1
Exhibit 1
SAGE, INC.
and
Mellon Investor Services LLC
as Rights Agent
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 1, 2001
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
----
Section 1. Certain Definitions............................................. 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent..................................... 6
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.................................... 6
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates..................................... 7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration............................... 8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates.................................................... 8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights... 9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates............. 11
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock................... 11
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date..................................... 13
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights................................................ 13
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares...... 22
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power........................................................... 22
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares......................... 25
Section 15. Rights of Action................................................ 26
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders..................................... 26
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.............. 27
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent..................................... 27
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent....... 28
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.......................................... 28
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.......................................... 31
i
3
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates............................. 31
Section 23. Redemption and Termination...................................... 32
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events........................................ 33
Section 25. Notices......................................................... 33
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments...................................... 34
Section 27. Successors...................................................... 35
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. ..... 35
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement...................................... 35
Section 30. Severability.................................................... 35
Section 31. Governing Law................................................... 36
Section 32. Counterparts.................................................... 36
Section 33. Descriptive Headings............................................ 36
Section 34. Exchange........................................................ 36
Exhibit A Form of Rights Certificate...................................... A-1
Exhibit B Form of Summary of Rights....................................... B-1
Exhibit C Certificate of Designation...................................... C-1
ii
4
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of June 1, 2001 (the "Agreement"), between
Sage, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Mellon Investor Services
LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company as rights agent (the "Rights
Agent").
WHEREAS, effective May 21, 2001 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") (i)
authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each share of
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Company Common
Stock") outstanding at the Close of Business on June 8, 2001 (the "Record
Date"), and (ii) authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may
hereinafter be adjusted pursuant hereto) for each share of Company Common Stock
issued between the Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the
Company's treasury) and, except as otherwise provided in Section 22, the
Distribution Date, each Right initially representing the right to purchase upon
the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth one Unit of Series
A Preferred Stock (the "Rights"); and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates or Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Company Common Stock
then outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) an "Acquiring
Person" shall not include: (A) the Company; (B) any Subsidiary of the
Company; (C) any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries; (D) any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such
employee benefit plan acting in such capacity or a trustee or fiduciary
holding shares of Company Common Stock for the purpose of funding any
such plan or employee benefits; (E) any Person if the Board of Directors
of the Company determines in good faith that such Person who would
otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" became such inadvertently (including,
without limitation, because (x) such Person was unaware that it
beneficially owned a percentage of Company Common Stock that would
otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person" or (y) such
Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of Company
Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such
Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement) and without any intention of
changing or influencing control of the Company, and if such Person does
not acquire any additional shares of Company Common Stock and as
promptly as practicable divested or divests itself of Beneficial
Ownership of a sufficient number of shares of Company Common Stock so
that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person;" or (F) any
Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the then
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock as a result of the
acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock directly from the Company
in one or more transactions approved by a majority of the Board of
Directors, and (ii) no Person shall be deemed an "Acquiring Person" as a
result of the acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock by the
Company which,
1
5
by reducing the number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding,
increases the proportional number of shares beneficially owned by such
Person; provided, however, that if (A) a Person would become an
Acquiring Person (but for the operation of this subclause (ii)) as a
result of the acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock by the
Company and (B) after such share acquisition by the Company, such Person
becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Company Common
Stock, then such Person shall be deemed an Acquiring Person unless upon
becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional shares such Person is
the Beneficial Owner of less than 20% of the then outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock. Each Person identified in subclauses (A), (B), (C)
and (D) of this Section (1)(a) is individually an "Exempt Person" and
collectively "Exempt Persons."
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall
be deemed to have "Beneficial Ownership" of and to "beneficially own",
any securities:
(i) of which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates is considered to be a "beneficial owner" under Rule
13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act
(the "Exchange Act Regulations") as in effect on the date hereof;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial
Owner" of, or to "beneficially own", any securities under this
subparagraph (i) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or
understanding to vote such securities if such agreement, arrangement
or understanding (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent
given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made
pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of
the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations, and (B) is not
reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or
any comparable or successor report);
(ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such other
Person) with which such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether or not in writing), for the purpose of acquiring, holding,
voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described
in the proviso to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (c)) or
disposing of such securities; or
(iii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire
(whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the
passage of time or upon the satisfaction of conditions) pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;
2
6
provided, however, that under this paragraph (c) a Person shall not be
deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, or
to "beneficially own", (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made in accordance with Exchange Act Regulations by such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, (B)
securities that may be issued upon exercise of Rights at any time prior
to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities that may be
issued upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or
pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or
pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made
with respect to any Original Rights; and further provided, however, that
(x) nothing in this paragraph (c) shall cause a Person engaged in
business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner"
of, or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such
Person's participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting
until the expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition,
(y) no decision reached, or action taken, by the Board of Directors of
the Company or any committee thereof shall cause any Person (or any
Affiliate or Associate of such Person) who is a member of the Board of
Directors of the Company or such committee to be deemed, for the
purposes of this Agreement, to be a Beneficial Owner of any securities
beneficially owned by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of
such Person) who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company or
any committee thereof solely by reason of such membership of the Board
of Directors or any committee thereof or participation in the decisions
or actions thereof on the part of either or both of such Persons and (z)
no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an Exempt Person
shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or authority
as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial Ownership"
of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially owned"
(as defined in this paragraph (c)), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer,
director or employee of an Exempt Person.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the city of San
Francisco, California or in the city and state where the office in which
the Rights Agent is located is authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
California time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is
not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., California time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" of any Person other than the Company shall
mean the capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power,
or, if such Person shall have no capital stock, the equity securities or
other equity interest having power to control or direct the management
of such Person.
(g) "Company" means Sage, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and also
means a Principal Party to the extent provided in Section 13(a).
3
7
(h) "Company Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in the
Whereas Clause.
(i) "Distribution Date" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(a).
(j) "Expiration Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).
(k) "Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, firm,
limited liability company, corporation, association, trust,
unincorporated organization or other entity, as well as any syndicate or
group deemed to be a person under Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act
as in effect on the date hereof.
(l) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Preferred Stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of the Company having the voting powers,
designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions
described in the Certificate of Designation set forth as Exhibit C
hereto and as amended from time to time.
(m) "Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
(n) "Record Date" has the meaning set forth in the Whereas
Clause.
(o) "Right" has the meaning set forth in the Whereas Clause.
(p) "Rights Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(a).
(q) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" has the meaning set forth
in the Whereas Clause.
(r) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean the event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(s) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause
(x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(t) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (including, without limitation, the filing of any report
pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report)) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an
Acquiring Person has become such.
(u) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
other Person of which an amount of voting securities or equity interests
sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors or equivalent
governing body of such other Person is beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such
first-mentioned Person.
(v) "Summary of Rights" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(b).
4
8
(w) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or
any Section 13 Event.
(x) "Unit" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
In addition, the following terms are defined in the Sections
indicated below:
Defined Term Section Number
Adjustment Shares 11(a)(ii)
Adjustment Spread 34(a)
common stock equivalents 11(a)(iii)
Current Value 11(a)(iii)
Depositary Agent 7(c)
Distribution Date 3(a)
Equivalent Preferred Stock 11(b)
Exchange Act 1(b)
Exchange Act Regulations 1(c)
Exchange Ratio 34(a)
Exempt Person 1(a)
Expiration Date 7(a)
Final Expiration Date 7(a)
Nasdaq 11(d)(i)
Original Rights 1(c)
Purchase Price 7(b)
Redemption Price 23(a)
Registered Common Stock 13(b)(ii)
Registration Date 9(c)
Registration Statement 9(c)
Rights Certificates 3(a)
Section 11(a)(ii) Event 11(a)(ii)(C)
Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date 11(a)(iii)
Section 13 Event 13(a)
Securities Act 9(c)
Spread 11(a)(iii)
Summary of Rights 3(b)
Trading Day 11(d)(i)
Unit 7(b)
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights
Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event
be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates. (a) Until the earlier of (i)
the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition
Date, and (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later
date as may be determined by action of a majority of the Board
5
9
of Directors of the Company prior to the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than
an Exempt Person) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule
14d-4(a) of the Exchange Act Regulations or any successor rule, if upon
consummation thereof such Person would be an Acquiring Person (including, in the
case of both clause (i) and (ii), any such date which is after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights)(the earlier of (i) and (ii)
above being the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject
to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for
shares of Company Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of shares
of Company Common Stock as of and subsequent to the Record Date (which
certificates for shares of Company Common Stock shall be deemed also to be
certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
shares of Company Common Stock including a transfer to the Company; provided,
however, that if a tender or exchange offer is terminated prior to the
occurrence of a Distribution Date, then no Distribution Date shall occur as a
result of such tender or exchange offer. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage
prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Company Common Stock as of the
Close of Business on the Distribution Date and upon receipt of all necessary
information, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company,
one or more rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto
(the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Company
Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of
Company Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof, at the time
of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company may make the necessary
and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof)
so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are
distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after
the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights
Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Summary of Rights"),
by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Company
Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates
for Company Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered
in the names of the holders thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until
the Distribution Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for
transfer of any such certificate for Company Common Stock outstanding as of the
Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Company Common Stock
represented thereby.
(c) Rights shall, without any further action, be issued in respect
of all shares of Company Common Stock which are issued (including any shares of
Company Common Stock held in treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the
earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date. Certificates,
representing such shares of Company Common Stock, issued after the Record Date
shall bear the following legend:
6
10
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Sage, Inc.
(the "Company") and Mellon Investor Services LLC (the "Rights Agent")
dated as of June 1, 2001, as amended from time to time (the "Rights
Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and a copy of which is on file at the office of the Rights
Agent. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and
will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail
to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in
effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of
a written request therefor. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS
OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS
SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD
BY OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER, MAY BECOME
NULL AND VOID.
With respect to certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock that
bear the foregoing legend until the earlier of the Distribution Date and the
Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the shares of Company Common Stock
represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone
and registered holders of the shares of Company Common Stock shall also be the
registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any of such
certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with
the shares of Company Common Stock represented by such certificates.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates (and
the forms of election to purchase, assignment and certificate to be printed on
the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit A hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and
such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and which do not effect the duties and responsibilities of the
Rights Agent and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or any rule or
regulation thereunder or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed
or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22
hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the
Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such
number of Units of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price
set forth therein, but the amount and type of securities, cash or other assets
that may be acquired upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price
thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) Rights Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, the President or one
of its Vice Presidents reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary, Treasurer
or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on
the Rights Certificates may be manual or facsimile. Rights Certificates bearing
the manual or facsimile signatures of the individuals who were at any time the
proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such
individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the
countersignature of such Rights Certificates or did not hold such offices at the
date of such Rights Certificates. No Rights
7
11
Certificate shall be entitled to any benefit under this Agreement or be valid
for any purpose unless there appears on such Rights Certificate a
countersignature duly executed by the Rights Agent by manual signature of an
authorized signatory, and such countersignature upon any Rights Certificate
shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Rights
Certificate has been duly countersigned as required hereunder.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, and receipt by the Rights Agent
of all necessary information, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at
its office designated for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the name and address of each holder of the
Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each Rights
Certificate and the date of each Rights Certificate.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates. (a)
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4, 7(e) and 14 hereof, at any time after
the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of
Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or
Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of Units
of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or
Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent,
and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred,
split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered
Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and executed
the certificate set forth in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights
represented by such Rights Certificate or Affiliates or Associates thereof as
the Company shall reasonably request; whereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject
to the provisions of Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver
to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as
the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights
Certificates. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation under this
Section 6(a) unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charge
have been paid in full.
(b) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, if a Rights Certificate shall be
mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, upon request by the registered holder of
the Rights represented thereby and upon payment to the Company and the Rights
Agent of all reasonable expenses incident thereto, there shall be issued, in
exchange for and upon cancellation of the mutilated Rights Certificate, or in
substitution for the lost, stolen or destroyed Rights Certificate, a new Rights
Certificate, in substantially the form of the prior Rights Certificate, of like
tenor and representing the equivalent number of Rights, but, in the case of
loss, theft or destruction, only upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the
Company and the Rights Agent of such loss, theft or destruction of such
8
12
Rights Certificate and, if requested by the Company or the Rights Agent,
indemnity also satisfactory to it.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights. (a) Prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth
anniversary hereof (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the
Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof and (iii) the time at which
the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 34 hereof (the earlier of (i),
(ii) and (iii) being the "Expiration Date"), the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may, subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e) and 9(c) hereof,
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby, in whole or in part, at any time after
the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly
executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price (as
hereinafter defined) for the number of Units of Preferred Stock (or, following a
Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be)
for which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable.
(b) The purchase price for each one one-hundredth of a share (each
such one one-hundredth of a share being a "Unit") of Preferred Stock upon
exercise of Rights shall be $70.00, subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof (such purchase price, as so adjusted,
being the "Purchase Price"), and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph
(c) below.
(c) As promptly as practicable following the occurrence of the
Distribution Date, the Company shall deposit with the Rights Agent or other
corporation in good standing organized under the laws of the United States or
any State of the United States, which is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority (such institution being the
"Depositary Agent"), certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock
that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights and shall cause such Depositary
Agent to enter into an agreement pursuant to which the Depositary Agent shall
issue receipts representing interests in the shares of Preferred Stock so
deposited. Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights,
with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase
Price for the Units of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased thereby as
set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable tax or charge and evidence
satisfactory to the Company of payment of such tax and/or charge, the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) requisition
from the Depositary Agent depositary receipts representing such number of Units
of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased and the Company will direct the
Depositary Agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company
the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such depositary
receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if
any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.
In the event that the Company is obligated to issue Company Common Stock, other
securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to
Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that
such Company Common Stock, other
9
13
securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the
Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as
such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made in
cash or by certified or bank check or money order payable to the order of the
Company.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent
and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, subject to the provisions of Section 6 and Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of any Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) which becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) which becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and which receives such Rights pursuant to
either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring
Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity interests in
such Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) or to any Person with
whom the Acquiring Person (or such Associate or Affiliate) has any continuing
agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights, shares
of Company Common Stock or the Company or (B) a transfer which the Board of
Directors has determined to be part of an agreement, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this
Section 7(e), shall be null and void without any further action, and no holder
of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights,
whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall
notify the Rights Agent when this Section 7(e) applies and shall use all
reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) hereof are
complied with, but neither the Rights Agent or the Company shall have any
liability to any holder of Rights or any other Person as a result of the
Company's failure to make any determination under this Section 7(e) with respect
to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the
occurrence of any purported exercise by such registered holder unless such
registered holder shall have (i) completed and properly executed the certificate
following the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the
Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such
additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former
Beneficial Owner) of the Rights represented by such Rights Certificate or
Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent shall
reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it,
10
14
and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for
cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire,
any Rights Certificates acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise
thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to the
Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled
Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. (a) The
Company shall at all times prior to the Expiration Date cause to be reserved and
kept available, out of its authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock,
the number of shares of Preferred Stock that, as provided in this Agreement,
will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
Upon the occurrence of any events resulting in an increase in the aggregate
number of shares of Preferred Stock (or other equity securities of the Company)
issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Rights above the number then reserved,
the Company shall make appropriate increases in the number of shares so reserved
to the extent practicable.
(b) If the shares of Preferred Stock to be issued and delivered upon
the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange or
automated quotation system, the Company shall during the period from the
Distribution Date through the Expiration Date use its best efforts to cause all
securities reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon
official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts (i) as soon as
practicable following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and a
determination by the Company in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii) hereof of the
consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights or, if
so required by law, as soon as practicable following the Distribution Date (such
date being the "Registration Date"), to file a registration statement on an
appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), with respect to the securities that may be acquired upon exercise of the
Rights (the "Registration Statement"), (ii) to cause the Registration Statement
to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, (iii) to cause the
Registration Statement to continue to be effective (and to include a prospectus
complying with the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A)
the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for the securities
covered by the Registration Statement, and (B) the Expiration Date and (iv) to
take as soon as practicable following the Registration Date such action as may
be required to ensure that any acquisition of securities upon exercise of the
Rights complies with any applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws. The
Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed one hundred
twenty (120) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence
of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and
file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement (with prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent) at such time as
the suspension is no longer in effect (with prompt notice thereof to the Rights
Agent). In addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration
statement is required following the Distribution Date, the Company may
temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a
registration statement has been declared effective. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
11
15
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in
such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise thereof shall not
be permitted under applicable law or a registration statement shall not have
been declared effective.
(d) The Company shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure
that all shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, any other securities that may be delivered upon exercise of
Rights) shall be, at the time of delivery of the certificates or depositary
receipts for such securities (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), duly
and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and non-assessable.
(e) The Company shall pay any documentary, stamp, tax or charge
imposed in connection with the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates
or upon the exercise of Rights; provided, however, the Company shall not be
required to pay any such tax imposed in connection with the issuance or delivery
of Units of Preferred Stock, or any certificates or depositary receipts for such
Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
any other securities, cash or assets, as the case may be) to any Person other
than the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing the Rights
surrendered for exercise. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver
any certificates or depositary receipts for Units of Preferred Stock (or,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, any other securities, cash or
assets, as the case may be) to, or in a name other than that of, the registered
holder upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax or charge shall have
been paid (any such tax or charge being payable by the holder of such Rights
Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the
Company's satisfaction that no such tax or charge is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate or depositary receipt for Units of Preferred Stock (or, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, other securities) is issued upon the
exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of
record of the Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, other securities) represented thereby on, and such certificate
shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such
Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any
applicable taxes or charge) was made; provided, however, that if the date of
such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, other securities) transfer books
of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record
holder of such securities on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next
succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, other securities) transfer books of the
Company are open and, further provided, however, that if delivery of Units of
Preferred Stock is delayed pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof, such Persons shall
be deemed to have become the record holders of such Units of Preferred Stock
only when such Units first become deliverable. Prior to the exercise of the
Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be
entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to
securities for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without
limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to
exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice
of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
12
16
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of securities
purchasable upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date
of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable
in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred
Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number
of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect
at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective
date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the
case may be, issuable on such date upon exercise of the Rights, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after
such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase
Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of
Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such
Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date, such holder
would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by
virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification;
provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid
upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of
the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon the exercise of
one Right. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under
both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment
provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall
be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof.
(ii) In the event any Person shall become an Acquiring Person,
other than pursuant to any transaction set forth in Section 13(a)
hereof, then, immediately upon the occurrence of such event (a "Section
11(a)(ii) Event"), proper provision shall be made so that each holder of
a Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall,
subject to Section 34 hereof, thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise of such Right at the then current Purchase Price in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of the number of Units of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (whether or not such
Right was then exercisable), such number of Units of Preferred Stock as
shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current
Purchase Price by the then number of Units of Preferred Stock for which
a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event (whether or not such Right was then exercisable)
(such product thereafter being, for all purposes of this Agreement,
other than Section 13 hereof, the "Purchase Price"), and (y) dividing
that product by 50% of the then current market price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Unit of Preferred Stock on the
date of such first occurrence (such Units of Preferred Stock being the
"Adjustment Shares"); provided, however, that the Purchase Price and the
number of Units of Preferred Stock so receivable upon exercise of a
Right shall, following the Section 11(a)(ii) Event, be subject to
further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with
13
17
Section 11 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Rights shall not
be exercisable pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii) until the time period
during which the Rights may be redeemed pursuant to Section 23 hereof
shall have expired.
(iii) The Company, by the vote of a majority of the Board of
Directors, may at its option substitute for a Unit of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii), shares of Company Common Stock or fractions thereof
having a current market price (as determined by Section 11(d) hereof)
equal to the current market price of a Unit of Preferred Stock on the
date of the Section 11(a)(ii) Event. In the event that the number of
shares of Preferred Stock which are authorized by the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for
issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is not
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company,
by the vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, shall to the extent
permitted by applicable law and any material agreements then in effect
to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound: (A) determine
the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the
exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price
(such excess being the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right
(other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section 7(e)),
make adequate provision to substitute, in whole or in part, for such
Adjustment Shares, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the
applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase
Price, (3) shares of Company Common Stock or other equity securities of
the Company (including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares,
of preferred stock (such other shares being "common stock
equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or
(6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value which,
when added to the value of the Units of Preferred Stock actually issued
upon exercise of such Right, shall have an aggregate value equal to the
Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in such Purchase Price),
where such aggregate value has been determined by a majority of the
Board of Directors, after receiving advice from a nationally recognized
investment banking firm; provided, however, that if the Company shall
not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B)
above within thirty days following the later of (x) the first occurrence
of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company's
right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x)
and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger
Date"), then, subject to Section 34 hereof, the Company shall be
obligated (to the extent permitted by applicable law and any material
agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party or by which it
is bound) to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and
without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, Units of Preferred
Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, shares (or
fractions of shares, at the discretion of the Board of Directors) of
Company Common Stock, cash or a combination thereof, which Units of
Preferred Stock, shares (or fractions of shares) of Company Common Stock
and/or cash shall have an aggregate value equal to the Spread; further
provided, however, that if the Company is unable to comply with the
immediately foregoing provision within such thirty day period, then the
Company shall (to the extent permitted by law) take all such action as
may be necessary to comply with such provision, including the calling of
a meeting of stockholders to authorize additional shares of Preferred
Stock or Company Common
14
18
Stock. To the extent that the Company determines that some action need
be taken pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii), the
Company shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action
shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights. For purposes of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the value of a Unit of Preferred Stock or share of
Company Common Stock shall be the current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Unit of Preferred Stock or share
of Company Common Stock, as the case may be, on the Section 11(a)(iii)
Trigger Date and the value of any common stock equivalent shall be
deemed to have the same value as the Preferred Stock on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance
of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring
within forty-five calendar days after such record date) shares of
Preferred Stock (or shares having substantially the same rights,
privileges and preferences as shares of Preferred Stock ("Equivalent
Preferred Stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or
Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price
per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent
Preferred Stock) less than the current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section l1(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such
record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date
shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the sum of the number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares of Preferred
Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares
of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible
securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market
price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of
Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of
additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock
to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the
convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In
case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration
part or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such
consideration shall be as determined in good faith by a majority of the
Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights
Agent and the holders of the Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by
or held for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be
deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is
fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so
issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price
which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of shares of Preferred Stock (including any
such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in
which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of
evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly cash
dividend paid out of funds legally available therefor), assets (other
than a dividend payable in shares of Preferred Stock, but including any
dividend payable in stock other
15
19
than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights, options or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase
Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current
market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share
of Preferred Stock on such record date less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holder of the
Rights) of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed or of such subscription rights, options or warrants
distributable in respect of a share of Preferred Stock and the
denominator of which shall be such current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock. Such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is
fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the
Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would
have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current market price" per share of Company Common Stock or Common Stock
on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing
prices per share of such shares for the ten consecutive Trading Days (as
such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date;
provided, however, if prior to the expiration of such requisite ten
Trading Day period the issuer announces either (A) a dividend or
distribution on such shares payable in such shares or securities
convertible into such shares (other than the Rights), or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such shares, then,
following the ex-dividend date for such dividend or the record date for
such subdivision, combination or reclassification, as the case may be,
the "current market price" shall be properly adjusted to take into
account such event. The closing price for each day shall be, if the
shares are listed and admitted to trading on a national securities
exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal
national securities exchange on which such shares are listed or admitted
to trading or, if such shares are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so
quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market
("Nasdaq") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date
such shares 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 such shares selected by a majority of the Board of
Directors. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in
such shares, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in
good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors shall be used. If
such shares are not publicly held or not so listed or traded, "current
market price" per share shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. The term "Trading Day"
shall mean, if such shares are listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which such shares are listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such shares are
not so listed or admitted, a Business Day.
16
20
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current market price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined
in the same manner as set forth above for Company Common Stock in clause
(i) of this Section 11(d) (other than the fourth sentence thereof). If
the current market price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be
determined in the manner provided above or if the Preferred Stock is not
publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in clause (i) of
this Section 11(d), the "current market price" per share of Preferred
Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 100 (as such
amount may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits,
stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to Company Common
Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the
current market price per share of Company Common Stock. If neither
Company Common Stock nor Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed
or traded, "current market price" per share of the Preferred Stock shall
mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by a majority
of the Board of Directors whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights
Agent and the holders of the Rights. For all purposes of this Agreement,
the "current market price" of a Unit of Preferred Stock shall be equal
to the "current market price" of one share of Preferred Stock divided by
100.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the
Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason
of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried
forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All
calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or
to the nearest one-hundredth of a share of Company Common Stock or
Common Stock or other share or ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this
Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made
no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the
transaction which mandates such adjustment and (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised
shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than
Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on
terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect
to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (d), (e),
(g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7,
9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply
on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right
to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Units of
Preferred Stock (or other securities or amount of cash or combination
thereof) that may be acquired from time to time hereunder upon exercise
of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
17
21
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as
a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall
thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase
Price, that number of Units of Preferred Stock (calculated to the
nearest one ten-thousandth of a Unit) obtained by (i) multiplying (x)
the number of Units of Preferred Stock covered by a Right immediately
prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the
product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after
such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment
of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any
adjustment in the number of Units of Preferred Stock that may be
acquired upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding
after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for
the number of Units of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to
such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of
Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by
dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of
the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after
adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public
announcement (and promptly notify the Rights Agent) of its election to
adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the
adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to
be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is
adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten days later than the date of such
public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each
adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights
Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional
Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such
adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be
distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement
for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new
Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates to be so
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner
provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the
adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the
holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in
the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of Units of Preferred Stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per Unit
and the number of Units of Preferred Stock which were expressed in the
Initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value of the number of
Units of Preferred Stock
18
22
issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any
corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary
in order that the Company may validly and legally issue such fully paid
and non-assessable number of Units of Preferred Stock at such adjusted
Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date
for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer (and shall
promptly notify the Rights Agent of any such election) until the
occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right
exercised after such record date of that number of Units of Preferred
Stock and shares of other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of Units of
Preferred Stock and shares of other capital stock or securities of the
Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the
Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however,
that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due ββββ or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such
additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase
Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment a
majority of the Board of Directors shall determine to be advisable in
order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock,
(ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less
than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares
of Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, (iv) stock dividends
or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this
Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred
Stock, shall not be taxable to such holders or shall reduce the taxes
payable by such holders.
(n) The Company shall not, at any time after the Distribution
Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a wholly owned
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any
Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any
of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or
other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect
which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously
with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the Person
which constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for
purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have distributed or otherwise
transferred to its shareholders or other persons holding an equity
interest in such Person Rights previously owned by such Person or any of
its Affiliates
19
23
and Associates; provided, however, this Section 11(n) shall not affect
the ability of any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to consolidate
with, merge with or into, or sell or transfer assets or earning power
to, any other wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company.
(o) After the Distribution Date, the Company shall not, except as
permitted by Section 23, Section 26 or Section 34 hereof, take (or
permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is
taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
in the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights
Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare
a dividend on the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock payable in
shares of Company Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock, (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue any shares
of its capital stock in a reclassification of Company Common Stock
(including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving
corporation), the number of Rights associated with each share of Company
Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter prior
to the Distribution Date or in accordance with Section 22 hereof, shall
be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter
associated with each share of Company Common Stock following any such
event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of
Rights associated with each share of Company Common Stock immediately
prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the
total number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately
prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall
be the total number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding
immediately following the occurrence of such event.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts and computations accounting for
such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent a copy of such
certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights
Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a
certificate representing shares of Company Common Stock) in accordance with
Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any
such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and shall not be deemed
to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received
such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power. (a) In the event that, following the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, directly or indirectly, either (x) the Company shall
consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a wholly
owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such
20
24
consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a wholly owned Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction which compiles with Section 11(o) hereof) shall
consolidate with, or merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be
the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in
connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or
other securities of the Company or any other Person or cash or any other
property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of
its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) to any Person or Persons
(other than the Company or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) (any such
event being a "Section 13 Event"), then, and in each such case, proper provision
shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, (other than Rights which have
become void as provided in Section 7(e) hereof), shall thereafter have the right
to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price, in
accordance with this Agreement and in lieu of Units of Preferred Stock or shares
of Company Common Stock, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully
paid, non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the
Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), which shares shall not be
subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of call or first refusal, transfer
restrictions or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained
by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of Units of
Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of
such Units for which a Right would be exercisable hereunder but for the
occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price which would be
in effect hereunder but for such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that product
(which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be the
"Purchase Price" for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the current
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the
Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section
13 Event, provided, however, that the Purchase Price (as theretofore adjusted in
accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) and the number of shares of Common
Stock of such Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be
subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f)
hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect of the Common Stock of such
Principal Party after the occurrence of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such
Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of
such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to
this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to
such Principal Party in all respects; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such
steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of
shares of its Common Stock in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection
with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that
the provisions of this Agreement shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as
reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights, to its shares of Common Stock;
provided, however, that, upon the subsequent occurrence of any merger,
consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets, recapitalization,
reclassification of shares, reorganization or other extraordinary transaction in
respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall thereupon be
entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price,
such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property which such holder
21
25
would have been entitled to receive had it, at the time of such transaction,
owned the shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party purchasable upon the
exercise of a Right, and such Principal Party shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be necessary to
permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms hereof
for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property; and (v) the
provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no further effect following
the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), (A) the Person that is
the issuer of any securities into which shares of Company Common
Stock are converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is
more than one such issuer, the issuer of Common Stock that has the
highest aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) and (B) if no securities are so issued, the
Person that is the other party to such merger or consolidation, or,
if there is more than one such Person, the Person the Common Stock
of which has the highest aggregate current market price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z)
of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is
the party receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning
power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or,
if each Person that is a party to such transaction or transactions
receives the same portion of the assets or earning power transferred
pursuant to such transaction or transactions or if the Person
receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power cannot
be determined, whichever Person the Common Stock of which has the
highest aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof); provided, however, that in any such case, (1)
if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not
been continuously over the preceding twelve-month period registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act ("Registered Common Stock"), or
such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is a direct or
indirect Subsidiary of another Person that has Registered Common
Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other
Person; (2) if the Common Stock of such Person is not Registered
Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person but is not a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person which has Registered
Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to the
ultimate parent entity of such first-mentioned Person; (3) if the
Common Stock of such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such
Person is not a corporation, and such Person is directly or
indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and one or more of
such other Persons has Registered Common Stock outstanding,
"Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such other Persons is
the issuer of the Registered Common Stock having the highest
aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof); and (4) if the Common Stock of such Person is not
Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and
such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by
22
26
more than one Person, and none of such other Persons have Registered
Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever
ultimate parent entity is the corporation having the greatest
shareholders equity or, if no such ultimate parent entity is a
corporation, shall refer to whichever ultimate parent entity is the
entity having the greatest net assets
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a
sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have
not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full
of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13, and unless prior
thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the
terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further
providing that the Principal Party, at its own expense, shall:
(i) (A) file on an appropriate form, as soon as
practicable following the execution of such agreement, a
registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to
the Common Stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the
Rights, (B) cause such registration statement to remain effective
(and to include a prospectus complying with the requirements of
the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date, and (C) as soon as
practicable following the execution of such agreement, take such
action as may be required to assure that any acquisition of such
Common Stock upon the exercise of the Rights complies with any
applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws; and
(ii) as soon as practicable following the execution of
such agreement, deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its
Affiliates which comply in all respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
(d) In case the Principal Party which is to be a party to a
transaction referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of its
authorized securities or in its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws
or other instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision
would have the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue, in
connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a
transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common Stock of
such Principal Party at less than the then current market price per
share (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock of such Principal
Party at less than such then current market price (other than to holders
of Rights pursuant to this Section 13) or (ii) providing for any special
payment, tax or similar provisions in connection with the issuance of
the Common Stock of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 13; then, in such event, the Company shall not consummate
any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal
Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing that the provision in question of such
Principal Party shall have been cancelled, waived or amended, or that
the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable
provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
23
27
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the
event that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not
theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable, in the
manner and for the securities described in Section 13(a).
(f) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in
the event of any merger or other acquisition transaction involving the
Company pursuant to a merger or other acquisition agreement between the
Company and any Person (or one or more of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates) which agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors
prior to any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, this Agreement and the
rights of holders of Rights hereunder shall be terminated in accordance
with Section 7(a) hereof.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) The Company
shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Rights
Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of issuing such
fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the Persons to which such fractional
Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to such fraction of
the market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall
be, if the Rights are listed or admitted to trading on a national securities
exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by a majority
of the Board of Directors. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors shall be used and such
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
the holders of the Rights.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares
of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence such fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a
share of Preferred Stock); provided, however, that in lieu of fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a
share of Preferred Stock, the Company may provide for the issuance of depositary
receipts pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof. In lieu of such fractional shares of
Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share,
the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the then current market price of a share of Preferred Stock on the
day of exercise, determined in accordance with Section 11(d) hereof.
24
28
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, other than rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant to
this Agreement, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of
certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock); and any registered
holder of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of a
certificate representing shares of Company Common Stock), without the consent of
the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of a certificate representing shares of Company Common
Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company or any
other Person to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise
the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Company Common
Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of
transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates duly executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company
and the Rights Agent shall deem and treat the Person in whose name a
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated
Company Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any
notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the
associated Company Common Stock certificate made by any Person other
than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence
of Section 7 (e) hereof, shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company 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,
25
29
judgment or ruling (whether interlocatory or final) 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;
provided, however, the Company must use its best efforts to have any
such order, decree, judgment or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as
promptly as practicable.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of shares of
Preferred Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of
the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold
consent to any corporate action, or, except as provided in Section 24 hereof, to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders, or to
receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in
accordance with the provisions hereof. This Section 17 shall also apply to
holders, as such, of Rights prior to the issuance of Rights Certificates.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. (a) The Company agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements of its counsel, incurred
in connection with the preparation, delivery, execution, administration, and
amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company shall indemnify the Rights Agent for and hold harmless
against any loss, liability, damage, judgment, penalty, claim, demand,
settlement, cost or expenses incurred in connection with any action taken
suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent under the Agreement including, without
limitation, the costs and expenses of defending against a claim of liability,
unless caused by the Rights Agent's gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct, as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be authorized to rely on, shall be
protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it in connection with and administration of this
Agreement or in the exercise or performance of its duties hereunder in reliance
upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Preferred Stock or for other
securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to have been signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged
by the proper Person or Persons.
(c) The indemnity, exculpation and compensation provided herein
shall survive the expiration of the Rights, the termination of this Agreement
and the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent. In no case will the Rights
Agent be liable for special, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential
loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost
profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the possibility of such
loss or damage. The
26
30
costs and expenses incurred in enforcing the Rights of indemnification shall be
paid by the Company.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any
merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the corporate trust or shareholder
services businesses of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be
the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or
filing of any document or any further act on the part of any of the parties
hereto; provided, however, that such Person would be eligible for appointment as
a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at
the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this
Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a
predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned;
and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the
successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes only the
duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement upon the following
terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights
Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Company), and the advice or opinion of such
counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the
Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in
respect of any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any
fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any
Acquiring Person and the determination of "current market price") be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering or
omitted any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence
in respect thereof be specified herein) may be deemed to be conclusively
proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice
27
31
President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent;
provided, however, that so long as any Person is an Acquiring Person
hereunder, such certificate shall be signed and delivered by a majority
of the Board of Directors; and such certificate shall be full
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent
shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered
or omitted in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in
reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall only be liable to the Company in the
event of loss, liability or damages caused by the Rights Agent's gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as finally determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding anything contained
herein, any liability of the Right Agent hereunder shall be limited to
the amount of fees paid by the Company to the Rights Agent hereunder.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any
of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in
the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to
its countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such
statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the
Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not have any liability or
responsibility for the validity of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or
for the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be liable or responsible for any
breach by the Company of any covenant or failure by the Company to
satisfy conditions contained in this Agreement or in any Rights
Certificate; nor shall it be liable or responsible for any adjustment
required under the provisions of Section 11 or Section 13 hereof 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 evidenced by Rights Certificates
after receipt by the Rights Agent of the certificate describing any such
adjustment contemplated by Section 12); nor shall it by any act
hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Preferred Stock or any
other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Preferred Stock or any other
securities will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.
(f) The Company shall perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver
or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the performance by the Rights Agent of its
duties under this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder
from the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary,
the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to
such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties,
and such
28
32
advice or instructions should be full authorization and protection to
the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with the advice or instructions of any such
officer; provided, however, that so long as any Person is an Acquiring
Person hereunder and the Rights Agent has received written notice
thereof, the Rights Agent shall accept such instructions and advice only
from a majority of the Board of Directors and such advice or instruction
shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the
Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action
taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with such advice or instructions of the majority of the Board of
Directors. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions
from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in
writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent
under this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such
action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights
Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by
the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such
application on or after the date specified in such application (which
date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any such
officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any
such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless,
prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an
omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in
response to such application specifying the action to be taken or
omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, Affiliate, director,
officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of
the Rights or other securities of the Company or have a pecuniary
interest in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or
contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and
freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing
herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity
for the Company or for any other Person.
(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 attorney or agent or any loss to the Company, any
holders of Rights or any other Person resulting from such act, default,
neglect or misconduct.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of
its rights hereunder if the Rights Agent shall have reasonable grounds
for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the
form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be,
has either not been completed, not signed or indicates an affirmative
response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take
any
29
33
further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer
without first consulting with the Company. If such certificate has been
completed and signed and shows a negative response to clauses 1 and 2 of
such certificate, unless previously instructed otherwise in writing by
the Company (which instructions may impose on the Rights Agent
additional ministerial responsibilities, but no discretionary
responsibilities), the Rights Agent may assume without further inquiry
that the Rights Certificate is not owned by a Person described in
Section 7(e) hereof and shall not be charged with any knowledge to the
contrary.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty days' prior notice in writing mailed to the Company by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon
thirty days' prior notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the
Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail
to make such appointment within a period of thirty days after giving notice of
such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a Person organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States in good
standing, shall be authorized under applicable laws to exercise shareholder
service powers and shall be subject to supervision or examination by federal or
state authorities or (b) an Affiliate of a Person described in clause (a). After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers,
rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights
Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall
deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held
by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act
or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in
this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality
or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors to reflect any
adjustment or change made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement in
the Purchase Price or the number or kind or class of shares or other securities
or property that may be acquired under the Rights Certificates. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Company Common Stock following
the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall,
with respect to shares of Company Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or
30
34
arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities
hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed
necessary or appropriate by a majority of the Board of Directors, issue Rights
Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with
such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate
shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by
counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse
tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate
would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to
the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu
of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination. (a) Subject to Section 30
hereof, the Company may, at its option, by action of a majority of the Board of
Directors, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the
tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the Final
Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights
at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being the "Redemption
Price"). The Company may, at its option, by action of a majority of the Board of
Directors, pay the Redemption Price either in shares of Company Common Stock
(based on the "current market price", as defined in Section 11(d) hereof, of the
shares of Company Common Stock at the time of redemption) or cash and the
redemption of the Rights shall be effective on the basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors may in its sole discretion establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of a majority of the Board of
Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall be
filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each Right so held. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such
redemption (with prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent); provided, however,
that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the
validity of such redemption. Promptly after the action of a majority of the
Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give
notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then
outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each holder's
last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior
to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state
the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events. (a) In case the Company shall
propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any
other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend paid out of funds legally available therefor), (ii) to
offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or
to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any
class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving
only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect
any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person, or to effect any sale
or other transfer (or to permit one or more of
31
35
its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more
transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than a
transfer by the Company and/or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries in one or
more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to
effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each
such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the
extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such
stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to
be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by
clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such
action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days
prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock whichever
shall be the earlier; provided, however, no such notice shall be required
pursuant to this Section 24, if any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company
effects a consolidation or merger with or into, or effects a sale or other
transfer of assets or earnings power to, any other wholly owned Subsidiary of
the Company.
(b) In case any Triggering Event shall occur, then, in any such
case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with
Section 25 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, (with prompt notice
thereof to the Rights Agent) which shall specify the event and the consequences
of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13 hereof,
as the case may be.
Section 25. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
hereunder shall, unless otherwise stated herein, be in writing (including by
telex, telegram or cable) and mailed or sent or delivered, if to the Company, at
its address at:
Sage, Inc.
ββββ βββββ βββββ ββββββ
βββ ββββ, ββββββββββ βββββ
Attention: Corporate Secretary
and if to the Rights Agent, at its address at:
Mellon Investor Services LLC
βββ ββββββββββ ββββββ
ββββ βββββ
βββ βββββββββ, ββ βββββ
Attn: βββ ββββββββ
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by
the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Company Common Stock) shall be sufficiently
32
36
given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such
holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the
Company.
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date
and subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 26, the Company and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision
of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of
certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock. From and after the
Distribution Date and subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 26,
the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates
in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or
(iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the
Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, however, that
this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to
clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) subject to Section 30 hereof, a time period
relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not
then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is for the
purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the
benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an
appropriate officer of the Company or, so long as any Person is an Acquiring
Person hereunder and written notification thereof to the Rights Agent, from the
majority of the Board of Directors, which states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 26, and, provided such
supplement or amendment does not change or increase the Rights Agent's duties,
liabilities or obligations hereunder, the Rights Agent shall execute such
supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary, (i) no supplement or amendment shall be made which changes the
Redemption Price, the Purchase Price, the Expiration Date or the number of Units
of Preferred Stock or other securities or assets for which a Right is
exercisable without the approval of a majority of the Board of Directors, and
(ii) following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, no supplement or
amendment whatsoever shall be made without the approval of the Board of
Directors. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Company
Common Stock.
Section 27. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Company Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes
of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in
accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Exchange Act
Regulations as in effect on the date hereof. Except as otherwise specifically
provided herein, the Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers
specifically granted to the Board of Directors or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this
33
37
Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power (i) to interpret
the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) to make all determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement. All such
actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for
purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which
are done or made by the Board of Directors in good faith shall (x) be final,
conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the
Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors or any
member thereof to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of shares of Company Common Stock) any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this
Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of shares of Company Common Stock).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a final court of competent jurisdiction
or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and a majority of the
Board of Directors determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement and the Rights shall not then be redeemable, the right
of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not
expire until the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day following the date
of such determination by a majority of the Board of Directors.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and
to be performed entirely in such State.
Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed (including by
facsimile) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings. The headings contained in this
Agreement are for descriptive purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 34. Exchange. (a) The Company, upon resolution of a majority of
the Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time after the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, exchange all or part of the then
outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have
become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) for Units of Preferred
34
38
Stock or shares of Company Common Stock (at the election of the Board of
Directors) at an exchange ratio of one Unit of Preferred Stock or one share of
Company Common Stock, as the case may be, per Right, as appropriately adjusted
to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring
after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being the "Exchange Ratio").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to
effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than an Exempt Person),
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of shares of Company Common Stock aggregating 50% or more of
the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding. From and after the
occurrence of a Section 13(a) Event, any Rights that theretofore have not been
exchanged pursuant to this Section 34(a) shall thereafter be exercisable only in
accordance with Section 13 and may not be exchanged pursuant to this Section
34(a). The exchange of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made
effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of a majority of the Board of
Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 34(a) and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such
Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights
shall be to receive that number of Units of Preferred Stock or shares of Company
Common Stock, as the case may be, equal to the number of such Rights held by
such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give
public notice of any such exchange (with prompt notice thereof to the Rights
Agent); provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly
shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at
their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent.
Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given,
whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange
shall state the method by which the exchange of Units of Preferred Stock or
shares of Company Common Stock, as the case may be, for Rights will be effected
and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number
of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions
of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that the number of shares of Preferred Stock or
Company Common Stock, as the case may be, which are authorized by the Company's
Restated Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for
issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient
to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section
34, the Company, upon a resolution of a majority of the Board of Directors,
shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of
Preferred Stock or Company Common Stock, as the case may be, for issuance upon
exchange of the Rights or make adequate provision to substitute, in whole or in
part, (1) cash, (2) other equity securities of the Company, (3) debt securities
of the Company, (4) other assets, or (5) any combination of the foregoing,
having an aggregate value for each Right to be exchanged equal to the per share
market price of one Unit of Preferred Stock or share of Company Common Stock, as
the case may be (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) as of the date of
a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, where such aggregate value has been determined by a
majority of the Board of Directors.
35
39
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Units of
Preferred Stock or fractions of shares of Company Common Stock or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional Units or fractional shares. In lieu of
issuing fractional Units or fractional shares, the Company may pay to the
registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exchanged
as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of one Unit of
Preferred Stock or one share of Company Common Stock, as the case may be, on the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section
34.
36
40
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
SAGE, INC. MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC
By: /s/ βββββββββββββ β. βββββ By: /s/ βββββ βββββ
Name: βββββββββββββ β. βββββ Name: βββββ βββββ
Title: Chief Executive Officer Title: Assistant Vice President
37
41
EXHIBIT A
TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. ______ ______ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REFERRED TO BELOW). THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE, AT THE
OPTION OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES (SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY
SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
Rights Certificate
SAGE, INC.
This certifies that ______________________, or registered assigns, is
the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms and conditions of
the Rights Agreement dated as of June 1, 2001, as amended from time to time (the
"Rights Agreement"; terms defined therein are used herein with the same meaning
unless otherwise defined herein) between Sage, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent (which term shall
include any successor Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement), to purchase from
the Company at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date at the office of the Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid and
nonassessable share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Preferred Stock"), of the Company at the Purchase Price initially of $70.00 per
one one-hundredth share of Preferred Stock (each such one one-hundredth of a
share being a "Unit"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the Election to Purchase and related certificate duly executed.
The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of
shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the
Purchase Price per Unit set forth above, and the Purchase Price per share set
forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of June 1, 2001 based on the
Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. The Company reserves the right to
require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as such term is defined
in the Rights Agreement) that a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole
shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.
UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF A SECTION 11(a)(ii) EVENT, IF THE RIGHTS
EVIDENCED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING
PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF ANY SUCH ACQUIRING PERSON OR, UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, A TRANSFEREE OF ANY
SUCH ACQUIRING PERSON,
A-1
42
ASSOCIATE OR AFFILIATE, SUCH RIGHTS SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND NO HOLDER
HEREOF SHALL HAVE ANY RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO SUCH RIGHTS FROM AND AFTER THE
OCCURRENCE OF SUCH SECTION 11(a)(ii) EVENT.
In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase capital
stock of an entity other than the Company or receive common stock, cash or other
assets, all as provided in the Rights Agreement.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities, which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events,
including a Triggering Event.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms and conditions of
the Rights Agreement, which terms and conditions are hereby incorporated herein
by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is
hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights,
obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company
and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include
the temporary suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the specific
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights Agreement
are on file at the office of the Rights Agent and are available from the Rights
Agent upon written request.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor
and date evidencing 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 redeemed by the Company under certain circumstances
at its option at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, at any time prior to the
earlier of the close of business on (i) the tenth business day following the
Stock Acquisition Date (as such time period may be extended pursuant to the
Rights Agreement) and (ii) the Final Expiration Date. In addition, the Rights
may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for shares of the Common Stock of the
Company. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
authorizing any such exchange, and without any further action or any notice, the
Rights (other than Rights which are not subject to such exchange) will terminate
and the Rights will only enable holders to receive the shares issuable upon such
exchange. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, the
decision to redeem the Rights shall require the concurrence of a majority of the
Directors.
A-2
43
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise
of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock or depositary
receipts representing such fractions), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will
be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Preferred Stock
or of any other securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise
hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be
construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a
stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights
Agreement), or to receive dividends of subscription rights, or otherwise, until
the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
A-3
44
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company.
Dated as of _________________, __________
SAGE, INC.
By:____________________________
Name:
Title: President
By:____________________________
Name:
Title: Secretary
Countersigned:
Mellon Investor Services LLC
as Rights Agent
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
A-4
45
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto:___________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
___________________________________ this Rights Certificate, together with all
right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and
appoint _____________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Rights
Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of
substitution.
Dated
--------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes in
(1) and (2) that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
pursuant to the Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [
] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from
any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated
--------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
A-5
46
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Signatures must be guaranteed by an approved eligible financial
institution acceptable to the Rights Agent in its sole discretion or by a
participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the Stock
Exchange Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program.
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed, the
Company 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 Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an Assignment, will affix a
legend to that effect on any Rights Certificates issued in exchange for this
Rights Certificate.
A-6
47
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if the registered holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.)
To: SAGE, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the Units of Preferred
Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Company or of any other person or other property which may be issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such Units be issued
in the name of and delivered to: _______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address) ________________________________________ (Please
insert social security or other identifying 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: ___________________________
________________________________________________ (Please print name and address)
______________________________________________ (Please insert social security or
other identifying number).
Dated
--------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes in
(1) and (2) that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or an Associate
thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated
--------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
A-7
48
The signature in the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must
conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Signatures must be guaranteed by an approved eligible financial
institution acceptable to the Rights Agent in its sole discretion or by a
participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the Stock
Exchange Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program.
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed, the
Company 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 Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an Assignment, will affix a
legend to that effect on any Rights Certificates issued in exchange for this
Rights Certificate.
A-8
49
EXHIBIT B
TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
(SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT),
RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS
(AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT)
OR ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS
MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK
On May 21, 2001, the Board of Directors of Sage, Inc. (the "Company")
authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
outstanding share of its Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Company
Common Stock"), to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 8,
2001 (the "Record Date"), and authorized the issuance of one Right with each
share of Company Common Stock issued (including shares distributed from
Treasury) by the Company thereafter between the Record Date and the Distribution
Date (as defined below). Each Right entitles the registered holder, subject to
the terms of the Rights Agreement (as defined below), to purchase from the
Company one one-hundredth of a share (a "Unit") of Series A Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a purchase price of $70.00 per
Unit, subject to adjustment. The purchase price is payable in cash or by
certified or bank check or money order payable to the order of the Company. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement between
the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent, dated as of June
1, 2001, as amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement").
A copy of the Rights Agreement, with related exhibits including the
Certificate of Designation, will be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2001. Copies of the Rights Agreement and the
Certificate of Designation are available free of charge from the Company. This
summary description of the Rights and the Preferred Stock does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the provisions
of the Rights Agreement and the Certificate of Designation, including the
definitions therein of certain terms, which Rights Agreement and Certificate of
Designation are incorporated herein by reference.
The Rights Agreement
Initially, the Rights will attach to all certificates representing
shares of outstanding Company Common Stock, and no separate Rights Certificates
will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Company Common Stock and
the "Distribution Date" will occur upon the earlier of (i) ten business days
following a public announcement (the date of such announcement being the "Stock
Acquisition Date") that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
has acquired or otherwise obtained beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
then outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (an "Acquiring Person"), and
(ii) ten business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the
Board of Directors prior to such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person)
following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result
in a person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of the then outstanding
shares of Company
B-1
50
Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by
Company Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with
such Company Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Company Common Stock
certificates issued after the Record Date (also including shares distributed
from Treasury) will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates representing
outstanding Company Common Stock will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Company Common Stock represented by such certificates.
An "Acquiring Person" does not include: (A) the Company; (B) any
Subsidiary of the Company; (C) any employee benefit plan maintained by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (D) any trustee or fiduciary with respect to
such employee benefit plan acting in such capacity or a trustee or fiduciary
holding shares of Company Common Stock for the purpose of funding any such plan
or employee benefits; (E) any Person if the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in good faith that such Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person" became such inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (x)
such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of Company
Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person"
or (y) such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of
Company Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such
Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement) and without any intention of changing
or influencing control of the Company, and if such Person does not acquire any
additional shares of Company Common Stock and as promptly as practicable
divested or divests itself of Beneficial Ownership of a sufficient number of
shares of Company Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an
"Acquiring Person;" or (F) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or
more of the then outstanding shares of Company Common Stock as a result of the
acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock directly from the Company in one
or more transactions approved by a majority of the Board of Directors, and (ii)
no Person shall be deemed an "Acquiring Person" as a result of the acquisition
of shares of Company Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number
of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding, increases the proportional number
of shares beneficially owned by such Person; provided, however, that if (A) a
Person would become an Acquiring Person (but for the operation of this subclause
(ii)) as a result of the acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock by the
Company and (B) after such share acquisition by the Company, such Person becomes
the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Company Common Stock, then such
Person shall be deemed an Acquiring Person unless upon becoming the Beneficial
Owner of such additional shares such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less than
20% of the then outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on the tenth anniversary of the Rights Agreement
unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below. Under
certain
B-2
51
circumstances the exercisability of the Rights may be suspended. In no event,
however, will the Rights be exercisable prior to the expiration of the period in
which the Rights may be redeemed.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of Company Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights.
In the event that a person becomes an Acquiring Person, then, in such
case, each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, shares of Company Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash,
property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times
the exercise price of the Right. The exercise price is the purchase price
multiplied by the number of Units of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of a
Right prior to the event described in this paragraph.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the
event set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person will be null and void.
In the event that, at any time following the date that any person
becomes an Acquiring Person, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction and the Company is not the surviving
corporation, (ii) any person merges with the Company and all or part of the
Company Common Stock is converted or exchanged for securities, cash or property
of the Company or any other person or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets
or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights
which previously have been voided as described above) shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the Acquiring Person having a
value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.
The purchase price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock
issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to
time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a
subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) if
holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to
subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current
market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to the
holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness, cash or assets
(excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the purchase price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the purchase
price. The Company is not required to issue fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a
share of Preferred Stock which may be evidenced by depositary receipts). In lieu
thereof, an adjustment in cash may be made based on the current market price of
a share of Preferred Stock on the day of exercise.
B-3
52
At any time until the earlier of (i) the tenth business day following
the Stock Acquisition Date (as such time period may be extended pursuant to the
Rights Agreement), and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, a majority of the Board
of Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of
$.001 per Right (subject to adjustment in certain events) (the "Redemption
Price") payable, at the election of the majority of the Board of Directors, in
cash or shares of Company Common Stock. Immediately upon the action of a
majority of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the
Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.
The Company may at any time after there is an Acquiring Person, by
action of a majority of the Board of Directors, exchange all or part of the then
outstanding and exercisable Rights (other than Rights that shall have become
null and void) for shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to a one-for-one
exchange ratio, as adjusted.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Units of Preferred Stock (or other consideration).
Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended without the
approval of the holders of Company Common Stock at any time prior to the
Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or
inconsistency, to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of
holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person), or to
shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement; provided,
however, that no amendment to adjust (i) the time period governing redemption
shall be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable or (ii) any other
time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing
or clarifying the Rights of and/or benefiting, the holders of Rights. In
addition, after a person becomes an Acquiring Person, no amendment or supplement
may be made without the approval of a majority of the Board of Directors.
Description of Preferred Stock
The Units of Preferred Stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the
Rights will be nonredeemable and subordinate to any other shares of preferred
stock that may be issued by the Company.
Each Unit of Preferred Stock will have a minimum preferential quarterly
dividend of $.01 per Unit or any higher per share dividend declared on the
Company Common Stock.
B-4
53
In the event of liquidation, the holder of a Unit of Preferred Stock
will receive a preferred liquidation payment equal to the greater of $.01 per
Unit and the per share amount paid in respect of a share of the Company Common
Stock.
Each Unit of Preferred Stock will have one vote, voting together with
the Company Common Stock.
In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
shares of Company Common Stock are exchanged, each Unit of Preferred Stock will
be entitled to receive the per share amount paid in respect of each share of
Company Common Stock.
The rights of holders of the Preferred Stock with respect to dividends,
liquidation and voting, and in the event of mergers and consolidations, are
protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation and
voting rights, the economic value of one Unit of Preferred Stock that may be
acquired upon the exercise of each Right should approximate the economic value
of one share of Company Common Stock.
B-5
54
EXHIBIT C
TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SAGE, INC.
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF THE
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
-------------------------------------
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
-------------------------------------
The undersigned officers of Sage, Inc., a corporation organized and
existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
"Corporation"), in accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY:
That, pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of
the Corporation by its Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the
"Certificate"), the said Board of Directors, at a duly called meeting held on
May 21, 2001, at which a quorum was present and acted throughout, adopted the
following resolution, which resolution remains in full force and effect on the
date hereof creating a series of 250,000 shares of Preferred Stock having a par
value of $0.01 per share, designated as Series A Preferred Stock (the "Series A
Preferred Stock") out of the class of 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock of
the par value of $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"):
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors in accordance with the provisions of its Certificate, the Board of
Directors does hereby create, authorize and provide for 250,000 shares of its
authorized Preferred Stock to be designated and issued as the Series A Preferred
Stock, having the voting powers, designation, relative, participating, optional
and other special rights, preferences and qualifications, limitations and
restrictions that are set forth as follows:
1. Dividends and Distributions. (A) Subject to the prior and superior
rights of the holders of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or
any other shares of stock of the Corporation ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, each holder of one
one-hundredth (1/100) of a share (a "Unit") of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of
funds legally available for that purpose, (i) quarterly dividends payable in
cash on the last day of February, May, August and November in each year (each
such date being a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of such Unit of Series
A Preferred Stock, in an amount per Unit (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to
the greater of (a) $0.01 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends
declared on shares of the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, since the first issuance of a Unit of Series A Preferred Stock, and (ii)
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, quarterly
distributions
C-1
55
(payable in kind) on each Quarterly Dividend Payment Date in an amount per Unit
equal to the aggregate per share amount of all non-cash dividends or other
distributions (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a
subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, by reclassification or
otherwise) declared on shares of Common Stock since the immediately preceding
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, since the first issuance of a Unit of Series A Preferred Stock. In
the event that the Corporation shall at any time after May 21, 2001 (the "Rights
Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on outstanding shares of Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of
Common Stock or (iii) combine outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, then in each such case the amount to which the holder of a
Unit of Series A Preferred Stock was entitled immediately prior to such event
under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on Units of
Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above immediately after it
declares a dividend or distribution on the shares of Common Stock (other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that, in the
event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock
during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $0.01 per Unit on the
Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and shall be cumulative on each
outstanding Unit of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date next preceding the date of issuance of such Unit of Series A Preferred
Stock, unless the date of issuance of such Unit is prior to the record date for
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case, dividends on such Unit
shall begin to accrue from the date of issuance of such Unit, or unless the date
of issuance is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record
date for the determination of holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock
entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and
be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on Units of Series A Preferred
Stock in an amount less than the aggregate amount of all such dividends at the
time accrued and payable on such Units shall be allocated pro rata on a
unit-by-unit basis among all Units of Series A Preferred Stock at the time
outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination
of holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more
than thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
2. Voting Rights. The holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall
have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
Unit of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on
all matters submitted to a vote of
C-2
56
the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any
time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on outstanding
shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide
outstanding shares of Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number
of votes per Unit to which holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock were
entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such
number by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event; and
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Certificate or the
Bylaws of the Corporation or as required by law, the holders of Units of Series
A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together
as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the
Corporation, and such holders shall have no special voting rights and their
consents shall not be required for taking any corporate action.
3. Certain Restrictions. (A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other
dividends or distributions payable on Units of Series A Preferred Stock as
provided herein are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on outstanding Units of
Series A Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of junior stock; (ii)
declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of
parity stock, except dividends paid ratably on Units of Series A Preferred Stock
and shares of all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears
in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of such Units and all
such shares are then entitled; (iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any parity stock, provided, however, that the
Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any
such parity stock in exchange for shares of any junior stock; (iv) purchase or
otherwise acquire for consideration any Units of Series A Preferred Stock,
except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such Units.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation
to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 3,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
4. Reacquired Shares. Any Units of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or
otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired
and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such Units shall, upon
their cancellation, become authorized but unissued shares (or fractions of
shares) of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein.
5. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no
distribution shall be made (i) to the holders of shares of junior stock unless
the holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall
C-3
57
have received, subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided in paragraph (B),
the greater of either (a) $0.01 per Unit plus an amount equal to accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not earned or declared,
to the date of such payment, or (b) the amount equal to the aggregate per share
amount to be distributed to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (ii) to the
holders of shares of parity stock, unless simultaneously therewith distributions
are made ratably on Units of Series A Preferred Stock and all other shares of
such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of
Units of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled under clause (i)(a) of this
sentence and to which the holders of shares of such parity stock are entitled,
in each case upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
(B) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on outstanding shares of Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of Common
Stock, or (iii) combine outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number
of shares, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of Units
of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event
pursuant to clause (i)(b) of paragraph (A) of this Section 5 shall be adjusted
by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the
number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
6. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into
any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares
of Common Stock are exchanged for or converted into other stock or securities,
cash and/or any other property, then in any such case Units of Series A
Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged for or converted
into an amount per Unit (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth) equal to the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other
property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each
share of Common Stock is converted or exchanged. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on
outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount
set forth in the immediately preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
conversion of Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of shares
of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
7. Redemption. The Units of Series A Preferred Stock and shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
8. Ranking. The Units of Series A Preferred Stock and shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Preferred Stock and
to any other class of Preferred Stock that hereafter may be issued by the
Corporation as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets,
unless the terms of any such series or class shall provide otherwise.
9. Fractional Shares. The Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in
Units or other fractions of a share, which Units or fractions shall entitle the
holder, in proportion to such
C-4
58
holder's units or fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive
dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other
rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock.
10. Certain Definitions. As used in this resolution with respect to the
Series A Preferred Stock, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(A) The term "Common Stock" shall mean the class of stock designated as
the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation at the date
hereof or any other class of stock resulting from successive changes or
reclassification of the common stock.
(B) The term "junior stock" (i) as used in Section 3 shall mean the
Common Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation
hereafter authorized or issued over which the Series A Preferred Stock has
preference or priority as to the payment of dividends and (ii) as used in
Section 5, shall mean the Common Stock and any other class or series of capital
stock of the Corporation over which the Series A Preferred Stock has preference
or priority in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation.
(C) The term "parity stock" (i) as used in Section 3 shall mean any
class or series of stock of the Corporation hereafter authorized or issued
ranking pari passu with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends and (ii) as
used in Section 5, shall mean any class or series of capital stock ranking pari
passu with the Series A Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets on any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
C-5
59
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Sage, Inc. has caused this Certificate to be
signed by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Legal and
Administrative Officer and Secretary this __ day of __________, 2001.
SAGE, INC.
By: ______________________________
Name: βββββββββββββ β. βββββ
Title: Chief Executive Officer
C-6