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Exhibit 4.2
MICREL,
INCORPORATED
and
MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC,
as Rights Agent
Rights Agreement
Dated as of March 24,
2008
RIGHTS
AGREEMENT
Rights Agreement, dated as of
March 24, 2008, between Micrel, Incorporated, a California
corporation (the “ Company ”), and Mellon
Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent (the “ Rights
Agent ”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on March 24,
2008, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted this Agreement,
and has authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (a “ Right ”) for each Common
Share (as defined in Section 1.6) of the Company outstanding
at the close of business on April 15, 2008 (the “
Record Date ”) and has authorized and directed the
issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein)
with respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding
between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date
and the Expiration Date (as such terms are defined in Sections 3.1
and 7.1), each Right initially representing the right to purchase
one one-thousandth (subject to adjustment) of a share of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock (the “ Preferred Shares
”) of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences
set forth in the form of Certificate of Determination attached
hereto as Exhibit A , upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth; provided , however
, that Rights may be issued with respect to Common Shares that
shall become outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior to
the Expiration Date in accordance with Section 22.
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:
1.1. “
Acquiring Person ” shall mean any Person (as such term
is hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates
and Associates (as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such
Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter
defined) of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding but shall not include (i) an Exempt Person (as
such term is hereinafter defined) or (ii) if, as of the date
hereof, any Person is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
Common Shares outstanding (an “ Existing Holder
”), such Existing Holder shall not be or become an
“Acquiring Person” unless and until such time as such
Existing Holder shall become the Beneficial Owner of one or more
additional Common Shares of the Company (other than pursuant to a
dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the
outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a split
or subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares), unless, upon
becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional Common Shares,
such Existing Holder is not then the Beneficial Owner of 15% or
more of the Common Shares then outstanding. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no Person shall become an “Acquiring Person”
as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company
which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the
proportionate number of shares Beneficially Owned by such Person to
15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding;
provided , however , that if a Person shall become
the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the
Company then
outstanding solely by reason of share
purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by
the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of one or more additional
Common Shares of the Company (other than pursuant to a dividend or
distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common
Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a split or subdivision of
the outstanding Common Shares), then such Person shall be deemed to
be an “ Acquiring Person ” unless upon becoming
the Beneficial Owner of such additional Common Shares such Person
does not Beneficially Own 15% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who
would otherwise be an “Acquiring Person,” as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.1, has
become such inadvertently (including, without limitation, because
(A) such Person was unaware that it Beneficially Owned a
percentage of the Common Shares that would otherwise cause such
Person to be an “ Acquiring Person ” or
(B) such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial
Ownership of Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the
consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement),
and without any intention of changing or influencing control of the
Company, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a
sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no
longer be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this Section 1.1 (or, in the case solely of
Derivative Common Shares (as such term is hereinafter defined),
such Person terminates the subject derivative transaction or
transactions or disposes of the subject derivative security or
securities, or establishes to the satisfaction of the Board of
Directors that such Derivative Common Shares are not held with any
intention of changing or influencing control of the Company), then
such Person shall not be deemed to be or have become an “
Acquiring Person ” at any time for any purposes of
this Agreement. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation
of the number of Common Shares outstanding at any particular time,
for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such
outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is the Beneficial
Owner, shall include Common Shares deemed to be Beneficially Owned
by the Person in accordance with Section 1.3 , but
shall not include any other unissued Common Shares which may be
issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding,
or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise.
1.2. “
Affiliate ” and “ Associate ” shall
have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2
of the General Rules and Regulations, under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”),
as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
1.3. A Person shall be
deemed the “ Beneficial Owner ” of and shall be
deemed to “ Beneficially Own ” and have “
Beneficial Ownership” of any securities:
(i) which such Person or any
of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect
on the date of this Agreement);
(ii) which such Person or any
of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates, directly or
indirectly, has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right
is exercisable immediately, or only after the passage of time,
compliance with regulatory requirements, fulfillment of a condition
or otherwise) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, whether or not in writing (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members
with respect to a bona fide public offering of
securities),
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or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;
provided , however , that a Person shall not be
deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own,
(w) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer
made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person’s
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are
accepted for purchase or exchange, (x) securities which such
Person has a right to acquire upon the exercise of Rights at any
time prior to the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
(y) securities issuable upon the exercise of Rights from and
after the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person if such
Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person’s
Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant
to Section 3.1 or Section 22 (“ Original
Rights ”) or pursuant to Section 11.9 or
Section 11.15 with respect to an adjustment to Original Rights
or (z) securities which such Person or any of such
Person’s Affiliates or Associates may acquire, does or do
acquire or may be deemed to acquire or may be deemed to have the
right to acquire, pursuant to any merger or other acquisition
agreement between the Company and such Person (or one or more of
such Person’s Affiliates or Associates) if prior to such
Person becoming an Acquiring Person the Board of Directors of the
Company has approved such agreement and determined that such Person
shall not be or be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of such
securities within the meaning of this Section 1.3; or
(B) through any written or oral agreement, or arrangement,
relationship, understanding or otherwise has or shares the power to
vote, or direct the voting of such securities; provided ,
however , that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial
Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security under this clause
(B) if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote
such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or
consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or
consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act and
(2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the
Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);
(iii) which are Beneficially
Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any
Affiliate or Associate thereof) and with respect to which such
Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has
any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members
with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), whether
or not in writing, for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting
(except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as
described in the proviso to Section 1.3(ii)(B)) or disposing
of any securities of the Company with any other Person that
Beneficially Owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates Beneficially
Own, directly or indirectly, such securities; or
(iv) that are the subject of
a derivative transaction entered into by such Person, or derivative
security acquired by such Person, which gives such Person the
economic equivalent of ownership of an amount of such securities
due to the fact that the value of the derivative is explicitly
determined by reference to the price or value of such securities,
without regard to whether (a) such derivative conveys any
voting rights in such securities to such Person, (b) the
derivative is required to be, or capable of being, settled through
delivery of such securities, or (c) such Person may have
entered into other transactions that hedge the economic effect of
such derivative. In determining the number of Common Shares deemed
Beneficially Owned by virtue of the operation of this
Section 1.3(iv), the subject Person shall be deemed to
Beneficially Own (without duplication) the number of Common Shares
that are synthetically owned pursuant to such derivative
transactions or such derivative securities. Such Common Shares that
are deemed so Beneficially Owned pursuant to the operation of this
Section 1.3(iv) shall be referred to herein as “
Derivative Common Shares. ”
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No Person who is an officer,
director or employee of an Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by
reason of such Person’s status or authority as such, to be
the “Beneficial Owner” of, to have “Beneficial
Ownership” of or to “Beneficially Own” any
securities that are “Beneficially Owned” (as defined in
this Section 1.3), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such
officer, director or employee of an Exempt Person.
1.4. “ Business
Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in the states of California,
New York or New Jersey are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to close.
1.5. “ 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.
1.6. “ Common
Shares ” when used with reference to the Company shall
mean the shares of common stock, no par value per share, of the
Company. “ Common Shares ” when used with
reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the
capital stock with the greatest voting power, or the equity
securities or other equity interest having power to control or
direct the management, of such other Person or, if such Person is a
Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of another Person,
the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned
Person, and which has issued and outstanding such capital stock,
equity securities or equity interest.
1.7. “ Exempt
Person ” shall mean (i) the Company and any
Subsidiary of the Company, in each case including, without
limitation, the officers and board of directors thereof acting in
their fiduciary capacity, or any employee benefit plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity or
trustee holding shares of capital stock of the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or for the purpose of
funding other employee benefits for employees of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) Raymond D. Zinn and his
Affiliates and Associates, (iii) Warren S. Muller and his
Affiliates and Associates, (iv) any partnership, limited
partnership, syndicate or other group for the purposes of
acquiring, owning, voting or disposing of any securities of the
Company of which Mr. Zinn, Mr. Muller of any of their
respective Affiliates or Associates may be deemed to be a member,
or any person with whom Mr. Zinn or Mr. Muller, or any of
their respective Affiliates or Associates, has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, for the
purposes of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of such
securities, and (v) any director, officer or employee of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who may be deemed a
member of any such partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or
other group.
1.8. “
Person ” shall mean any individual, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company, firm, corporation,
unincorporated association, trust or other entity, and shall
include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.
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1.9. “ Shares
Acquisition Date ” shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall
include, without limitation, the filing of a report pursuant to
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act or pursuant to a comparable
successor statute) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an
Acquiring Person has become such or that discloses information
which reveals the existence of an Acquiring Person or such earlier
date as a majority of the Board of Directors shall become aware of
the existence of an Acquiring Person.
1.10. “
Subsidiary ” of any Person shall mean any partnership,
joint venture, limited liability company, firm, unincorporated
association, trust, corporation or other entity of which a majority
of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity
interests is owned, of record or beneficially, directly or
indirectly, by such Person.
1.11. A “
Trigger Event ” shall be deemed to have occurred upon
any Person becoming an Acquiring Person.
1.12. The following
terms shall have the meanings defined for such terms in the
Sections set forth below:
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Term
|
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Section
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| Adjustment
Shares |
|
11.1.2 |
| common stock
equivalent |
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11.1.3 |
| Company |
|
Recitals |
| current per
share market price |
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11.4 |
| Current
Value |
|
11.1.3 |
| Derivative
Common Shares |
|
1.3 |
| Distribution
Date |
|
3.1 |
| equivalent
preferred stock |
|
11.2 |
| Exchange
Act |
|
1.2 |
| Exchange
Consideration |
|
27 |
| Existing
Holder |
|
1.1 |
| Expiration
Date |
|
7.1 |
| Final
Expiration Date |
|
7.1 |
| NASDAQ |
|
9 |
| Original
Rights |
|
1.3 |
| Preferred
Shares |
|
Recitals |
| Principal
Party |
|
13.2 |
| Purchase
Price |
|
4 |
| Record
Date |
|
Recitals |
| Redemption
Date |
|
7.1 |
| Redemption
Price |
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23.1 |
| Right |
|
Recitals |
| Right
Certificate |
|
3.1 |
| Rights
Agent |
|
Recitals |
| Security |
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11.4 |
| Spread |
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11.1.3 |
| Substitution
Period |
|
11.1.3 |
| Summary of
Rights |
|
3.2 |
| Trading
Day |
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11.4 |
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Section 2.
Appointment of Rights Agent . The Company hereby appoints
the Rights Agent to act as rights 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. In the event the Company appoints one or more co-Rights
Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any co-Rights
Agent shall be as the Company shall determine. Contemporaneously
with such appointment, if any, the Company shall notify the Rights
Agent thereof. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise,
and in no event shall be liable for, the acts or omissions of any
such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issuance
of Right Certificates .
3.1. Rights
Evidenced by Share Certificates . Until the close of business
on the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Shares
Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth Business Day after the date
of the commencement of, or first public announcement of the intent
of any Person (other than an Exempt Person) to commence, a tender
or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any
Person (other than an Exempt Person) becoming the Beneficial Owner
of Common Shares aggregating 15% or more of the then outstanding
Common Shares of the Company (the earlier of (i) and
(ii) being herein referred to as the “ Distribution
Date ”), (x) the Rights (unless earlier expired,
redeemed or terminated) will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of Section 3.2) by the certificates for Common
Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which
certificates for Common Shares shall also be deemed to be Right
Certificates) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the
Rights (and the right to receive certificates therefor) will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
Common Shares. The preceding sentence notwithstanding, prior to the
occurrence of a Distribution Date specified as a result of an event
described in clause (ii) (or such later Distribution Date as
the Board of Directors of the Company may select pursuant to this
sentence), the Board of Directors may postpone, one or more times,
the Distribution Date which would occur as a result of an event
described in clause (ii) beyond the date set forth in such
clause (ii). The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in
writing of any such postponement. Nothing herein shall permit such
a postponement of a Distribution Date after a Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, except as a result of the operation of the third
sentence of Section 1.1. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights
Agent will countersign and the Company (or, if requested and
provided with all necessary information, the Rights Agent) will
send, by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record
holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate
or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder
shown on the records of the Company, one or more certificates for
Rights, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a
“ Right Certificate ”), evidencing one Right
(subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each Common Share so
held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced
solely by such Right Certificates. The Company shall promptly
notify the Rights Agent in writing upon the occurrence of the
Distribution Date and, if such notification is given orally, the
Company shall confirm same in writing on or prior to the Business
Day next following. Until such notice is received by the Rights
Agent, the Rights Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes
that the Distribution Date has not occurred.
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3.2. Summary of
Rights . On the Record Date or as soon as practicable
thereafter, the Company will send or cause to be sent a copy of a
Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in substantially
the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “
Summary of Rights ”), by first-class, postage-prepaid
mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of
business on the Record Date at the address of such holder shown on
the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for Common
Shares outstanding as of the close of business on the Record Date,
until the Distribution Date (or the earlier Expiration Date), the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for Common Shares
registered in the names of the holders thereof together with a copy
of the Summary of Rights and the registered holders of the Common
Shares shall also be registered holders of the associated Rights.
Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier Expiration Date), the
surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Shares
outstanding at the close of business on the Record Date, with or
without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented thereby.
3.3. New
Certificates After Record Date . Certificates for Common Shares
which become outstanding (whether upon issuance out of authorized
but unissued Common Shares, disposition out of treasury or transfer
or exchange of outstanding Common Shares) after the Record Date but
prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date or the Expiration
Date, shall have impressed, printed, stamped, written or otherwise
affixed onto them a legend in substantially the following
form:
This certificate also
evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain rights as set
forth in an Agreement between Micrel, Incorporated (the “
Company ”) and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights
Agent, dated March 24, 2008, as the same may be amended from
time to time (the “ Agreement ”), the terms of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of
which is on file at the principal executive offices of the Company.
Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the 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 Agreement without
charge after receipt of a written request therefor. As
described in the Agreement, Rights which are owned by, transferred
to or have been owned by Acquiring Persons or Associates or
Affiliates thereof (as defined in the Agreement) shall become null
and void and will no longer be transferable .
With respect to such certificates
containing the foregoing legend, until the Distribution Date (or
the earlier Expiration Date), the Rights associated with the Common
Shares represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such
certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such
certificates, except as otherwise provided herein, shall also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common
Shares represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases
or acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to
the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common
Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company
shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the
Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.
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Notwithstanding this
Section 3.3, the omission of a legend shall not affect the
enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any
holder of the Rights.
Section 4. Form of
Right Certificates . The Right Certificates (and the forms of
election to purchase shares, certification and assignment to be
printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as
Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification
or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed
thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (but which do not
affect the rights, duties or 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 with any
rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any stock exchange or trading system on which the
Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted, or to conform to
usage. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Right
Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the Record
Date, and shall show the date of countersignature by the Rights
Agent, and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to
purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as
shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share set forth therein (the “ Purchase
Price ”), but the number of such one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject to
adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5.
Countersignature and Registration . The Right Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or
any Vice President (regardless of designation), either manually or
by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the
Company’s seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested
by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company or by
such officers as the Board of Directors of the Company shall
designate, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right
Certificates shall be countersigned, either manually or by
facsimile signature, by an authorized signatory of the Rights
Agent, but it shall not be necessary for the same signatory to
countersign all of the Right Certificates hereunder. No Right
Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the
Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company
before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may
be countersigned by the Rights Agent, and issued and delivered by
the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who
signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of
the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of
the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution
of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company
to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of the
execution of this Agreement any such person was not such an
officer.
Following the Distribution
Date and receipt by the Rights Agent of notice to that effect and
all other relevant information referred to in Section 3.1, the
Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its office
designated for such purpose, books for registration and transfer of
the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the
names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of
the Right Certificates, the certificate number of each of the Right
Certificates and the date of each of the Right
Certificates.
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Section 6. Transfer,
Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates .
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.1.2 and
Section 14, 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 Right Certificate or Right Certificates (other
than Right Certificates representing Rights that have become null
and void pursuant to Section 11.1.2 or that have been
exchanged pursuant to Section 27) may be transferred, split up
or combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like
number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such
holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer,
split up or combine or exchange any Right Certificate shall make
such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall
surrender, together with any required form of assignment and
certificate duly completed, the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates to be transferred, split up or combined or exchanged
at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. The
Right Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of
the Rights Agent. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the
transfer of any such surrendered Right Certificate or Right
Certificates until the registered holder shall have completed and
signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the
reverse side of such Right Certificate or Right Certificates and
shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the
person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates,
as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require
payment from the holders of Right Certificates of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or charge that may be imposed in connection with
any transfer, split up or combination or exchange of such Right
Certificates. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation to
take any action under any Section of this Agreement which requires
the payment by a holder of Rights of applicable taxes and charges
unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charges
have been paid.
Subject to the provisions of
Section 11.1.2 , at any time after the Distribution Date and
prior to the Expiration Date, upon receipt by the Company and the
Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the
loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and,
in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security
satisfactory to them, and, at the Company’s or the Rights
Agent’s request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights
Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right
Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new
Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for
countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu of
the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise
of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights
.
7.1. Exercise of
Rights . Subject to Section 11.1.2 and except as otherwise
provided herein, the registered holder of any Right Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in part at any
time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right
Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
certification on the reverse side thereof
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duly and properly executed, to the
Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for
the total number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or
other securities, cash or other assets) as to which the Rights are
exercised, at or prior to the time (the “ Expiration
Date ”) that is the earliest of (i) the close of
business Pacific Daylight Time on March 24, 2009 (the “
Final Expiration Date ”), (ii) the time at which
the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 (the “
Redemption Date ”), (iii) the closing of any
merger or other acquisition transaction involving the Company
pursuant to an agreement of the type described in Section 13.3
at which time the Rights are deemed terminated, or (iv) the
time at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in
Section 27.
7.2. Purchase .
The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share
pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall be initially $36.00,
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Sections 11, 13 and 26 and shall be payable in lawful money of the
United States of America in accordance with
Section 7.3.
7.3. Payment
Procedures . Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and
certification properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for the total number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share to be purchased and an amount
equal to any applicable tax or charge required to be paid by the
holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9,
in cash or by certified or cashier’s check or money order
payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall
thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of
the Preferred Shares (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the
transfer agent) certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to
be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its
transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the
Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of Preferred
Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a
depository agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary
receipts representing interests in such number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in
which case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by
such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the
depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the depositary
agent to comply with all such requests, (ii) when appropriate,
requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu
of the issuance of fractional shares in accordance with
Section 14 or otherwise in accordance with
Section 11.1.3, (iii) promptly after receipt of such
certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered
to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated
by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt,
promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Right Certificate. In the event that the Company is
obligated to issue other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or
distribute other property pursuant to Section 11.1.3, the
Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities, cash and/or other property are available for
distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when necessary to comply
with this Agreement.
7.4. Partial
Exercise . In case the registered holder of any Right
Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced
thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to
the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights
Agent and delivered to the registered holder of such Right
Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the
provisions of Section 14.
10
7.5. Full
Information Concerning Ownership . Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the
Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to
a registered holder of Rights upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless the certificate
contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the
reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such exercise
shall have been duly and properly completed and signed by the
registered holder thereof and the Company shall have been provided
with such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial
Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably
request.
Section 8.
Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates . All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise,
transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered
to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights
Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to
the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company
shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement,
and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right
Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than
upon the exercise thereof. Subject to applicable law and
regulation, the Rights Agent shall maintain in a retrievable
database electronic records of all cancelled or destroyed stock
certificates which have been canceled or destroyed by the Rights
Agent. The Rights Agent shall maintain such electronic records or
physical records for the time period required by applicable law and
regulation. Upon written request of the Company (and at the expense
of the Company), the Rights Agent shall provide to the Company or
its designee copies of such electronic records or physical records
relating to rights certificates cancelled or destroyed by the
Rights Agent.
Section 9.
Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock . The Company
covenants and agrees that from and after the Distribution Date it
will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized
and unissued Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a
Trigger Event, out of its authorized and unissued Common Shares or
other securities or out of its shares held in its treasury) the
number of Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a
Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) that will be
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding
Rights.
So long as the Preferred
Shares (and, following the occurrence of a Trigger Event, Common
Shares and/or other securities) issuable upon the exercise of
Rights may be listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“
NASDAQ GSM ”) or any other national securities
exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market and quoted on the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation System (“ NASDAQ ”), the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the
Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to
be listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ GSM or such other
exchange or quoted on the NASDAQ upon official notice of issuance
upon such exercise.
The Company covenants and
agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to
ensure that all Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of
a Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) delivered
upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the
certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the Purchase
Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid
and nonassessable shares.
From and after such time as
the Rights become exercisable, the Company shall use its best
efforts, if then necessary to permit the issuance of Preferred
Shares upon the exercise of
11
Rights, to register and qualify such
Preferred Shares under the Securities Act and any applicable state
securities or “Blue Sky” laws (to the extent exemptions
therefrom are not available), cause such registration statement and
qualifications to become effective as soon as possible after such
filing and keep such registration and qualifications effective
until the earlier of the date as of which the Rights are no longer
exercisable for such securities and the Expiration Date. The
Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed
one hundred twenty (120) days, the exercisability of the
Rights in order to prepare and file a registration statement under
the Securities Act and permit it to become effective. Upon any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating
that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect. The Company shall notify the
Rights Agent whenever it makes a public announcement pursuant to
this Section 9 and give the Rights Agent a copy of such
announcement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification in such
jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until a registration
statement under the Securities Act (if required) shall have been
declared effective.
The Company further covenants
and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all taxes
and governmental charges which may be payable in respect of the
issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any Preferred
Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may
be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required to pay any tax or charge which may be payable in respect
of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates for the Preferred
Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may
be) in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the
Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to
issue or deliver any certificates for Preferred Shares (or Common
Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) 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 Right Certificate at the
time of surrender) or until it has been established to the
Company’s or the Right Agent’s satisfaction that no
such tax or charge is due.
Section 10. Preferred
Shares Record Date . Each Person in whose name any certificate
for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as
the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the
Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the
case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such
Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and
any applicable taxes or governmental charges) was duly made;
provided , however , that if the date of such
surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares (or
Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer
books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to
have become the record holder of such shares (fractional or
otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next
succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Shares (or Common
Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books
of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights
evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be
entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares for which
the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends or other distributions, and
shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of
the Company, except as provided herein.
12
Section 11.
Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of
Rights . The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares or
other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of each
Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in this
Section 11.
11.1. Post-Execution
Events .
11.1.1. Corporate
Dividends, Reclassifications, Etc . In the event the Company
shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare
and pay a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred
Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares,
(C) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller
number of Preferred Shares or (D) issue any shares of its
capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares
(including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or
surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this
Section 11.1, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the
record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and
kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised
after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number
and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right had been
exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, he would
have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by
virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both Section 11.1.1 and Section 11.1.2,
the adjustment provided for in this Section 11.1.1 shall be in
addition to, and shall be made prior to, the adjustment required
pursuant to, Section 11.1.2.
11.1.2. Acquiring
Person Events; Triggering Events . Subject to Sections 23.1 and
27, in the event that a Trigger Event occurs, then, from and after
the first occurrence of such event, each holder of a Right, except
as provided below, shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price per Right equal to the then current
Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable (without
giving effect to this Section 11.1.2), in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such
number of Common Shares as shall equal the result obtained by
(x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then
number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a
Right is then exercisable (without giving effect to this
Section 11.1.2) and (y) dividing that product by 50% of
the current per share market price of the Common Shares (determined
pursuant to Section 11.4) on the first of the date of the
occurrence of, or the date of the first public announcement of, a
Trigger Event (the “ Adjustment Shares ”);
provided that the Purchase Price and the number of
Adjustment Shares shall thereafter be subject to further adjustment
as appropriate in accordance with Section 11.6.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a Trigger
Event, any Rights that are or were acquired or Beneficially Owned
by (1) any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate
thereof, (2) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or of any
such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the
Acquiring Person becomes such, or (3) a transferee of any
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee prior to or
13
concurrently with the Acquiring Person
becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the
Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring
Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the
transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of
Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or
effect avoidance of this Section 11.1.2, and subsequent
transferees, shall become null and void without any further action,
and any holder (whether or not such holder is an Acquiring Person
or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) of such Rights
shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any
provision of this Agreement or otherwise. From and after the
Trigger Event, no Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to
Section 3 or Section 6 that represents Rights that are or
have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of this
paragraph, and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent
that represents Rights that are or have become null and void
pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall be canceled. The
Company shall give the Rights Agent written notice of the identity
of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or the
transferee of any of the foregoing, and the Rights Agent may rely
on such notice in carrying out its duties under this Agreement and
shall be deemed not to have any knowledge of the identity of any
such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or the transferee of
any of the foregoing unless and until it shall have received such
notice.
The Company shall notify the
Rights Agent when this Section 11.1.2 applies and shall use
all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this
Section 11.1.2 are complied with, but neither the Company nor
the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of Right
Certificates or other Person as a result of the Company’s
failure to make any determinations with respect to any Acquiring
Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees
hereunder.
From and after the occurrence
of an event specified in Section 13.1, any Rights that
theretofore have not been exercised pursuant to this
Section 11.1.2 shall thereafter be exercisable only in
accordance with Section 13 and not pursuant to this
Section 11.1.2.
11.1.3. Insufficient
Shares . The Company may at its option substitute for a Common
Share issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with the
foregoing Section 11.1.2 a number of Preferred Shares or
fraction thereof such that the current per share market price of
one Preferred Share multiplied by such number or fraction is equal
to the current per share market price of one Common Share. In the
event that upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event there shall not
be sufficient Common Shares authorized but unissued, or held by the
Company as treasury shares, to permit the exercise in full of the
Rights in accordance with the foregoing Section 11.1.2, the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of the Rights,
provided , however , that if the Company determines
that it is unable to cause the authorization of a sufficient number
of additional Common Shares, then, in the event the Rights become
exercisable, the Company, with respect to each Right and to the
extent necessary and permitted by applicable law and any agreements
or instruments in effect on the date hereof to which it is a party,
shall: (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, the “ Spread ”) and
(B) with respect to each Right (other than Rights which have
become null and void pursuant to Section 11.1.2), make
adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment
14
Shares, upon payment of the applicable
Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase
Price, (3) Preferred Shares or other equity securities of the
Company (including, without limitation, shares, or fractions of
shares, of preferred stock which, by virtue of having dividend and
liquidation rights substantially comparable to those of the Common
Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company has deemed in good
faith to have substantially the same value as Common Shares) (each
such share of preferred stock or fractions of shares of preferred
stock constituting a “ common stock equivalent
”), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other
assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing having an
aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate
value has been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company
based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking
firm selected in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company; provided , however , that if the Company
shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to
clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the
occurrence of a Trigger Event, then the Company shall be obligated
to deliver, to the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law
and any agreements or instruments in effect on the date hereof to
which it is a party, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and
without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, Common Shares (to
the extent available) and then, if necessary, such number or
fractions of Preferred Shares (to the extent available) and then,
if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate
value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company
shall determine in good faith that it is unlikely that sufficient
additional Common Shares could be authorized for issuance upon
exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set
forth above may be extended and re-extended to the extent
necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days following the
occurrence of a Trigger Event, in order that the Company may seek
shareholder approval for the authorization of such additional
shares (such period as may be extended, the “ Substitution
Period ”). To the extent that the Company determines that
some action need be taken pursuant to the second and/or third
sentences of this Section 11.1.3, the Company (x) shall
provide that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding
Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights
until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek
any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first
sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect and the Company shall promptly
provide the Rights Agent copies of such announcements. For purposes
of this Section 11.1.3, the value of a Common Share shall be
the current per share market price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11.4) on the date of the occurrence of a Trigger Event
and the value of any “common stock equivalent” shall be
deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares on such date.
The Board of Directors of the Company may, but shall not be
required to, establish procedures to allocate the right to receive
Common Shares upon the exercise of the Rights among holders of
Rights pursuant to this Section 11.1.3.
11.2. Dilutive
Rights Offering . In case the Company shall fix a record date
for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of
Preferred Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or securities having
the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares
(“ equivalent preferred stock ”)) or securities
convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred stock at
a price per Preferred Share or per share of equivalent
preferred
15
stock (or having a conversion or
exercise price per share, if a security convertible into or
exercisable for Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred stock)
less than the current per share market price of the Preferred
Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on such record
date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date
shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator
of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares and shares of
equivalent preferred stock outstanding on such record date plus the
number of Preferred Shares and shares of equivalent preferred stock
which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred
Shares and/or shares of equivalent preferred stock to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible
securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current per
share market price and the denominator of which shall be the number
of Preferred Shares and shares of equivalent preferred stock
outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional
Preferred Shares and/or shares of 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 in a consideration part or all
of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such
consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Preferred Shares and
shares of equivalent preferred stock owned by or held for the
account of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall not
be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date
is fixed; and in the event that such rights 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.
11.3.
Distributions . In case the Company shall fix a record date
for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred
Shares (including any such distribution made in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or
surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash,
securities or assets (other than a regular periodic cash dividend
at a rate not in excess of 125% of the rate of the last regular
periodic cash dividend theretofore paid or, in case regular
periodic cash dividends have not theretofore been paid, at a rate
not in excess of 50% of the average net income per share of the
Company for the four quarters ended immediately prior to the
payment of such dividend, or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares
(which dividend, for purposes of this Agreement, shall be subject
to the provisions of Section 11.1.1(A))) or convertible
securities, or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those
referred to in Section 11.2), 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 per
share market price of the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant
to Section 11.4) on such record date, less the fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets,
securities or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of
such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one Preferred
Share and the denominator of which shall be such current per share
market price of the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to
Section 11.4). Such adjustments shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if
such record date had not been fixed.
16
11.4. Current Per
Share Market Value .
11.4.1. General
. For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “
current per share market price ” of any security (a
“ Security ” for the purpose of this
Section 11.4.1) on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the
thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is
hereinafter defined) immediately prior to but not including such
date; provided , however , that in the event that the
current per share market price of the Security is determined during
any period following the announcement by the issuer of such
Security of (i) a dividend or distribution on such Security
payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into
such shares or (ii) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration of
thirty (30) Trading Days after but not including the
ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record
date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then,
and in each such case, the “current per share market
price” shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current
market price per share equivalent of such Security. The closing
price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or,
in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the
NASDAQ GSM or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading
on the NASDAQ GSM, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is
listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and
low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by
NASDAQ or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date
the Security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Security selected by the Board
of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market
maker is making a market in the Security, the fair value of the
Security on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company shall be used. The term “ Trading
Day ” shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Security
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, a Business Day. If the Security is not publicly held or
not so listed or traded, or if on any such date the Security is not
so quoted and no such market maker is making a market in the
Security, “current per share market price” shall mean
the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board
of Directors of the Company or, if at the time of such
determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of
Directors, which shall have the duty to make such determination in
a reasonable and objective manner, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
conclusive for all purposes.
11.4.2. Preferred
Shares . Notwithstanding Section 11.4.1, for the purpose
of any computation hereunder, the “current per share market
price” of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in the
same manner as set forth above in Section 11.4.1 (other than
the last sentence thereof). If the current per share market price
of the Preferred Shares cannot be determined in the manner
described in Section 11.4.1, the “current per share
market price” of the Preferred Shares shall be conclusively
deemed to be an amount equal to 1,000 (as such number
17
may be appropriately adjusted for such
events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with
respect to the Common Shares occurring after the date of this
Agreement) multiplied by the current per share market price of the
Common Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4.1). If
neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly
held or so listed or traded, or if on any such date neither the
Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are so quoted and no such
market maker is making a market in either the Common Shares or the
Preferred Shares, “current per share market price” of
the Preferred Shares shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
or, if at the time of such determination there is an Acquiring
Person, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected
by the Board of Directors of the Company, which shall have the duty
to make such determination in a reasonable and objective manner,
which determination shall be described in a statement filed with
the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. For
purposes of this Agreement, the “current per share market
price” of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share shall be
equal to the “current per share market price” of one
Preferred Share divided by 1,000.
11.5. Insignificant
Changes . 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. Any adjustments which by reason of
this Section 11.5 are not required to be made shall be carried
forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All
calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the
nearest cent or to the nearest one-hundred thousandth of a
Preferred Share or the nearest one-thousandth of a Common Share or
other share or security, as the case may be.
11.6. Shares Other
Than Preferred Shares . If as a result of an adjustment made
pursuant to Section 11.1, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital
stock of the Company other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the
number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner
and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions
with respect to the Preferred Shares contained in Sections 11.1,
11.2, 11.3, 11.5, 11.8, 11.9 and 11.13, and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Shares
shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
11.7. Rights Issued
Prior to Adjustment . All Rights originally issued by the
Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price
hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted
Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided
herein.
11.8. Effect of
Adjustments . Unless the Company shall have exercised its
election as provided in Section 11.9, upon each adjustment of
the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections
11.2 and 11.3, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the
making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest
one-thousand thousandth of a Preferred Share) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths of
a Preferred Share covered by a Right immediately prior to this
adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and
(ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
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11.9. Adjustment in
Number of Rights . The Company may elect on or after the date
of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of
Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of
a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of
the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share 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-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 (with
prompt written notice thereof to 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 Right
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days
later than the date of the public announcement. If Right
Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number
of Rights pursuant to this Section 11.9, the Company may, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14, the additional Rights to
which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such
adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be
distributed to such holders of record in substitution and
replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior
to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required
by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to
which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right
Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and
countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and 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 Right
Certificates on the record date specified in the public
announcement.
11.10. Right
Certificates Unchanged . Irrespective of any adjustment or
change in the Purchase Price or the number of one one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the
Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue
to express the Purchase Price per share and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which were expressed in the
initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
11.11.
[Intentionally Omitted]
11.12. Deferred
Issuance . 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 (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent)
until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of
any Right exercised after such record date of that number of
Preferred Shares and shares of other capital stock or securities of
the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the
Preferred Shares and shares of other capital stock or other
securities, assets or cash of the Company, if any,
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