EXHIBIT 4.3
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EQUIFAX INC.
and
SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of October 25, 1995
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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RECITALS........................................................................................................ 1
Section 1. Certain Definitions............................................................................... 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent....................................................................... 7
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates....................................................................... 7
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates........................................................................ 9
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration................................................................. 9
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or
Stolen Right Certificates....................................................................................... 10
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights..................................... 11
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates................................................ 14
Section 9. Company Covenants Concerning Securities and Rights................................................ 14
Section 10. Record Date....................................................................................... 16
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Securities or Number of Rights................... 17
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Securities.................................... 29
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.............................. 29
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Securities....................................................... 33
Section 15 Rights of Action.................................................................................. 34
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders....................................................................... 35
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder................................................. 36
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Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent....................................................................... 37
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent......................................... 37
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent............................................................................ 38
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent............................................................................ 41
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates................................................................ 42
Section 23. Redemption........................................................................................ 43
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.......................................................................... 44
Section 25. Notices........................................................................................... 45
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments........................................................................ 46
Section 27. Exchange.......................................................................................... 47
Section 28. Successors; Certain Covenants..................................................................... 49
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement........................................................................ 49
Section 30. Severability...................................................................................... 49
Section 31. Governing Law..................................................................................... 49
Section 32. Counterparts...................................................................................... 50
Section 33. Descriptive Headings.............................................................................. 50
Exhibit A Form of Right Certificate......................................................................... A-1
Exhibit B Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Shares....................................................... B-1
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of October 25, 1995 (this "Agreement"), is
made and entered into by and between Equifax Inc., a Georgia corporation (the
"Company"), and SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, a Georgia banking corporation (the
"Rights Agent").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on October 25, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one right ("Right") for each
share of Common Stock, par value $2.50 per share, of the Company (a "Common
Share") outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on
November 6, 1995, (the "Record Date"), each Right initially representing the
right to purchase one Common Share, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions herein set forth, and further authorized and directed the issuance
of one Right with respect to each Common Share issued or delivered by the
Company (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury)
after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date (as
hereinafter defined) and the Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined).
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 shall have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (other than the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit or stock ownership plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common
Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed to have become an Acquiring Person solely as a result
of a reduction in the number of Common Shares outstanding unless and until (i)
such time as such Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person shall
thereafter become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares, other
than as a result of a stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction
effected by the Company in which all holders of Common Shares are treated
equally, or (ii) any other Person who is the Beneficial Owner of any Common
Shares shall thereafter become an Affiliate or Associate of such Person.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
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(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and to
"beneficially own," any securities:
(i) 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)
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 (in each case, other than upon
exercise or exchange of the Rights); provided, however, that a Person shall
not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, 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; or
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of,
including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
or not in writing); or
(iii) of which any other Person is the Beneficial Owner, if such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) with such other
Person (or any of such other Person's Affiliates or Associates) with
respect to acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any securities of the
Company;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of,
or to beneficially own, any security (A) if such Person has the right to vote
such security pursuant to an agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
or not in writing) which (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy 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), or (B) if such beneficial ownership
arises solely as a result of such Person's status as a "clearing agency", as
defined in Section 3(a)(23) of the Exchange Act; and provided, further, that
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 an underwriting syndicate until the expiration of 40 calendar days after the
date of such acquisition, or such later date as the Board of Directors of the
Company may determine in any specific case.
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(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of Georgia (or such other state
in which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located) are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern
time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day
it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean the
Common Stock, par value $2.50 per share (and following the amendment to the
Articles of Incorporation contemplated to become effective November 24, 1995,
$1.25 per share, or as such par value may be amended in the future), of the
Company; provided, however, that, if the Company is the continuing or surviving
corporation in a transaction described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a)(ii)
hereof, "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean the
capital stock or equity security with the greatest aggregate voting power of the
Company. "Common Shares" when used with reference to any corporation or other
legal entity, other than the Company, including an Issuer, shall mean the
capital stock or equity security with the greatest aggregate voting power of
such corporation or other legal entity.
(g) "Company" shall mean Equifax Inc., a Georgia corporation.
(h) "Distribution Date" shall mean the earliest of: (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth calendar day (or, unless the Distribution Date shall have
previously occurred, such later date as may be specified by the Board of
Directors of the Company) after the Share Acquisition Date, (ii) the Close of
Business on the tenth Business Day (or, unless the Distribution Date shall have
previously occurred, such later date as may be specified by the Board of
Directors of the Company) after the date of the commencement of a tender or
exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company or any employee benefit or stock ownership plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan), if upon the consummation thereof such Person would
be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, and
(iii) the Close of Business on the tenth calendar day after the first date of
public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person (by press release,
filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise) of the
first occurrence of a Triggering Event; provided, however, that if the earliest
of such dates would otherwise occur prior to the Record Date, the Distribution
Date shall mean the Close of Business on the Record Date.
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(i) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(j) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Close of Business
on 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 all exercisable
Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 27 hereof.
(k) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the tenth anniversary of the Record
Date.
(l) "Flip-in Event" shall mean any event described in clauses (A), (B) or
(C) of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(m) "Flip-over Event" shall mean any event described in subsections (i),
(ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(n) "Issuer" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof.
(o) "NASDAQ" shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. Automated Quotation System.
(p) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership or
other legal entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of
such entity.
(q) "Purchase Price" shall mean initially $185.00 per Common Share and
shall be automatically adjusted to $92.50 per Common Share upon the two-for-one
stock split of the Common Shares contemplated to become effective as of November
24, 1995, and shall be subject to further adjustment from time to time as
provided in this Agreement.
(r) "Redemption Price" shall mean $0.01 per Right, subject to adjustment
by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company to reflect any stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof.
(s) "Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this
Agreement.
(t) "Right Certificates" shall mean certificates evidencing the Rights, in
substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.
(u) "Rights Agent" shall mean SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, unless and until a
successor Rights Agent shall have become such pursuant to the terms of
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this Agreement, and thereafter, "Rights Agent" shall mean such successor Rights
Agent.
(v) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(w) "Share Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person (by press release, filing
made with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise) that an Acquiring
Person has become such.
(x) "Subsidiary" when used with reference to any Person shall mean any
corporation or other legal entity of which a majority of the voting power of the
voting equity securities or equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly,
by such Person; provided, however, that for purposes of Section 13(b) hereof,
"Subsidiary" when used with reference to any Person shall mean any corporation
or other legal entity of which at least 20% of the voting power of the voting
equity securities or equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such
Person.
(y) "Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Shares" shall mean the Summary
of Rights to Purchase Common Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit B
attached hereto.
(z) "Trading Day" shall mean any day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading
is open for the transaction of business or, if the Common Shares are not listed
or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(aa) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Flip-in Event or Flip-over Event.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall also be, prior to the Distribution
Date, the holders of the Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment and
hereby certifies that it complies with the requirements of the New York Stock
Exchange governing transfer agents and registrars. The Company may from time to
time act as Co-Rights Agent or appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable. Any actions which may be taken by the Rights Agent
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement may be taken by any such Co-Rights
Agent. To the extent that any Co-Rights Agent takes any action pursuant to this
Agreement, such Co-Rights Agent shall be entitled to all of the rights and
protections of, and subject to all of the applicable duties and obligations
imposed upon, the Rights Agent pursuant to the terms of this
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Agreement.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights shall be evidenced by the
certificates representing Common Shares registered in the names of the record
holders thereof (which certificates representing Common Shares shall also be
deemed to be Right Certificates), together with a copy of the Summary of Rights,
(ii) the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer of
the underlying Common Shares, and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any
certificates evidencing Common Shares in respect of which Rights have been
issued, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares evidenced by such
certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable after the Record Date, the Company shall
send a copy of 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 as of
such date.
(c) Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect of all Common Shares
(other than Common Shares issued upon the exercise or exchange of any Right)
issued or delivered by the Company (whether originally issued or delivered from
the Company's treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date and the Expiration Date. Certificates evidencing such Common
Shares shall have stamped on, impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise
affixed to them the following legend or such similar legend as the Company may
deem appropriate and as is 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 transaction reporting system on which the Common Shares may
from time to time be listed or quoted, or to conform to usage:
This Certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Equifax Inc.
and SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, dated as of October 25, 1995 (the "Rights
Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive
offices of Equifax Inc.. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in
the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be redeemed, may expire, may be
amended or may be evidenced by separate certificates and no longer be
evidenced by this Certificate. Equifax Inc. will mail to the holder
of this Certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge
promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
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circumstances as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights beneficially
owned by an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) may become null
and void.
(d) As promptly as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company
shall prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign and the Company
shall send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent shall, if requested, 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, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate, evidencing
one Right for each Common Share so held, subject to adjustment. As of and after
the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced solely by such Right
Certificates.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
form of election to purchase and form of assignment to be printed on the reverse
thereof) shall be substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto with
such changes, marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries
or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or transaction
reporting system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted,
or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 22 hereof, the
Right Certificates, whenever issued, on their face shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of Common Shares as shall be set forth therein
at the Purchase Price set forth therein, but the Purchase Price, the number and
kind of securities issuable upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights
outstanding shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by
its Chairman of the Board, President or any Vice President, 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 an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right
Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not
be valid for any purpose unless 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
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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
Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent shall keep or cause
to be kept, at the principal office of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose and at such other offices 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 any transaction reporting system on
which the Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books
shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right
Certificates and the date of each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(d) and 14 hereof, at any time
after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates representing exercisable
Rights may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right
Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a
like number of Common Shares (or other securities, as the case may be) as the
Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder
(or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any such Right Certificate
shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall
surrender the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split
up, combined or exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose. Thereupon or as promptly as practicable thereafter, subject to
the provisions of Sections 7(d) and 14 hereof, the Company shall prepare,
execute and deliver to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall countersign
and deliver a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so
requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer,
split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and 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 shall prepare, execute and deliver a new Right
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Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall
countersign and deliver such new Right Certificate to the registered holder in
lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights
evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at
any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, upon
surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the
reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office or offices
of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment in cash,
in lawful money of the United States of America by certified check or bank draft
payable to the order of the Company equal to the sum of (i) the exercise price
for the total number of securities as to which such surrendered Rights are
exercised and (ii) an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be
paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with the provisions
of Section 9 hereof. In lieu of the cash payment referred to in the immediately
preceding sentence, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event the
registered holder of a Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced
thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part upon surrender
of the Right Certificate as described above together with an election to
exercise such Rights without payment of cash on the reverse side thereof duly
completed. With respect to any Rights as to which such an election is made, the
holder shall receive a number of Common Shares or other securities having a
value equal to the difference between (i) the value of the Common Shares or
other securities that would have been issuable upon payment of the cash amount
as described above, and (ii) the amount of such cash payment. For purposes of
this Section 7(a), the value of any Common Share or other security shall be the
current per share market price of a Common Share (determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the first
occurrence of a Triggering Event.
(b) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights
with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by either
payment as described above or a duly completed election to exercise without
payment of cash, the Rights Agent shall promptly (i) requisition from any
transfer agent of the Common Shares (or make available, if the Rights Agent is
the transfer agent) certificates representing the number of Common Shares to be
purchased (and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs its
transfer agent to comply with all such requests), (ii) after receipt of such
certificates, 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, (iii) when appropriate, requisition from the
Company or any transfer agent therefor (or make available, if the Rights Agent
is the
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transfer agent) certificates representing the number of equivalent common shares
to be issued in lieu of the issuance of Common Shares in accordance with the
provisions of Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, (iv) when appropriate, after receipt of
such certificates, 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, (v) when appropriate, requisition from the
Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional
shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 hereof or in lieu of the
issuance of Common Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, (vi) when appropriate, after receipt, deliver such cash to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, and (vii)
when appropriate, deliver any due bill or other instrument provided to the
Rights Agent by the Company for delivery to the registered holder of such Right
Certificate as provided by Section 11(l) hereof.
(c) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise
less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, the Company shall prepare, execute
and deliver a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights
remaining unexercised and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver such
new Right Certificate to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to
his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(d) 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 any purported transfer, split up, combination or exchange of any
Right Certificate pursuant to Section 6 hereof or exercise of a Right
Certificate as set forth in this Section 7 unless the registered holder of such
Right Certificate shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate following
the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as applicable, set forth
on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such transfer,
split up, combination, exchange or exercise, and (ii) provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or
Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall have reasonably requested.
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
stock transfer 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, and no Right 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 other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
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cancelled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of
the Company, destroy such cancelled Right Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Company Covenants Concerning Securities and Rights. The Company
covenants and agrees that:
(a) So long as the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights
may be listed on a national securities exchange, it shall endeavor to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all securities
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of Rights to be listed on such exchange
upon official notice of issuance.
(b) It shall take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all
Common Shares and/or other securities delivered upon exercise of Rights, at the
time of delivery of the certificates for such securities shall be (subject to
payment of the Purchase Price) duly and validly authorized and issued, fully
paid and nonassessable securities.
(c) It shall pay when due and payable any and all federal and state
transfer taxes and charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or
delivery of the Right Certificates and of any certificates representing
securities issued upon the exercise of Rights; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to pay any transfer 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 representing securities
issued upon the exercise of Rights 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 representing securities issued 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 reasonable
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
(d) It shall use its best efforts (i) to file on an appropriate form, as
soon as practicable following the later of the first occurrence of a Triggering
Event or the Distribution Date, a registration statement under the Securities
Act with respect to the securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights, (ii) to
cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing, and (iii) to cause such registration statement to remain
effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act)
until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer
exercisable for such securities and (B) the Expiration Date. The Company shall
also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with,
the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the
exercisability of the Rights. The Company may
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temporarily suspend, for a period of time after the date set forth in clause (i)
of the first sentence of this Section 9(d), the exercisability of the Rights in
order to prepare and file such registration statement and to 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. In addition, if the Company shall determine that a
registration statement should be filed under the Securities Act or any state
securities laws following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily
suspend the exercisability of the Rights in each relevant jurisdiction until
such time as a registration statement has been declared effective and, upon any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not
be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite registration or
qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been effected or the exercise
of the Rights shall not be permitted under applicable law.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, after the
Distribution Date it shall not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26
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 eliminate or
otherwise diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(f) In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities
of the Company and/or pay cash pursuant to Sections 11, 13 or 14 hereof, it
shall make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities and/or cash
are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
Section 10. Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate
representing Common Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Common Shares
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which
the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of
the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided,
however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the
Common Shares 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 Common
Shares 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 shareholder of the Company with respect to
securities for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including,
12
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.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Securities or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of securities issuable
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 that the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) effect a dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common
Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, (C) combine the outstanding
Common Shares into a smaller number of shares or (D) issue any shares of its
capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), 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/or the number and/or
kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date upon exercise of a Right,
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 capital stock which,
if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time
when the Common Shares transfer books of the Company were open, the holder of
such Right 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 this Section 11(a)(i)
and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof or Section 13 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) or Section 13 hereof.
(ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 27 hereof, in the event
that:
(A) any Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of any
Acquiring Person, at any time after the date of this Agreement, directly or
indirectly, shall (1) merge into the Company or otherwise combine with the
Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such merger or combination (other than in a transaction subject to Section
13 hereof), (2) merge or otherwise combine with any Subsidiary of the
Company, (3) in one or more transactions (other than in connection with the
exercise or exchange of Rights or the exercise or conversion of securities
exercisable for or convertible into shares of any class of capital
13
stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) transfer any assets to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in exchange (in whole or in part) for
shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or for securities exercisable for or convertible into shares
of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
otherwise obtain from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, with or
without consideration, any additional shares of any class of capital stock
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or securities exercisable for or
convertible into shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries (other than as part of a pro rata distribution to all
holders of such shares of any class of capital stock of the Company, or any
of its Subsidiaries), (4) sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage,
pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose (in one or more transactions), to,
from, with or of, as the case may be, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than in a transaction subject to Section 13 hereof ),
assets, including securities, on terms and conditions less favorable to the
Company than the Company would be able to obtain in arm's-length
negotiation with an unaffiliated third party, (5) receive any compensation
from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than compensation as a
director or for full-time employment as a regular employee, in either case,
at rates in accordance with the Company's (or its Subsidiaries') past
practices, or (6) receive the benefit, directly or indirectly (except
proportionately as a shareholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees,
pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax
advantage provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or
(B) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there
shall be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
split), or recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or consolidation
of the Company with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction or
series of transactions involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Acquiring Person),
other than a transaction subject to Section 13 hereof, which has the
effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1% the
proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity
securities or of securities exercisable for or convertible into equity
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of which an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person, is the
Beneficial Owner; or
(C) any Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company or any employee benefit or stock ownership plan of the Company or
of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan) who or which, together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall at any time after
14
date of this Agreement, become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the
Common Shares then outstanding (other than pursuant to any transaction set
forth in Section 13(a) hereof ); provided, however, that a Person shall not
be deemed to have become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common
Shares then outstanding for the purposes of this Section 11(a)(ii)(C)
solely as a result of a reduction in the number of Common Shares
outstanding unless and until such time as (1) such Person or any Affiliate
or Associate of such Person shall thereafter become the Beneficial Owner of
any additional Common Shares other than as a result of a stock dividend,
stock split or similar transaction effected by the Company in which all
holders of Common Shares are treated equally, or (2) any other Person who
is the Beneficial Owner of any Common Shares shall thereafter become an
Affiliate or Associate of such Person, then, and in each such case, proper
provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, except as provided
below, shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement at an exercise price per Right equal
to the product of the then-current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of
Common Shares for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Triggering Event, such number of Common Shares as shall equal
the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the
number of Common Shares For which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, and dividing that product by (y) 50%
of the current per share market price of the Common Shares (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of the first occurrence of a Triggering
Event. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and
after the later of the Distribution Date and the first occurrence of a Flip-in
Event, (1) any Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such Acquiring Person) shall
be void and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise
such Rights under any provision of this Agreement, (2) no Right Certificate
shall be issued pursuant to this Agreement that represents Rights beneficially
owned by an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof, (3) no Right
Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to an
Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof or to any nominee of such
Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate thereof, and (4) any Right
Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person or
any Affiliate or Associate thereof shall be cancelled.
(iii) Upon the occurrence of the Distribution Date or a Flip-in Event,
if there shall not be sufficient Common Shares authorized but unissued or issued
but not outstanding to permit the issuance of all the Common Shares issuable in
accordance with the provisions hereof upon the exercise of a Right, the Board of
Directors of the Company shall use its best efforts promptly to authorize and,
subject to the provisions of Section 9(d) hereof, make available for issuance
additional Common Shares or other equity securities of the Company having
equivalent voting rights and an equivalent value (as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company) to the Common Shares (for purposes of
this Section 11(a)(iii), "equivalent common
15
shares"). In the event that equivalent common shares are so authorized, upon the
exercise of a Right in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 hereof, the
registered holder shall be entitled to receive (A) Common Shares, to the extent
any are available and (B) a number of equivalent common shares, which the Board
of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith to have a value
equivalent to the excess of (x) the aggregate current per share market value of
all the Common Shares issuable in accordance with subsection (ii) hereof upon
the exercise of a Right (the "Exercise Value") over (y) the aggregate current
per share market value of any Common Shares available for issuance upon the
exercise of such Right; provided, however, that if at any time after 90 calendar
days after the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event, there shall not be
sufficient Common Shares and/or equivalent common shares available for issuance
upon the exercise of a Right, then the Company shall be obligated to deliver,
upon the surrender of such Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase
Price, Common Shares (to the extent available), equivalent common shares (to the
extent available) and then cash (to the extent permitted by applicable law and
any agreements or instruments to which the Company is a party in effect
immediately prior to the first occurrence of any Flip-in Event), which
securities and cash shall have an aggregate value equal to the excess of (1) the
Exercise Value over (2) the product of the then-current Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of Common Shares for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event. To the extent
that any legal or contractual restrictions prevent the Company from paying the
full amount of cash payable in accordance with the foregoing sentence, the
Company shall pay to holders of the Rights as to which such payments are being
made all amounts which are not then restricted on a pro rata basis and shall
continue to make payments on a pro rata basis as funds become available until
the full amount due to each such Rights holder has been paid.
(b) In the event that the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance
of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Shares entitling them
(for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Common Shares (or securities having equivalent rights,
privileges and preferences as the Common Shares (for purposes of this Section
11(b), "equivalent common shares")) or securities convertible into Common Shares
or equivalent common shares at a price per Common Share or equivalent common
share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into
Common Shares or equivalent common shares) less than the current per share
market price of the Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date
shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
number of Common Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of
Common Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Common
Shares and/or equivalent common shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities so
16
to be offered) would purchase at such current per share market price and the
denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding on such
record date plus the number of additional Common Shares and/or equivalent
common shares 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.
Common Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be
deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the
event that such rights, options or warrants are not so 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 the event that the Company shall fix a record date for the making
of a distribution to all holders of Common 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 (other than a regular periodic cash dividend), assets, stock
(other than a dividend payable in Common Shares) 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 per share market price of
the Common Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such
record date or, if earlier, the date on which Common Shares begin to trade on an
ex-dividend or when-issued basis for such distribution, 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 evidences of indebtedness, cash, assets or stock so
to be distributed or of such subscription rights, options or warrants applicable
to one Common Share, and the denominator of which shall be such current per
share market price of the Common Shares. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be
the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per share
market price" of Common Shares on any date shall be deemed to be the average of
the daily closing prices per share of such Common Shares for the 30 consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the
event that the current per share market price of the Common Shares is determined
during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Shares
of (i) a dividend or distribution on such Common Shares payable
17
in such Common Shares or securities convertible into such Common Shares (other
than the Rights) or (ii) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of
such Common Shares, and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-
dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the
current per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to take into
account ex-dividend trading or to reflect the current per share market price per
Common Share equivalent. 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 New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common
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 NASDAQ
or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the Common 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 the Common
Shares selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If the Common Shares
are not publicly held or not so listed or traded, or not the subject of
available bid and asked quotes, "current per share market price" shall mean the
fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with
the Rights Agent.
(e) Except as set forth below, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall
be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at
least 1% in such 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 ten-
thousandth of a Common Share or other security, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three
years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment and (ii)
the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof,
the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive
any securities of the Company other than Common Shares, thereafter the number of
such other securities 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 Common Shares
18
contained in this Section 11, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13
hereof with respect to the Common Shares shall apply on like terms to any such
other securities.
(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 Common Shares issuable
from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further
adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in
Section 11(i) hereof, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of
the calculations made in Section 11(b) and Section 11(c) hereof made with
respect to a distribution of subscription rights, options or warrants applicable
to Common Shares, 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 Common Shares (calculated to the nearest one-
thousandth a Common Share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of Common
Shares issuable upon exercise of 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 substitution for any
adjustment in the number of Common Shares 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 Common Shares 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 of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may
be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but,
if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 calendar days
later than the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been
issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates
evidencing, subject to the provisions of 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,
19
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.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the
number or kind of securities issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the
Purchase Price and the number and kind of securities which were expressed in the
initial Right Certificate issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the
Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the Common Shares or other
securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any
corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order
that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable
Common Shares or such other securities at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment
in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified
event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the
issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the number
of Common Shares or other securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise over and above the number of Common Shares or other 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 bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing
such holder's right to receive such additional Common Shares or other securities
upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, 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 its good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the Company
shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or
subdivision of the Common Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of Common Shares
at less than the current per share market price therefor, (iii) issuance wholly
for cash of Common Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible
into or exchangeable for Common Shares, (iv) stock dividends, or
20
(v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11,
hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Common Shares shall not be
taxable to such shareholders.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Securities. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section
13 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth
such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such
adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the
Common Shares, a copy of such certificate, and (c) if such adjustment is made
after the Distribution Date, mail a brief summary of such adjustment to each
holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Share Acquisition Date, directly or
indirectly:
(i) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, any
other Person and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger; or
(ii) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with or
into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger or consolidation and, in connection with such
merger or consolidation, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash
or any other property; or
(iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of
its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power (including, without limitation,
securities creating any obligation on the part of the Company and/or any of
its Subsidiaries) representing in the aggregate more than 50% of the assets
or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to
any Person or Persons, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall
be made so that (A) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided
herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement at an exercise price
per Right equal to the product of the then-current Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of Common Shares for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, such
number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, nonassessable and
freely tradeable Common Shares of the Issuer, free and clear of any liens,
encumbrances and other adverse claims and not subject to any rights of call
or first refusal, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (x)
multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the number of Common Shares
for
21
which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Triggering Event and dividing that product by (y) 50% of the current per
share market price of the Common Shares of the Issuer (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof), on the date of consummation of such Flip-over
Event; (B) the Issuer shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by
virtue of the consummation of such Flip-over Event, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term "Company"
shall thereafter be deemed to refer to the Issuer; and (D) the Issuer shall
take such steps (including, without limitation, the reservation of a
sufficient number of its Common Shares to permit the exercise of all
outstanding Rights) in connection with such consummation as may be
necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be possible, in relation to its
Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.
(b) For purposes of this Section 13, "Issuer" shall mean (i) in the case
of any Flip-over Event described in Sections 13(a) (i) or (ii) above, the Person
that is the continuing, surviving, resulting or acquiring Person (including the
Company as the continuing or surviving corporation of a transaction described in
Section 13(a)(ii) above), and (ii) in the case of any Flip-over Event described
in Section 13(a)(iii) above, the Person that is the party receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power (including, without limitation,
securities creating any obligation on the part of the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries) transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that, in any such case, (A) if (1) no class of equity
security of such Person is, at the time of such merger, consolidation or
transaction and has been continuously over the preceding 12-month period,
registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and (2) such Person is a
Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of another Person, a class of equity
security of which is and has been so registered, the term "Issuer" shall mean
such other Person; and (B) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, of more than one Person, a class of equity security of two or more
of which are and have been so registered, the term "Issuer" shall mean whichever
of such Persons is the issuer of the equity security having the greatest
aggregate market value. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Issuer in any of
the Flip-over Events listed above is not a corporation or other legal entity
having outstanding equity securities, then, and in each such case, (x) if the
Issuer is directly or indirectly wholly owned by a corporation or other legal
entity having outstanding equity securities, then all references to Common
Shares of the Issuer shall be deemed to be references to the Common Shares of
the corporation or other legal entity having outstanding equity securities which
ultimately controls the Issuer, and (y) if there is no such corporation or other
legal entity having outstanding equity securities, (I) proper provision shall be
made so that the Issuer shall create or otherwise make available for purposes of
the exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a
kind or kinds of security or securities having a fair market value at least
equal to the economic value of the Common
22
Shares which each holder of a Right would have been entitled to receive if the
Issuer had been a corporation or other legal entity having outstanding equity
securities; and (II) all other provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the
issuer of such securities as if such securities were Common Shares.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any Flip-over Event, unless the
Issuer shall have a sufficient number of authorized Common Shares (or other
securities as contemplated in Section 13(b) above) 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 to such consummation the Company and the
Issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement providing for the terms set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this
Section 13 and further providing that as promptly as practicable after the
consummation of any Flip-over Event, the Issuer shall:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities
Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities issuable upon exercise
of the Rights on an appropriate form, and shall use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus
at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the
Expiration Date;
(ii) take all such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure
compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in
connection with the exercisability of the Rights; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements
for the Issuer and each of its Affiliates which comply in all respects with
the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
(d) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Flip-
over Event occurs at any time after the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, the
Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become
exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a) hereof.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Securities.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such
fractional Rights, the Company shall pay as promptly as practicable to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Rights otherwise would be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the
23
same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of
this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the
closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on
which such fractional Rights otherwise would have been issuable. The closing
price for any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such
sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or
admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market,
as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such date
the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market
in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such
date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights the fair value of the
Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares
or other securities issuable upon exercise or exchange of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence any such fractional securities. In lieu
of issuing any such fractional securities, the Company may pay to any Person to
whom or which such fractional securities would otherwise be issuable an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one such
security. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a
Common Share or other security issuable upon the exercise or exchange of Rights
shall be the closing price thereof (as determined in the same manner as set
forth for Common Shares in the second sentence of Section 11(d) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange;
provided, however, that if neither the Common Shares nor any such other
securities are publicly held or listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, or the subject of available bid and asked quotes, the
current market value of one Common Share or such other security shall be
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of
24
the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the holder of any Common Shares), may in his own
behalf and for his own benefit enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit,
action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect
of, his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate or
Common Share certificate in the manner provided in such Right 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 under this
Agreement, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the
obligations 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 shall be transferable only
in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) After the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are transferable
only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal
office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer;
(c) The Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in
whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the
associated Common Share certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof
and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership
or writing on the Right Certificate or the associated Common Share certificate
made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes
whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by
any notice to the contrary;
(d) Such holder expressly waives any right to receive any fractional
Rights and any fractional securities upon exercise or exchange of a Right,
except as otherwise provided in Section 14 hereof.
(e) 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 other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
25
performance of such obligation; provided, however, that the Company shall use
its best efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise
overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder.
No holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common Shares or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement or exchanged pursuant to the provisions of Section
27 hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The
Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless
against, any loss, liability, suit, action, proceeding or expense, incurred
without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the
Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection
with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs
and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom,
directly or indirectly.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right
Certificate or certificate evidencing Common Shares or other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
Agent.
26
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights
Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such
Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates
and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not
have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such
cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right
Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes
the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms
and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right
Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board,
27
the President or any Vice President of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own
gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any
of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed
to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required
under the provisions of Section 11 or Section 13 hereof (including any
adjustment which results in Rights becoming void) or responsible for the
manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the
existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect
to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after actual notice
of any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares
of stock or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any
Right Certificate or as to whether any shares of stock or other securities will,
when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge
and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all
such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be
required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights
Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President of the
Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection
with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to
be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such
officer.
28
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the
selectionand continued employment thereof. The Rights Agent shall not be under
any duty or responsibility to insure compliance with any applicable federal or
state securities laws in connection with the issuance, transfer or exchange of
Right Certificates.
(j) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange, the certificate
attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case
may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to
clause 1 or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with
respect to such requested exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange,
without first consulting with the Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 calendar days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove
the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 calendar days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the
Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the
Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 calendar days
after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of
any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights
29
Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of the States of Georgia or New York (or of any other state of the United States
so long as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking
institution in the States of Georgia or New York), in good standing, having a
principal office in the States of Georgia or New York, which is authorized under
such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50
million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally
named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights
Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at
the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares,
and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right
Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price per share and the number or kind of securities issuable
upon exercise of the Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale by the Company
of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to Common Shares so issued or sold
pursuant to the exercise or conversion of securities issued prior to the
Distribution Date which are exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Shares,
and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary, appropriate or desirable by
the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Right Certificates representing an
equivalent number of Rights as would have been issued in respect of such Common
Shares if they had been issued or sold prior to the Distribution Date, as
appropriately adjusted as provided herein as if they had been so issued or sold;
provided, however, that (i) no such Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to
the extent that, in its good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the
Company shall have determined that the issuance of such Right Certificate could
have a material adverse tax consequence to the Company or to the Person to whom
or which such Right Certificate otherwise would be issued, and (ii) no such
Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment otherwise shall have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
30
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Board of Directors of the Company
may, at its option, redeem all but not less than all of the then-outstanding
Rights at the Redemption Price at any time prior to the Close of Business on the
later of (i) the Distribution Date and (ii) the Share Acquisition Date.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, and without any further action
and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights shall terminate and the
only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the
Redemption Price. Promptly after the action of its Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall publicly announce such action,
and within 10 calendar days thereafter, the Company shall give notice of such
redemption to the holders of the then- outstanding Rights by mailing such notice
to all such holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry
books of the Company; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect
in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption of the
Rights. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed
given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. The notice of redemption
mailed to the holders of Rights shall state the method by which the payment of
the Redemption Price will be made. The Company may, at its option, pay the
Redemption Price in cash, Common Shares (based upon the current per share market
price of the Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) at the
time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the
Board of Directors of the Company (based upon the fair market value of such
other consideration, determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good
faith) or any combination thereof.
(c) At any time following the Share Acquisition Date, the Board of
Directors of the Company may relinquish the right to redeem the Rights under
this Section 23 by duly adopting a resolution to that effect. Immediately upon
adoption of such resolution, the rights of the Board of Directors of the Company
to redeem the Rights shall terminate without further action and without any
notice. Promptly after adoption of such a resolution, the Company shall publicly
announce such action; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect
in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company.
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case, after the Distribution Date, the Company shall propose (i)
to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Common
Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of Common Shares
31
(other than a regular periodic cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of
Common Shares rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any
additional Common Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other
securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its
Common Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of
outstanding Common Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or
with, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its
Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions,
of assets or earning power (including, without limitation, securities creating
any obligation on the part of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries)
representing more than 50% of the assets and earning power of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person or Persons, 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 Right Certificate, 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 or
offering of rights, options 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 Common Shares, if any such date is to be fixed,
and such notice shall be so given, in the case of any action covered by clause
(i) or (ii) above, at least 10 calendar days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the Common Shares for purposes of such action, and, in
the case of any such other action, at least 10 calendar days prior to the date
of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by
the holders of the Common Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any Triggering Event shall occur, then, in any such case,
the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to the Rights Agent and
each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a
notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the
consequences of the event to holders of Rights.
Section 25. Notices.
(a) Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the
Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights
Agent) as follows:
Equifax Inc.
1600 Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Attention: Corporate Secretary
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or
32
demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the
holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently
given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until
another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
SunTrust Bank, Atlanta
Corporate Trust Department
P.O. Box 4625
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
Attention: Department Manager
(c) Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate (or,
if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of any certificate evidencing
Common Shares) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown
on the registry books of the Company.
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date
and subject to the last sentence of this Section 26, if the Company so directs,
the Company and the Rights Agent shall supplement or amend any provision of this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of certificates representing
Common Shares. From and after the Distribution Date and subject to the last
sentence of this Section 26, if the Company so directs, the Company and the
Rights Agent shall supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of
any holders of Right 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 supplement or amend the provisions hereunder
in any manner which the Company may deem desirable, including, without
limitation, the addition of other events requiring adjustment to the Rights
under Sections 11 or 13 hereof or procedures relating to the redemption of the
Rights, which supplement or amendment shall not, in the good faith determination
of the Board of Directors of the Company, adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Right Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person). Upon the delivery of a certificate from an
officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is
in compliance with the terms of this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute
such supplement or amendment; provided, however, that the failure or refusal of
the Rights Agent to execute such supplement or amendment shall not affect the
validity of any supplement or amendment adopted by the Company, any of which
shall be effective in accordance with the terms thereof. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be
made at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable which decreases the
stated Redemption Price or the
33
period of time remaining until the Final Expiration Date or which modifies a
time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed.
Section 27. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after the later of the Distribution Date and the first occurrence of a
Triggering Event, exchange all or part of the then-outstanding and exercisable
Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio
of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof
(such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to
effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such
Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan), who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of
such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares
then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 27(a) hereof,
and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise
such Rights shall terminate and the only right with respect to such Rights
thereafter of the holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of
Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied
by the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 27(a)
hereof, the Company shall publicly announce such action, and within 10 calendar
days thereafter shall give 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; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in,
such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. 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 the Common Shares 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
11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 27, the Company, at its
option, may substitute for any Common Share exchangeable for a Right, (i)
equivalent common shares (as such term is used in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof),
(ii) cash, (iii) debt securities of the Company, (iv) other assets, or (v) any
combination of the foregoing, in any event having an aggregate value which the
Board of Directors
34
of the Company shall have determined in good faith to be equal to the current
market value of one Common Share (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of exchange pursuant to this
Section 27.
Section 28. Successors; Certain Covenants. All the covenants and
provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights
Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and
assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Right Certificates (or prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal
substantive laws of the State of Georgia and for all purposes shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of such State
applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State.
Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
[SEAL]
35
Attest: EQUIFAX INC.
By /s/ Thomas H. Magis By /s/ C.B. Rogers, Jr.
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------
Thomas H. Magis C.B. Rogers, Jr.
Secretary Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
[SEAL]
Attest: SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA
By /s/ Roy C. Forward, Jr. By /s/ Thomas Donaldson
- -------------------------- ------------------------------------
Roy C. Forward, Jr. Thomas Donaldson
Vice President Group Vice President
36
EXHIBIT A
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. R- _________Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 6, 2005 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED. THE RIGHTS
ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER
RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR AN ASSOCIATE OF AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID.
Right Certificate
EQUIFAX INC.
This certifies that ________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of October 25, 1995 (the "Rights Agreement"), between
Equifax Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and SunTrust Bank, Atlanta,
a Georgia banking corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company
at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M. (Eastern time) on November 6, 2005 at the
principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, one
fully paid nonassessable share of common stock, par value $2.50 per share (the
"Common Shares"), of the Company, at a purchase price of $185.00 per Common
Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right
Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly
executed. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall
be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. The number of Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of Common Shares which may
be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set
forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of November 6, 1995, based on
the Common Shares as constituted at such date.
A-1
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and
kind of securities issuable upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are subject to adjustment upon the happening of certain
events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Rights Agent,
the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates, which limitations of
rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of the Rights
under the circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights
Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent.
Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, from and after the later of the
Distribution Date and the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), (i) any Rights that are or were acquired or
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of
such Acquiring Person) shall be void and any holder of such Rights shall
thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any provision of the
Rights Agreement, (ii) no Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to the
Rights Agreement that represents Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof, (iii) no Right Certificate shall
be issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person or
any Affiliate or Associate thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person or
Affiliate or Associate thereof, and (iv) any Right Certificate delivered to the
Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof shall be cancelled.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, may be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or
Right Certificates, entitling the holder to purchase a like number of Common
Shares (or other securities, as the case may be) as the Right Certificate or
Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder (or former holder
in the case of a transfer) to purchase, upon presentation and surrender hereof
at the principal office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, with
the Form of Assignment (if appropriate) and the related Certificate duly
executed.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption
price of $0.01 per Right. The Rights Agreement may be supplemented and amended
by the Company, as provided therein.
A-2
The Company is not required to issue fractional Common Shares or other
securities issuable upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby.
In lieu of issuing such fractional Common Shares or other securities, the
Company may make a cash payment, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common Shares
or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable upon
the exercise of the Right or Rights represented hereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in the Rights Agreement be construed to confer upon the
holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with
the provisions of the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal. Dated as of _________, 19__.
ATTEST: EQUIFAX INC.
____________________________ By __________________________
Secretary Title:
[SEAL]
Countersigned:
SunTrust Bank, Atlanta
By _________________________
Authorized Signature
A-3
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ____________________________________________________
__________________________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto__________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
______________________________________________________________________________
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _________________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: _____________, 19__
_________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
CERTIFICATE
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being sold, assigned, transferred, split up, combined or exchanged by or on
behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [
] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from
any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _____________, 19
_________________________________
Signature
A-4
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
----------------------------
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate)
To Equifax Inc.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Common Shares or
other securities issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that
certificates for such securities be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: _________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
______________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
______________________________________________________________________________
Optional Election to Exercise without Payment of Cash:
With respect to the exercise of ___________ of the Rights specified above,
the undersigned hereby elects to exercise such Rights without payment of cash
and to receive a number of Common Shares or other securities having a value (as
determined pursuant to the Rights Agreement) equal to the difference between (i)
the value of the Common Shares or other securities that would have been issuable
upon the exercise thereof upon payment of the cash amount as provided in the
Rights Agreement, and (ii) the amount of such cash payment.
Dated: _____________, 19__
_________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
A-5
CERTIFICATE
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined pursuant
to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [
] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from
any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _____________, 19
_________________________________
Signature
NOTICE
------
Signatures on the foregoing Form of Assignment and Form of Election to
Purchase and in the related Certificates must correspond to the name as written
upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration
or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
A-6
EXHIBIT B
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
COMMON SHARES
The Board of Directors of Equifax Inc. (the "Company") has declared a
dividend distribution of one right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of
common stock, par value $2.50 per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Company.
The distribution is payable on November 6, 1995 (the "Record Date") to the
shareholders of record as of the close of business on the Record Date. Each
Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one Common
Share at a price of $185.00 (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated
as of October 25, 1995 (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and
SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). On October 25,
1995, the Board of Directors of the Company also adopted an amendment to the
Articles of Incorporation of the Company to effect a two-for-one stock split of
the issued and unissued Common Shares as permitted by Georgia law. The two-for-
one stock split will become effective as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November
24, 1995, with certificates representing the additional shares to be mailed on
or about December 15, 1995. Unless otherwise indicated, all information herein
is set forth on a pre-split basis. At the effective time of the stock split, the
Purchase Price will be adjusted to $92.50 per Right to reflect the two-for-one
stock split.
Until the earliest to occur of (i) the close of business on the tenth
calendar day (or such later date as may be specified by the Board of Directors)
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (an "Acquiring
Person"), (ii) the close of business on the tenth calendar day following the
commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer by a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons, the consummation of which would result in
beneficial ownership by such person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares, or (iii) the close of business on the tenth calendar day
following the first date of public announcement of the first occurrence of a
Flip-in Event or a Flip-over Event (as such terms are hereinafter defined) (the
earliest of such dates being hereinafter called the "Distribution Date"), the
Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificates.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new
Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new
B-1
issuance of Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Shares in respect of which Rights have been issued will also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such
certificates. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights (the "Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Shares of the close of business on the
Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights.
No Right is exercisable at any time prior to the Distribution Date. The
Rights will expire on November 6, 2005 (the "Final Expiration Date") unless
earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below. Until a Right
is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a shareholder
of the Company, including without limitation the right to vote or to receive
dividends.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Common Shares or other
securities 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 Common Shares, (ii) upon
the grant to holders of the Common Shares of certain rights or warrants to
subscribe for or purchase Common Shares at a price, or securities convertible
into Common Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market
price of the Common Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the
Common Shares of evidences of indebtedness or cash (excluding regular periodic
cash dividends), assets, stock (excluding dividends payable in Common Shares) or
of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
In the event (a "Flip-in Event") that (i) any person or group of affiliated
or associated persons becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, (ii) any Acquiring Person merges into or combines
with the Company and the Company is the surviving corporation or any Acquiring
Person effects certain other transactions with the Company, as described in the
Rights Agreement, or (iii) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person,
there shall be any reclassification of securities or recapitalization or
reorganization of the Company which has the effect of increasing by more than 1%
the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity
securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries beneficially owned by the
Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right,
other than Rights that are or were owned beneficially by the Acquiring Person
(which, from and after the later of the Distribution Date and the date of the
earliest of any such events, will be void), will thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right,
that number of Common Shares (or,
B-2
under certain circumstances, an economically equivalent security or securities
of the Company) having a market value of two times the exercise price of the
Right.
To illustrate the operation of such an adjustment, at a Purchase Price of
$185.00, assuming the current market price (as determined pursuant to the
provisions of the Rights Agreement) per Common Share were $46.25, each Right not
owned beneficially by an Acquiring Person at or after the time of such an
occurrence would entitle its holder to purchase (after the Distribution Date)
from the Company eight (8) Common Shares (having a market value of $370.00) for
$185.00.
In the event (a "Flip-over Event") that, following the first date of public
announcement that a person has become an Acquiring Person, (i) the Company
merges with or into any person and the Company is not the surviving corporation,
(ii) any person merges with or into the Company and the Company is the surviving
corporation, but its Common Shares are changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or
more of the Company's assets or earning power, including without limitation
securities creating obligations of the Company, are sold, proper provision shall
be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the
Right, that number of shares of common stock (or, under certain circumstances,
an economically equivalent security or securities) of such other person which at
the time of such transaction would have a market value of two times the exercise
price of the Right.
At any time after the later of the Distribution Date and the first
occurrence of a Flip-in Event or Flip-over Event and prior to the acquisition by
any person or group of affiliated or associated persons of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than any Rights which have become void), in whole or in part,
at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment in the Purchase
Price of at least 1%. The Company is not required to issue fractional Common
Shares or other securities issuable upon the exercise of Rights. In lieu of
issuing such securities, the Company may make a cash payment, as provided in the
Rights Agreement.
The Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of
$0.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"), at any time prior to the close of
business on the later of (i) the Distribution Date and (ii) the first date of
public announcement that a person has become an Acquiring Person. Immediately
upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will
B-3
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
Redemption Price.
The Rights Agreement may be amended by the Company without the approval of
any holders of Right Certificates, including amendments which add other events
requiring adjustment to the purchase price payable and the number of Common
Shares or other securities issuable upon the exercise of the Rights or which
modify procedures relating to the redemption of the Rights, provided that no
amendment may be made at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable which
decreases the stated Redemption Price or the period of time remaining until the
Final Expiration Date or which modifies a time period relating to when the
Rights may be redeemed.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. A
copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This
summary description of the Rights is as of November 6, 1995, does not purport to
be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights
Agreement, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
B-4