section 13 in the same ratio as its interest in such Person bears to
the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer referred to in Section 13(a) hereof unless prior thereto the
Company and the Principal Party involved therein shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent an agreement confirming that the requirements of
Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof shall promptly be performed in accordance with
their terms and that such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets
shall not result in a default by the Principal Party under this Agreement as
the same shall have been assumed by the Principal Party pursuant to Sections
13(a) and (b) hereof and providing that, as soon as practicable after executing
such agreement pursuant to this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date and
similarly comply with applicable state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the
Principal Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or on another national securities exchange, to list or admit to
trading (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities
exchange, or, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities
exchange, to cause the Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of
the Rights to be authorized for quotation on NASDAQ or on such other system
then in use;
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act; and
(iv) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or
preemptive rights in respect of the Common Stock of the Principal Party subject
to purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
(d) In case the Principal Party has provision in any of its
authorized securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or
other instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have
the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders
of Rights pursuant to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of
Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then current market price
per share thereof (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock of such Principal Party at
less than such then current market price, or (ii) providing for any special
payment, tax or similar provision in connection with the issuance of the Common
Stock of such Principal Party pursuant to the
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25
provisions of Section 13, then, in such event, the Company hereby agrees with
each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate any such transaction unless
prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the
provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled, waived
or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the
applicable provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a
consequence of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Flip-In Event, enter into any transaction of the type described
in clauses (i) through (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof if (i) at the time of or
immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other
transaction there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities
outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii)
prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer or other transaction, the stockholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section
13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature
of organization of the Principal Party would preclude or limit the
exercisability of the Rights.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights
or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights (except
prior to the Distribution Date in accordance with Section 11(n) hereof). 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 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 good faith
by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
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26
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock). Interests in fractions of Preferred Stock in
integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock may, at
the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, 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 Stock represented by such
depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are
not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the
Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current per share market price of one share of Preferred
Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) 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 Stock); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or,
prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of
the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), on his own behalf and for his own
benefit, may 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 (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, such Common Stock) in the manner provided therein 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 Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office or agency of the Rights
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27
Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper
instrument of transfer; and
(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
Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of
the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or
writing on the Right Certificates or the Common Stock certificate made by
anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever,
and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall 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 Stock or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any 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 this Agreement), or to receive dividends or
subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by such Right
Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The
Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless
against, any loss, liability or expense, incurred without 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 arising therefrom, directly or indirectly.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any
Right Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Stock or Common Stock or for
other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed 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.
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Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the stock transfer or corporate trust powers 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 countersignature 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.
(b) In case at 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 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 by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman
of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the Chief
Financial Officer or 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.
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(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 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 provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13,
23 and 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 furnished
pursuant to Section 12, describing such change or adjustment); nor shall it by
any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Preferred Stock or other
securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or
as to whether any shares of Preferred Stock or other securities 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
person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be one of the Chairman of the
Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President
or the Secretary or Chief Financial Officer 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 Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall
be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be
liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance
with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified
in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days after
the date any officer of the Company actually 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
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30
received written instructions in response to such application specifying the
action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or
other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not
Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights
Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal
entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable
or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such
attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act,
default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the
selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate contained in the form of
assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse
thereof, as the case may be, has not been completed to certify the holder is
not an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate thereof), a Rights Agent
shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise of
transfer without first consulting with the Company.
(k) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights
if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds
or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or
certified mail, and, following the Distribution Date, 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 Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or
certified mail, and, following the Distribution Date, 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
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
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the Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or the laws of any other state of
the United States or the District of Columbia, in good standing, having an
office in the State of California, 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 $25
million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with
the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver
any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not
later than the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall file
notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer
agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock, and, following the Distribution
Date, 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 forms 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. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company may with respect to shares
of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to (i) the exercise of stock
options, (ii) under any employee plan or arrangement, (iii) upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of securities notes or debentures issued by the Company
or (iv) a contractual obligation of the Company, in each case existing prior to
the Distribution Date, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate
number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale.
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at any time prior
to the Flip-In Event, 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 (the redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the
"Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at
such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in
its sole discretion may establish. The Redemption Price shall be payable, at
the option of the Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock or such other form
of consideration as the Board of Directors shall determine.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 23 (or
at such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the
effectiveness of such redemption), and
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32
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the
Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights
shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly give
public notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the failure to
give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such
redemption. Within 10 days after such action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights (or such later time as the Board of
Directors may establish for the effectiveness of such redemption), 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 Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of redemption shall state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at
any time after the Flip-In Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding
and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted
to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring
after the date hereof (such amount per Right 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 an Acquiring
Person shall have become the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock
aggregating 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. From
and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any
Rights that theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a)
shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and may not
be exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a). The exchange of the Rights by the
Board 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.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board
of Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
paragraph (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 shares
of Common Stock 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 shall promptly mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders
of the Rights so exchanged at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the
exchange of the shares of Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the
event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged.
Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights
(other than Rights
- 29 -
33
which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof)
held by each holder of Rights.
(c) The Company may at its option substitute, and, in the event
that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not
outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit an exchange of Rights for
Common Stock as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company
shall substitute to the extent of such insufficiency, for each share of Common
Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of
shares of Preferred Stock or fraction thereof (or equivalent preferred shares,
as such term is defined in Section 11(b)) such that the current per share
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of one share of
Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred share) multiplied by such number or
fraction is equal to the current per share market price of one share of Common
Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) as of the date of the
Flip-In Event.
(d) The Company shall not, in connection with any exchange
pursuant to this Section 24, be required to issue fractions of shares of Common
Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common
Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company shall
pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which
such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an amount in
cash equal to the same fraction of the current per share market price of a
whole share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this
Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall at any time after the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date propose (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Stock or to make
any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Stock (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock
(other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision or combination of
outstanding Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, or (v) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Stock payable in Common Stock or to effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of dividends in Common Stock), 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 liquidation, dissolution or winding up is to take
place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock
and/or Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall
be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at
least 10 days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred
Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least 10 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the
date of participation therein
- 30 -
34
by the holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock, whichever shall be
the earlier.
(b) In case any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13
shall occur then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to
each holder of a Right Certificate (or if occurring prior to the Distribution
Date, the holders of the Common Stock) 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)
and Section 13 hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any 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:
GIANT GROUP, LTD.
βββ ββ ββββββ βββββ
βββββ βββ
βββββββ βββββ, ββββββββββ βββββ
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:
CHEMICAL MELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
βββ β. ββββ ββββββ, ββββ βββββ
βββ ββββ, βββ ββββ βββββ
Attention: Chemical Mellon Equity Administration
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. Except as provided in the
penultimate sentence of this Section 27, for so long as the Rights are then
redeemable, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights
Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of
this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of the
Rights. At any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, except as
provided in the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, the Company may, and
the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates in order
to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision contained
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
(iii) shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or (iv) change or
supplement the provisions hereunder in any
- 31 -
35
manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable; provided that no such
supplement or amendment shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of
Rights as such (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person), and no such amendment may cause the rights again to
become redeemable or cause the Agreement again to become amendable other than
in accordance with this sentence. Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made which
changes the Redemption Price. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an
appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders
of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common
Stock).
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise the rights and powers
specifically granted to the Board of Directors of the Company or to the
Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret
the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the Board of Directors of
the Company in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights, as such, and all other
parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors to any liability to the
holders of the Rights.
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and
performed entirely within such State.
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36
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
GIANT GROUP, LTD.
By /s/
-------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CHEMICAL MELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
as Rights Agent
By /s/
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
- 33 -
37
Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
GIANT GROUP, LTD.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
GIANT GROUP, LTD., a corporation organized and existing under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 103 thereof, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors in
accordance with the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
the said Corporation, the said Board of Directors on January 4, 1996 adopted
the following resolution creating a series of 12,500 shares of Preferred Stock
designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock":
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board
of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of
the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Corporation be and hereby is
created, and that the designation and number of shares thereof and the
voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating,
optional or other rights of the shares of such series and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are as follows:
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preferred
Stock that shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock," and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 12,500.
Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board
of Directors; provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock to less than the number
of shares then issued and outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon
exercise of outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of
outstanding securities issued by the Corporation.
2. Dividends and Distribution.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the
holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and
superior to the shares of Series A Junior
A-1
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Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders
of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as to the payment of
dividends, 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 1st day of January, April, July and October 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 Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) the Adjustment Number (as
defined below) times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and
the Adjustment Number times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of
all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in
shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The
"Adjustment Number" shall initially be 1000. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time after January 4, 1996 (the "Rights Declaration Date") (i)
declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Adjustment
Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by
multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or
distribution on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided
in paragraph (A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution
on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of
such 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 Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled
to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of
such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be
allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time
outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the
determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
A-2
39
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 60 days
prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to a number of votes equal to the
Adjustment Number on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation.
(B) Except as required by law and by Section 10 hereof,
holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special
voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent
they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for
taking any corporate action.
4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as
provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid
in full, the Corporation shall not
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other
distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on
which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; or
(iii) purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or
any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or
by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or to such holders and holders
of any such shares ranking on a parity therewith, 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.
A-3
40
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the
Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their retirement become
authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part
of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions
of the Board of Directors, subject to any conditions and restrictions on
issuance set forth herein.
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon any
liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have received an
amount per share (the "Series A Liquidation Preference") equal to the greater
of (i) $100, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, or
(ii) the Adjustment Number times the per share amount of all cash and other
property to be distributed in respect of the Common Stock upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient
assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation
Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred
Stock, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the
holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation
preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the
Corporation into or with another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of
any other corporation into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of
this Section 6.
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to the Adjustment
Number 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.
8. No Redemption. Shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall not be subject to redemption by the Company.
9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of
any such series shall provide otherwise, and shall rank senior to the Common
Stock as to such matters.
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the
A-4
41
Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in
proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights,
receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all
other rights of holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate this
____ day of January, 1996.
GIANT GROUP, LTD.
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
A-5
42
Exhibit B
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. R- ____
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JANUARY 4, 2006 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 RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT,
RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN
TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE
TRANSFERABLE.
Right Certificate
B-1
43
GIANT GROUP, LTD.
This certifies that _______________ or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement, dated as of January 4, 1996, as the same may be amended
from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between GIANT GROUP, LTD., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and CHEMICAL MELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES,
L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at
any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., Los Angeles, California time, on January 4,
2006 at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
or of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid
non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Company, at a purchase
price of $30 per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the
"Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate
with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of one one-thousandths of
a share of Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set
forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and
Purchase Price as of January 4, 1996, based on the Preferred Stock as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase
Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or
other securities or property) which may be purchased upon the exercise of the
Rights and the number of 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 office or agency of the Rights Agent. The
Company will mail to the holder of this Right Certificate a copy of the Rights
Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, 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 shares of Preferred Stock 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 $.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part
for shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, or shares
of Preferred Stock.
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44
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock,
which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the
Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time
be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement) or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this 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.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of ________________, 199__.
GIANT GROUP, LTD.
ATTEST: By:_______________________
[Title]
_______________________________
[Title]
Countersigned:
______________________________,
as Rights Agent
By ___________________________
[Title]
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45
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)
________________________________________________________________________________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title
and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint________
Attorney, to transfer said Rights on the books of the within-named Company,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: ______________
________________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer
or other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(To be completed)
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by, were not acquired by the
undersigned from, and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
________________________________________
Signature
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46
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate)
To GIANT GROUP, LTD.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ___________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of
Preferred Stock (or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of
such Rights and requests that certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock
(or such other securities) be issued in the name of:
________________________________________________________________________________
(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: ________________
________________________________________
Signature
(Signature must conform to holder specified on Right Certificate)
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer
or other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
________________________________________________________________________________
(To be completed)
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47
The undersigned certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not beneficially owned by, and were not acquired by the
undersigned from, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
defined in the Rights Agreement).
---------------------------------------
Signature
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to
Purchase, as the case may be, 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, such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
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48
Exhibit C
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT,
RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN
TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE
TRANSFERABLE.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK OF
GIANT GROUP, LTD.
On January 4, 1996, the Board of Directors of GIANT GROUP, LTD. (the
"Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share,
of the Company (the "Common Stock"). The dividend is payable on January 16,
1996 (the "Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. Each
Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company at a price of $30
per one one- thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"),
subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth
in a Rights Agreement dated as of January 4, 1996, as the same may be amended
from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and CHEMICAL
MELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "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 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock 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 or group of affiliated persons 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 15% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called the
"Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the
Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common
Stock certificate together with a copy of this Summary of Rights.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred
with and only with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued
after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuances of Common Stock will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this
Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the shares of
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49
Common Stock 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 Stock 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 January 4, 2006 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the
Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is
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 Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a
price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price,
less than the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon
the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights is subject to adjustment in the event
of a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or
subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in
any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will
not be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as
and if declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1.00
per share but will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 1000 times the
dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, the
holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential
liquidation payment of $100 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends)
but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 1000 times the payment made per
share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 1000 votes,
voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock are
converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to
receive 1000 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights
are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one- thousandth interest in a share of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one share of Common Stock.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void),
will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right at the
then-current exercise price of the Right, that
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50
number of shares of Common Stock having a market value of two times the
exercise price of the Right.
In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring
Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are
sold, proper provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than
Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void)
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 person with whom the Company has engaged in the foregoing transaction
(or its parent) that at the time of such transaction has a market value of two
times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraph
or the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the
Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will have become
void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or a
series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or a
fractional share of Preferred Stock (or other preferred stock) equivalent in
value thereto, per Right.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock, 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 Stock on the last
trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the
Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of
the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion 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.
For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may, except
with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights in any manner. After
the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to
the redemption price, amend the Rights in any manner that does not adversely
affect the interests of 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.
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A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
_______, 1996. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from
the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
as the same may be amended from time to time, which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference.
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