EXHIBIT 4.1
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
NOVELIS INC.
AND
CIBC MELLON TRUST COMPANY
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
ARTICLE 1 - INTERPRETATION
1.01 Definitions...................................................... 2
1.02 Headings......................................................... 10
1.03 Extended Meanings................................................ 11
1.04 Currency......................................................... 11
1.05 Schedule......................................................... 11
1.06 Language Clause.................................................. 11
1.07 Acting Jointly or in Concert..................................... 11
1.08 As Now Enacted................................................... 11
ARTICLE 2 - THE RIGHTS
2.01 Initial Exercise Price, Exercise of Rights and
Detachment of Rights.......................................... 11
2.02 Legend on Common Share Certificates.............................. 14
2.03 Adjustments...................................................... 14
2.04 Date on Which Exercise is Effective.............................. 17
2.05 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of
Rights Certificates........................................... 17
2.06 Registration of Rights........................................... 18
2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates........ 18
2.08 Persons Deemed Owners............................................ 19
2.09 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates........................ 19
2.10 Agreement of Rights Holders...................................... 19
ARTICLE 3 - EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.01 Flip-In Event.................................................... 20
ARTICLE 4 - THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.01 General.......................................................... 22
4.02 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of the
Rights Agent.................................................. 22
4.03 Entitlements of the Rights Agent................................. 23
4.04 Change of the Rights Agent....................................... 24
ARTICLE 5 - MISCELLANEOUS
5.01 Redemption, Waiver and Termination............................... 25
5.02 Expiration....................................................... 26
5.03 Issuance of New Rights Certificates.............................. 26
5.04 Supplements and Amendments....................................... 26
5.05 Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.......................... 27
5.06 Rights of Action................................................. 28
5.07 Holder of Rights Not Deemed to be a Shareholder.................. 28
5.08 Notices.......................................................... 28
5.09 Costs of Enforcement............................................. 29
5.10 Benefit of the Agreement......................................... 29
5.11 Governing Law.................................................... 30
5.12 Counterparts..................................................... 30
5.13 Severability..................................................... 30
5.14 Determinations and Actions by the Board.......................... 30
5.15 Effective Date................................................... 30
5.16 Re-confirmation after Three Years................................ 30
5.17 Regulatory Approvals............................................. 31
5.18 Declaration as to Non-Canadian Holders........................... 31
ARTICLE 6 - PERMITTED BIDS
6.01 Permitted Bids................................................... 31
6.02 Competing Permitted Bids......................................... 32
Schedule 1.............................................................. 33
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made as of 23 December 2004.
BETWEEN:
NOVELIS INC., a corporation incorporated
under the laws of Canada (hereinafter
referred to as the "Corporation"),
OF THE FIRST PART,
AND:
CIBC MELLON TRUST COMPANY, a trust company
existing under the laws of Canada
(hereinafter referred to as the
"Rights Agent"),
OF THE SECOND PART
WITNESSES that:
WHEREAS the Corporation will, upon the effectiveness of an arrangement under
section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act proposed by Alcan Inc.
("Alcan") and described in Alcan's Management Proxy Circular dated 23 November
2004 (the "Arrangement"), become a publicly traded corporation with its Common
Shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange;
WHEREAS the Board has determined that it is advisable for the Corporation to
adopt and maintain a shareholder rights plan inter alia in order to (i) provide
a framework in which Take-Over Bids for the Corporation can be made for the
Voting Shares of the Corporation including providing the Board with sufficient
time to explore and develop alternatives, (ii) facilitate the maximization of
shareholder values if a substantial portion of the Voting Shares is to be
acquired by any Person, and (iii) protect the Corporation and its shareholders
from abusive acquisition tactics or acquisitions which may not be in the best
interests of the Corporation;
AND WHEREAS it is not the intention of the Board to adopt the Rights Plan as a
means of preventing or deterring any Person from seeking to acquire the Voting
Shares, provided they do so fairly, or of foreclosing the ability of the Board
to take any action that in its discretion it considers reasonable in the
circumstances of any such transaction;
AND WHEREAS, in order to implement the Rights Plan, the Board authorized and
declared a distribution of one Right effective at the earliest possible time
following the effectiveness of the Arrangement ("Record Time") in respect of
each Common Share outstanding as at the Record Time and has authorized the
issuance of one Right in respect of each Common Share issued after such date and
prior to the earlier of the Separation Time and the Expiration Time;
AND WHEREAS each Right entitles the holder thereof, after the Separation Time
but prior to the Expiration Time, to purchase securities of the Corporation
pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
AND WHEREAS the Corporation desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act on behalf
of the Corporation in connection with the issuance, transfer, exchange and
replacement of Rights Certificates, the exercise of the Rights and the other
matters relating to the Corporation referred to herein and to act as the trustee
for the holders of the Rights in connection with the promise of the Corporation
herein to issue Rights Certificates to the Rights Agent for distribution to the
holders of Common Shares after the Separation Time, and the Rights Agent is
willing to so act;
NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein
contained the parties hereto agree as follows:
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ARTICLE 1 - INTERPRETATION
1.01 DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" means any Person (other than the Corporation or any
Subsidiary of the Corporation) who is a Beneficial Owner of 20% or
more of the outstanding Voting Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person"
(i) (A) as a result of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition
of Voting Shares by the Corporation which, by reducing the
number of Voting Shares then outstanding, increases the
proportionate number of shares Beneficially Owned by such
Person to 20% or more of the Voting Shares then outstanding;
(B) as a result of share acquisitions made pursuant to a
Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid;
(C) as a result of share acquisitions made pursuant to a
Permitted Acquisition;
(D) as a result of an Exempt Acquisition; or
(E) as a result of a Convertible Security Acquisition;
provided, however, that if a Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of
20% or more of the Voting Shares then outstanding as a result of a
purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Voting Shares by the
Corporation as provided for in clause (A) above, or as a result of a
Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid as provided for in clause (B)
above, or as a result of a Permitted Acquisition as provided for in
clause (C) above, or as a result of the waiver of the application of
Section 3.01 pursuant to Section 5.01(2) as provided for in clause (D)
above, or as a result of a Convertible Security Acquisition as
provided for in clause (E) above, or as a result of any combination of
acquisitions referred to in clauses (A) to (E) above, and after such
acquisition or acquisitions such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner
of more than an additional 1% of the Voting Shares then outstanding
other than pursuant to clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) above or any
combination thereof, such Person shall thereupon immediately be deemed
to be an "Acquiring Person";
(ii) as a result of such person (a "Grandfathered Person") being the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares
of the Corporation determined as at the Record Time provided,
however, that this exception shall not be, and shall cease to be,
applicable to such Grandfathered Person in the event that such
Grandfathered Person shall, after the Record Time, become the
Beneficial Owner of any additional Voting Shares of the
Corporation that increase its Beneficial Ownership of Voting
Shares by more than 1% of the number of Voting Shares outstanding
as at the Record Time, other than as a result of a Permitted Bid,
a Competing Permitted Bid, a Permitted Acquisition or any
Take-Over Bid in respect of which a waiver is, or is deemed to
have been, granted under Section 5.01(2);
(iii) for a period of ten calendar days after the Disqualification
Date (as defined below), where such Person becomes the Beneficial
Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares as a result
of such Person becoming disqualified from relying on Section
1.01(e)(v) solely because
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such Person or the Beneficial Owner of such Voting Shares is
making or has announced an intention to make a Take-Over Bid,
either alone or by acting jointly or in concert with any other
Person. For the purposes of this definition, "Disqualification
Date" means the first date of public announcement that any Person
is making or has announced an intention to make a Take-Over Bid;
(iv) being an underwriter or member of a banking or selling group that
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Voting Shares
in connection with a distribution of securities of the
Corporation.
(b) "Affiliate" when used to indicate a relationship with a specified
Person, shall mean a Person that controls, or is controlled by, or is
under common control with, such specified Person.
(c) "Agreement" means this agreement and all amendments made hereto by
written agreement between the Corporation and the Rights Agent.
(d) "Alcan" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the first recital
hereto.
(e) "Arrangement" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the first
recital hereto.
(f) "Associate" means, when used to indicate a relationship with a
specified Person, a spouse of that Person or any Person with whom that
Person is living in a conjugal relationship outside marriage or a
child of that Person or a relative of that Person who has the same
residence as that Person.
(g) A Person shall be deemed to be the "Beneficial Owner" of and to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of and to "Beneficially Own" any securities
which:
(i) such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates owns
at law or in equity;
(ii) such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has
the right to become the owner of at law or in equity (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or within a period of 60
calendar days thereafter and whether or not on condition or on
the happening of any contingency), (A) upon the exercise of any
Convertible Securities or (B) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement, pledge or understanding, whether or not in writing,
(other than (x) customary agreements with and between
underwriters and/or banking group members and/or selling group
members with respect to a public offering or private placement of
securities and (y) pledges of securities in the ordinary course
of business) or upon the exercise of any conversion right,
exchange right, share purchase right (other than the Rights),
warrant or option; or
(iii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, are
beneficially owned within the meaning of paragraphs (i) and (ii)
of this definition by any other Person with which such Person is
acting jointly or in concert;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed to be the
"Beneficial Owner" of or to have "Beneficial Ownership" of or to
"Beneficially Own" any security:
(iv) where such security has been, or has agreed to be, deposited or
tendered pursuant to a Lock-up Agreement, or is otherwise
deposited or tendered, to any Take-Over Bid made by such Person
or by any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates or made by
any Person
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acting jointly or in concert with such Person until such
deposited or tendered security has been taken up and paid for,
whichever shall first occur;
(v) where such Person, any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
or any other Person acting jointly or in concert with such Person
holds such security provided that:
(A) the ordinary business of any such Person (the "Investment
Manager") includes the management of investment funds for
others (which others, for greater certainty, may include or
be limited to one or more employee benefit plans or pension
plans) and such security is held by the Investment Manager
in the ordinary course of such business in the performance
of such Investment Manager's duties for the account of any
other Person (a "Client");
(B) such Person (the "Trust Company") is licensed to carry on
the business of a trust company under applicable laws and,
as such, acts as trustee or administrator or in a similar
capacity in relation to the estates of deceased or
incompetent Persons (each an "Estate Account") or in
relation to other accounts (each an "Other Account") and
holds such security in the ordinary course of such duties
for the estate of any such deceased or incompetent Person or
for such other accounts;
(C) such Person is established by statute for purposes that
include, and the ordinary business or activity of such
Person (the "Statutory Body") includes, the management of
investment funds for employee benefit plans, pension plans,
insurance plans or various public bodies;
(D) such Person (the "Administrator") is the administrator or
trustee of one or more pension funds or plans (a "Plan"), or
is a Plan, registered under the laws of Canada or any
Province thereof or the laws of the United States of America
or any State thereof;
provided, in any of the above cases, that the Investment Manager,
the Trust Company, the Statutory Body, the Administrator or the
Plan, as the case may be, is not then making a Take-Over Bid or
has not then announced an intention to make a Take- over Bid
alone or acting jointly or in concert with any other Person,
other than an Offer to Acquire Voting Shares or other securities
(x) pursuant to a distribution by the Corporation (y) by means of
a Permitted Bid or (z) by means of ordinary market transactions
(including prearranged trades entered into in the ordinary course
of business of such Person) executed through the facilities of a
stock exchange or organized over-the-counter market;
(vi) where such Person is:
A. a Client of the same Investment Manager as another Person on
whose account the Investment Manager holds such security,
B. an Estate Account or an Other Account of the same Trust
Company as another Person on whose account the Trust Company
holds such security, or
C. a Plan with the same Administrator as another Plan on whose
account the Administrator holds such security;
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(vii) where such Person is:
A. a Client of an Investment Manager and such security is owned
at law or in equity by the Investment Manger,
B. an Estate Account or an Other Account of a Trust Company and
such security is owned at law or in equity by the Trust
Company, or
C. a Plan and such security is owned at law or in equity by the
Administrator of the Plan; or
(viii) where such Person is a registered holder of such security as a
result of carrying on the business of, or acting as a nominee of,
a securities depositary.
For the purposes of this Agreement, in determining the percentage of
the outstanding Voting Shares with respect to which a Person is the
Beneficial Owner, all Voting Shares of which such Person is or is
deemed to be the Beneficial Owner shall be deemed to be outstanding.
(h) "Board" means the board of directors of the Corporation.
(i) "Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on
which banks are generally open for business in the City of Montreal.
(j) "Canadian-U.S. Exchange Rate" means, on any date, the inverse of the
U.S.-Canadian Exchange Rate in effect on such date.
(k) "Canadian Dollar Equivalent" of any amount which is expressed in
United States dollars means, on any date, the Canadian dollar
equivalent of such amount determined by multiplying such amount by the
U.S.-Canadian Exchange Rate in effect on such date.
(l) "close of business" means, with respect to any date, the time on such
date at which the offices of the Rights Agent in the City of Montreal
are, after having been open to the public for business, closed to the
public.
(m) "Common Shares", when used with reference to the Corporation, means
the common shares in the capital of the Corporation and, when used
with reference to any Person other than the Corporation, means the
class of shares in the capital of such other Person with the greatest
voting power per share.
(n) "Competing Permitted Bid" has the meaning set out in Section 6.02.
(o) "controlled": a corporation is "controlled" by another Person if:
(i) securities entitled to vote in the election of directors carrying
more than 50% of the votes for the election of directors are
held, directly or indirectly, by or on behalf of the other
person; and
(ii) the votes carried by such securities are entitled, if exercised,
to elect a majority of the board of directors of such
corporation;
and "controls", "controlling" and "under common control with" shall be
interpreted accordingly.
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(p) "Convertible Securities" means at any time:
(i) any right (contractual or otherwise and regardless of whether
such right constitutes a security) to acquire Voting Shares from
the Corporation; and
(ii) any securities issued by the Corporation from time to time (other
than a Right) carrying any exercise, conversion or exchange
right;
which is then exercisable or exercisable within a period of 60
calendar days from that time, pursuant to which the holder thereof may
acquire Voting Shares or other securities which are convertible into,
exercisable or exchangeable for Voting Shares (in each case, whether
such right is then exercisable or exercisable within a period of 60
calendar days from that time and whether or not on condition or the
happening of any contingency).
(q) "Convertible Security Acquisition" means the acquisition of Voting
Shares upon the exercise of a Convertible Security received by a
Person pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition.
(r) "Dividend Reinvestment Acquisition" shall mean an acquisition of
Voting Shares of any class pursuant to a Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
(s) "Dividend Reinvestment Plan" means a regular dividend reinvestment or
other plan of the Corporation made available by the Corporation to
holders of its securities where such plan permits the holder to direct
that some or all of:
(i) dividends paid in respect of shares of any class of the
Corporation;
(ii) proceeds of redemption of shares of the Corporation;
(iii) interest paid on evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation;
or
(iv) optional cash payments;
be applied to the purchase from the Corporation of Voting Shares.
(t) "Election to Exercise" has the meaning set out in Section 2.01(4).
(u) "Exempt Acquisition" means a share acquisition in respect of which the
Board has waived the application of Section 3.01 pursuant to the
provisions of Sections 5.01(2).
(v) "Exercise Price" means, as of any date, the price at which a holder
may purchase the securities issuable upon the exercise of one Right
which, until the adjustment thereof in accordance with the provisions
hereof, shall equal $200.
(w) "Expansion Factor" has the meaning set out in Section 2.03(2)(e).
(x) "Expiration Time" means the earlier of:
(i) the Termination Time, or
(ii) subject to Sections 5.15 and 5.16, the close of business on 1 May
2014.
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(y) "Flip-In Event" means a transaction or event in which any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person.
(z) "holder" has the meaning set out in Section 2.08.
(aa) "Independent Shareholders" means holders of Voting Shares, but shall
not include any Acquiring Person or any Offeror (including an Offeror
who is making a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid) other than
any Person who by virtue of Section 1.01 (g) (v) is not deemed to
Beneficially Own the Voting Shares held by such Person, any Affiliate
or Associate of any such Acquiring Person or Offeror or any Person
acting jointly or in concert with such Acquiring Person or Offeror, or
Persons with rights or powers under any employee stock ownership
plans, benefit plans, deferred profit sharing and any other similar
plan or trust for the benefit of employees of the Corporation or a
Subsidiary of the Corporation, unless the beneficiaries of such plan
or trust direct the manner in which such Voting Shares are to be voted
or direct whether the Voting Shares are to be tendered to a Take-Over
Bid.
(bb) "Lock-up Agreement" means an agreement between an Offeror, any of its
Affiliates or Associates or any other Person acting jointly or in
concert with the Offeror and a Person (the "Locked-up Person") who is
not an Affiliate or Associate of the Offeror or a Person acting
jointly or in concert with the Offeror whereby the Locked-up Person
agrees to deposit or tender the Voting Shares held by the Locked-up
Person to the Offeror's Take-Over Bid or to any Take-Over Bid made by
any of the Offeror's Affiliates or Associates or made by any other
Person acting jointly or in concert with the Offeror, where the
agreement permits the Locked-up Person to withdraw the Voting Shares
from the agreement in order to tender or deposit the Voting Shares to
another Take-Over Bid that contains an offering price for each Voting
Share that is at least 5% higher than the offering price contained in
or proposed to be contained in the Take-Over Bid that the Locked-up
Person has agreed to deposit or tender Voting Shares pursuant to the
Lock-up Agreement.
(cc) "Market Price" per share of any securities on any date of
determination 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 2.03
hereof shall have caused the closing prices used to determine the
Market Price on any Trading Day not to be fully comparable with the
closing price on such date of determination or, if the date of
determination is not a Trading Day, on the immediately preceding
Trading Day, each such closing price so used shall be appropriately
adjusted in a manner analogous to the applicable adjustment provided
for in Section 2.03 hereof in order to make it fully comparable with
the closing price on such date of determination or, if the date of
determination is not a Trading Day, on the immediately preceding
Trading Day. The "Closing Price Per Share" of any securities on any
date shall be:
(i) the closing board lot sale price or, if such price is not
available, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, for
each share as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on The Toronto Stock Exchange;
(ii) if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on The
Toronto Stock Exchange, the last sale price, regular way, or, in
the case no such sale takes place on such date, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for each share of
such securities as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange;
(iii) if for any reason none of such prices is available on such day
or the securities are not listed
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or admitted to trading on any of The Toronto Stock Exchange or
the New York Stock Exchange, the average of the high bid and low
asked prices for each share of such securities in the
over-the-counter market if such high bid and low asked prices are
regularly published in a newspaper or business or financial
publication of regular or paid circulation; or
(iv) if on any such date the securities are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the
securities;
provided, however, that if on any such date the securities are not
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 by a nationally or
internationally recognized Canadian investment dealer (or investment
banker) with respect to the fair value per share of such securities.
The Market Price shall be expressed in United States dollars and if
initially determined in respect of any day forming part of the 20
consecutive Trading Day period in question in Canadian dollars, such
amount shall be translated into United States dollars at the U.S.
Dollar Equivalent thereof on the relevant Trading Day.
(dd) "Offer to Acquire" includes:
(i) an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell,
Voting Shares, and
(ii) an acceptance of an offer to sell Voting Shares, whether or not
such offer to sell has been solicited,
or any combination thereof, and the Person accepting an offer to sell
shall be deemed to be making an Offer to Acquire to the Person that
made the offer to sell.
(ee) "Offeror" means any Person who has announced an intention to make or
who is making, but has not completed, a Take-Over Bid (including a
Permitted Bid or a Competing Bid) but only so long as the Take-Over
Bid so made or announced has not been withdrawn or terminated or has
not expired.
(ff) "Offeror's Securities" means Voting Shares Beneficially Owned on the
date of an Offer to Acquire by an Offeror.
(gg) "Permitted Acquisition" means an acquisition by a Person of Voting
Shares pursuant to:
(i) a Dividend Reinvestment Acquisition;
(ii) a stock dividend, stock split or other event in respect of
securities of the Corporation of one or more particular classes
or series pursuant to which such Person becomes the Beneficial
Owner of Voting Shares on the same pro rata basis as all other
holders of securities of the particular class, classes or series;
(iii) the acquisition or the exercise by the Person of only those
rights to purchase Voting Shares distributed to that Person in
the course of a distribution to all holders of securities of the
Corporation of one or more particular classes or series pursuant
to a rights offering or rights offering prospectus; or
(iv) a distribution by the Corporation of Voting Shares or Convertible
Securities (and the conversion or exchange of such), made
pursuant to a prospectus or by way of a private
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placement, provided that the Person does not thereby acquire a
greater percentage of such Voting Shares, or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Voting Shares, so offered
than the Person's percentage of Voting Shares Beneficially Owned
immediately prior to such acquisition.
(hh) "Permitted Bid" has the meaning set out in Section 6.01.
(ii) "Person" includes any individual, partnership, association, body
corporate, unincorporated syndicate, unincorporated organization,
trust, trustee, executor, administrator or other legal representative
or entity and any successor thereto.
(jj) "Record Time" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the fourth
recital hereto.
(kk) "Regular Periodic Cash Dividend" means cash dividends declared payable
on the Common Shares of the Corporation and paid at regular intervals
in any fiscal year of the Corporation to the extent that such cash
dividends do not in any fiscal year exceed, in the aggregate, the
greatest of:
(i) 200% of the aggregate amount of cash dividends declared payable
by the Corporation on its Common Shares in its immediately
preceding fiscal year,
(ii) 300% of the average of the aggregate amounts of cash dividends
declared payable by the Corporation on its Common Shares in its
three immediately preceding fiscal years, and
(iii) 100% of the aggregate consolidated net income of the
Corporation, before extraordinary items, for its immediately
preceding fiscal year.
(ll) "Right" means the right of each holder of Common Shares to purchase
additional securities upon and subject to the terms and conditions
hereof.
(mm) "Rights Agent" means CIBC Mellon Trust Company or any successor
thereto appointed pursuant to Section 4.04.
(nn) "Rights Certificate" has the meaning set out in Section 2.01(3)(c).
(oo) "Rights Plan" means the shareholder rights plan established hereby.
(pp) "Rights Register" has the meaning set out in Section 2.06(1).
(qq) "Rights Registrar" has the meaning set out in Section 2.06(1).
(rr) "Separation Time" means the close of business on the tenth Business
Day after the earliest of:
(i) the Stock Acquisition Date;
(ii) the date of the commencement of, or the first public announcement
of the intent of any Person (other than a Person making a
Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid or the Corporation or
any Subsidiary of the Corporation) to commence a Take-Over Bid
(other than a Permitted Bid or a Competing Permitted Bid, as the
case may be); and
(iii) the date on which a Permitted Bid or Competing Bid ceases to
qualify as such or on such later day as the Board shall determine
acting in good faith; provided that, if any such
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Take-Over Bid expires, is cancelled, terminated or otherwise
withdrawn prior to the Separation Time, such Take-Over Bid shall
be deemed, for the purposes of this definition, never to have
been made.
(ss) "Stock Acquisition Date" means the first date of public announcement
by the Corporation or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such.
(tt) "Subsidiary": a corporation shall be a Subsidiary of another
corporation if:
(i) it is controlled by:
(A) that other, or
(B) that other and one or more corporations each of which is
controlled by that other, or
(C) two or more corporations each of which is controlled by that
other, or
(ii) it is a Subsidiary of a corporation that is that other's
Subsidiary.
(uu) "Take-Over Bid" means an Offer to Acquire Voting Shares where the
Voting Shares subject to the Offer to Acquire, together with the
Offeror's Securities, constitute in the aggregate 20% or more of the
outstanding Voting Shares at the date of the Offer to Acquire.
(vv) "Termination Time" means the time at which the right to exercise the
Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof.
(ww) "Trading Day", when used with respect to any securities, shall mean a
day on which the principal securities exchange in Canada or the United
States of America on which such securities are listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the securities
are not listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange in
Canada or the United States of America, a Business Day.
(xx) "U.S.-Canadian Exchange Rate" means, on any date:
(i) if on such date the Bank of Canada sets a noon spot rate of
exchange for the conversion of United States dollars into
Canadian dollars, such rate, or
(ii) in any other case, the rate for the conversion of United States
dollars into Canadian dollars as determined by the Board acting
in good faith.
(yy) "U.S. Dollar Equivalent" of any amount which is expressed in Canadian
dollars means, on any date, the United States dollar equivalent of
such amount determined by multiplying such amount by the Canadian-U.S.
Exchange Rate in effect on such date.
(zz) "Voting Shares" means the Common Shares of the Corporation and any
other shares in the capital of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors.
1.02 HEADINGS
The division of this Agreement into Articles and Sections and the insertion
of headings and a table of contents are for convenience of reference only
and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
The terms "this Agreement", "hereof", "hereunder" and similar expressions
refer to this Agreement and not to any particular Article, Section or other
portion hereof and include any agreement supplemental hereto. Unless
something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith,
references herein to Articles and Sections
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are to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.
1.03 EXTENDED MEANINGS
In this Agreement words importing the singular number only shall include
the plural and vice versa and words importing the masculine shall include
the feminine gender and vice versa.
1.04 CURRENCY
All references to currency herein are to lawful money of the United States
of America unless otherwise specified.
1.05 SCHEDULE
The form of the Rights Certificate is annexed hereto as Schedule 1 and
incorporated by reference and deemed to be a part hereof.
1.06 LANGUAGE CLAUSE
Les parties aux presentes ont exige que la presente convention ainsi que
tous les documents et avis qui s'y rattachent et/ou qui en decouleront
soient rediges en langue anglaise. The parties hereto have required that
this Agreement and all documents and notices related thereto or resulting
therefrom be drawn up in English.
1.07 ACTING JOINTLY OR IN CONCERT
For purposes of this Agreement, a Person is acting jointly or in concert
with every Person who is a party to any agreement, commitment or
understanding, whether formal or informal, with the first Person or any
Associate or Affiliate thereof for the purpose of acquiring or offering to
acquire Voting Shares (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and/or banking group members and/or selling group members with
respect to a public offering or private placement of securities or pledges
of securities in the ordinary course of business).
1.08 AS NOW ENACTED
For the purposes of this Agreement, references to statutes, as now enacted,
shall mean as in force and effect on 23 December 2004.
ARTICLE 2 - THE RIGHTS
2.01 INITIAL EXERCISE PRICE, EXERCISE OF RIGHTS AND DETACHMENT OF RIGHTS
(1) Subject to the provisions hereof including, without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, Section 2.03, each
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Common Share now or, until the earlier of the Separation Time and the
Expiration Time, hereafter issued shall have one Right associated
therewith. Subject to the provisions hereof and subject to adjustment as
herein set forth, each Right shall entitle the holder thereof, after the
Separation Time, to purchase one Common Share for the Exercise Price or its
Canadian Dollar Equivalent. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, any Rights held by the Corporation or by any of its Subsidiaries
or Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person shall be void.
(2) Until the Separation Time:
(a) no Right shall be exercisable and no Right may be exercised,
(b) each Right shall be evidenced by the certificate for the associated
Common Share, and
(c) each Right shall be transferable only together with, and shall be
transferred by a transfer of, such associated Common Share.
(3) After the Separation Time but prior to the Expiration Time the Rights:
(a) may be exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof, and
(b) shall be transferable independently of the Common Shares.
Promptly following the Separation Time the Corporation will prepare and the
Rights Agent shall mail to each holder of Common Shares of record as of the
Separation Time (other than an Acquiring Person and, in respect of any
Rights Beneficially Owned by such Acquiring Person which are not held of
record by such Acquiring Person, the holder of record of such Rights (a
"Nominee")) at such holder's address as shown by the records of the
Corporation (and the Corporation hereby agrees to furnish copies of such
records to the Rights Agent for this purpose),
(c) a certificate (a "Rights Certificate") substantially in the form
annexed hereto as Schedule 1 appropriately completed, representing the
number of Rights held by such holder as at the Separation Time and
having such marks of identification or designation and such legends,
summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Corporation 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 stock exchange or quotation system on which the
Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to
usage, and
(d) a disclosure statement describing the Rights.
(4) 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 such Rights
(an "Election to Exercise") substantially in the form attached to the
Rights Certificate duly completed and accompanied by payment by certified
cheque or money order payable to the order of the Rights Agent of 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 Common Shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights
being exercised.
(5) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate together with a duly completed
Election to Exercise and the payments provided for in Section 2.01(4), the
Rights Agent (unless otherwise instructed by the Corporation in the event
that the Corporation is of the opinion that the Rights cannot be exercised
in accordance with this Agreement)
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shall thereupon promptly:
(a) requisition from the Corporation or its transfer agent for Common
Shares, certificates for the number of Common Shares to be purchased;
(b) after receipt of such Common Share certificates, remit the payments
provided for in Section 2.01(4) to the Corporation and deliver the
share certificates to or to the order of the registered holder of such
Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder;
(c) when appropriate, requisition from the Corporation the amount of cash
to be paid in lieu of issuing fractional Common Shares; and
(d) tender to the Corporation all payments received on exercise of the
Rights.
(6) If the holder of any Rights exercises less than all the Rights evidenced by
such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the
remaining unexercised Rights shall be issued by the Rights Agent to such
holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.
(7) The Corporation shall:
(a) promptly deliver the share certificates requisitioned by the Rights
Agent pursuant to Section 2.01(5)(a) to the Rights Agent;
(b) take all such action as may be necessary and reasonably within its
power to ensure that all Common Shares delivered upon the exercise of
the 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 as fully paid and
non-assessable shares;
(c) take all such action as may be necessary and reasonably within its
power to comply with the applicable requirements of securities laws in
Canada and the United States of America in connection with the
issuance and delivery of the Rights Certificates and the issuance of
Common Shares upon the exercise of the Rights;
(d) use reasonable efforts to cause all Common Shares issued upon the
exercise of the Rights to be listed upon issuance on The Toronto Stock
Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange and such other exchanges, if
any, that the Corporation determines are appropriate;
(e) cause to be reserved and kept available out of the authorized and
unissued Common Shares, the number of Common Shares that, as provided
in this Agreement, will from time to time be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all outstanding Rights;
(f) pay when due and payable any and all federal, provincial and state
transfer taxes of Canada and the United States of America (except, for
greater certainty, any income taxes of the holder or exercising holder
or any liability of the Corporation to withhold tax) and charges which
may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the
Rights Certificates, provided that the Corporation 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 Common
Shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights being
transferred or exercised; and
(g) after the Separation Time, except as permitted by Section 5.01, not
take (or permit any Subsidiary to
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take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably
foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise
eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
2.02 LEGEND ON COMMON SHARE CERTIFICATES
(1) Certificates issued for Common Shares after the Record Time but prior to
the earlier of the Separation Time and the Expiration Time shall have
printed on or affixed to them the following legend in, if appropriate, both
the English and French languages:
"Until the Separation Time (as defined in the Shareholder Rights
Agreement referred to below), this certificate also evidences and
entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a
Shareholder Rights Agreement made as of 23 December 2004, (the "Rights
Agreement") between Novelis Inc. (the "Corporation") and CIBC Mellon
Trust Company, as Rights Agent, the terms of which are incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal
executive offices of the Corporation. Under certain circumstances, as
set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be amended,
redeemed, may expire, may become void if, in certain cases, they are
"Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring Person" (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement) or a transferee thereof, or may be
evidenced by separate certificates and may no longer be evidenced by
this certificate. The Corporation 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."
(2) Certificates representing Common Shares that are issued and outstanding at
any time shall evidence one Right for each Common Share evidenced thereby
notwithstanding the absence of a legend in accordance with Section 2.02(1).
2.03 ADJUSTMENTS
(1) The Exercise Price, the number and kind of securities subject to purchase
upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 2.03.
(2) If the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time but prior to the
Expiration Time:
(a) declare or pay a dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common
Shares or Convertible Securities other than pursuant to any optional
stock dividend programme,
(b) subdivide or change the then outstanding Common Shares into a greater
number of Common Shares,
(c) combine or change the then outstanding Common Shares into a smaller
number of Common Shares, or
(d) issue any Common Shares or Convertible Securities in respect of, in
lieu of or in exchange for existing Common Shares in a
reclassification, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation,
the Exercise Price and the number of Rights outstanding or, if the payment
or effective date thereof shall occur after the Separation Time, the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights shall be adjusted in the
following manner.
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If the Exercise Price and the number of Rights outstanding are to be
adjusted:
(e) the Exercise Price in effect after such adjustment shall be equal to
the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment
divided by the number of Common Shares that a holder of one Common
Share immediately prior to such dividend, subdivision, change,
combination or issuance would hold thereafter as a result thereof
(such denominator being the "Expansion Factor"), and
(f) each Right held prior to such adjustment shall become that number of
Rights equal to the Expansion Factor and, if such adjustment is to be
made prior to the Separation Time, the adjusted number of Rights shall
be deemed to be distributed among the Common Shares with respect to
which the original Rights were associated (if they remain outstanding)
and the shares issued in respect of such dividend, subdivision,
change, combination or issuance, so that each such Common Share shall
have exactly one Right associated with it.
If the securities purchasable upon the exercise of the Rights are to be
adjusted, the securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right after
such adjustment shall be the securities that a holder of the securities
purchasable upon the exercise of one Right immediately prior to such
dividend, subdivision, change, combination or issuance would hold
thereafter as a result thereof.
If, after the Record Time but prior to the Expiration Time, the Corporation
issues any securities in a transaction of a type described in the first
sentence of this Section 2.03(2) which are exchangeable for or convertible
into or give a right to acquire Common Shares, such securities shall be
treated herein as nearly equivalent to Common Shares as may be practicable
and appropriate under the circumstances and the Corporation and the Rights
Agent shall amend this Agreement in order to effect such treatment;
provided that no such amendment may materially adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the Rights generally.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Record Time and
prior to the Separation Time issue any Common Share otherwise than in a
transaction referred to in this Section 2.03(2), each Common Share so
issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with it which
Right shall be evidenced by the certificate representing such Common Share.
(3) If the Corporation at any time after the Record Time but prior to the
Expiration Time fixes a record date for the making of a distribution to all
holders of Common Shares of rights or warrants entitling them (for a period
expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for
or purchase Common Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for or carrying a right to purchase or subscribe for Common Shares) at a
price per Common Share (or, if a security convertible into or exchangeable
for or carrying a right to purchase or subscribe for Common Shares, having
a conversion, exchange or exercise price (including the price required to
be paid to purchase such convertible or exchangeable security or right per
share)) less than 95% of the Market Price per Common Share on such record
date, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the Exercise
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding on such
record date plus the number of Common Shares which the aggregate offering
price of the total number of Common Shares so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion, exchange or exercise price of the convertible
or exchangeable securities or rights so to be offered (including the price
required to be paid to purchase such convertible or exchangeable securities
or rights)) would purchase at such Market Price and the denominator of
which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of additional Common Shares to be offered for subscription
or purchase (or into which the convertible or exchangeable securities or
rights so to be offered are initially convertible, exchangeable or
exercisable). In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration all or part of which is in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board. To
the extent that such rights or warrants are not exercised prior to the
15
expiration thereof, the Exercise Price shall be readjusted to the Exercise
Price that would then be in effect based on the number of Common Shares (or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares) actually
issued upon the exercise of such rights.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the granting of the right to purchase
Common Shares (whether from treasury or otherwise) pursuant to any (i)
Dividend Reinvestment Plan and/or (ii) Common Share purchase plan providing
for the investment of periodic optional payments and/or (iii) employee or
executive or director benefit or similar plans (so long as such right to
purchase is in no case evidenced by the delivery of rights or warrants)
shall not be deemed to constitute an issue of rights or warrants by the
Corporation; provided, however, that, in the case of any Dividend
Reinvestment Plan or Common Share purchase plan, the right to purchase
Common Shares is at a price per share not less than 90% of the then Market
Price of the Common Shares.
(4) If the Corporation at any time after the Record Time but prior to the
Expiration Time fixes a record date for the making of a distribution to all
holders of Common Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than
a Regular Periodic Cash Dividend or a dividend paid in Common Shares) or
rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 2.03(3)), the
Exercise Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the Exercise Price in
effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator
of which shall be the Market Price per Common Share on such record date
less the fair market value per Common Share (as determined in good faith by
the Board) of the evidences of indebtedness, assets, rights or warrants to
be so distributed and the denominator of which shall be the Market Price
per Common Share on such record date. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that
such a distribution is not so made, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to
be the Exercise Price that would have been in effect if such record date
had not been fixed.
(5) Each adjustment made pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be made as of:
(a) the payment or effective date for the applicable dividend,
subdivision, change, combination or issuance, in the case of an
adjustment made pursuant to Section 2.03(2), or
(b) the record date for the applicable dividend or distribution, in the
case of an adjustment made pursuant to Sections 2.03(3) or (4).
(6) Subject to a prior consent of the holders of Voting Shares or Rights
obtained as set forth in Sections 5.04(3) or (4) as applicable, if the
Corporation at any time after the Record Time but prior to the Expiration
Time issues any shares in the capital of the Corporation (other than Common
Shares), any rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any such
shares, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such
shares and the Board, acting in good faith, determines that the adjustments
contemplated by Sections 2.03(2), (3) or (4) are not applicable and the
interests of the holders of the Rights will, as a result thereof, be
adversely affected or, if applicable, such adjustments will not
appropriately protect the interests of the holders of the Rights, the Board
may determine what adjustments to the Exercise Price, number of Rights
and/or securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights would be
appropriate to protect the interests of the holders of the Rights and,
notwithstanding Sections 2.03(2), (3) or (4), such adjustments, rather
than, if applicable, the adjustments contemplated by Sections 2.03(2), (3)
or (4), shall be made and the Corporation and the Rights Agent shall amend
this Agreement as appropriate to provide for such adjustments.
(7) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment to the
Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Exercise Price, provided that
any adjustment which is not made as a result of the provisions of this
Section 2.03(7) shall be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment. Each adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant
to this Section 2.03 shall be rounded upward or downward to the nearest
cent. Whenever an adjustment to the
16
Exercise Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.03, the Corporation shall
promptly:
(a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) file a copy of such certificate with the Rights Agent and each
transfer agent for the Common Shares, and
(c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right.
(8) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued shall continue to express the securities so purchasable which were
expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 2.03 to the contrary,
the Corporation shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Exercise
Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section
2.03, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board
shall determine to be advisable, in order that any:
(a) stock dividend;
(b) consolidation or subdivision of Common Shares;
(c) issuance (wholly or in part for cash) of Common Shares or securities
that by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Common
Shares; or
(d) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section
2.03,
hereafter made by the Corporation to holders of its Common Shares, shall
not be taxable to such shareholders.
2.04 DATE ON WHICH EXERCISE IS EFFECTIVE
Each person in whose name any certificate for Common Shares is issued upon the
exercise of the Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the
holder of record of the Common Shares represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and the payment of the Exercise
Price for such Rights (and any applicable transfer tax and other governmental
charge 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 Common
Share transfer books of the Corporation are closed, such person shall be deemed
to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificates shall
be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Common Share transfer
books of the Corporation are open.
2.05 EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES
(1) The Rights Certificates shall be executed (either manually or by facsimile
signature) on behalf of the Corporation by any two officers of the
Corporation under its corporate seal or a facsimile thereof. Rights
Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who
were at any time the proper officers of the Corporation shall bind the
Corporation, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have
ceased to hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of
such Rights Certificates as herein provided for.
17
(2) Promptly after the Corporation learns of the Separation Time, the
Corporation shall notify the Rights Agent of such Separation Time and,
subject to compliance with Section 2.01(7), shall deliver Rights
Certificates executed by the Corporation to the Rights Agent for
countersignature, and the Rights Agent shall countersign (manually or by
facsimile signature in a manner satisfactory to the Corporation) and give
such Rights Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to Section
2.01(3) hereof. No Rights Certificates shall be valid for any purpose
unless countersigned by the Rights Agent as aforesaid.
(3) Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature
thereof.
2.06 REGISTRATION OF RIGHTS
(1) The Corporation shall cause a register (the "Rights Register") to be kept
after the Separation Time in which, subject to such reasonable regulations
as it may prescribe, the Corporation shall provide for the registration of
the Rights. The Rights Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar" for the
purpose of maintaining the Rights Register for the Corporation and
registering the Rights and the transfers and exchanges of the Rights as
herein provided. If the Rights Agent ceases to be the Rights Registrar, the
Rights Agent shall have the right to examine the Rights Register at all
reasonable times.
(2) After the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon surrender
of any Rights Certificate and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.06(4)
and (5), the Corporation shall execute, and the Rights Agent shall
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 Certificates so surrendered.
(3) All Rights issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights
Certificates shall be valid obligations of the Corporation and shall be
entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(4) Every Rights Certificate surrendered for transfer or exchange shall be duly
endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in a form
satisfactory to the Corporation or the Rights Agent, as the case may be,
duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing.
(5) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this
Section 2.06, the Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
relation thereto.
2.07 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATES
(1) If any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent
prior to the Expiration Time, the Corporation shall execute and the Rights
Agent shall countersign and deliver in the name of the holder in exchange
therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as
did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(2) If prior to the Expiration Time there is delivered to the Corporation and
the Rights Agent:
(a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
any Rights Certificate, and
18
(b) such security or indemnity as may be required by each of them to save
each of them and any of their agents harmless,
then, in the absence of notice to the Corporation or the Rights Agent that
such Rights Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the
Corporation shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and
deliver in the name of the holder, 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.
(3) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this
Section 2.07, the Corporation 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 expense (including the fees and expenses of
the Rights Agent) connected therewith.
(4) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.07 in lieu
of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an
original additional contractual obligation of the Corporation, whether or
not the destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time
enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this
Agreement equally and proportionally with any and all other Rights duly
issued hereunder.
2.08 PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS
Prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Common Share certificate) for registration
of transfer, the Corporation, the Rights Agent and any agent of the
Corporation or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name
such Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, such Common
Share certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the
Rights evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever. As used in this
Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "holder" of
Rights shall mean the registered holder of such Rights (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Common Shares).
2.09 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 cancelled by the Rights Agent. The Corporation may at any time
deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation any Rights Certificates
previously countersigned and delivered hereunder which the Corporation may
have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates so
delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent. No Rights
Certificate shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights
Certificates cancelled as provided in this Section 2.09, except as
expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall destroy all
cancelled Rights Certificates and promptly thereafter deliver a certificate
of destruction to the Corporation on request.
2.10 AGREEMENT OF RIGHTS HOLDERS
Every holder of Rights, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the
Corporation and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of Rights
that:
(a) such holder shall be bound by and subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof in respect of all Rights held;
19
(b) prior to the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable only
together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the
associated Common Shares and after the Separation Time, the Rights
shall 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 Share certificate) for
transfer, the Corporation, the Rights Agent and any agent of the
Corporation 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 Share certificate) is registered as the absolute
owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any
notations of ownership or writing on such Rights Certificate or the
associated Common Share certificate made by anyone other than the
Corporation or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Corporation nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary;
(d) without the approval of any holder of Rights and upon the sole
authority of the Board acting in good faith this Agreement may be
supplemented or amended from time to time pursuant and subject to
Section 2.03 or Section 5.04;
(e) if such holder at any time becomes an Acquiring Person or otherwise
becomes subject to the provisions of Section 3.01(2), the Rights held
by such holder shall immediately become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 3.01(2);
(f) such holder of Rights has waived his right to receive any fractional
Right or any fractional Share or other security upon exercise of a
Right (except as specifically provided herein); and
(g) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Corporation nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any
holder of a Right or any other Person as a result of its inability to
perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling
issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental,
regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute,
rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any
governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation.
ARTICLE 3 - EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.01 FLIP-IN EVENT
(1) Subject to Section 3.01(2) and Section 5.01, if a Flip-In Event occurs
prior to the Expiration Time, the Corporation shall take such action as is
necessary to ensure and provide that, except as provided below, each Right
shall thereafter constitute the right to purchase from the Corporation,
upon the exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, that number
of Common Shares of the Corporation having an aggregate Market Price on the
date of consummation or occurrence of such Flip-In Event equal to twice the
Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such
right to be appropriately adjusted in a manner analogous to the applicable
adjustment provided for in Section 2.03 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 2.03 shall have occurred with respect to such
Common Shares).
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(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of any Flip-In Event,
any Rights that are or were Beneficially Owned on or after the Stock
Acquisition Date by:
(i) an Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person or any Person acting jointly or in concert with an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person), or
(ii) a transferee, direct or indirect, from an Acquiring Person (or any
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any Person acting
jointly or in concert with an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person) in a transfer, whether or not for
consideration, that the Board, acting in good faith has determined is
part of a plan, arrangement or scheme of an Acquiring Person (or any
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person) that has the purpose or
effect of avoiding clause (i) of this Section 3.01(2),
shall become void and any holder of such Rights (including transferees)
shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any provision
of this Agreement or otherwise.
From and after the Separation Time, the Corporation shall do all such acts
and things as shall be necessary and within its power to ensure compliance
with the provisions of this Section 3.01, including without limitation, all
such acts and things as may be required to satisfy the requirements of the
Canada Business Corporations Act, the Securities Act (Ontario) and the
securities laws or comparable legislation of each of the provinces of
Canada, the United States of America and each of the states thereof in
respect of the issue of Common Shares upon the exercise of Rights in
accordance with this Agreement.
(3) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 2.01 that represents
Rights Beneficially Owned by a Person described in either clauses (i) or
(ii) of Section 3.01(2) or transferred to any nominee of any such Person
and any Rights Certificates issued upon transfer, exchange, replacement or
adjustment of any other Rights Certificates referred to in this sentence
shall contain or will be deemed to contain the following additional legend:
"The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate represent Rights
Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement). This Rights Certificate and the Rights
represented hereby shall become void in the circumstances specified in
Section 3.01(2) of the Shareholder Rights Agreement.";
provided that the Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility to
ascertain the existence of facts that would require the imposition of such
legend but shall be required to impose such legend only if instructed to do
so by the Corporation in writing or if a holder fails to certify upon
transfer or exchange in the space provided on the Rights Certificate that
the Rights represented thereby are not, and, to the best of such holder's
knowledge, never have been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person after
such person became an Acquiring Person.
ARTICLE 4 - THE RIGHTS AGENT
21
4.01 GENERAL
(1) The Corporation hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the
Corporation and the holders of Rights in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointments.
The Corporation may upon such terms as it considers appropriate from time
to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable
subject to the Rights Agent receiving notice of such appointment. If the
Corporation appoints one or more Co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of
the Rights Agent and Co-Rights Agents shall be as the Corporation may
determine subject to the approval of the Rights Agent. The Corporation
agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services
rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand by 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 Corporation also
agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent, its officers, directors, employees
and agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense, if incurred without negligence, bad faith or wilful misconduct on
the part of the Rights Agent for anything done or omitted to be done by the
Rights Agent in connection with the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim
of liability, which right to indemnification shall survive the termination
of this Agreement or the removal or resignation of the Rights Agent.
(2) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in
connection with the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder in
reliance upon any certificate for Common Shares, Rights Certificate,
certificate for other securities of the Corporation, instrument of
assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter,
notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where
necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
(3) The Corporation shall inform the Rights Agent in a reasonably timely manner
of events which may materially affect the administration of this Agreement
by the Rights Agent and at any time, upon request, shall provide to the
Rights Agent an incumbency certificate with respect to the then current
officers of the Corporation, provided that failure to inform the Rights
Agent of any such events, or any defect therein, shall not affect the
validity of any action taken hereunder in relation to such events.
4.02 MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF THE RIGHTS AGENT
(1) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
may be merged or amalgamated or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger, amalgamation or consolidation to
which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent is a party, or any
corporation succeeding to the shareholder or stockholder 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 4.04. 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 for in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
(2) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at such
time any of the Rights Certificates
22
shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt
the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates
so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates
shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such
Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided
for in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
4.03 ENTITLEMENTS OF THE RIGHTS AGENT
The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this
Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by which the Corporation
and every holder of Rights, by accepting the same, shall be bound:
(a) the Rights Agent may retain and consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Corporation), or such other experts or advisors
as the Rights Agent deems necessary to carry out its duties under this
Agreement, and the opinion of such counsel or other expert or advisor
shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights
Agent with respect 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
be proved or established by the Corporation 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 persons believed by the Rights Agent to be Chairman of the
Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer, the Secretary, or any Assistant Secretary of the
Corporation and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate
shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken
or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement
in reliance upon such certificate;
(c) the Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder for its own negligence, bad
faith or wilful misconduct;
(d) the Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
certificates for Common Shares or the Rights Certificates (except its
countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, and all
such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made
by the Corporation only;
(e) the Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the
Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Common
Share certificate or Rights Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Corporation of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement
or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any
change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights
becoming void pursuant to Section 3.01(2)) or any adjustment required
under the provisions of Section 2.03 or 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 2.03 describing any such adjustment); nor shall it by any
act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to
the authorization of any Common Shares to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement or any Rights or as to whether any Common Shares will, when
issued, be duly and validly authorized, executed, issued and delivered
as fully paid and non-assessable;
(f) the Corporation shall perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or
cause to be performed,
23
executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts,
instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights
Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the
provisions of this Agreement ;
(g) the Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its agency duties
hereunder from any person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chief
Executive Officer or the Chief Legal Officer or the Chief Financial
Officer of the Corporation, 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;
(h) the Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of
the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Shares, Rights or
other securities of the Corporation or become pecuniarily interested
in any transaction in which the Corporation may be interested, or
contract with or lend money to the Corporation or otherwise act as
fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this
Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Corporation or for any other legal
entity; and
(i) the Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by
or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct
of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Corporation
resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided
reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued
employment thereof.
4.04 CHANGE OF THE RIGHTS AGENT
The Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon 60 calendar days' notice (or such lesser notice as is
acceptable to the Corporation) to the Corporation, to each transfer agent
of Common Shares by registered or certified mail and to the holders of
Rights in accordance with Section 5.08 at the Corporation's expense. The
Corporation may remove the Rights Agent upon 60 calendar days' notice to
the Rights Agent, to each transfer agent of the Common Shares by registered
or certified mail and to the holders of Rights in accordance with Section
5.08. If the Rights Agent resigns or is removed or otherwise becomes
incapable of acting, the Corporation shall appoint a successor to the
Rights Agent. If the Corporation fails to make such appointment within a
period of 30 CALENDAR 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 holder
shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for
inspection by the Corporation), then the Rights Agent at the Corporation's
expense or 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 Corporation or by such a court,
shall be a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province
thereof authorized to carry on the business of a trust company in the
Province of Ontario. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be
vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it
had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but
the predecessor Rights Agent upon payment of all outstanding fees expenses
owed to it under this Agreement shall deliver and transfer to the successor
Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and
deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the
purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the
Corporation shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor
Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares, and give a
notice thereof to the holders of the Rights. Failure to give any notice
provided for in this Section 4.04 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.
24
ARTICLE 5 - MISCELLANEOUS
5.01 REDEMPTION, WAIVER AND TERMINATION
(1) Subject to the prior consent of the holders of Voting Shares or Rights
obtained as set forth in Sections 5.04(3) or (4), as applicable, the Board
acting in good faith may, at its option, at any time prior to the
provisions of Sections 3.01 becoming applicable as a result of the
occurrence of a Flip-In Event, elect to redeem all but not less than all of
the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right
appropriately adjusted in a manner analogous to the applicable adjustment
provided for in Section 2.03 in the event that an event of the type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.03 shall have
occurred (such redemption price being herein referred to as the "Redemption
Price").
(2) The Board may, until a Flip-In Event shall occur, upon written notice
delivered to the Rights Agent, determine to waive the application of
Section 3.01 to such particular Flip-In Event but only if such Flip-In
Event would occur as a result of a Take-Over Bid made by way of a Take-Over
Bid circular to all holders of Voting Shares of record; provided that if
the Board waives the application of Section 3.01 to a particular Flip-In
Event, the Board shall be deemed to have waived the application of Section
3.01 to any other Flip-In Event, that would occur as a result of a
Take-Over Bid which is made by means of a Take-Over Bid circular to all
holders of Voting Shares of record prior to the expiry of any Take-Over Bid
in respect of which a waiver is, or is deemed to have been, granted under
this Section 5.01(2).
(3) Notwithstanding Section 5.01(2), upon written notice delivered to the
Rights Agent, the Board may also, with respect to any Flip-In Event, waive
the application of Section 3.01 to that Flip-In Event, provided that both
of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) the Board has determined that the Acquiring Person became an Acquiring
Person by inadvertence and without any intent that he would become an
Acquiring Person; and
(ii) such Acquiring Person has reduced his Beneficial Ownership of Voting
Shares such that at the time of waiver pursuant to this Section
5.01(3) he is no longer an Acquiring Person.
(4) If the Board elects or is deemed to have elected to redeem the Rights, the
right to exercise the Rights will thereupon, without further action and
without notice, terminate and each Right will after redemption be null and
void and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price and no further Rights shall thereafter be
issued.
(5) Within 10 calendar days after the Board electing or having been deemed to
have elected to redeem the Rights, the Corporation shall give notice of
redemption to the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such
notice to each such holder at its last address as it appears upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation Time, on the
registry books of the Corporation for the Common Shares. Any notice which
is mailed in the manner herein provided will be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will
state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
The failure to give or any defect in such notice shall not affect the
validity of such redemption.
(6) Where a Take-Over Bid that is not a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted
Bid is withdrawn or otherwise terminated after the Separation Time has
occurred and prior to the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, the Board may
elect to redeem all the outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price.
25
(7) Upon the Rights being redeemed pursuant to Section 5.01(6), all the
provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply as if the Separation
Time had not occurred and Rights Certificates representing the number of
Rights held by each holder of record of Common Shares, as of the Separation
Time had not been mailed to each such holder and for all purposes of this
Agreement the Separation Time shall be deemed not to have occurred.
(8) In the event that prior to the occurrence of a Flip-In Event a Person
acquires, pursuant to a Permitted Bid, a Competing Permitted Bid or an
Exempt Acquisition, outstanding Voting Shares, then the Board shall
immediately upon the consummation of such acquisition without further
formality be deemed to have elected to redeem the Rights at the Redemption
Price.
5.02 EXPIRATION
No Person shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement or in respect of
any Right after the Expiration Time, except the Rights Agent as specified
in Section 4.01(1).
5.03 ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHTS CERTIFICATES
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to
the contrary, the Corporation may, at its option, issue new Rights
Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board
to reflect any adjustment or change in the number or kind or class of
shares purchasable upon exercise of Rights made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement.
5.04 SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS
(1) The Corporation may from time to time amend this Agreement with the
approval of the Rights Agent but without the consent of any holder of
Rights or the holders of Voting Shares in order to correct a clerical or
typographical error or to maintain the validity and effectiveness of this
Agreement as a result of any change in any applicable laws, rules or
regulatory requirements.
(2) The Corporation may, prior to the date of the shareholders' meeting
referred to in Section 5.15, supplement or amend this Agreement without the
approval of any of the holders of Rights or Voting Shares (whether or not
such action would materially adversely affect the interest of the holders
of Rights generally) where the Board acting in good βββββ βββββ such action
necessary or desirable. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.04 to
the contrary, no such supplement or amendment shall be made to the
provisions of Article 4 except with the written concurrence of the Rights
Agent to such supplement or amendment.
(3) Subject to Sections 5.04(1) and 5.04(2), the Corporation may, with the
prior consent of the holders of Voting Shares obtained as set forth below,
at any time prior to the Separation Time, amend, vary or rescind any of the
provisions of this Agreement and the Rights (whether or not such action
would materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights
generally). Such consent shall be deemed to have been given if the action
requiring such approval is authorized by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the votes cast by Independent Shareholders present or represented at and
entitled to be voted at a meeting of the holders of Voting Shares duly
called and held in compliance with applicable laws and the articles and
by-laws of the Corporation.
(4) The Corporation may, with the prior consent of the holders of Rights, at
any time on or after the Separation Time and before the Expiration Time,
amend, vary or delete any of the provisions of this Agreement and the
26
Rights (whether or not such action would materially adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights generally), provided that no such
amendment, variation or deletion shall be made to the provisions of Article
4 except with the written concurrence of the Rights Agent thereto. Such
consent shall be deemed to have been given if such amendment, variation or
deletion is authorized in the manner specified in Section 5.04(5).
(5) Any approval of the holders of Rights shall be deemed to have been given if
the action requiring such approval is authorized by the affirmative votes
of the holders of Rights present or represented at and entitled to be voted
at a meeting of the holders of Rights and representing a majority of the
votes cast in respect thereof. For the purposes hereof, each outstanding
Right (other than Rights which are void pursuant to the provisions hereof)
shall be entitled to one vote, and the procedures for the calling, holding
and conduct of the meeting shall be those, as nearly as may be, which are
provided in the Corporation's by-laws and the Canada Business Corporations
Act with respect to meetings of shareholders of the Corporation.
(6) Any amendment to this Agreement pursuant to Subsection 5.04(1) which is
required to maintain the validity of this Agreement as a result of any
change in any applicable laws, rules or regulatory requirements shall:
(i) if made before the Separation Time, any such amendment shall be
submitted to the shareholders of the Corporation at the next meeting
of shareholders and the shareholders may, by the majority referred to
in Section 5.04(3) confirm or reject such amendment;
(ii) if made after the Separation Time, any such amendment shall be
submitted to the holders of Rights at a meeting to be called for on a
date not later than immediately following the next meeting of
shareholders of the Corporation and the holders of Rights may, by
resolution passed by the majority referred to in Section 5.04(5)
confirm or reject such amendment.
Any such amendment shall be effective from the date of the resolution of
the Board adopting such amendment, until it is confirmed or rejected or
until it ceases to be effective (as described in the next sentence) and,
where such amendment is confirmed, it continues in effect in the form so
confirmed. If such amendment is rejected by the shareholders or the holders
of Rights or is not submitted to the shareholders or holders of Rights as
required, then such amendment shall cease to be effective from and after
the termination of the meeting at which it was rejected or to which it
should have been but was not submitted or from and after the date of the
meeting of holders of Rights that should have been but was not held, and no
subsequent resolution of the Board to amend this Agreement to substantially
the same effect shall be effective until confirmed by the shareholders or
holders of Rights as the case may be.
(7) The Corporation shall give notice in writing to the Rights Agent of any
supplement, amendment, deletion, variation or rescission to this Agreement
pursuant to this Section within five Business Days of the date of any such
supplement, amendment, deletion, variation or rescission, provided that
failure to give notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the
validity of any such supplement, amendment, deletion, variation or
rescission.
5.05 FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES
(1) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. After the
Separation Time, in lieu of issuing fractional Rights, the Corporation
shall pay to the holders of record of the Rights Certificates (provided the
Rights represented by such Rights Certificates are not void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 3.01(2), at the time such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable), an amount in cash equal to the fraction of the
Market Price of one whole Right that the fraction of a Right that would
otherwise be issuable is of one whole Right.
27
(2) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares
upon exercise of Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional Common Shares. In lieu of issuing fractional Common Shares, the
Corporation shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates, at
the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided, an amount in cash
equal to the fraction of the Market Price of one Common Share that the
fraction of a Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon the
exercise of such Right is of one whole Common Share at the date of such
exercise.
5.06 RIGHTS OF ACTION
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all rights of action in respect of
this Agreement, other than rights of action vested solely in the
Corporation or the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective holders of
Rights; and any holder of Rights, without the consent of the Rights Agent
or of any other holder of 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 Corporation 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 generality of 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 of, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the
obligations of, any Person subject to this Agreement.
5.07 HOLDER OF RIGHTS NOT DEEMED TO BE A SHAREHOLDER
No holder of Rights, as such, shall be entitled to vote, to receive
dividends, to receive the remaining property of the Corporation on
dissolution or to be deemed for any purpose the holder of Common Shares or
any other securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of
such Rights, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon any holder of Rights, as such, any
of the rights of a shareholder of the Corporation or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at
any meeting thereof, to give or withhold consent to any corporate action,
to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders
(except as provided in Section 5.08) or to receive dividends or
subscription rights or otherwise, until such Rights shall have been
exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
5.08 NOTICES
Any document or other communication to be given in connection with this
Agreement to the Corporation shall be given in writing and shall be given
by (i) personal delivery, (ii) telegraph, facsimile or other form of
recorded electronic communication (charges prepaid and confirmed in
writing) or (iii) by first-class postage prepaid mail (except during any
general interruption of postal services due to strike, lockout or other
cause) addressed to the Corporation as follows:
Novelis Inc.
Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower
βββ βββ ββββββ, βββββ ββββ
β.β. βββ ββ
βββββββ, βββββββ βββ βββ
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
28
Any document or other communication to be given in connection with this
Agreement to the Rights Agent shall be given in writing and shall be given
by (i) personal delivery, (ii) telegraph, facsimile or other form of
recorded electronic communication (charges prepaid and confirmed in
writing) or (iii) by first-class postage prepaid mail (except during any
general interruption of postal services due to strike, lockout or other
cause) addressed to the Rights Agent as follows:
CIBC Mellon Trust Company
ββββ ββββββββββ ββββββ
ββββ βββββ
ββββββββ, ββββββ
ββββββ
βββ βββ
Attention: Branch Manager
Any document or other communication to be given in connection with this
Agreement to any holder of Rights shall be given in writing and shall be
given by (i) personal delivery, (ii) telegraph, facsimile or other form of
recorded electronic communication (charges prepaid and confirmed in
writing) or (iii) by first-class postage prepaid mail (except during any
general interruption of postal services due to strike, lockout or other
cause) 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 Corporation for the Common Shares (the
Corporation hereby agreeing to furnish copies of such records to the Rights
Agent). The Corporation and the Rights Agent may by notice to the other
designate with respect to itself any other address or individual. Any
document or other communication given by personal delivery shall be
conclusively deemed to have been given on the day of actual delivery
thereof and, if given by first class postage prepaid mail, on the fifth
Business Day following the deposit thereof in the mail (it being
acknowledged, for greater certainty, that any such communication mailed to
a holder of a Right as herein provided shall be deemed to have been given
whether or not the holder receives such communication).
5.09 COSTS OF ENFORCEMENT
If the Corporation or any other Person, the securities of which are
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, fails to fulfil any of its
obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then the Corporation or such Person
shall reimburse any holder of Rights for the costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees) incurred by such holder in any action to enforce his
rights pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement.
5.10 BENEFIT OF THE AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
respective successors and assigns of the Corporation and the Rights Agent
and upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of
the holders of Rights. This Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the Corporation, the Rights Agent and the holders of Rights and
nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give any Person other than
the Corporation, the Rights Agent and the holders of Rights any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement.
29
5.11 GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement and each Right issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a
contract made under the laws of the Province of Ontario and for all
purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein.
5.12 COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be
considered an original and both of which taken together shall constitute a
single agreement.
5.13 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 provision shall be ineffective as to such jurisdiction
to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without invalidating
or rendering unenforceable the remaining provisions hereof or the
application of such provision to circumstances other than those to which it
is held invalid or unenforceable.
5.14 DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD
(1) All actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the
Board, in good faith, shall not subject the Board to any liability to the
holders of Rights.
(2) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in derogation of
the obligation of the Board to exercise its fiduciary duties. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall be
construed to suggest or imply that the Board shall not be entitled to
recommend that the holders of the Voting Shares reject any Permitted Bid or
any Competing Permitted Bid or any Take-Over Bid, or to take any other
action (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
commencement, prosecution, defence or settlement of any litigation and the
submission of additional or alternative Permitted Bids or Competing
Permitted Bids or Take-Over Bids) with respect to any Permitted Bid or any
Competing Permitted Bid or any Take-Over Bid or otherwise that the Board
believes is necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its fiduciary
duties.
5.15 EFFECTIVE DATE
This Agreement is effective from the Record Time.
5.16 RE-CONFIRMATION AFTER THREE YEARS
At the 2008 Annual Meeting and every third Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of the Corporation following the 2008 Annual Meeting, provided that a
Flip-In Event has not occurred prior to such time, the Board shall submit a
resolution to the holders of Voting Shares of the Corporation for their
consideration and, if thought advisable, approval ratifying the continued
existence of the Rights. If a majority of greater than 50% of the votes
cast by
30
holders of Voting Shares who vote in respect of such reconfirmation and
approval is voted against the continued existence of the Rights, then this
Agreement, the Rights Plan and any outstanding Rights shall be of no
further force and effect. There shall be excluded from the calculation of
shares eligible to vote at such meeting shares held by an Acquiring Person
or by any Person who has made or announced an intention to make a tender or
exchange offer or Take-Over Bid which, if consummated, would result in such
Person holding in the aggregate 20% or more of the outstanding Voting
Shares at the date of such bid.
5.17 REGULATORY APPROVALS
Any obligation of the Corporation or action or event contemplated by this
Agreement, or any amendment or supplement to this Agreement, shall be
subject to the receipt of any requisite approval or consent from any
governmental or regulatory authority. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, any issuance or delivery of debt or equity securities (other
than non-convertible debt securities) of the Corporation upon the exercise
of Rights and any amendment or supplement to this Agreement shall be
subject to the prior consent of The Toronto Stock Exchange.
5.18 DECLARATION AS TO NON-CANADIAN HOLDERS
If in the opinion of the Board (who may rely upon the advice of counsel)
any action or event contemplated by this Agreement would require compliance
by the Corporation with the securities laws or comparable legislation of a
jurisdiction outside Canada, the Board acting in good faith shall take such
actions as it may deem appropriate to ensure such compliance. In no event
shall the Corporation or the Rights Agent be required to issue or deliver
Rights or securities issuable on exercise of Rights to persons who are
citizens, residents or nationals of any jurisdiction other than Canada or
the United States of America, in which such issue or delivery would be
unlawful without registration of the relevant Persons or securities for
such purposes.
ARTICLE 6 - PERMITTED BIDS
6.01 PERMITTED BIDS
The expression "Permitted Bid" referred to in Section 1.01(hh) means a
Take-Over Bid made by an Offeror that is made by means of a Take-Over Bid
circular sent to holders of Voting Shares and which complies with the
following additional provisions:
(i) the Take-Over Bid is made to all holders of Voting Shares as
registered on the books of the Corporation, other than the Offeror;
(ii) the Take-Over Bid contains, and the take-up and payment for securities
tendered or deposited is subject to, the following irrevocable and
unqualified provision that no Voting Shares will be taken up or paid
for pursuant to the Take-Over Bid (A) prior to the close of business
on the date which is not less than 60 calendar days following the date
of the Take-Over Bid and (B) only if at such date more than 50% of the
Voting Shares held by Independent Shareholders shall have been
tendered or deposited pursuant to the Take-Over Bid and not withdrawn;
(iii) unless the Take-Over Bid is withdrawn, the Take-Over Bid contains an
irrevocable and unqualified provision that Voting Shares may be
deposited pursuant to such Take-Over Bid at any time during the
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period of time described in Section 6.01(ii) and that any Voting
Shares deposited pursuant to the Take-Over Bid may be withdrawn until
taken up and paid for; and
(iv) the Take-Over Bid also contains an irrevocable and unqualified
condition that in the event that the deposit condition set forth in
Section 6.01(ii)(B) is satisfied, the Offeror will make a public
announcement of that fact and the Take-Over Bid will remain open for
deposits and tenders of Voting Shares for not less than 10 Business
Days from the date of such public announcement.
6.02 COMPETING PERMITTED BIDS
The expression "Competing Permitted Bid" referred to in Section 1.01(n)
means a Take-Over Bid that:
(i) is made for Voting Shares after a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted
Bid for Voting Shares has been made but prior to the expiry of such
Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid;
(ii) satisfies all of the conditions of the definition of Permitted Bid
other than the requirements set out in Section 6.01(ii) (A); and
(iii) contains, and the take-up and payment for securities tendered or
deposited is subject to, an irrevocable and unqualified condition that
no Voting Shares will be taken up and paid for pursuant to the
Take-Over Bid prior to the close of business on a date which is not
earlier than the later of (A) the 60th calendar day following the date
on which the earliest Permitted Bid which preceded the Competing
Permitted Bid was made and (B) 21 calendar days after the date of the
Take-Over Bid constituting the Competing Permitted Bid.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Agreement on the date and year
above written.
NOVELIS INC. CORPORATE
SEAL
OF
PER: /S/ βββββ β. ββββββββ NOVELIS INC.
--------------------------------
CIBC MELLON TRUST COMPANY
CORPORATE
PER: /S/ ββββββ βββββ SEAL
-------------------------------- OF THE
CIBC MELLON TRUST
COMPANY
PER: /S/ βββββ βββββββ
--------------------------------
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SCHEDULE 1
FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. ____________ ____________ Rights
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE CORPORATION, ON
THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES (SPECIFIED IN SECTION 3.01(2) OF THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
AGREEMENT), RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS
ARE DEFINED IN THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES OF AN
ACQUIRING PERSON MAY BECOME VOID.
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
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 Rights Agreement made as
of (the "Rights Agreement") between Novelis Inc., a corporation incorporated
under the laws of Canada (the "Corporation") and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, a
trust company incorporated under the laws of Canada, as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent") (which term shall include any successor Rights Agent under the
Rights Agreement) to purchase from the Corporation at any time after the
Separation Time (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to
the close of business on 1 may 2014 one fully paid Common Share in the capital
of the Corporation (a "Common Share") at the Exercise Price referred to below,
upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of
Election to Exercise duly executed and submitted to the Rights Agent or
Co-Rights Agent at its principal office in any one of the Cities of Montreal,
Toronto, Winnipeg, ββββββ, Calgary or Vancouver. The Exercise Price shall
initially be $200 (U.S.) per Right and shall be subject to adjustment in certain
events 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 thereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Corporation and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies
of the Rights Agreement are on file at the registered office of the Corporation
and are available upon written request.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at any of the offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like
tenor and date 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, the Rights evidenced by this
Certificate may be, and under certain circumstances are required to be, redeemed
by the Corporation at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right. 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 Common Shares or of any other securities
which may at any time be issuable upon 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 Corporation 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 the
33
Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise,
until the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised
as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until
it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Corporation and
its corporate seal.
Date:
------------------------------
ATTEST:
NOVELIS INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Secretary
Countersigned:
CIBC MELLON TRUST COMPANY
By:
--------------------------------
Authorized Signature
34
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer
the Rights Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _____________________________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto _______________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ____________________,
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Corporation, with full power of substitution.
Dated:
------------------ ----------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must correspond to the name
as written upon the face of this Rights
Signature Guaranteed: Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever)
Signature must be guaranteed by a major Canadian trust company, a Schedule I
Canadian chartered bank, or a member of a recognized Medallion Guarantee
program.
-------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
Common Shares, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not,
and, to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned, never have been,
Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
after such person became an Acquiring Person.
----------------------------------------
Signature
35
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
(To be attached to each Rights Certificate)
TO:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________________________
whole Rights represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the
Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that
certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:
Name:
---------------------
Street:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
City, Province & Postal Code:
--------------------------------------------------
Social Insurance, Social Security or
Other Taxpayer Identification Number:
------------------------------------------
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:
Name:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Street:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
City, Province & Postal Code:
--------------------------------------------------
Social lnsurance, Social Security or
Other Taxpayer Identification Number:
------------------------------------------
Dated:
------------------ ----------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must correspond to the name
as written upon the face of this Rights
Signature Guaranteed: Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever)
Signature must be guaranteed by a major Canadian trust company, a Schedule I
Canadian chartered bank, or a member of a recognized Medallion Guarantee
program.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
Common Shares, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not,
and, to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned, never have been,
Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
after such person became an Acquiring Person.
----------------------------------------
Signature
36
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above in the Forms of Assignment and
Election is not completed, the Corporation will deem the Beneficial Owner of the
Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Shareholder Rights Agreement)
and, in the case of an Assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any
Rights Certificate issued in exchange for this Rights Certificate.
37