EXHIBIT 4.1
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SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF
DECEMBER 20, 1996
BETWEEN
ISOLYSER COMPANY, INC.
AND
SUNTRUST BANK
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS............................................. 2
1.1 Certain Definitions................................................... 2
ARTICLE II THE RIGHTS......................................................10
2.1 Summary of Rights.....................................................10
2.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates...................................10
2.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights..............................11
2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights.......................14
2.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective...................................15
2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates.16
2.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange...................17
2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates.............18
2.9 Persons Deemed Owners.................................................19
2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates.............................19
2.11 Agreement of Rights Holders...........................................20
ARTICLE III ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS....................................................20
3.1 Flip-in...............................................................20
3.2 Flip-over.............................................................24
ARTICLE IV THE RIGHTS AGENT.................................................25
4.1 General...............................................................25
4.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.............26
4.3 Duties of Rights Agent................................................27
4.4 Change of Rights Agent................................................30
ARTICLE V MISCELLANEOUS....................................................31
5.1 Redemption............................................................31
5.2 Expiration............................................................32
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates...................................32
5.4 Supplements and Amendments............................................33
5.5 Fractional Shares.....................................................34
5.6 Rights of Action......................................................34
5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Shareholder.............................34
5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions............................................35
5.9 Notices...............................................................35
5.10 Suspension of Exercisability..........................................36
5.11 Costs of Enforcement..................................................37
5.12 Successors............................................................37
5.13 Benefits of this Agreement............................................37
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5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc..............37
5.15 Descriptive Headings..................................................38
5.16 Governing Law.........................................................38
5.17 Counterparts..........................................................38
5.18 Severability..........................................................38
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ISOLYSER COMPANY, INC.
SUMMARY OF SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS PLAN
DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSFER OF RIGHTS; RIGHTS CERTIFICATES: The Board has declared
a dividend of one Right for each share of Common Stock outstanding on December
31, 1996. Prior to the Separation Time referred to below, the Rights will be
evidenced by and trade with the Common Stock and will not be exercisable. After
the Separation Time, the Company will mail Rights Certificates to shareholders
and the Rights will become transferable apart from the Common Stock.
SEPARATION TIME: Rights will separate from the Common Stock and become
exercisable following the earlier of (i) the date of the Flip-in Trigger
referred to below or (ii) the tenth business day (or such later day as the Board
may decide) after any person commences a tender offer that would result in such
person holding a total of 15% or more of the Common Stock.
EXERCISE OF RIGHTS: After the Separation Time, each Right will entitle the
holder to purchase, for an Exercise Price of $60.00, Participating Preferred
Stock designed to have economic and voting terms similar to those of one share
of Common Stock.
"FLIP-IN" TRIGGER: Upon announcement that any person has acquired 15% or more of
the outstanding Common Stock, then:
(i) Rights owned by the person acquiring such stock (an "Acquiring
Person") or transferees thereof will automatically become void;
and
(ii) each other Right will automatically become a right to buy, for
the Exercise Price, that number of shares of Common Stock or
Participating Preferred Stock having a market value of twice the
Exercise Price.
EXCHANGE OPTION: If any person acquires between 15% and 50% of the outstanding
Common Stock, the Board may, in lieu of allowing Rights to be exercised, require
each outstanding Right to be exchanged for one share of Common Stock or
Participating Preferred Stock designed to have economic and voting terms similar
to those of one share of Common Stock.
"FLIP-OVER" TRIGGER: After an Acquiring Person has become such, the Company may
not consolidate or merge with, or sell 50% or more of its assets or earning
power to, any person (a "Flip-Over Transaction or Event") if at the time of such
merger or sale (or agreement to do any of the foregoing) the Acquiring Person
controls the Board of Directors and, in the case of a merger, will receive
different treatment than all other shareholders unless proper provision is made
so that each Right would thereafter become a right to buy, for the Exercise
Price, that number of shares of common stock of such other person having a
market value of twice the Exercise Price.
REDEMPTION: The Rights may be redeemed by the Board, at any time, until a
"Flip-in" Trigger has occurred, at a Redemption Price of $0.001 per Right.
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POWER TO AMEND: The Board may amend the Plan in any respect until a "Flip-in"
Trigger has occurred. Thereafter, the Board may amend the Plan in any respect
not materially adverse to Rights holders generally.
EXPIRATION: The Rights will expire no later than ten years from the date of
their issuance.
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SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time,
this "Agreement"), dated as of December 20, 1996, between ISOLYSER COMPANY,
INC., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and SUNTRUST BANK, as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent", which term shall include any successor Rights Agent
hereunder).
WITNESSETH:
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WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has (a) authorized and
declared a dividend of one right ("Right") in respect of each share of Common
Stock (as hereinafter defined) held of record as of the close of business on
December 31, 1996 (the "Record Time") and (b) authorized the issuance of one
Right in respect of each share of Common Stock issued after the Record Time and
prior to the Separation Time (as hereinafter defined) and, to the extent
provided in Section 5.3, each share of Common Stock issued after the Separation
Time;
WHEREAS, subject to the terms hereof each Right entitles the holder
thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase securities of the Company (or,
in certain cases, of certain other entities) pursuant to the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act on
behalf of the Company, and the Rights Agent is willing so to act, in connection
with the issuance, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates (as
hereinafter defined), the exercise of Rights and other matters referred to
herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who is a Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that
the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include any Person (i) who shall become
the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
solely as a result of an acquisition by the Company of shares of Common Stock,
until such time thereafter as such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner
(other than by means of a stock dividend or stock split) of any additional
shares of Common Stock, (ii) who is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock but who acquired Beneficial Ownership of
shares of Common Stock without any plan or intention to seek or affect control
of the Company, if such Person promptly enters into an irrevocable commitment
promptly to divest, and thereafter promptly divests (without exercising or
retaining any power, including voting, with respect to such shares), sufficient
shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or
exercisable for Common Stock) so that such Person ceases to be the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (iii) who is the
Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock consisting solely of shares of Common
Stock, the Beneficial Ownership of which was acquired by such Person pursuant to
any action or transaction or series of related actions or transactions approved
by the Company's Board of Directors before such person otherwise became an
Acquiring Person or (iv) who is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock on December 31, 1996 and does not thereafter
acquire Beneficial Ownership of additional shares of Common Stock that in the
aggregate exceed 2%
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of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. In addition, the Company, any
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company and any employee stock ownership or other
employee benefit plan of the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company
shall not be an Acquiring Person. For purposes of the preceding clause (iii) any
applicable determination made by the Company's Board of Directors shall include
the concurrence of a majority of not less than two Continuing Directors.
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed
to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended
(the "Securities Exchange Act"), as such Rule is in effect on the date of this
Agreement.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner", and have "Beneficial
Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own", any securities as to which such Person
or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner pursuant to Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange
Act as such Rules are in effect on the date of this Agreement as well as any
securities as to which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has the right to become the Beneficial Owner (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of
conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights),
warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
deemed the "Beneficial Owner", or to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, or to
"Beneficially Own", any security (i) solely because such security has been
tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered security is accepted
for payment or exchange or (ii) solely because such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates has or shares the power to vote or direct the
voting of such security pursuant to a revocable proxy given in response to a
public
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proxy or consent solicitation made to more than ten holders of shares of a class
of stock of the Company registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act and pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and
regulations under the Securities Exchange Act, except if such power (or the
arrangements relating thereto) is then reportable under Schedule 13D under the
Securities Exchange Act (or any similar provision of a comparable or successor
report). For purposes of this Agreement, in determining the percentage of
outstanding shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Person is the
Beneficial Owner, all shares as to which such Person is deemed the Beneficial
Owner shall be deemed outstanding. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to
the contrary, a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"Beneficially Own", any security beneficially owned by another Person solely by
reason of an agreement, arrangement or understanding with such other Person for
the purposes of: (x) soliciting the Company's stockholders for the election of
director nominees or any other stockholder resolution, the formation of and
membership on any committee for the purpose of promoting or opposing any
stockholder resolution or for electing a slate of nominees to the Board, service
on such a slate of nominees, or agreement to serve on a slate of director
nominees, provided that such other Person retains the right at any time to
withdraw as a nominee or member of any such committee, and to withhold or revoke
any vote or proxy for or against any such stockholder resolution or for such
slate of nominees; (y) entering into revocable voting agreements or the granting
or solicitation of revocable proxies with respect to any of the matters
described in the foregoing clause (x); or (z) the sharing of expenses and the
indemnification against expenses and liabilities by any such other Person with
respect to expenses incurred or conduct occurring during the time such other
Person is a nominee or a member of any such committee described in the foregoing
clause (x). Further, notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary,
a Person engaged in the business of underwriting securities shall not
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be deemed to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "Beneficially Own," any
securities acquired in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the
expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of Georgia are generally
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Close of business" on any given date shall mean the time on such date
(or, if such date is not a Business Day, the time on the next succeeding
Business Day) at which the office of the transfer agent for the Common Stock
(or, after the Separation Time, the office of the Rights Agent) is closed to the
public.
"Common Stock" shall mean the shares of common stock, $.001 par value,
of the Company.
"Continuing Director" shall mean any member of the Company's Board of
Directors while such person is a member of the Board who is not an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or an Associate of an Acquiring Person or a
representative or nominee of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or
Associate, and who either (i) was a member of the Company's Board of Directors
prior to the time that any Person became an Acquiring Person or (ii)
subsequently became a member of the Board, and whose nomination for election or
election to the Board was recommended or approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors then on the Board.
"Exchange Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the
Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c) hereof.
"Exercise Price" shall mean, as of any date, the price at which a
holder may purchase the securities issuable upon the exercise of one whole
Right. Until adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof the Exercise
Price shall equal $60.00.
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"Expiration Time" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time,
(ii) the Redemption Time, (iii) the close of business on the tenth-year
anniversary of the Record Time and (iv) upon the merger of the Company into
another corporation pursuant to an agreement entered into when there is no
Acquiring Person.
"Flip-in Date" shall mean any Stock Acquisition Date which is not the
result of a Flip- over Transaction or Event.
"Flip-over Entity", for purposes of Section 3.2, shall mean (i) in the
case of a Flip-over Transaction or Event described in clause (i) of the
definition thereof, the Person issuing any securities into which shares of
Common Stock are being converted or exchanged and, if no such securities are
being issued, the other party to such Flip-over Transaction or Event and (ii) in
the case of a Flip-over Transaction or Event referred to in clause (ii) of the
definition thereof, the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or
earning power being transferred in such Flip-over Transaction or Event, provided
in all cases that if such Person is a subsidiary of a corporation, the parent
corporation shall be the Flip-over Entity.
"Flip-over Stock" shall mean the capital stock (or similar equity
interest) with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of directors
(or other persons similarly responsible for direction of the business and
affairs) of the Flip-over Entity.
"Flip-over Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or series of
transactions after the time when an Acquiring Person has become such in which,
directly or indirectly, (i) the Company shall consolidate or merge or
participate in a share exchange with any other Person if, at the time of the
consolidation, merger or share exchange or at the time the Company enters into
any agreement with respect to any such consolidation, merger or share exchange,
the Acquiring Person controls the Board of Directors of the Company and any term
of or arrangement concerning the treatment of shares of capital stock in such
consolidation, merger
6
or share exchange relating to the Acquiring Person is not identical to the terms
and arrangements relating to other holders of the Common Stock or (ii) the
Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries
shall sell or otherwise transfer) assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the
assets (measured by either book value or fair market value) or (B) generating
more than 50% of the operating income or cash flow of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person (other than the Company or one or
more of its wholly owned Subsidiaries) or to two or more such Persons which are
Affiliates or Associates or otherwise acting in concert if, at the time of the
entry by the Company (or any such Subsidiary) into an agreement with respect to
such sale or transfer or assets, the Acquiring Person controls the Board of
Directors of the Company. For purposes of the foregoing description, the term
"Acquiring Persons" shall include any Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and
Associates counted together as a single Person.
"Market Price" per share of any securities on any date shall mean the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities (determined as
described below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days through and
including the Trading Day immediately preceding such date; provided, however,
that if an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section
2.4 hereof shall have caused the closing prices used to determine the Market
Price on any Trading Days during such period of 20 Trading Days not to be fully
comparable with the closing price on such date, each such closing price so used
shall be appropriately adjusted in order to make it fully comparable with the
closing price on such date. The closing price per share of any securities on any
date shall be the last reported sale price, regular way, or, in case no such
sale takes place or is quoted on such date, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, for each share of such securities, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading
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on The Nasdaq Stock Market or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to
trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal
national securities exchange or quotation system which the securities are listed
or admitted to trading or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the
securities selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however,
that if on any such date the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on
a national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, the
closing price per share of such securities on such date shall mean the fair
value per share of securities on such date as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with a nationally
recognized investment banking firm and set forth in a certificate delivered to
the Rights Agent. If the Preferred Stock is not publicly held and listed or
traded in a manner set forth in this paragraph, the "Market Price" per share of
Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 100 (as
such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock
dividends or capitalizations with respect to the Common Stock occurring after
the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the Market Price per share of Common
Stock determined as provided in this paragraph.
"Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, association, group (as
such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act, as such Rule
is in effect on the date of this Agreement), corporation or other entity.
"Preferred Stock" shall mean the series of Participating Preferred
Stock, no par value, of the Company created by the Articles of Amendment in
substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.
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"Redemption Price" shall mean an amount equal to one-tenth of one cent
($0.001).
"Redemption Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise
the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof.
"Separation Time" shall mean the close of business on the earlier of
(i) the tenth business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the
Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation
Time that would otherwise have occurred) after the date on which any Person
commences a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in such
Person's becoming an Acquiring Person and (ii) the Flip-in Date; provided, that
if the foregoing results in the Separation Time being prior to the Record Time,
the Separation Time shall be the Record Time and provided further, that if any
tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph is
canceled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Time without
the purchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto, such offer shall be
deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, never to have been made.
"Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company (by any means) that an Acquiring Person has become
such.
"Subsidiary" of any specified Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the equity securities or
a majority of the equity interest is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly,
by such Person.
"Trading Day", when used with respect to any securities, shall mean a
day on which The Nasdaq Stock Market is open for the transaction of business or,
if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on The Nasdaq Stock
Market, a day on which the principal national securities exchange or quotation
system on which such securities are listed or admitted to trading, is open for
the transaction of business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange or quotation system, a Business Day.
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"Transaction" shall mean any merger, consolidation, share exchange or
sale of assets as a result of which all of the holders of the Common Stock
immediately prior to the transaction do not hold in the same proportion all of
the voting power of the corporation surviving the transaction, or the Company
shall sell, mortgage or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its subsidiaries
shall sell, mortgage or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions assets
aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair
market value) or generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash flow
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any person (other than
the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiaries).
ARTICLE II
THE RIGHTS
2.1 Summary of Rights. As soon as practicable after the Record Time,
the Company will mail a letter summarizing the terms of the Rights to each
holder of record of Common Stock as of the Record Time, at such holder's address
as shown by the records of the Company.
2.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates. Certificates for the Common
Stock issued after the Record Time but prior to the Separation Time shall
evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented thereby and shall
have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the
following legend:
Until the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement
referred to below), this certificate also evidences and entitles
the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Rights
Agreement, dated as of December 20, 1996 (as such may be amended
from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between Isolyser
Company, Inc. (the "Company") and SunTrust Bank, as Rights Agent,
the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference
and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices
of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the
Rights Agreement, such Rights may be redeemed, may be exchanged
for shares of Common Stock or other securities or assets of the
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, may expire, may become
void (if they are "Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring Person"
or an Affiliate
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or Associate thereof, as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement, or by any transferee of any of the foregoing) or may
be evidenced by separate certificates and may no longer be
evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail or arrange
for the mailing of a copy of the Rights Agreement to the holder
of this certificate without charge within five days after the
receipt of a written request therefor.
Certificates representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding
at the Record Time shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock
evidenced thereby notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend.
2.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights. (a) Subject to Sections
3.1, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will
entitle the holder thereof, after the Separation Time and prior to the
Expiration Time, to purchase, for the Exercise Price, one one-hundredth (1/100)
of a share of Preferred Stock.
(b) Prior to the Separation Time, (i) no Right may be exercised and
(ii) each Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated share of
Common Stock (together, in the case of certificates issued prior to the Record
Time, with the letter mailed to the record holder thereof pursuant to Section
2.1) and will be transferable only together with, and will be transferred by a
transfer (whether with or without such letter) of, such associated share.
(c) Subject to the terms hereof, after the Separation Time and prior to
the Expiration Time, the Rights (i) may be exercised and (ii) may be transferred
independent of shares of Common Stock. Promptly after the Company has notified
the Rights Agent of the occurrence of the Separation Time, the Rights Agent will
mail to each holder of record of Common Stock as of the Separation Time (other
than any Persons with respect to whom the Rights Agent has been notified that
their Rights have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), at such holder's
address as shown by the records of the Company (the Company hereby agreeing to
furnish copies of such records to the Rights Agent for this purpose), (x) a
certificate (a
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"Rights Certificate") in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto
appropriately completed, representing the number of Rights held by such holder
at the Separation Time and having 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 law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any national
securities exchange or quotation system on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and (y) a disclosure statement
describing the Rights.
(d) Subject to the terms hereof, Rights may be exercised on any
Business Day after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time by
submitting to the Rights Agent the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights
with an Election to Exercise (an "Election to Exercise") substantially in the
form attached to the Rights Certificate duly completed, accompanied by payment
in cash, or by certified or official bank check or money order payable to the
order of the Company, a sum equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the number
of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or
charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer
or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates
for shares or depository receipts (or both) in a name other than that of the
holder of the Rights being exercised.
(e) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, with an Election to Exercise
accompanied by payment as set forth in Section 2.3(d), and subject to the terms
hereof, the Rights Agent will thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from a
transfer agent stock certificates evidencing such number of shares or other
securities to be purchased (the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its
transfer agents to comply with all such requisitions) and (B) if the Company
elects pursuant to Section 5.5 not to issue certificates representing fractional
shares,
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requisition from the depository selected by the Company depository receipts
representing the fractional shares to be purchased or requisition from the
Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance
with Section 5.5 and (ii) after receipt of such certificates, depository
receipts and/or cash, deliver the same to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered (in the case of certificates or
depository receipts) in such name or names as may be designated by such holder.
(f) In case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the
Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent
to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.
(g) The Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares delivered upon exercise of
Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares
(subject to payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized,
executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable; (ii) take all
such action as may be necessary to comply with any applicable requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in
connection with the issuance of any shares upon exercise of Rights; and (iii)
pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of
the Rights Certificates or of any shares issued upon the exercise of Rights,
provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any transfer tax or
charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer
or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates
for shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights being
transferred or exercised.
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2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights. (a) In the event
the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the Separation
Time (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock in to a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, (x) the Exercise Price
in effect after such adjustment will be equal to the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment divided by the number of shares of Common
Stock (the "Expansion Factor") that a holder of one share of Common Stock
immediately prior to such dividend, subdivision or combination would hold
thereafter as a result thereof and (y) each Right held prior to such adjustment
will become that number of Rights equal to the Expansion Factor, and the
adjusted number of Rights will be deemed to be distributed among the shares of
Common Stock with respect to which the original Rights were associated (if they
remain outstanding) and the share issued in respect of such dividend,
subdivision or combination, so that each such share of Common Stock will have
exactly one Right associated with it. Each adjustment made pursuant to this
paragraph shall be made as of the payment or effective date for the applicable
dividend, subdivision or combination.
In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and
prior to the Separation Time issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise than in
a transaction referred to in the preceding paragraph, each such share of Common
Stock so issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which
Right shall be evidenced by the certificate representing such share. To the
extent provided in Section 5.3, Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect
of shares of Common Stock that are issued or sold by the Company after the
Separation Time.
(b) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time
and prior to the Separation Time issue or distribute any securities or assets in
respect of, in lieu of
14
or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant to a regular periodic cash
dividend or a dividend paid solely in Common Stock) whether by a dividend, in a
reclassification or recapitalization (including any such transaction involving a
merger, consolidation or share exchange), or otherwise, the Company shall make
such adjustments, if any, in the Exercise Price, number of Rights and/or
securities or other property purchasable upon exercise of Rights as the Board of
Directors of the Company, in its sole discretion, may deem to be appropriate
under the circumstances in order to adequately protect the interests of the
holders of Rights generally, and the Company and the Rights Agent shall amend
this Agreement as necessary to provide for such adjustments.
(c) Each adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section
2.4 shall be calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment to the
Exercise Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company shall (i)
promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (ii) promptly file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer account for the Common Stock a copy of
such certificate and (iii) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of
Rights. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such
certificate and on any adjustment therein and shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such a
certificate.
(d) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the securities so purchasable which
were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
2.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective. Each person in whose name any
certificate for shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become
15
the holder of record of the shares represented thereby on, and such certificate
shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such
Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price for such Rights
(and any applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the
exercising holder hereunder) was made; provided, however that if the date of
such surrender and payment is a date upon which the 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 stock transfer books of the Company are open.
2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights
Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Operating Officer, Vice Chairman of the Board, or Executive Vice President,
under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary or one of
its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Rights
Certificates may be manual or facsimile.
Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind
the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of such Rights
Certificates.
Promptly after the Company learns of the Separation Time, the Company
will notify the Rights Agent of such Separation Time and will deliver Rights
Certificates executed by the Company to the Rights Agent for countersignature,
and, subject to Section 3.1(b), the Rights Agent shall manually countersign and
deliver such Rights Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to
Section 2.3(c) hereof. No Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose
unless manually countersigned by the Rights Agent.
16
2.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) After the
Separation Time, the Company will cause to be kept a register (the "Rights
Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,
the Company will provide for the registration and transfer of Rights. The Rights
Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar" for the purpose of maintaining the
Rights Register for the Company and registering Rights and transfers of Rights
after the Separation Time as herein provided. In the event that the Rights Agent
shall cease to be the Rights Registrar, the Rights Agent will have the right to
examine the Rights Register at all reasonable times after the Separation Time.
After the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon
surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate,
and subject to the provisions of Section 2.7(c) and (d), the Company will
execute, and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver, in the name of the
holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the
holder's instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates evidencing the same
aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1(b), all Rights issued
upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates shall be
the valid obligations of the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled to the
same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
(c) Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer
or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent, as the case
may be, duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights
Certificate under this Section 2.7, the Company may require the payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
relation thereto.
17
(d) The Company shall not be required to register the transfer or
exchange of any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section 3.1(b),
been exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or been redeemed or terminated under Section
5.1.
2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates. (a) If
any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior to the
Expiration Time, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b) and 5.1, the Company shall
execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor
a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights
Certificate so surrendered.
(b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent
prior to the Expiration Time (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Rights Certificate and (ii) such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any of their
agents harmless, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b) and 5.1 and in the absence of
notice to the Company or the Rights Agent that such Rights Certificate has been
acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its
request the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver, in lieu of any such
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so destroyed,
lost or stolen.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under
this Section 2.8, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights
Agent) connected therewith.
(d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in
lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an
original additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall
18
be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits
of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Rights duly
issued hereunder.
2.9 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock
certificate) for registration or transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any
agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose
name such Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, such Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, including the payment of the
Redemption Price and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected
by any notice to the contrary. As used in this Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires, the term "holder" of any Rights shall mean the registered
holder of such Rights (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated shares
of Common Stock).
2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates. All Rights Certificates
surrendered upon exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange shall, if
surrendered to any person other than the Rights Agent, be delivered to the
Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly canceled by the Rights Agent.
The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation of any
Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered hereunder which the
Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates
so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Rights Agent. No Rights
Certificates shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights
Certificates canceled as provided in this Section 2.10, except as expressly
permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall destroy all canceled Rights
Certificates and deliver a Certificate of destruction to the Company.
19
2.11 Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of Rights by accepting
the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with
every other holder of Rights that:
(a) prior to the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable only
together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated share of
Common Stock;
(b) after the Separation Time, the Rights Certificates will be
transferable only on the Rights Register as provided herein;
(c) prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate) for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for
all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary;
(d) Rights beneficially owned by certain Persons will, under the
circumstances set forth in Section 3.1(b), become void; and
(e) this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or 5.4 hereof. ARTICLE III
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS
IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.1 Flip-in. (a) In the event that prior to the Expiration Time a
Flip-in Date shall occur, the Company shall take such action as shall be
necessary to ensure and provide that, except as provided in this Section 3.1,
each Right shall constitute the right to purchase from the
20
Company, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof (but subject
to Section 5.10), that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate
Market Price on the Stock Acquisition Date equal to twice the Exercise Price for
an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in
the event that on or after such Stock Acquisition Date an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have
occurred with respect to the Common Stock).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Rights that are or were
Beneficially Owned on or after the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any transferee, direct or indirect,
of any of the foregoing shall become void and any holder of such Rights
(including transferees) shall thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer
such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. If any Rights Certificate is
presented for assignment or exercise and the Person presenting the same will not
complete the certification set forth at the end of the form of assignment or
notice of election to exercise and to provide such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner and its Affiliates and Associates (or former
Beneficial Owners and their Affiliates and Associates) as the Company shall
reasonably request, then the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the
Beneficial Owner thereof to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced thereby to be void and not transferable or exercisable.
(c) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after a Flip-in Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes
the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
elect to exchange all (but not less than all) the then outstanding Rights (which
shall not include Rights that have become void
21
pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.1(b)) for shares of Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted in
order to protect the interests of holders of Rights generally in the event that
after the Separation Time an event of a type analogous to any of the events
described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have occurred with respect to the
Common Stock (such exchange ratio, as adjusted from time to time, being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to exchange the Rights, without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right (other
than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) will thereafter
represent only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors electing
to exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice thereof (specifying the
steps to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange for Rights) to
the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights (other than Rights that have
become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) outstanding immediately prior thereto by
mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.
Each person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued upon the
exchange of Rights pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) shall for all purposes be
deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented thereby on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of any applicable taxes
and other governmental charges payable by the holder was made; provided,
however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the
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 stock transfer books of the
Company are open.
22
(d) Whenever the Company shall become obligated under Section 3.1(a) or
(c) to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of or in exchange for Rights,
the Company, at its option, may substitute therefor shares of Preferred Stock,
at a ratio of one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of Preferred Stock for each
share of Common Stock so issuable.
(e) In the event that there shall not be sufficient treasury shares or
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company
to permit the exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in accordance with
Section 3.1(a) or (c), the Company shall either (i) call a meeting of
shareholders seeking approval to cause sufficient additional shares to be
authorized (provided that if such approval is not obtained, the Company will
take the action specified in clause (ii) of this sentence) or (ii) take such
action as shall be necessary to ensure and provide, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any agreements or instruments in effect on the Stock
Acquisition Date to which it is a party, that each Right shall thereafter
constitute the right to receive, (x) at the Company's option, either (A) in
return for the Exercise Price, debt or equity securities or other assets (or a
combination thereof) having a fair value equal to twice the Exercise Price, or
(B) without payment of consideration (except as otherwise required by applicable
law), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof)
having a fair value equal to the Exercise Price, or (y) if the Board of
Directors of the Company elects to exchange the Rights in accordance with
Section 3.1(c), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination
thereof) having a fair value equal to the product of the Market Price of a share
of Common Stock on the Flip-in Date times the Exchange Ratio in effect on the
Flip- in Date, where in any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the fair value of
such debt or equity securities or other assets shall be as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with a
nationally recognized investment banking firm.
23
3.2 Flip-over. (a) Prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall not
enter into any agreement with an Acquiring Person (or any of its Affiliates or
Associates) with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any Flip-over
Transaction or Event unless and until it shall have entered into a supplemental
agreement with the Flip-over Entity, for the benefit of the holders of the
Rights, providing that, upon consummation or occurrence of the Flip-over
Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to
purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the
terms hereof, that number of shares of Flip-over Stock of the Flip-over Entity
having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or occurrence of
such Flip-over Transaction or Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an
amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in
the event that after such date of consummation or occurrence an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have
occurred with respect to the Flip-over Stock) and (ii) the Flip- over Entity
shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-over
Transaction or Event and such supplemental agreement, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The provisions of this Section
3.2 shall apply to successive Flip-over Transaction or Events.
(b) Prior to the Expiration Time, unless the Rights will be redeemed
pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof in connection therewith, the Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any
Flip-over Transaction or Event if at the time thereof there are any rights,
warrants or securities outstanding or any other arrangements, agreements or
instruments that would eliminate or otherwise diminish in any material respect
the benefits intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement to the holders of
Rights upon consummation of such transaction.
24
ARTICLE IV
THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 General. (a) The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as
agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and
the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company 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, its officers,
employees, agents and directors for, and to hold each of them harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent for anything done or omitted
to be done by the Rights Agent or such other indemnified party in connection
with the acceptance or administration of this Agreement or the exercise or
performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected by the Company 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 or the exercise or
performance of its duties hereunder in reliance upon any certificate for
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate, certificate
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 persons or persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set
forth in Section 4.3(a).
25
Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event
shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or
damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even
if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage
and regardless of the form of the action.
4.2 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 is a party, or any corporation succeeding to the shareholder services
business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, will 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 4.4 hereof. In case at the time
such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement any
of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, any such
successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights
Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates have not been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in
the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at
such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the
26
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name
or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
4.3 Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and
obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement (and no implied duties or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent) upon the
following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of
Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the written advice or opinion of such counsel will
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 deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including,
without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person, Affiliate, Associate,
Beneficial Owner and the determination of Market Price) be proved or established
by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or
matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a
certificate signed by a person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman
of the Board, the President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer or the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate will be full authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
27
(d) The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
certificates for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or the Rights
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent is serving as an administrative agent and,
accordingly, will not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of
any provision of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the
due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any certificate for securities
purchasable upon exercise of Rights or Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereto); nor will it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor will it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to
Section 3.1(b) hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights required
herein or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or
the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights after receipt of the
certificate contemplated by Section 2.4 describing any such adjustment); nor
will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as
to the authorization or reservation of any securities purchasable upon exercise
of Rights or any Rights or as to whether any securities purchasable upon
exercise of Rights will, when issued, be duly and validly authorized, executed,
issued and delivered and 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,
28
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 believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the
President, the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such
persons 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 person.
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 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
expressly referenced above actually receives such application, unless any such
officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to
taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the
Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such
application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Stock, 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
29
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 will 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 the Rights Agent was not negligent in the
selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not assured to it.
4.4 Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may resign and be
discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 60 days' notice (or such
lesser notice as is acceptable to the Company) in writing mailed to the Company
and to each transfer agent of Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and
to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. If the
Rights Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company
fails to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after 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 any Rights (which
30
holder shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Rights may apply to any court
of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States or of the State of New York or Georgia, in good standing, an office in
the State of New York or Georgia, which is authorized under such laws to
exercise the powers of the Rights Agent contemplated by this Agreement and is
subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which
has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent
will 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 delivery
any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not
later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company will file
notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer
agent of the Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the holders
of the Rights. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4,
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.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Redemption. (a) The Company (upon approval of its Board of
Directors) may, at its option, at any time prior to the Flip-in Date, elect to
redeem all (but not less than all) of the then outstanding Rights at the
Redemption Price and the Company, at its option, may pay
31
the Redemption Price either in cash or shares of Common Stock or other
securities of the Company deemed by the Board of Directors, in the exercise of
its sole discretion, to be at least equivalent in value of the Redemption Price.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company electing to redeem the Rights (or, if the resolution of the Board of
Directors election to redeem the Rights states that the redemption will not be
effective until the occurrence of a specified future time or event, upon the
occurrence of such future time or event), without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will
thereafter represent only the right to receive the Redemption Price in cash or
securities, as determined by the Board of Directors. Promptly after the Rights
are redeemed, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights
Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice in
accordance with Section 5.9.
5.2 Expiration. The Rights and this Agreement shall expire at the
Expiration Time and no Person shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement
or any Right after the Expiration Time, except, if the Rights are exchanged or
redeemed, as provided in Section 3.1(c), 3.1(d), 3.1(e), 3.2 or 5.1 hereof.
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the number or kind or class of shares of stock purchasable upon exercise of
Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock by the Company
following the Separation Time and prior to the Redemption Time or Expiration
Time pursuant to the terms of securities convertible or redeemable into shares
of Common Stock or to options, in each case
32
issued or granted prior to, and outstanding at, the Separation Time, the Company
shall issue to the holders of such shares of Common Stock, Rights Certificates
representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with the issuance or
sale of such shares of Common Stock; provided, however, in each case, (i) no
such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company
shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk
of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or to the Person to whom
such Rights Certificates would be issued, (ii) no such Rights Certificates shall
be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall have
otherwise been made in lieu of the issuance thereof, and (iii) the Company shall
have no obligation to distribute Rights Certificates to any Acquiring Person or
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any transferee of any of the
foregoing.
5.4 Supplements and Amendments. The Company (upon approval of its Board
of Directors) and the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend
this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights (i) prior to the
Flip-in Date, in any respect and (ii) after the close of business on the Flip-in
Date, to make any changes that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and
which shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of
Rights generally or in order to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement
any provision contained herein which may be inconsistent with any other
provisions herein or otherwise defective. Upon the delivery of a certificate
from an appropriate officer of the Company stating that the proposed supplement
or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment that changes the
rights and duties of the Rights Agent under this Agreement shall be effective
without the consent of the Rights Agent.
33
5.5 Fractional Shares. If the Company elects not to issue certificates
representing fractional shares upon exercise or redemption of Rights, the
Company shall, in lieu thereof, in the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors, either (a) evidence such fractional shares by depository receipts
issued pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depository
selected by it, providing that each holder of a depository receipt shall have
all of the rights, privileges and preferences to which such holder would be
entitled as a beneficial owner of such fractional share, or (b) pay to the
registered holder of such Rights an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of
the Market Price of such share.
5.6 Rights of Action. Subject to the terms of this Agreement (including
Section 3.1(b)), rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than
rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective
holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights, may, on such holder's own
behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the benefit of other holders of
Rights, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's
right to exercise such holder's Rights in the manner provided in such holder's
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations
of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.
5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Shareholder. No holder, as such, of
any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any
purpose the holder of shares or any other securities which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of such Rights, nor
34
shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to
confer upon the holder of any Rights, as such, any of the rights of a
shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 5.8 hereof),
or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until such Rights
shall have been exercised or exchanged in accordance with the provisions hereof.
5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions. In case the Company shall propose after
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time (i) to effect or permit (in
cases where the Company's permission is required) occurrence of any Flip-in Date
or Flip-over Transaction or Event or (ii) to effect the liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to
each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section 5.9 hereof, a notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the Flip-in Date or the date on which such
Flip-over Transaction or Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to
take place, and such notice shall be so given at least 20 Business Days prior to
the date of the taking of such proposed action.
5.9 Notices. Notices or demands authorized or required by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
ISOLYSER COMPANY, INC.
βββ βββββββββββ βββββ
ββββββββββ ββββ
ββββββββ, βββββββ βββββ
Attention: ββββββ β. ββββββ
35
Any notice or demand authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights Agent
shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) as follows:
SUNTRUST BANK
ββ ββββββββ ββββββ
ββββ βββ Annex
βββββββ, βββββββ βββββ
Attention: Department Manager
Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given
or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights
shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as it
appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation
Time, 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.
5.10 Suspension of Exercisability. To the extent that the Company
determines in good faith that some action will or need be taken pursuant to
Section 3.1(a), (b), (d) or (e) or to comply with federal or state securities
laws, the Company may suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period of
up to ninety (90) days following the date of the occurrence of the Separation
Time or the Flip-in Date in order to take such action or comply with such laws.
In the event of any such suspension the Company shall issue as promptly as
practicable a public announcement stating that the exercisability or
exchangeability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended. Notice thereof
pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not be required.
Failure to give a notice pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity of any action taken hereunder.
36
5.11 Costs of Enforcement. The Company agrees that if the Company or
any other Person, the securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of
Rights, fails to fulfill any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then
the Company or such Person will reimburse the holder of any rights for the costs
and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by such holder in actions to
enforce such holder's rights pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement.
5.12 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.
5.13 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
holders of the Rights 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 holders of the Rights.
5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or 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. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be
final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of
the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of
the Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
37
5.15 Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings appear herein for
convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of
any of the provisions hereof.
5.16 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT ISSUED HEREUNDER
SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA 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.
5.17 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.
5.18 Severability. If any term or provision hereof or the application
thereof to any circumstance shall, in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be
invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be ineffective as to such
jurisdiction to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability would
invalidate or rendering unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions hereof
or the application of such term or provision to circumstances other than those
as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.
ISOLYSER COMPANY, INC.
By:___________________________________
ββββββ β. ββββββ, President
SUNTRUST BANK
By:___________________________________
Name:_________________________________
Title:________________________________
38
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. W- ______ Rights
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE,
AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT. RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING
PERSONS OR AFFILIATES OR ASSOCIATES THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS
ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY
OF THE FOREGOING WILL BE VOID.
Rights Certificate
ISOLYSER COMPANY, INC.
This certifies that ______________ or registered assigns, is the
registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of December
20, 1996 (as amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between
ISOLYSER COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and SUNTRUST BANK
as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent", which term shall include any successor
Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement), to purchase from the Company at any
time after the Separation Time (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement)
and prior to the close of business on December 31, 2006, one one-hundredth
(1/100th) of a fully paid share of Participating Preferred Stock, no par value
(the "Preferred Stock"), of the Company (subject to adjustment as provided in
the Rights Agreement) at the Exercise Price referred to below, upon presentation
and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Exercise
duly executed at the principal office of the Rights Agent in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Exercise Price
39
shall initially be $60.00 per Right and shall be subject to adjustment in
certain events as provided in the Rights Agreement.
In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase
securities of an entity other than the Company or securities or assets of the
Company other than Preferred Stock, all as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are
available without cost upon written request.
This Rights Certificates, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like
tenor evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of
Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered.
If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder
shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, each Right evidenced
by this Certificate may be (a) redeemed by the Company under certain
circumstances, at its option, at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, or (b)
exchanged by the Company under certain circumstances, at its option, for one
share of Common Stock or one one-hundredth (1/100th) of
40
a share of Preferred Stock per Right (or, in certain cases, other securities or
assets of the Company), subject in each case to adjustment in certain events as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any
securities 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 shareholder of the Company or
any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereto or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
41
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Date:______________________
ISOLYSER COMPANY, INC.
ATTEST:____________________
By:_________________________________
___________________________ Name:_______________________________
Secretary Title:______________________________
Countersigned:
SUNTRUST BANK
By:________________________
Authorized Signature
42
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer this Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto ______________________________ (Please print name and address of
transferee) this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest
therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated:____________, ____ Signature Guaranteed:
____________________________________________
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as written upon
the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or
any change whatsoever)
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member form of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associated thereof (as defined
in the Rights Agreement).
_______________________________________
Signature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in
connection with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial
Owner of the Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
44
[To be attached to each Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Rights Certificate.)
TO: ISOLYSER COMPANY, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise whole Rights
represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of
Participating Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:
____________________________________
Address:____________________________
____________________________________
Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification No:__________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be
registered in the name of and delivered to:
____________________________________
Address:____________________________
____________________________________
Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification No:__________________
Dated: _________________, ____
Signature Guaranteed:
____________________________________________
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as written upon
the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or
any change whatsoever)
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or corespondent in
the United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
45
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).
______________________________________
Signature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in
connection with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial
Owner of the Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
46
EXHIBIT B
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
ISOLYSER COMPANY, INC.
Pursuant to Sections 14-2-1001 and 14-2-1002 of the Georgia Business
Corporation Code, Isolyser Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the
"Corporation"), hereby submits these Articles of Amendment for the purpose of
amending its Articles of Incorporation:
1. The name of the Corporation is Isolyser Company, Inc.
2. The amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation attached hereto as Appendix A was duly adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation effective the 19th
day of December, 1996.
3. The consent of the shareholders of the Corporation was not
required for the amendment of the Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation.
4. These Articles of Amendment will be effective upon filing.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of
Amendment to be executed by its President this 19th day of December, 1996.
ISOLYSER COMPANY, INC.
By:_________________________________
ββββββ β. ββββββ, President
47
APPENDIX A
----------
Article V of the Articles of Incorporation of Isolyser Company, Inc. is
amended to add a new Section 1.4 thereto, which shall read in its entirety as
follows:
1.4. Participating Preferred Stock.
1.4.1. The distinctive serial designation of this series shall
be "Participating Preferred Stock" (hereinafter called "this Series").
Each share of this Series shall be identical in all respects with the
other shares of this Series except as to the dates from and after which
dividends thereon shall be cumulative.
1.4.2. The number of shares in this Series shall initially be
500,000 which number may from time to time be increased or decreased
(but not below the number then outstanding) by the Board of Directors.
Shares of this Series purchased by the Corporation shall be canceled
and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock
undesignated as to series. Shares of this Series may be issued in
fractional shares, which fractional shares shall entitle the holder, in
proportion to such holder's fractional share, to all rights of a holder
of a whole share of this Series.
1.4.3. The holders of full or fractional shares of this Series
shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of
Directors, but only out of funds legally available therefor, dividends,
on each date that dividends or other distributions (other than
dividends or distributions payable in Common Stock of the Corporation)
are payable on or in respect of Common Stock comprising part of the
Reference Package (as defined below), in an amount per whole share of
this Series equal to the aggregate amount of dividends or other
distributions (other than dividends or distributions payable in Common
Stock of the Corporation) that would be payable on such date to a
holder of the Reference Package. Each such dividend shall be paid to
the holders of record of shares of this Series on the date, not
exceeding seventy days preceding such dividend or distribution payment
date, fixed for the purpose by the Board of Directors in advance of
payment of each particular dividend or distribution. Dividends on each
full and each fractional share of this Series shall be cumulative from
the date such full or fractional share is originally issued provided
that any such full or fractional share originally issued after a
dividend record date and on or prior to the dividend payment date to
which such record date relates shall not be entitled to receive the
dividend payable on such dividend payment date or any amount in respect
of the period from such original issuance to such dividend payment
date.
The term "Reference Package" shall initially mean 100 shares
of common stock, $.001 par value per share ("Common Stock"), of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
close of business on December 31, 1996 (A) declare or pay a dividend on
any Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (B) subdivide any Common
Stock, or (C) combine any Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
then and in each such case the Reference Package after such event shall
be the Common Stock that a holder of the Reference Package immediately
prior to such event would hold thereafter as a result thereof.
48
Holders of shares of this Series shall not be entitled to any
dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of
full cumulative dividends, as herein provided on this Series.
So long as any shares of this Series are outstanding, no
dividend (other than a dividend in Common Stock or in any other stock
ranking junior to this Series as to dividends and upon liquidation)
shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other
distribution declared or made upon the Common Stock or upon any other
stock ranking junior to this Series as to dividends or upon
liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock nor any other stock of the
Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with this Series as to
dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased or otherwise
acquired for any consideration (or any monies to be paid to or made
available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any
such stock) by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange
for stock of the Corporation ranking junior to this Series as to
dividends and upon liquidation), unless, in each case, the full
cumulative dividends (including the dividend to be due upon payment of
such dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or other
acquisition), if any, on all outstanding shares of this Series shall
have been, or shall contemporaneously be, paid.
1.4.4. In the event of any merger, consolidation,
reclassification or other transaction in which the shares of Common
Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash
and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of this
Series shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an
amount per whole share equal to the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the
case may be, that a holder of the Reference Package would be entitled
to receive as a result of such transaction.
1.4.5. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary,
the holders of full and fractional shares of this Series shall be
entitled, before any distribution or payment is made on any date to the
holders of the Common Stock or any other stock of the Corporation
ranking junior to this Series upon liquidation, to be paid in full an
amount per whole share of this Series equal to the aggregate amount
distributed prior to such date or to be distributed in connection with
such liquidation, dissolution or winding up to a holder of the
Reference Package (such amount being hereinafter referred to as the
"Liquidation Preference"), together with accrued dividends to such
distribution or payment date, whether or not earned or declared. If
such payment shall have been made in full to all holders of shares of
this Series, the holders of shares of this Series as such shall have no
right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.
In the event the assets of the Corporation available for
distribution to the holders of shares of this Series upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether
voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all
amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to the first
paragraph of this Section 1.4.5, no such distribution shall be made on
account of any shares of any other class or series of Preferred Stock
ranking on a parity with the shares of this Series upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up unless proportionate
distributive amounts shall be
49
paid on account of the shares of this Series, ratably in proportion to
the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity
shares are respectively entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or
winding up.
Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, the holders of shares of this Series then outstanding
shall be entitled to be paid out of assets of the Corporation available
for distribution to its shareholders all amounts to which such holders
are entitled pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 1.4.5
before any payment shall be made to the holders of Common Stock or any
other stock of the Corporation ranking junior upon liquidation to this
Series.
For purposes of this Section 1.4.5, the consolidation or
merger of, or binding share exchange by, the Corporation with any other
corporation shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
1.4.6. The shares of this Series shall not be redeemable
without the consent of the holder of such shares.
1.4.7. In addition to any other vote or consent of
shareholders required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, as
amended, of the Corporation, each whole share of this Series shall, on
any matter, vote as a class with any other capital stock comprising
part of the Reference Package and voting on such matter and shall have
the number of votes thereon that a holder of the Reference Package
would have.
1.4.8. The shares of this Series 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.
50