Exhibit 4.1
EQUIFAX INC.
and
SUNTRUST BANK,
as Rights Agent
AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Amended and Restated as of October 14, 2005
Originally Dated as of October 25, 1995 and amended as of July 7, 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of October 14, 2005 (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and between Equifax Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and SunTrust Bank, a Georgia banking corporation (the “Rights Agent”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent are parties to that certain Rights Agreement, dated as of October 25, 1995, as amended as of July 7, 2001 (the “Prior Agreement”);
WHEREAS, on October 25, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one right (“Right”) for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) 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 of the Prior Agreement, 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);
WHEREAS, Section 26 of the Prior Agreement provides that, prior to the occurrence of a Distribution Date (as defined therein), the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of the Agreement without the approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock and the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to amend and restate the Prior Agreement as set forth herein and the Rights Agent has agreed to the amendment and restatement of the Prior Agreement as set forth herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree that the Prior Agreement is amended and restated 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 20% 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 or solely as a
result of any acquisition that is approved in advance by the Board of Directors, in each case unless and until such time as (i) 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 in a transaction that is approved in advance by the Board of Directors, or (ii) any other Person who is the Beneficial Owner of any Common Shares shall thereafter become an Affiliate or Associate of such Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors determines in good faith that a Person who otherwise would be an Acquiring Person as defined under the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(a) has become such inadvertently, and such Person has divested or agrees to divest as promptly as practicable (as determined by the Board of Directors) a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be an “Acquiring Person” as defined under the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement unless and until such Person shall again become an Acquiring Person as herein defined.
(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.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, and shall be deemed to “beneficially own,” any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules of the Exchange Act.
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or other rights (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 (B) the right to vote or dispose of or has “beneficial ownership” of (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules of the Exchange Act), 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;
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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 may determine in any specific case.
(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 shares of the Common Stock, par value $1.25 per share, 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 Person, other than the Company, including an Issuer, shall mean shares of the capital stock or equity interests with the greatest aggregate voting power of such Person or, if such other Person is a subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(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) 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) 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 20% 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
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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.
(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 November 6, 2015.
(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), (iii) or (iv) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(n) “Independent Director” shall mean a person, while such person is a member of the Board of Directors, who shall be determined to be independent under the listing standards of the NYSE and who is not an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person, or of any such affiliate or associate; provided, however, that the fact that a person is nominated for election as a director by an Acquiring Person or any such affiliate, associate or representative, or the fact that an Acquiring Person or any such affiliate, associate or representative votes in favor of the election of a person as a director, shall not, in and of itself, disqualify a person from being an Independent Director provided that such person does not have any agreement or understanding with such Acquiring Person, affiliate, associate or representative with respect to how such person will vote on any future transactions.
(o) “Issuer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof.
(p) “Nasdaq” shall mean The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
(q) “NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
(r) “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other legal entity, and includes any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(s) “Purchase Price” shall mean initially $153.81 per Common Share, and shall be subject to further adjustment from time to time as provided in this Agreement.
(t) “Redemption Price” shall mean $0.01 per Right, subject to adjustment by resolution of the Board of Directors to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof.
(u) “Right” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.
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(v) “Right Certificates” shall mean certificates evidencing the Rights, in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.
(w) “Rights Agent” shall mean SunTrust Bank, unless and until a successor Rights Agent shall have become such pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and thereafter, “Rights Agent” shall mean such successor Rights Agent.
(x) “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(y) “Share Acquisition Date” shall mean the earlier of the date of (i) the first date of public announcement (by press release, a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such or (ii) the public disclosure of facts by the Company or an Acquiring Person indicating that a Person has become such; provided, however, that if such Person is determined not to have become an Acquiring Person pursuant to the last sentence of Section 1(a), then no Share Acquisition Date shall be deemed to have occurred.
(z) “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.
(aa) “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.
(bb) “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.
(cc) “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 NYSE 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 Agreement.
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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), (ii) the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying Common Shares (including a transfer to the Company), and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates evidencing Common Shares in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares evidenced by such certificates.
(b) Promptly upon request, the Company shall send a copy of this Agreement by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to any record holder of Common Shares requesting the same (or, at the Company’s option, shall send a letter summarizing the terms of the Rights), 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 dated as of October 14, 2005 (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 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.
With respect to Right Certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Shares shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates.
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(d) The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent of the occurrence of a Distribution Date and request its transfer agent to provide to the Rights Agent a shareholder list together with all other relevant information. As promptly as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company shall prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign and shall, at the Company’s expense, 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 provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per Common Share has been made pursuant to Section 11(a)(i) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Right Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Right Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates. The failure to mail a Right Certificate shall not affect the legality or validity of the Rights.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates.
(a) 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 (but which does not affect the rights, duties or responsibilities of the Rights Agent) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or transaction reporting system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted, or to conform to usage. The Right Certificates shall be in machine printable format and in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Rights Agent. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11 and 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.
(b) Any Right Certificate issued hereunder that represents Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or an any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding that has the primary purpose or effect the avoidance of Section 7(d) hereof, and any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
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other Right Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) 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 which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage:
The Rights represented by this Right Certificate are or were beneficially owned by Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Right Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement.
The provisions of Section 7(d) hereof shall be operative regardless of whether the foregoing legend is contained on any Right Certificate.
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 countersigned by the Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature 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 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.
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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 4(b), 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 Right Certificates 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. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Right Certificate until the registered holder shall have properly completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Right Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request. Thereupon or as promptly as practicable thereafter, subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 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 of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, if requested by the Company, 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 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 including, without limitation, any restrictions on exercisability set forth in Section 7(d)) in whole or in part at any time after the Close of Business on 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 aggregate Purchase Price for the total number of securities as to which such surrendered Rights are exercised and (ii) an
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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 (x) the value of the Common Shares or other securities that would have been issuable upon payment of the cash amount as described above, and (y) the sum of items (i) and (ii) above. 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 in Section 7(a) 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 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(1) 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, from and after the later of the Distribution Date and the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
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becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (with or without consideration in respect thereof) from an Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transfer of Rights, or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(d), shall become null and void without any further action, no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise, and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof shall be cancelled. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(d) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder. Upon the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, no Right Certificate that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7(d) will thereafter be issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 6, and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7(d) shall be canceled. Upon the occurrence of a Flip-over Event, any Rights that shall not have been previously exercised pursuant to this Section 7(d) shall thereafter be exercisable only pursuant to Section 13 and not pursuant to this Section 7(d).
(e) 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 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.
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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 or quoted on Nasdaq, 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 or quoted on Nasdaq upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(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 authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable securities.
(c) It shall pay when due and payable any and all U.S. 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 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
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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, 26 or 27 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 Section 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, 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustments to the Purchase Price pursuant to this Section 11 shall be made for the occurrence of any event which occurred prior to October 14, 2005 that otherwise would have required an adjustment to the Purchase Price pursuant to 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), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or on the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and/or the
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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, in the case of a reclassification, would have retained after giving effect to such reclassification) and would have 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 23, 26 or 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 or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) transfer any cash, securities or any other 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 or exchangeable 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 or exchangeable 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
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(B) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall be any reclassification of securities of the Company (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 of the Company or of securities exercisable or exchangeable 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 becomes an Acquiring 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.
(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 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) to the Common Shares (for purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), “equivalent common 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 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
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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 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, 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)
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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, 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 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 NYSE or, if the Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, 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. 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, 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
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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 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 of 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, 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
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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 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 (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. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein and shall not be obligated or responsible for
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calculating any adjustment nor shall it be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such a certificate.
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 be a party to any statutory share exchange with any other Person; or
(iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets, cash flow 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, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons other than the Company or one of its wholly owned Subsidiaries;
then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that from and after the latest of the Share Acquisition Date, the Distribution Date, and the date of the occurrence of such Triggering Event, (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 duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradable 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 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
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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), (ii) in the case of any Flip-over Event described in Section 13(a)(iii) above, the Person acquiring the securities of the shareholders of the Company in such exchange and (iii) in the case of any Flip-over Event described in Section 13(a)(iv) 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 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, if, (i) at the time of or immediately after such Flip-over Event, there are or would be any rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements in effect which would eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such Flip-over Event, the shareholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the Issuer for purposes of Section 13(a) shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates, or (iii) the form or nature of the organization of the Issuer would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights. In addition, the Company will not consummate any Flip-over Event unless the Issuer has 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
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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 (or any successor form) 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, except for Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 7(d), the Rights that have not theretofore been exercised shall cease to be exercisable in the manner provided in Section 11(a)(ii) and will 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 a Right 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 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 NYSE or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, 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
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market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors. If the Rights are not publicly held or are not so listed or traded, or are not the subject of available bid and asked quotes, the current market value of one Right will mean the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(b) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, 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 mean the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination will mean the fair value thereof as shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
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 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, her or its own behalf and for his, her or its 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, her or its right to exercise 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
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designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer with the appropriate form fully executed;
(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; and
(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 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 will pay to the Rights Agent such reasonable compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Rights Agent for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent, its directors, officers, employees and agents for, and hold each of them harmless against, any loss, liability, suit, action, proceeding or expense, incurred without
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gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted to be done by the Rights Agent or such other indemnified party in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, or the performance of the Rights Agent’s duties hereunder 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.
(c) The indemnity provided in this Section 18 shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent is a party, or any Person 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 Person would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. If at the time such successor Rights Agent succeeds 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 if 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) If at any time the name of the Rights Agent changes and at such time any of the Right Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and if at that time any of the Right Certificates have not 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:
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(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent deems 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, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer 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 duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company 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, any Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer 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
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any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while awaiting instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less that five Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the date of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in 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 Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided the Rights Agent was not grossly negligent in the selection and continued employment thereof. The Rights Agent shall not be under any duty or responsibility to ensure 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, either (i) 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, or (ii) any other actual or suspected irregularity exists, 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, and will thereafter take further action with respect thereto only in accordance with the Company’s written instructions.
(k) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
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
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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 resigns or is removed or otherwise becomes incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company fails 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 Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the State of Georgia or the State of 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 State of Georgia or the State of New York), in good standing, having a principal office in the State of Georgia or the State of New York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority 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, exchange or conversion of securities (other than Rights) issued prior to the Distribution Date which are exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, Common Shares, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary, appropriate or desirable by the Board of Directors, 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 determines that the issuance of such Right Certificate
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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 has been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
(a) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Company may, at its option and with the approval of the Board, 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, or on such later date as the Board of Directors may designate prior to such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable hereunder.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the redemption of the Rights as provided in Section 23(a), 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 without interest thereon. Promptly after the effectiveness of the redemption of the Rights as provided in Section 23(a), the Company shall publicly announce such redemption, 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 (based upon the fair market value of such other consideration, determined by the Board of Directors in good faith) or any combination thereof. The Company may, at its option, combine the payment of the Redemption Price with any other payment being made concurrently to holders of Common Shares and, to the extent that any such other payment is discretionary, may reduce the amount thereof on account of the concurrent payment of the Redemption Price. If legal or contractual restrictions prevent the Company from paying the Redemption Price (in the form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board) at the time of redemption, the Company will pay the Redemption Price, without interest, promptly after such time as the Company ceases to be so prevented from paying the Redemption Price.
(c) If, following the occurrence of a Share Acquisition Date and following the expiration of the right of redemption hereunder, (i) a Person who is an Acquiring Person shall have transferred or otherwise disposed of a number of Common Shares in one transaction or series of transactions, not directly or indirectly involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which did not result in the occurrence of a Triggering Event such that such Person is thereafter the Beneficial Owner of 10% or less of the outstanding Common Shares, and (ii) there are no other Persons immediately following the occurrence of the event described in clause (i) who are Acquiring Persons, then the right of redemption hereunder shall be reinstated and shall thereafter be exercisable subject to the provisions of this Section 23.
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Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) If, after the Distribution Date, the Company proposes (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 (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, other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries, 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, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which specifies 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 occurs, 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 specifies the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights.
(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 by the Company in writing with the Rights Agent) or by facsimile or other generally accepted means of electronic transmission as follows:
Equifax Inc.
1550 Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Attention: Corporate Secretary
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(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or 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 by the Rights Agent with the Company) or by facsimile transmission as follows:
SunTrust Bank
Stock Transfer Department
P.O. Box 4625
Atlanta, Georgia 30302-4625
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, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights or Common Shares. From and after the Distribution Date and subject to the last sentence of this Section 26, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, 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, 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 that 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 period of time remaining until the Final Expiration Date or which modifies a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed.
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(a) The Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time after the later of the Distribution Date and the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, direct the Company to 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”). Any such exchange shall be effective immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the same, unless such action of the Board of Directors expressly provides that such exchange shall be effective at a subsequent time or upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of one or more specified events (in which case such exchange shall be effective in accordance with the provisions of such action of the Board of Directors). 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 effectiveness of 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 effectiveness of the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 27(a) hereof, the Company shall publicly announce such exchange, 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 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.
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Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
(a) For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common Shares or other securities outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement. The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or exchange or not to redeem or exchange the Rights or to supplement or amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board of Directors in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject any member of the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
(b) It is understood that the TIDE Committee (as described below) of the Board of Directors shall review and evaluate this Agreement in order to consider whether the maintenance of this Agreement continues to be in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders, at least every three years, or sooner if (i) any Person shall have made a proposal to the Company or taken any other action that, if effective, could cause such Person to become a Acquiring Person hereunder, and (ii) if a majority of the members of the TIDE Committee shall deem such review and evaluation appropriate after giving due regard to all relevant circumstances. Following each such review, the TIDE Committee will communicate its conclusion to the full Board of Directors, including any recommendation in light thereof as to whether this Agreement should be modified or the right should be redeemed. The TIDE Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors to fulfill the foregoing duties and shall be comprised of members of the Board of Directors who are Independent Directors. The Board of Directors may designate an existing committee of the Board of Directors to serve as the TIDE Committee provided that members of such committee satisfy the foregoing requirements. The TIDE Committee and the Board of Directors, when considering whether this Agreement should be modified or the rights should be redeemed, shall have the power to set their own agenda and to retain at the expense of the Company their choice of legal counsel, investment bankers and other advisors. The TIDE Committee and the Board of Directors, when considering whether this Agreement should be modified or the Rights should be redeemed, shall have the authority to review all information in the Company and to consider any and all factors they deem relevant to an evaluation of whether this Agreement should be modified or the rights should be redeemed.
Section 29. 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.
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Section 30. 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 registered holders of the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares).
Section 31. 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 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right 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 33. 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 34. 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.
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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.
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FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
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Certificate No. R- |
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RIGHTS |
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 6, 2015 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER RIGHT, AND TO EXCHANGE, 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), OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON, MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID AND MAY NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
Right Certificate
EQUIFAX INC.
This certifies that , or his, her or its 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 14, 2015 as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Rights Agreement”), between Equifax Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and SunTrust Bank, 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, 2015 at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, one fully paid nonassessable share of common stock, par value $1.25 per share (the “Common Shares”), of the Company, at a purchase price of $153.81 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, 2015, based on the Common Shares as constituted at such date.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and kind of securities issuable (or other securities or property) which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights and the number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and 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
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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 principal executive offices of the Company.
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, upon surrender at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate 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. 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.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or part for Common Shares. The Rights Agreement may be supplemented and amended by the Company, as provided therein.
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 or exchange 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
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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 or exchanged 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 , 20 .
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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)
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FOR VALUE RECEIVED, |
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hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto |
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Rights represented by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney, to transfer the said Rights on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution. |
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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.
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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 or property issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such securities be issued in the name of:
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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:
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Optional Election to Exercise without Payment of Cash:
With respect to the exercise 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.
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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.
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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.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
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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 $1.25 per share (the “Common Shares”), of the Company. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one Common Share at a price of $153.81 (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in an Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2005 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and SunTrust Bank, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”).
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 20% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (an “Acquiring Person”), (ii) the close of business on the tenth business 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 20% 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 upon transfer or new 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, 2015 (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
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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 an Acquiring Person, (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, 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 $153.81, assuming the current market price (as determined pursuant to the provisions of the Rights Agreement) per Common Share were $34.18, 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 nine (9) Common Shares (having a market value of $307.62) for $153.81.
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
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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 or on such later date, as the Board of Directors may designate prior to such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
In addition, the Board of Directors will appoint a committee (the “TIDE Committee”) that is comprised of at least three directors of the Company who are independent under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and who are not an Acquiring Person nor an affiliate or an associate of an Acquiring Person, to review and evaluate the Rights Agreement in order to consider whether it continues to be in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders (i) at least every three years, or (ii) sooner if an acquisition proposal is made that the TIDE Committee believes would make such a review and evaluation appropriate. Following each such review, the TIDE Committee will communicate its conclusions to the full Board of Directors, including any recommendation as to whether the Rights Agreement should be modified or the Rights should be redeemed.
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 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. The foregoing summary 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.
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