SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AEROCENTURY CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 94-3263974
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
1440 Chapin Avenue
Burlingame, California 94010
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
If this form relates to the registration of a class
of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), please check the following box.
|X|
If this form relates to the registration of a class
of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), please check the following box.
|_|
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form
relates: Not Applicable
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
to be so registered
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to Be Registered.
On January 22, 1999, AeroCentury Corp. (the "Company") amended and restated
its Rights Agreement, dated as of April 8, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement"), to
eliminate those provisions that require that certain actions may only be taken
by "Independent Directors." This Amended and Restated Rights Agreement was made
in response to the Delaware Court of Chancery's recent decision in Carmody v.
Toll Brothers, Inc. In the view of the Company's Board of Directors, based on
advice of counsel, the Toll Brothers, Inc. decision has cast doubt on the
legality under Delaware law of so-called "dead-hand" provisions in many existing
shareholder rights plans. Although the opinion related to the denial of a motion
to dismiss an action challenging the "dead-hand" provision and not an opinion
addressing the actual validity of the provision under Delaware law, the Delaware
court stated that a "dead-hand" provision was open to challenge under Delaware
law on both statutory and fiduciary grounds. A so-called "dead-hand" provision
is a provision which provides that outstanding rights can only be redeemed by
"independent directors," which is generally defined to mean directors who were
members of the board at the time the Rights Agreement was adopted and any other
person who subsequently becomes a member of the board if such person's
nomination for election to the board was recommended or approved by a majority
of the independent directors. While the Company's Rights Agreement differs from
the plan considered in the Toll Brothers case, particularly as regards to the
"Independent Directors" provisions thereof, the Board of Directors believes the
disputed validity of these provisions under the Toll Brothers opinion warrants
action to amend the Rights Agreement. The Amended and Restated Rights Agreement
is attached hereto as an exhibit and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 2. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibit
1. Amended and Restated Rights Agreement.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
AeroCentury Corp.
Date: February 3, 1999
By: /s/ Neal D. Crispin
------------------------------------
Neal D. Crispin, President
Exhibits
Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibit
1. Amended and Restated Rights Agreement.
AEROCENTURY CORP.
and
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
as Rights Agent
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 8, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
Section 1. Certain Definitions........................................................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent................................................................6
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates...............................................................6
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates................................................................8
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration..........................................................8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates..............................................8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights..............................9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates........................................11
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock..............................................11
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date................................................................13
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights................13
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.................................21
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power......................22.....
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares...................................................25.....
Section 15. Rights of Action..........................................................................26.....
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders...............................................................26.....
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder........................................27.....
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent...............................................................27.....
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.................................28.....
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent....................................................................28.....
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent....................................................................31.....
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.......................................................31.....
Section 23. Redemption and Termination................................................................32.....
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events..................................................................33.....
Section 25. Notices...................................................................................34.....
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments................................................................34.....
Section 27. Successors................................................................................35.....
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.................................35.....
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement................................................................35.....
Section 30. Severability..............................................................................35.....
Section 31. Governing Law.............................................................................36.....
Section 32. Counterparts..............................................................................36.....
Section 33. Descriptive Headings......................................................................36.....
Section 34. Exchange..................................................................................36.....
Exhibit A Form of Rights A-1
Exhibit B Certificate.......................................................................Form B-1
Exhibit C of Summary of Rights C-1
Form of Summary of Rights........................................................................
Certificate of Designation.......................................................................
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of January __, 1998
(the "Agreement"), between AeroCentury Corp., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York
corporation (the "Rights Agent+).
WHEREAS, effective April 8, 1998 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"),
the Board of Directors of the Company (i) authorized and declared a dividend
distribution of one Right for each share of Common Stock, par value $.001 per
share, of the Company (the "Company Common Stock") outstanding at the Close of
Business on April 23, 1998 (the "Record Date"), and (ii) authorized the issuance
of one Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant hereto) for
each share of Company Common Stock issued between the Record Date (whether
originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) and, except as
otherwise provided in Section 22, the Distribution Date, each Right initially
representing the right to purchase upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth one Unit of Series A Preferred Stock (the "Rights"); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company and the Rights Agent have
determined that it is in the best interest of the Company and the holders of the
Company Common Stock to amend the Agreement with respect to the provisions
governing supplements and amendments to the Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together with
all Affiliates or Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) an "Acquiring Person" shall not include: (A)
the Company; (B) any Subsidiary of the Company; (C) any employee benefit plan
maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (D) any trustee or
fiduciary with respect to such employee benefit plan acting in such capacity or
a trustee or fiduciary holding shares of Company Common Stock for the purpose of
funding any such plan or employee benefits; (E) any Person who has reported or
is required to report such ownership on Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act (or
any comparable or successor report), but only so long as (x) such Person is
eligible to report such ownership on Schedule 13(G) under the Exchange Act (or
any comparable or successor report), (y) such Person has not reported and is not
required to report such ownership on Schedule 13(D) under the Exchange Act (or
any comparable or successor report), and (z) such Person does not beneficially
own 20% or more of the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding; (F) any
Person if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that
such Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" became such
inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (x) such Person was
unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of Company Common Stock that
would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person" or (y) such Person
was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock but
had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under
this Agreement) and without any intention of changing or influencing control of
the Company, and if such Person does not acquire any additional shares of
Company Common Stock and as promptly as practicable divested or divests itself
of Beneficial Ownership of a sufficient number of shares of Company Common Stock
so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person;" or (G) any Person
who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding shares
of Company Common Stock as a result of the acquisition of shares of Company
Common Stock directly from the Company in one or more transactions approved by a
majority of the Board of Directors, and (ii) no Person shall be deemed an
"Acquiring Person" as a result of the acquisition of shares of Company Common
Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Company Common
Stock outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares beneficially
owned by such Person; provided, however, that if (A) a Person would become an
Acquiring Person (but for the operation of this subclause (ii)) as a result of
the acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock by the Company and (B) after
such share acquisition by the Company, such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner
of any additional shares of Company Common Stock, then such Person shall be
deemed an Acquiring Person unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such
additional shares such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less than 15% of the
then outstanding shares of Company Common Stock. Each Person identified in
subclauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) of this Section (1)(a) is individually an
"Exempt Person" and collectively "Exempt Persons."
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed
to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in effect
on the date hereof.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be deemed
to have "Beneficial Ownership" of and to "beneficially own", any securities:
(i) of which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
is considered to be a "beneficial owner" under Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act (the "Exchange Act Regulations") as in
effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed
the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own", any securities under this
subparagraph (i) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to
vote such securities if such agreement, arrangement or understanding (A) arises
solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a public proxy or
consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
provisions of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations, and (B) is not
reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report);
(ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other
Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such other Person) with which such
Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as
described in the proviso to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (c)) or disposing
of such securities; or
(iii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates,
directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or upon the
satisfaction of conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;
provided, however, that under this paragraph (c) a Person shall not be
deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, or to
"beneficially own", (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer made in accordance with Exchange Act Regulations by such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are
accepted for purchase or exchange, (B) securities that may be issued upon
exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or
(C) securities that may be issued upon exercise of Rights from and after the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, which Rights were acquired by such Person or
any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or
pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or
pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made with
respect to any Original Rights; and further provided, however, that (x) nothing
in this paragraph (c) shall cause a Person engaged in business as an underwriter
of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any
securities acquired through such Person's participation in good faith in a firm
commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty days after the date of
such acquisition, (y) no decision reached, or action taken, by the Board of
Directors of the Company or any committee thereof shall cause any Person (or any
Affiliate or Associate of such Person) who is a member of the Board of Directors
of the Company or such committee to be deemed, for the purposes of this
Agreement, to be a Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially owned by any
other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person) who is a member of
the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof solely by reason
of such membership of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or
participation in the decisions or actions thereof on the part of either or both
of such Persons and (z) no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned" (as defined in this paragraph (c)), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director
or employee of an Exempt Person.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the city of San Francisco, California is
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., California
time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day
it shall mean 5:00 P.M., California time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" of any Person other than the Company shall mean the
capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or, if such Person
shall have no capital stock, the equity securities or other equity interest
having power to control or direct the management of such Person.
(g) "Company" means AeroCentury Corp., a Delaware corporation, and also
means a Principal Party to the extent provided in Section 13(a).
(h) "Company Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in the Whereas Clause.
(i) "Distribution Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
(j) "Expiration Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).
(k) "Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation,
association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, as well as any
syndicate or group deemed to be a person under Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act as in effect on the date hereof.
(l) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Preferred Stock, par value
$.001 per share, of the Company having the voting powers, designation,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and
qualifications, limitations and restrictions described in the Certificate of
Designation set forth as Exhibit C hereto and as amended from time to time.
(m) "Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
(n) "Record Date" has the meaning set forth in the Whereas Clause.
(o) "Right" has the meaning set forth in the Whereas Clause.
(p) "Rights Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
(q) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" has the meaning set forth in the
Whereas Clause.
(r) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean the event described in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(s) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause (x), (y) or
(z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(t) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (including, without limitation, the filing of any report pursuant
to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report)) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(u) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any other Person
of which an amount of voting securities or equity interests sufficient to elect
at least a majority of the directors or equivalent governing body of such other
Person is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or
otherwise controlled by such first-mentioned Person.
(v) "Summary of Rights" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).
(w) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
(x) "Unit" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
In addition, the following terms are defined in the Sections indicated
below:
Defined Term Section Number
Adjustment Shares 11(a)(ii)
Adjustment Spread 34(a)
common stock equivalents 11(a)(iii)
Current Value 11(a)(iii)
Depositary Agent 7(c)
Distribution Date 3(a)
Equivalent Preferred Stock 11(b)
Exchange Act 1(b)
Exchange Act Regulations 1(c)
Exchange Ratio 34(a)
Exempt Person 1(a)
Expiration Date 7(a)
Final Expiration Date 7(a)
Nasdaq 11(d)(i)
Original Rights 1(c)
Purchase Price 7(b)
Redemption Price 23(a)
Registered Common Stock 13(b)(ii)
Registration Date 9(c)
Registration Statement 9(c)
Rights Certificates 3(a)
Section 11(a)(ii) Event 11(a)(ii)(C)
Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date
11(a)(iii)
Section 13 Event 13(a)
Securities Act 9(c)
Spread 11(a)(iii)
Summary of Rights 3(b)
Trading Day 11(d)(i)
Unit 7(b)
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. With
the consent of the Rights Agent, the Company may from time to time appoint such
co-rights agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates. (a) Until the earlier of (i) the
Close of Business on the tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date,
and (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as
may be determined by action of a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Company prior to the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event) after the date
that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) is
first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a) of the
Exchange Act Regulations or any successor rule, if upon consummation thereof
such Person would be an Acquiring Person (including, in the case of both clause
(i) and (ii), any such date which is after the date of this Agreement and prior
to the issuance of the Rights)(the earlier of (i) and (ii) above being the
"Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for shares of
Company Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of shares of Company
Common Stock as of and subsequent to the Record Date (which certificates for
shares of Company Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for
Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of
Company Common Stock including a transfer to the Company; provided, however,
that if a tender or exchange offer is terminated prior to the occurrence of a
Distribution Date, then no Distribution Date shall occur as a result of such
tender or exchange offer. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date,
the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to
each record holder of shares of Company Common Stock as of the Close of Business
on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of
the Company, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the form of
Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each
share of Company Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of
Company Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof, at the time
of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company may make the necessary
and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof)
so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are
distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after
the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights
Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the Company will
send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, in substantially
the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class,
postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Company Common Stock as
of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown
on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for Company Common
Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the holders
thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or, if
earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any such
certificate for Company Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, with or
without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Company Common Stock represented thereby.
(c) Rights shall, without any further action, be issued in respect of all
shares of Company Common Stock which are issued (including any shares of Company
Common Stock held in treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of
the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date. Certificates, representing such
shares of Company Common Stock, issued after the Record Date shall bear the
following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between AeroCentury Corp. (the
"Company") and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the "Rights Agent")
dated as of April 8, 1998, as amended from time to time (the "Rights
Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and
a copy of which is on file at the principal office of the stock transfer
administration office of the Rights Agent. Under certain circumstances, as set
forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate
certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company
will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as
in effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of a
written request therefor. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN
ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH
PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER, MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
With respect to certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock
that bear the foregoing legend until the earlier of the Distribution Date and
the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the shares of Company Common
Stock represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates
alone and registered holders of the shares of Company Common Stock shall also be
the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any of such
certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with
the shares of Company Common Stock represented by such certificates.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates (and
the forms of election to purchase, assignment and certificate to be printed on
the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit A hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and
such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or any rule or
regulation thereunder or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed
or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22
hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the
Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such
number of Units of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price
set forth therein, but the amount and type of securities, cash or other assets
that may be acquired upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price
thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration . (a) Rights Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, the President or one
of its Vice Presidents under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by
its Secretary, Treasurer or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of
any of these officers on the Rights Certificates may be manual or facsimile.
Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of the
individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind
the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices prior to the countersignature of such Rights Certificates or
did not hold such offices at the date of such Rights Certificates. No Rights
Certificate shall be entitled to any benefit under this Agreement or be valid
for any purpose unless there appears on such Rights Certificate a
countersignature duly executed by the Rights Agent by manual signature of an
authorized signatory, and such countersignature upon any Rights Certificate
shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Rights
Certificate has been duly countersigned as required hereunder.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to
be kept, at its office designated for surrender of Rights Certificates upon
exercise or transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights
Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the name and address of
each holder of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its
face by each Rights Certificate and the date of each Rights Certificate.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates. (a)
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4, 7(e) and 14 hereof, at any time after
the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of
Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or
Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of Units
of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or
Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent,
and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred,
split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered
Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and executed
the certificate set forth in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights
represented by such Rights Certificate or Affiliates or Associates thereof as
the Company shall reasonably request; whereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject
to the provisions of Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver
to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as
the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights
Certificates.
(b) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, if a Rights Certificate shall be
mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, upon request by the registered holder of
the Rights represented thereby and upon payment to the Company and the Rights
Agent of all reasonable expenses incident thereto, there shall be issued, in
exchange for and upon cancellation of the mutilated Rights Certificate, or in
substitution for the lost, stolen or destroyed Rights Certificate, a new Rights
Certificate, in substantially the form of the prior Rights Certificate, of like
tenor and representing the equivalent number of Rights, but, in the case of
loss, theft or destruction, only upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the
Company and the Rights Agent of such loss, theft or destruction of such Rights
Certificate and, if requested by the Company or the Rights Agent, indemnity also
satisfactory to it.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) Prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth anniversary
hereof (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof and (iii) the time at which the Rights
are exchanged as provided in Section 34 hereof (the earlier of (i), (ii) and
(iii) being the "Expiration Date"), the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may, subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e) and 9(c) hereof,
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby, in whole or in part, at any time after
the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly
executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price (as
hereinafter defined) for the number of Units of Preferred Stock (or, following a
Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be)
for which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable.
(b) The purchase price for each one one-hundredth of a share (each such one
one-hundredth of a share being a "Unit") of Preferred Stock upon exercise of
Rights shall be $66.00, subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof (such purchase price, as so adjusted, being the
"Purchase Price"), and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) As promptly as practicable following the occurrence of the Distribution
Date, the Company shall deposit with the Rights Agent or other corporation in
good standing organized under the laws of the United States or any State of the
United States, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal
or state authority (such institution being the "Depositary Agent"), certificates
representing the shares of Preferred Stock that may be acquired upon exercise of
the Rights and shall cause such Depositary Agent to enter into an agreement
pursuant to which the Depositary Agent shall issue receipts representing
interests in the shares of Preferred Stock so deposited. Upon receipt of a
Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to
purchase and the certificate duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect
to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price for the Units of Preferred
Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets,
as the case may be) to be purchased thereby as set forth below and an amount
equal to any applicable transfer tax or evidence satisfactory to the Company of
payment of such tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof,
thereupon promptly (i) requisition from the Depositary Agent depositary receipts
representing such number of Units of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased and
the Company will direct the Depositary Agent to comply with such request, (ii)
requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of
fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of
such depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of
the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or
names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof,
deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Rights Certificate. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue Company
Common Stock, other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other
property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all
arrangements necessary so that such Company Common Stock, other securities, cash
and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and
when appropriate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be
reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made in cash or by
certified or bank check or money order payable to the order of the Company.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise
less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing
the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and
delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and
after the first occurrence of any Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) which becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) which becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and which receives such Rights pursuant to
either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring
Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity interests in
such Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) or to any Person with
whom the Acquiring Person (or such Associate or Affiliate) has any continuing
agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights, shares
of Company Common Stock or the Company or (B) a transfer which the Board of
Directors has determined to be part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e),
shall be null and void without any further action, and no holder of such Rights
shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any
provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable
efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) hereof are complied
with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights or any other Person as
a result of its failure to make any determination under this Section 7(e) with
respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Rights Certificate to
the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of
any purported exercise by such registered holder unless such registered holder
shall have (i) completed and executed the certificate following the form of
election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights
represented by such Rights Certificate or Affiliates or Associates thereof as
the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All Rights
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation
and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any Rights
Certificates acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof.
The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company,
or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights
Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. (a) The Company
shall at all times prior to the Expiration Date cause to be reserved and kept
available, out of its authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock, the
number of shares of Preferred Stock that, as provided in this Agreement, will be
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights. Upon the
occurrence of any events resulting in an increase in the aggregate number of
shares of Preferred Stock (or other equity securities of the Company) issuable
upon exercise of all outstanding Rights above the number then reserved, the
Company shall make appropriate increases in the number of shares so reserved to
the extent practicable.
(b) If the shares of Preferred Stock to be issued and delivered upon the
exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange or
automated quotation system, the Company shall during the period from the
Distribution Date through the Expiration Date use its best efforts to cause all
securities reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon
official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts (i) as soon as practicable
following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and a determination by the
Company in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii) hereof of the consideration to be
delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights or, if so required by law,
as soon as practicable following the Distribution Date (such date being the
"Registration Date"), to file a registration statement on an appropriate form
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with
respect to the securities that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights (the
"Registration Statement"), (ii) to cause the Registration Statement to become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing, (iii) to cause the
Registration Statement to continue to be effective (and to include a prospectus
complying with the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A)
the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for the securities
covered by the Registration Statement, and (B) the Expiration Date and (iv) to
take as soon as practicable following the Registration Date such action as may
be required to ensure that any acquisition of securities upon exercise of the
Rights complies with any applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws. The
Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed one hundred
twenty (120) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence
of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and
file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. In addition,
if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is required
following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the
exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has
been declared effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the
exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law or a registration
statement shall not have been declared effective.
(d) The Company shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure that
all shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering
Event, any other securities that may be delivered upon exercise of Rights) shall
be, at the time of delivery of the certificates or depositary receipts for such
securities (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), duly and validly
authorized and issued and fully paid and non-assessable.
(e) The Company shall pay any documentary, stamp or transfer tax imposed in
connection with the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or upon the
exercise of Rights; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to pay
any such tax imposed in connection with the issuance or delivery of Units of
Preferred Stock, or any certificates or depositary receipts for such Units of
Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, any other
securities, cash or assets, as the case may be) to any person other than the
registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing the Rights surrendered
for exercise. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any
certificates or depositary receipts for Units of Preferred Stock (or, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, any other securities, cash or assets, as
the case may be) to, or in a name other than that of, the registered holder upon
the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax
being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender)
or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax
is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate or depositary receipt for Units of Preferred Stock (or, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, other securities) is issued upon the
exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of
record of the Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, other securities) represented thereby on, and such certificate
shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such
Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any
applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such
surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, other securities) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such securities on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding
Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, other securities) transfer books of the Company are open and,
further provided, however, that if delivery of Units of Preferred Stock is
delayed pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof, such Persons shall be deemed to have
become the record holders of such Units of Preferred Stock only when such Units
first become deliverable. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby,
the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a
stockholder of the Company with respect to securities for which the Rights shall
be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall
not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except
as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of securities
purchasable upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of
Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the
outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any
shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock
(including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or
merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except
as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect at the
time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares
of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date
upon exercise of the Rights, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the
holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon
payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of
shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such
Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date, such holder would have
owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that
in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be
less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issuable upon the exercise of one Right. If an event occurs which would require
an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the
adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and
shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof.
(ii) In the event any Person shall become an Acquiring Person, other than
pursuant to any transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, then, immediately
upon the occurrence of such event (a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), proper
provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below
and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall, subject to Section 34 hereof, thereafter have
the right to receive, upon exercise of such Right at the then current Purchase
Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of the number of
Units of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (whether or not such Right was
then exercisable), such number of Units of Preferred Stock as shall equal the
result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then
number of Units of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (whether or not such
Right was then exercisable) (such product thereafter being, for all purposes of
this Agreement, other than Section 13 hereof, the "Purchase Price"), and (y)
dividing that product by 50% of the then current market price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Unit of Preferred Stock on the date of
such first occurrence (such Units of Preferred Stock being the "Adjustment
Shares"); provided, however, that the Purchase Price and the number of Units of
Preferred Stock so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall, following the
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in
accordance with Section 11 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Rights
shall not be exercisable pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii) until the time
period during which the Rights may be redeemed pursuant to Section 23 hereof
shall have expired.
(iii) The Company, by the vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, may
at its option substitute for a Unit of Preferred Stock issuable upon the
exercise of Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), shares of
Company Common Stock or fractions thereof having a current market price (as
determined by Section 11(d) hereof) equal to the current market price of a Unit
of Preferred Stock on the date of the Section 11(a)(ii) Event. In the event that
the number of shares of Preferred Stock which are authorized by the Company's
Restated Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for
issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient
to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company, by the vote of a majority
of the Board of Directors, shall to the extent permitted by applicable law and
any material agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party or by
which it is bound: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment
Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the
Purchase Price (such excess being the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each
Right (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section 7(e)), make
adequate provision to substitute, in whole or in part, for such Adjustment
Shares, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price,
(1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) shares of Company Common
Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation,
shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock (such other shares being "common
stock equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or
(6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value which, when
added to the value of the Units of Preferred Stock actually issued upon exercise
of such Right, shall have an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less
the amount of any reduction in such Purchase Price), where such aggregate value
has been determined by a majority of the Board of Directors, after receiving
advice from a nationally recognized investment banking firm; provided, however,
that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value
pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty days following the later of (x) the
first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of
(x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date"),
then, subject to Section 34 hereof, the Company shall be obligated (to the
extent permitted by applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to
which the Company is a party or by which it is bound) to deliver, upon the
surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase
Price, Units of Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and then, if
necessary, shares (or fractions of shares, at the discretion of the Board) of
Company Common Stock, cash or a combination thereof, which Units of Preferred
Stock, shares (or fractions of shares) of Company Common Stock and/or cash shall
have an aggregate value equal to the Spread; further provided, however, that if
the Company is unable to comply with the immediately foregoing provision within
such thirty day period, then the Company shall (to the extent permitted by law)
take all such action as may be necessary to comply with such provision,
including the calling of a meeting of stockholders to authorize additional
shares of Preferred Stock or Company Common Stock. To the extent that the
Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first sentence
of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company shall provide, subject to Section 7(e)
hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights. For
purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of a Unit of Preferred Stock or
share of Company Common Stock shall be the current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Unit of Preferred Stock or share of
Company Common Stock, as the case may be, on the Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date
and the value of any common stock equivalent shall be deemed to have the same
value as the Preferred Stock on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights,
options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five calendar days
after such record date) shares of Preferred Stock (or shares having
substantially the same rights, privileges and preferences as shares of Preferred
Stock ("Equivalent Preferred Stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred
Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share,
if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock)
less than the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section l1(d)
hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to
be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the sum of the number of shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares of Preferred
Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of
Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such
record date plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or
Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into
which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In
case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or
all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration
shall be as determined in good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company or any
Subsidiary shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such
computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record
date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so
issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to all
holders of shares of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend paid out of funds legally available therefor),
assets (other than a dividend payable in shares of Preferred Stock, but
including any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or
subscription rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section
11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall
be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current
market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of
Preferred Stock on such record date less the fair market value (as determined in
good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
Rights Agent and the holder of the Rights) of the cash, assets or evidences of
indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights, options or
warrants distributable in respect of a share of Preferred Stock and the
denominator of which shall be such current market price (as determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be
made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that
such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current market
price" per share of Company Common Stock or Common Stock on any date shall be
deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such shares
for the ten consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined)
immediately prior to such date; provided, however, if prior to the expiration of
such requisite ten Trading Day period the issuer announces either (A) a dividend
or distribution on such shares payable in such shares or securities convertible
into such shares (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such shares, then, following the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or the record date for such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, as the case may be, the "current market price" shall be
properly adjusted to take into account such event. The closing price for each
day shall be, if the shares are listed and admitted to trading on a national
securities exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which such shares are listed or admitted to trading or,
if such shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the
Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq") or such other system then in use, or, if on
any such date such shares are not quoted by any such organization, the average
of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in such shares selected by a majority of the Board of Directors.
If on any such date no market maker is making a market in such shares, the fair
value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by a majority of
the Board of Directors shall be used. If such shares are not publicly held or
not so listed or traded, "current market price" per share shall mean the fair
value per share as determined in good faith by a majority of the Board of
Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. The term "Trading Day"
shall mean, if such shares are listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, a day on which the principal national securities exchange
on which such shares are listed or admitted to trading is open for the
transaction of business or, if such shares are not so listed or admitted, a
Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current market
price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the same manner as
set forth above for Company Common Stock in clause (i) of this Section 11(d)
(other than the fourth sentence thereof). If the current market price per share
of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the
Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described
in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the "current market price" per share of
Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 100 (as
such amount may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock
dividends and recapitalizations with respect to Company Common Stock occurring
after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the current market price per
share of Company Common Stock. If neither Company Common Stock nor Preferred
Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, "current market price" per share
of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good
faith by a majority of the Board of Directors whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. For all purposes of this Agreement,
the "current market price" of a Unit of Preferred Stock shall be equal to the
"current market price" of one share of Preferred Stock divided by 100.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the
Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase Price; provided, however,
that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to
be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent
adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest
cent or to the nearest one-hundredth of a share of Company Common Stock or
Common Stock or other share or ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, as
the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier
of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which mandates such
adjustment and (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) or
13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled
to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred Stock, thereafter
the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right and the
Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a
manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with
respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (d), (e),
(g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10,
13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms
to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Units of Preferred Stock
(or other securities or amount of cash or combination thereof) that may be
acquired from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to
further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in
Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately
prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of Units of Preferred
Stock (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a Unit) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of Units of Preferred Stock covered by a Right
immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the
product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in the
number of Units of Preferred Stock that may be acquired upon the exercise of a
Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of
Rights shall be exercisable for the number of Units of Preferred Stock for which
a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of
record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number
of Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase
Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the
Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to
adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and,
if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date
may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter,
but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten days
later than the date of such public announcement. If Rights Certificates have
been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this
Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be
distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date
Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional
Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment,
or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders
of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by
such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if
required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to
which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates
to be so distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner
provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted
Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of
Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the
number of Units of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the
Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express
the Purchase Price per Unit and the number of Units of Preferred Stock which
were expressed in the Initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the
Purchase Price below the then par value of the number of Units of Preferred
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate
action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the
Company may validly and legally issue such fully paid and non-assessable number
of Units of Preferred Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(1) 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 of that
number of Units of Preferred Stock and shares of other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above
the number of Units of Preferred Stock and shares of other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of
the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that
the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate
instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional shares
(fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that in their good faith judgment a majority of the Board of
Directors shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or
subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares
of Preferred Stock at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly
for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, (iv) stock
dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this
Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock,
shall not be taxable to such holders or shall reduce the taxes payable by such
holders.
(n) The Company shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i)
consolidate with any other Person (other than a wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge
with or into any other Person (other than a wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii)
sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one
transaction, or a series of transactions, assets or earning power aggregating
more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or
any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with
Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such
consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other
instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale, the Person which constitutes, or would
constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall
have distributed or otherwise transferred to its shareholders or other persons
holding an equity interest in such Person Rights previously owned by such Person
or any of its Affiliates and Associates; provided, however, this Section 11(n)
shall not affect the ability of any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to
consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell or transfer assets or earning
power to, any other wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company.
(o) After the Distribution Date, the Company shall not, except as permitted
by Section 23, Section 26 or Section 34 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary
to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably
foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration
Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock payable in shares of Company Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, (iii)
combine the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares, or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of
Company Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving
corporation), the number of Rights associated with each share of Company Common
Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter prior to the
Distribution Date or in accordance with Section 22 hereof, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Company Common Stock following any such event shall equal the
result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share
of Company Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the
numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Company Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator
of which shall be the total number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding
immediately following the occurrence of such event.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Preferred Stock and the Company Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and
(c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing
shares of Company Common Stock) in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights
Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any
adjustment therein contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power. (a) In the event that, following the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, directly or indirectly, either (x) the Company shall
consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a wholly
owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a wholly
owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which compiles with Section
11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the Company, and
the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or merger,
all or part of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock shall be changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of the Company or any other
Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise
transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer)
to any Person or Persons (other than the Company or any of its wholly owned
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating
50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) (any such event being a "Section 13 Event"), then, and in
each such case, proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a
Right, (other than Rights which have become void as provided in Section 7(e)
hereof), shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof
at the then current Purchase Price, in accordance with this Agreement and in
lieu of Units of Preferred Stock or shares of Company Common Stock, such number
of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely
tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is
hereinafter defined), which shares shall not be subject to any liens,
encumbrances, rights of call or first refusal, transfer restrictions or other
adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the
then current Purchase Price by the number of Units of Preferred Stock for which
a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such Units for which
a Right would be exercisable hereunder but for the occurrence of such Section
11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price which would be in effect hereunder but for
such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that product (which, following the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be the "Purchase Price" for all purposes
of this Agreement) by 50% of the current marke't price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on
the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event, provided, however, that the
Purchase Price (as theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof) and the number of shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party so
receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as
appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof to reflect any events
occurring in respect of the Common Stock of such Principal Party after the
occurrence of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter
be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the
obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term
"Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party in all
respects; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock
in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with the consummation of any
such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions of this
Agreement shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in
relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise
of the Rights, to its shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that, upon the
subsequent occurrence of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially
all of the assets, recapitalization, reclassification of shares, reorganization
or other extraordinary transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each
holder of a Right shall thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a
Right and payment of the Purchase Price, such cash, shares, rights, warrants and
other property which such holder would have been entitled to receive had it, at
the time of such transaction, owned the shares of Common Stock of the Principal
Party purchasable upon the exercise of a Right, and such Principal Party shall
take such steps (including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock)
as may be necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in
accordance with the terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and
other property; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of
no further effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party"shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a), (A) the Person that is the issuer of any
securities into which shares of Company Common Stock are converted in such
merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer
of Common Stock that has the highest aggregate current market price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) and (B) if no securities are so issued, the
Person that is the other party to such merger or consolidation, or, if there is
more than one such Person, the Person the Common Stock of which has the highest
aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof);
and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the first
sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving the
largest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such
transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning
power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions or if the Person
receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power cannot be
determined, whichever Person the Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate
current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof); provided,
however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at
such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve-month period
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act ("Registered Common Stock"), or
such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of another Person that has Registered Common Stock outstanding,
"Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) if the Common Stock of
such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation,
and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person but is not
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person which has Registered Common
Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to the ultimate parent entity
of such first-mentioned Person; (3) if the Common Stock of such Person is not
Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is
directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and one or more of
such other Persons has Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party"
shall refer to whichever of such other Persons is the issuer of the Registered
Common Stock having the highest aggregate current market price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof); and (4) if the Common Stock of such Person is
not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person
is directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and none of such
other Persons have Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall
refer to whichever ultimate parent entity is the corporation having the greatest
shareholders equity or, if no such ultimate parent entity is a corporation,
shall refer to whichever ultimate parent entity is the entity having the
greatest net assets
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale
or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for
issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this
Section 13, and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13
and further providing that the Principal Party, at its own expense, shall:
(i) (A) file on an appropriate form, as soon as practicable following the
execution of such agreement, a registration statement under the Securities Act
with respect to the Common Stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the
Rights, (B) cause such registration statement to remain effective (and to
include a prospectus complying with the requirements of the Securities Act)
until the Expiration Date, and (C) as soon as practicable following the
execution of such agreement, take such action as may be required to assure that
any acquisition of such Common Stock upon the exercise of the Rights complies
with any applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws; and
(ii) as soon as practicable following the execution of such agreement,
deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the
Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
(d) In case the Principal Party which is to be a party to a transaction
referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or other instrument
governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i)
causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of
Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then current market price
per share (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock of such Principal Party at
less than such then current market price (other than to holders of Rights
pursuant to this Section 13) or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or
similar provisions in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such
Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of this Section 13; then, in such
event, the Company shall not consummate any such transaction unless prior
thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered
to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the provision in
question of such Principal Party shall have been cancelled, waived or amended,
or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable
provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence of, the
consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a
Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall
thereafter become exercisable, in the manner and for the securities described in
Section 13(a).
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) The Company shall
not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Rights
Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of issuing such
fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the Persons to which such fractional
Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to such fraction of
the market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall
be, if the Rights are listed or admitted to trading on a national securities
exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by a majority
of the Board of Directors. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors shall be used and such
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
the holders of the Rights.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence such fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a
share of Preferred Stock); provided, however, that in lieu of fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a
share of Preferred Stock, the Company may provide for the issuance of depositary
receipts pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof. In lieu of such fractional shares of
Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share,
the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the then current market price of a share of Preferred Stock on the
day of exercise, determined in accordance with Section 11(d) hereof.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly waives
his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, other than rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant to
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of
certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock); and any registered
holder of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of a
certificate representing shares of Company Common Stock), without the consent of
the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of a certificate representing shares of Company Common
Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company or any
other Person to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise
the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of Company Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable
only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office of
the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a
proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates
duly executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Company Common Stock
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Company Common Stock certificate made by
anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever,
and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7 (e) hereof, shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the
Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a Right
or any other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree 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, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as promptly as practicable.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder,
as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of shares of Preferred
Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable
on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained
herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of
any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the
Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter
submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent
to any corporate action, or, except as provided in Section 24 hereof, to receive
notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders, or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance
with the provisions hereof. This Section 17 shall also apply to holders, as
such, of Rights prior to the issuance of Rights Certificates.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. (a) The Company agrees to pay to
the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements of its counsel, incurred
in connection with the execution and administration of this Agreement and the
exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company shall indemnify
the Rights Agent for, and hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or
expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on
the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent
in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement,
including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability hereunder.
(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 Rights Certificate or
certificate for Preferred Stock or for other securities of the Company,
instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit,
letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged by the proper Person or Persons.
(c) The indemnity provided herein shall survive the expiration of the
Rights and the termination of this Agreement. In no case will the Rights Agent
be liable for special, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of
any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the
Rights Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damage.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. (a)
Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from
any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust or
shareholder services businesses of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without
the execution or filing of any document or any further act on the part of any of
the parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would be eligible
for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time
any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in
its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the
full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of "current market price") be proved or established by the Company
prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be specified herein) may be deemed to be
conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the
Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of
the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; provided, however, that so long
as any Person is an Acquiring Person hereunder, such certificate shall be signed
and delivered by a majority of the Board of Directors; and such certificate
shall be full authorization 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 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 Rights
Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not have any responsibility for the validity of
this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution
hereof by the Rights Agent) or for the validity or execution of any Rights
Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible
for any breach by the Company of any covenant or failure by the Company to
satisfy conditions contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor
shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 11 or Section 13 hereof or for the manner, method or amount of any such
adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any
such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Rights Certificates after receipt by the Rights Agent of the certificate
describing any such adjustment contemplated by Section 12); nor shall it by any
act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Preferred Stock or any other
securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or
as to whether any shares of Preferred Stock or any other securities will, when
so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(f) The Company shall perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to
be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further acts,
instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for
the performance by the Rights Agent of its duties under this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice
President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any
Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
instructions of any such officer; provided, however, that so long as any Person
is an Acquiring Person hereunder, the Rights Agent shall accept such
instructions and advice only from a majority of the Board of Directors and shall
not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith
in accordance with such instructions of the majority of the Board of Directors.
Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company
may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed
to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement and the
date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be
effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken 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 than five Business Days after the date any such officer of the
Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have
consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action
(or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have
received written instructions in response to such application specifying the
action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of
the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities
of the Company or have a pecuniary interest in any transaction in which the
Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or
otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this
Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any
other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through
its attorneys or agents.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of its rights hereunder if
the Rights Agent shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of
such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed, not signed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1
and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with
respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the
Company. If such certificate has been completed and signed and shows a negative
response to clauses 1 and 2 of such certificate, unless previously instructed
otherwise in writing by the Company (which instructions may impose on the Rights
Agent additional ministerial responsibilities, but no discretionary
responsibilities), the Rights Agent may assume without further inquiry that the
Rights Certificate is not owned by a Person described in Section 7(e) hereof and
shall not be charged with any knowledge to the contrary.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty days' prior notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each
transfer agent of the Preferred Stock and the Company Common Stock, by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by
first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent upon thirty days' prior notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent
of the Preferred Stock and the Company Common Stock, by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the
Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the
Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty days after
giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by
the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of
any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed
by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States or any state of the United
States in good standing, shall be authorized under applicable laws to exercise
corporate trust or stock transfer powers and shall be subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authorities or (b) an Affiliate of a corporation
described in clause (a). After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be
vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had
been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Preferred Stock and the Company Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give
any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein,
shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the
Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at
its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may
be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or
change made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement in the Purchase
Price or the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property
that may be acquired under the Rights Certificates. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Company Common Stock following the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with
respect to shares of Company Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the
exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the
Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by a
majority of the Board of Directors, issue Rights Certificates representing the
appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided,
however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the
extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would
create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or
the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination. (a) Subject to Section 30 hereof,
the Company may, at its option, by action of a majority of the Board of
Directors, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the
tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the Final
Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights
at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being the "Redemption
Price"). The Company may, at its option, by action of a majority of the Board of
Directors, pay the Redemption Price either in shares of Company Common Stock
(based on the "current market price", as defined in Section 11(d) hereof, of the
shares of Company Common Stock at the time of redemption) or cash and the
redemption of the Rights shall be effective on the basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors may in its sole discretion establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of a majority of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall be filed with the
Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any notice, the right
to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the
holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so
held. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption;
provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice
shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Promptly after the action of a
majority of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the
Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders
of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at
each holder's last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights
Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer
agent for the Company Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events. (a) In case the Company shall
propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any
other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend paid out of funds legally available therefor), (ii) to
offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or
to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any
class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving
only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect
any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person, or to effect any sale
or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any
sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to any other Person or Persons (other than a transfer by the Company and/or any
of its wholly owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company
shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in
accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall
specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of
rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation,
merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place
and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the
case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days
prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action
or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock whichever shall be the earlier; provided, however, no such notice shall be
required pursuant to this Section 24, if any wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company effects a consolidation or merger with or into, or effects a sale or
other transfer of assets or earnings power to, any other wholly owned Subsidiary
of the Company.
(b) In case any Triggering Event shall occur, then, in any such case, (i)
the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a
Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25
hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event
and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii)
or Section 13 hereof, as the case may be.
Section 25. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
hereunder shall, unless otherwise stated herein, be in writing (including by
telex, telegram or cable) and mailed or sent or delivered, if to the Company, at
its address at:
AeroCentury Corp.
1440 Chapin Avenue
Suite 310
Burlingame, CA 94010
Attention: President
and if to the Rights Agent, at its address at:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
Two Broadway
New York, NY 10004
Attention: Compliance Department
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Company Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date and
subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 26, the Company and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision
of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of
certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock. From and after the
Distribution Date and subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 26,
the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates
in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or
(iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the
Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, however, that
this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to
clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) subject to Section 30 hereof, a time period
relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not
then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is for the
purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the
benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an
appropriate officer of the Company or, so long as any Person is an Acquiring
Person hereunder, from the majority of the Board of Directors which states that
the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this
Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no
supplement or amendment shall be made without the approval of the Board of
Directors. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Company
Common Stock.
Section 27. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement
by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. For
all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Company Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes
of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in
accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Exchange Act
Regulations as in effect on the date hereof. Except as otherwise specifically
provided herein, the Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive
power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and
powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power (i) to interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) to make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement. All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
in good faith shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board or any member thereof to any liability to the holders of the
Rights.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of shares of Company Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of shares of Company Common Stock).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and a majority of the
Board of Directors determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement and the Rights shall not then be redeemable, the right
of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not
expire until the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day following the date
of such determination by a majority of the Board of Directors.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts executed in and
to be performed entirely in such State.
Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed (including by
facsimile) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement
are for descriptive purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 34. Exchange. (a) The Company, upon resolution of a majority of the
Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time after the first occurrence of
a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) for Units of Preferred Stock or shares of
Company Common Stock (at the election of the Board of Directors) at an exchange
ratio of one Unit of Preferred Stock or one share of Company Common Stock, as
the case may be, per Right, as appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof
(such exchange ratio being the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any
time after any Person (other than an Exempt Person), together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of shares
of Company Common Stock aggregating 50% or more of the shares of Company Common
Stock then outstanding. From and after the occurrence of a Section 13(a) Event,
any Rights that theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section
34(a) shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and may
not be exchanged pursuant to this Section 34(a). The exchange of the Rights by
the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and
with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of a majority of the Board of Directors
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 34(a) and without any
further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall
terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to
receive that number of Units of Preferred Stock or shares of Company Common
Stock, as the case may be, equal to the number of such Rights held by such
holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public
notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any
defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The
Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders
of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of
the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall
be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice
of exchange shall state the method by which the exchange of Units of Preferred
Stock or shares of Company Common Stock, as the case may be, for Rights will be
effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which
will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the
number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that the number of shares of Preferred Stock or Company
Common Stock, as the case may be, which are authorized by the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for
purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit any
exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 34, the
Company, upon a resolution of a majority of the Board of Directors, shall take
all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Preferred
Stock or Company Common Stock, as the case may be, for issuance upon exchange of
the Rights or make adequate provision to substitute, in whole or in part, (1)
cash, (2) other equity securities of the Company, (3) debt securities of the
Company, (4) other assets, or (5) any combination of the foregoing, having an
aggregate value for each Right to be exchanged equal to the per share market
price of one Unit of Preferred Stock or share of Company Common Stock, as the
case may be (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) as of the date of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, where such aggregate value has been determined by a
majority of the Board of Directors.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Units of
Preferred Stock or fractions of shares of Company Common Stock or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional Units or fractional shares. In lieu of
issuing fractional Units or fractional shares, the Company may pay to the
registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exchanged
as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current
market
price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of one Unit of
Preferred Stock or one share of Company Common Stock, as the case may be, on the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section
34.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
AeroCentury Corp.
By: /s/ Neal D. Crispin By: /s/ Toni M. Perazzo
---------------------- -------------------
Neal D. Crispin Toni M. Perazzo
President Secretary
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
By: /s/ Roger Bernhammer By: /s/ Steven Nelson
--------------------------- -------------------
Roger Bernhammer Steven Nelson
Vice President Secretary