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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
EXCITE, INC.
------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 77-0378215
- ---------------------------------------- ------------------
(State of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification no.)
555 Broadway
Redwood City, California 94063
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
If this Form relates to the If this Form relates to the
registration of a class of securities registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act and is effective Exchange Act and is effective
pursuant to General Instruction pursuant to General Instruction
A.(c), please check the following A.(d), please check the following
box. [ ] box. [x]
Securities to be registered pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Act: None.
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class)
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Item 1: Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered:
On September 24, 1998, the Board of Directors of Excite, Inc.
(the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share
(the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable to stockholders
of record on October 30, 1998 (the "Record Date"). In addition, one Right shall
be issued with each Common Share that becomes outstanding (i) between the Record
Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the
Final Expiration Date (as such terms are defined in the Agreement) or (ii)
following the Distribution Date and prior to the Redemption Date or Final
Expiration Date, pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee
plan or arrangement or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of other
securities of the Company, which options or securities were outstanding prior to
the Distribution Date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase
from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series F Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the
Company, at a price of $175.00 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the
"Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and BankBoston, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement or disclosure that a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons (an "Acquiring Person"), has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the outstanding Common Shares or (ii) 10 business days (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors), following the
announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring
Person (the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the
Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Stock certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificates with a copy
of a Summary of Rights attached thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no
Person shall become an Acquiring Person if the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an Acquiring
Person has become such inadvertently, and such Person as promptly as practicable
takes such actions as may be necessary so that such Person would no longer be
considered an Acquiring Person and (ii) any person or group of affiliated or
associated persons who or which held beneficial ownership of 5% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares as of September 24, 1998 will not be deemed to be an
Acquiring Person unless and until such person or group of affiliated or
associated persons hold beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the then
outstanding Common Shares.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution
Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until
the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new
Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date, upon transfer or new
issuance of Common Shares, will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a
copy of the Summary of Rights being attached
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thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following
the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of
the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire on October 15, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless
the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed
or exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a
price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price,
less than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon
the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are
also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on the Common Shares
payable in Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the
Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will
not be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a quarterly dividend
payment of 1,000 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of
liquidation, each Preferred Share will be entitled to a $10.00 preference, and
thereafter the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to an aggregate
payment of 1,000 times the aggregate payment made per Common Share. Each
Preferred Share will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Shares.
Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive
1,000 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by
customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a
Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one Common Share.
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person,
unless the event causing the Designated Percentage threshold to be crossed and
the Person to thereby become an Acquiring Person is a merger or acquisition
described in the next paragraph, each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be void), will
thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares
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having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right on the terms
and conditions set forth in the Rights Agreement. If the Company does not have
authorized but unissued Common Shares sufficient to satisfy such obligation to
issue Common Shares, the Company is obligated to deliver upon payment of the
exercise price of a Right an amount of cash or other securities equivalent in
value to the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of a Right.
In the event that any person or group becomes an Acquiring
Person and the Company merges into or engages in certain other business
combination transactions with an Acquiring Person or 50% or more of its
consolidated assets or earning power are sold to an Acquiring Person, each
holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person,
will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of
the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market
value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become
void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or of a share of a class or series of the
Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges),
per Right (subject to adjustment).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least
1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other
than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository
receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.
At any time prior to such time as a person or group becomes an
Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in
whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the "Redemption Price").
The redemption of the Rights 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. After the period for redemption of the Rights has expired, the Board
may not amend the Rights Agreement to extend the period for redemption of the
Rights. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the
Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by a resolution of the
Board of Directors without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that
from and after such time as a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, no
such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights
(other than an Acquiring Person).
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends.
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As of September 30, 1998, there were approximately 51.5
million of the Company's Common Shares outstanding. Each Common Share
outstanding at the close of business on October 30, 1998 will receive one Right.
As long as the Rights are attached to the Common Shares, one additional Right
shall be deemed to be delivered for each Common Share issued or transferred by
the Company in the future, including but not limited to Common Shares issuable
upon exercise of options granted by the Company. Two hundred and fifty thousand
Preferred Shares are initially reserved for issuance upon exercise of the
Rights, such number to be subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance
with the Rights Agreement.
The Rights Agreement, which specifies the terms of the Rights
and which includes as exhibits thereto the form of Certificate of Designations
of Series F Junior Participating Preferred Stock, the Form of Right Certificate
and the form of Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, is filed as
Exhibit 4.03 hereto. A copy of the Certificate of Designations of Series F
Junior Participating Preferred Stock as filed with the Delaware Secretary of
State, which specifies the terms of the Preferred Shares, is filed as Exhibit
3.04 hereto. The aforementioned exhibits hereto are incorporated herein by
reference, and the foregoing description of the Rights and Preferred Shares is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibits.
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Item 2: Exhibits
3.01 Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant.
3.02 Bylaws of Registrant.
3.03 Certificate of Designation specifying the rights,
preferences and privileges of the Series E-3
Preferred Stock of Registrant.
3.04 Certificate of Designation specifying the rights,
preferences and privileges of the Series F Junior
Participating Preferred Stock of Registrant (Attached
as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.03).
4.01 Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (Previously
filed with the Commission on March 29, 1996, as an
exhibit to Amendment No.1 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No.
333-2328-LA)).
4.02 Specimen of Right Certificate (Attached as Exhibit B
to 4.03).
4.03 Rights Agreement dated October 15, 1998 between
Registrant and BankBoston, as Rights Agent, which
includes as Exhibit A the form of Certificate of
Designations of Series F Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, as Exhibit B the Form of Right
Certificate and as Exhibit C the Summary of Rights to
Purchase Preferred Shares. The Right Certificates
will not be distributed until after the Distribution
Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement).
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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.
Dated: October 22, 1998
EXCITE, INC.
By:/s/ Robert C. Hood
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Robert C. Hood
Executive Vice President, Chief
Administrative Officer and Chief
Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
3.01 Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant.
3.02 Bylaws of Registrant.
3.03 Certificate of Designation specifying the rights, preferences and
privileges of the Series E-3 Preferred Stock of Registrant.
3.04 Certificate of Designation specifying the rights, preferences and
privileges of the Series F Junior Participating Preferred Stock of
Registrant (Attached as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.03).
4.01 Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (Previously filed with the
Commission on March 29, 1996, as an exhibit to Amendment No.1 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No.
333-2328-LA)).
4.02 Specimen of Rights Certificate (Attached as Exhibit B to Exhibit 4.03).
4.03 Rights Agreement dated October 15, 1998 between Registrant and
BankBoston, as Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A the form of
Certificate of Designations of Series F Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, as Exhibit B the Form of Right Certificate and as Exhibit C the
Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares. The Right Certificates
will not be distributed until after the Distribution Date (as such term
is defined in the Rights Agreement).
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Exhibit 3.01
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
EXCITE, INC.
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation is Excite, Inc.
ARTICLE II
The address of the registered office of the corporation in the State of
Delaware is 1013 Centre Road, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name
of its registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE III
The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE IV
The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the
corporation has authority to issue is one hundred four million (104,000,000)
shares, consisting of two classes: one hundred million (100,000,000) shares of
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, and four million (4,000,000) shares of
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share.
The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations
prescribed by the law of the State of Delaware, to provide for the issuance of
the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and, by filing a
Certificate of Designation pursuant to the applicable law of the State of
Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in
each such series, to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the
shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series
(but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding). The number
of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may also be increased or decreased (but
not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the stock of the corporation entitled to vote,
unless a vote of any other holders is required pursuant to a Certificate or
Certificates establishing a series of Preferred Stock.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in any Certificate of
Designation designating any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this Article IV, any new series of Preferred Stock may be
designated, fixed and determined as provided herein by the Board of Directors
without approval of the holders of Common Stock or the holders of Preferred
Stock, or any series thereof, and any such new series may have powers,
preferences and rights, including, without limitation, voting rights, dividend
rights, liquidation rights, redemption rights and
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conversion rights, senior to, junior to or pari passu with the rights of the
Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, or any future class or series of Preferred
Stock or Common Stock.
ARTICLE V
The Board of Directors of the corporation shall have the power to
adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the corporation.
ARTICLE VI
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 228 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, actions which are required to be or which may be taken at taken
at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may not be taken without a
meeting by the consent in writing of the stockholders of the corporation.
ARTICLE VII
Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws
of the corporation shall so provide.
ARTICLE VIII
To the fullest extent permitted by law, no director of the corporation
shall be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as
a director. Without limiting the effect of the preceding sentence, if the
Delaware General Corporation Law is hereafter amended to authorize the further
elimination or limitation of the liability of a director, then the liability of
a director of the corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest
extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.
Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VIII, nor the adoption
of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this
Article VIII, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any
limitation on the personal liability of a director of the corporation existing
at the time of such amendment, repeal or adoption of such an inconsistent
provision.
ARTICLE IX
The name and mailing address of the incorporator is Michael J. McAdam,
c/o Fenwick & West LLP, Two Palo Alto Square, Palo Alto, California 94306.
The undersigned incorporator hereby acknowledges that the foregoing
certificate is his act and deed and that the facts stated herein are true.
Date: June 11, 1998
/s/ Michael J. McAdam
-----------------------------------------
Michael J. McAdam, Incorporator
2
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Exhibit 3.02
BYLAWS
OF
EXCITE, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
As Adopted June 11, 1998
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BYLAWS
OF
EXCITE, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
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ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS ........................................................ 1
Section 1.1: Annual Meetings...................................... 1
Section 1.2: Special Meetings..................................... 1
Section 1.3: Notice of Meetings................................... 1
Section 1.4: Adjournments......................................... 1
Section 1.5: Quorum............................................... 2
Section 1.6: Organization......................................... 2
Section 1.7: Voting; Proxies...................................... 2
Section 1.8: Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders
of Record .......................................... 3
Section 1.9: List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote................ 3
Section 1.10: Inspectors of Elections.............................. 3
Section 1.11: Notice of Stockholder Business; Nominations.......... 4
ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS ................................................. 6
Section 2.1: Number; Qualifications............................... 6
Section 2.2: Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies............ 7
Section 2.3: Regular Meetings..................................... 7
</TABLE>
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BYLAWS
OF
EXCITE, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
Section 2.4: Special Meetings..................................... 7
Section 2.5: Telephonic Meetings Permitted........................ 7
Section 2.6: Quorum; Vote Required for Action..................... 7
Section 2.7: Organization......................................... 7
Section 2.8: Written Action by Directors.......................... 8
Section 2.9: Powers............................................... 8
Section 2.10: Compensation of Directors............................ 8
ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES ........................................................ 8
Section 3.1: Committees........................................... 8
Section 3.2: Committee Rules...................................... 9
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS ........................................................... 9
Section 4.1: Generally............................................ 9
Section 4.2: Chief Executive Officer.............................. 9
Section 4.3: Chairman of the Board................................ 10
Section 4.4: President............................................ 10
Section 4.5: Vice President....................................... 10
Section 4.6: Chief Financial Officer.............................. 10
Section 4.7: Treasurer............................................ 10
Section 4.8: Secretary............................................ 10
</TABLE>
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BYLAWS
OF
EXCITE, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
Section 4.9: Delegation of Authority.............................. 11
Section 4.10: Removal.............................................. 11
ARTICLE V - STOCK ............................................................... 11
Section 5.l: Certificates......................................... 11
Section 5.2: Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates;
Issuance of New Certificate.......................... 11
Section 5.3: Other Regulations.................................... 11
ARTICLE VI - INDEMNIFICATION..................................................... 11
Section 6.1: Indemnification of Officers and Directors............ 11
Section 6.2: Advance of Expenses.................................. 12
Section 6.3: Non-Exclusivity of Rights............................ 12
Section 6.4: Indemnification Contracts............................ 12
Section 6.5: Effect of Amendment.................................. 13
ARTICLE VII - NOTICES ........................................................... 13
Section 7.l: Notice............................................... 13
Section 7.2: Waiver of Notice..................................... 13
ARTICLE VIII - INTERESTED DIRECTORS.............................................. 13
Section 8.1: Interested Directors; Quorum......................... 13
</TABLE>
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BYLAWS
OF
EXCITE, INC.
A Delaware Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
ARTICLE IX - MISCELLANEOUS ..................................................... 14
Section 9.1: Fiscal Year.......................................... 14
Section 9.2: Seal................................................. 14
Section 9.3: Form of Records...................................... 14
Section 9.4: Reliance Upon Books and Records...................... 14
Section 9.5: Certificate of Incorporation Governs................. 14
Section 9.6: Severability......................................... 14
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENT ..................................................... 15
Section 10.1: Amendments........................................... 15
</TABLE>
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BYLAWS
OF
EXCITE, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
As Adopted June 11, 1998
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.1: Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders shall
be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, either
within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall each
year fix. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.
Section 1.2: Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any
purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the
President, or by the Board of Directors or two or more members thereof. Special
meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. If a special meeting
of stockholders is called by any person or persons other than by a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors, then such person or persons shall call
such meeting by delivering a written request to call such meeting to each member
of the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors shall then determine the
time, date and place of such special meeting, which shall be held not more than
one hundred twenty (120) nor less than thirty-five (35) days after the written
request to call such special meeting was delivered to each member of the Board
of Directors.
Section 1.3: Notice of Meetings. Written notice of all meetings of
stockholders shall be given stating the place, date and time of the meeting and,
in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting
is called. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation, such notice shall be given not less than ten
(10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 1.4: Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may adjourn from
time to time to reconvene at the same or another place, and notice need not be
given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, date and place thereof are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however,
that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the
adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, then a
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notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record
entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may
transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 1.5: Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders the
holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting,
present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, except if otherwise required by applicable law. If a
quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the
holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person
or by proxy, at the meeting may adjourn the meeting. Shares of the Corporation's
stock belonging to the Corporation (or to another corporation, if a majority of
the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other
corporation are held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation), shall neither
be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that
the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any other
corporation to vote any shares of the Corporation's stock held by it in a
fiduciary capacity.
Section 1.6: Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall
be presided over by such person as the Board of Directors may designate, or, in
the absence of such a person, the Chairman of the Board, or, in the absence of
such person, the President of the Corporation, or, in the absence of such
person, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting. Such
person shall be chairman of the meeting and, subject to Section 1.11 hereof,
shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting,
including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion
as seems to him or her to be in order. The Secretary of the Corporation shall
act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the
meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 1.7: Voting; Proxies. Unless otherwise provided
by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the provisions of
Section 1.8 of these Bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote
for each share of stock held by such stockholder. Each stockholder entitled to
vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act
for such stockholder by proxy. Such a proxy may be prepared, transmitted and
delivered in any manner permitted by applicable law. Voting at meetings of
stockholders need not be by written ballot unless such is demanded at the
meeting before voting begins by a stockholder or stockholders holding shares
representing at least one percent (1%) of the votes entitled to vote at such
meeting, or by such stockholder's or stockholders' proxy; provided, however,
that an election of directors shall be by written ballot if demand is so made by
any stockholder at the meeting before voting begins. If a vote is to be taken by
written ballot, then each such ballot shall state the name of the stockholder or
proxy voting and such other information as the chairman of the meeting deems
appropriate. Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the
shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to
vote on the election of directors. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law,
the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, every matter other than the
election of directors shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the shares of stock entitled
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to vote thereon that are present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting and are voted for or against the matter.
Section 1.8: Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice
of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or
entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment
of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action,
the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not
precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by
the Board of Directors and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than
ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days
prior to any other action. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors,
then the record date shall be as provided by applicable law. A determination of
stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however,
that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 1.9: List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. A complete list of
stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in
alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of
shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be open to the
examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during
ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the
meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held,
which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so
specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present at the meeting.
Section 1.10: Inspectors of Elections.
(a) Applicability. Unless otherwise provided in the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation or required by the Delaware General Corporation
Law, the following provisions of this Section 1.10 shall apply only if and when
the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is: (i) listed on a national
securities exchange; (ii) authorized for quotation on an interdealer quotation
system of a registered national securities association; or (iii) held of record
by more than 2,000 stockholders; in all other cases, observance of the
provisions of this Section 1.10 shall be optional, and at the discretion of the
Corporation.
(b) Appointment. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of
stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting
and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more
persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no
inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person
presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the
meeting.
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(c) Inspector's Oath. Each inspector of election, before entering upon
the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute
the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of
his ability.
(d) Duties of Inspectors. At a meeting of stockholders, the inspectors
of election shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting
power of each share, (ii) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the
validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv)
determine and retain for a reasonable period of time a record of the disposition
of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify
their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and
their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other
persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of
the inspectors.
(e) Opening and Closing of Polls. The date and time of the opening and
the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote
at a meeting shall be announced by the inspectors at the meeting. No ballot,
proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be
accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of
Chancery upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise.
(f) Determinations. In determining the validity and counting of proxies
and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies,
any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in
connection with proxies in accordance with Section 212(c)(2) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, ballots and the regular books and records of the
Corporation, except that the inspectors may consider other reliable information
for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on
behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more
votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or
more votes than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider
other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the
inspectors at the time they make their certification of their determinations
pursuant to this Section 1.10 shall specify the precise information considered
by them, including the person or persons from whom they obtained the
information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the
information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors' belief that such
information is accurate and reliable.
Section 1.11: Notice of Stockholder Business; Nominations.
(a) Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of
Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders
shall be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (A) pursuant to the
Corporation's notice of such meeting, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of
record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.11,
who is entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice
procedures set forth in this Section 1.11.
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(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought
before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of subparagraph
(a)(i) of this Section 1.11, the stockholder must have given timely notice
thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business
must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a
stockholder's notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal
executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the
sixtieth (60th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth
(90th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual
meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual
meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after
such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so
delivered not earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day
prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting or the close of
business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement
of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. Such stockholder's
notice shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to
nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to
such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to
Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), including such person's written consent to being named in the
proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to
any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a
brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the
reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in
such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and
the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made
(1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the
Corporation's books, and of such beneficial owner, and (2) the class and number
of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and held of record by
such stockholder and such beneficial owner.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of
subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.11 to the contrary, in the event that the
number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation
is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all
of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased board of
directors at least seventy (70) days prior to the first anniversary of the
preceding year's annual meeting (or, if the annual meeting is held more than
thirty (30) days before or sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, at least
seventy (70) days prior to such annual meeting), a stockholder's notice required
by this Section 1.11 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to
nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be
delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office
of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day
following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the
Corporation.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be
conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before
the meeting pursuant to the Corporation's notice of such meeting. Nominations of
persons for election to the Board of
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Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors
are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation's notice of such meeting (i) by or
at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the Board of
Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any
stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of
giving of notice of the special meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at the
meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section
1.11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for
the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any
such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for
election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation's notice of
meeting, if the stockholder's notice required by subparagraph (a)(ii) of this
Section 1.11 shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the ninetieth
(90th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of
business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such special meeting
or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first
made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the
Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.
(c) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section 1.11 shall be eligible to serve as
directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders
as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this Section 1.11. Except as otherwise provided by law or these
bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine
whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting
was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Section 1.11 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in
compliance herewith, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall
be disregarded.
(ii) For purposes of this Section 1.11, the term "public
announcement" shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones
News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a
document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
1.11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the
matters set forth herein. Nothing in this Section 1.11 shall be deemed to affect
any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the
Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2.1: Number; Qualifications. The Board of Directors shall
consist of one or more members. The initial number of directors shall be four
(4), and thereafter shall be fixed
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from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. No decrease in the
authorized number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten
the term of any incumbent director. Directors need not be stockholders of the
Corporation.
Section 2.2: Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. The Board of
Directors shall initially consist of the person or persons elected by the
incorporator or named in the Corporation's initial Certificate of Incorporation.
Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders
and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her
earlier death, resignation or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon
written notice to the Corporation. Subject to the rights of any holders of
Preferred Stock then outstanding: (i) any director or the entire Board of
Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of
the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors and (ii) any
vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any cause, and any newly created
directorship resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors
to be elected by all stockholders having the right to vote as a single class,
may be filled by the stockholders, by a majority of the directors then in
office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.
Section 2.3: Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors may be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware,
and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Notice of regular meetings need not be given if the date, times and places
thereof are fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.4: Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice
President, the Secretary or any two or more directors then in office and may be
held at any time, date or place, within or without the State of Delaware, as the
person or persons calling the meeting shall fix. Notice of the time, date and
place of such meeting shall be given, orally or in writing, by the person or
persons calling the meeting to all directors at least four (4) days before the
meeting if the notice is mailed, or at least twenty-four (24) hours before the
meeting if such notice is given by telephone, hand delivery, telegram, telex,
mailgram, facsimile or similar communication method. Unless otherwise indicated
in the notice, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
Section 2.5: Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board of
Directors, or any committee of the Board, may participate in a meeting of the
Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to
conference telephone or similar communications equipment shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.6: Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the
Board of Directors a majority of the total number of authorized directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise
provided herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation, or required by law, the
vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
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Section 2.7: Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or in his or her absence by the
President, or in his or her absence by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The
Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the
chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the
meeting.
Section 2.8: Written Action by Directors. Any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any
committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or
such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing
or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee,
respectively.
Section 2.9: Powers. The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise
required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, exercise all such powers
and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.
Section 2.10: Compensation of Directors. Directors, as such, may
receive, pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, fees and other
compensation for their services as directors, including without limitation their
services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 3.1: Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution
passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each
committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The
Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee,
who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the
committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the
member or members thereof present at any meeting of such committee who are not
disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum,
may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the
meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee,
to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and
may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the
management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the
seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no
such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the
Certificate of Incorporation (except that a committee may, to the extent
authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of shares
of stock adopted by the Board of Directors as provided in subsection (a) of
Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, fix the designations and
any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends,
redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the Corporation, or the
conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class
or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of
stock of the Corporation, or fix the number of shares of any series of stock or
authorize the increase or decrease of the shares of any series), adopting an
agreement of merger
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or consolidation under Sections 251 or 252 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's property and assets, recommending to the
stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution,
or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation; and unless the resolution of the
Board of Directors expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power
or authority to declare a dividend, authorize the issuance of stock or adopt a
certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to section 253 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law.
Section 3.2: Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise
provides, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal
rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each
committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of
Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.1: Generally. The officers of the Corporation shall consist
of a Chief Executive Officer and/or a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a
Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers, including a Chairman of the
Board of Directors and/or Chief Financial Officer, as may from time to time be
appointed by the Board of Directors. All officers shall be elected by the Board
of Directors; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may empower the
Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation to appoint officers other than the
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief
Financial Officer or the Treasurer. Each officer shall hold office until his or
her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation
or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Any officer
may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Any vacancy
occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or
otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.2: Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the control of the
Board of Directors and such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the
Board of Directors, the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation are:
(a) To act as the general manager and, subject to the control of the
Board of Directors, to have general supervision, direction and control of the
business and affairs of the Corporation;
(b) To preside at all meetings of the stockholders;
(c) To call meetings of the stockholders to be held at such times and,
subject to the limitations prescribed by law or by these Bylaws, at such places
as he or she shall deem proper; and
(d) To affix the signature of the Corporation to all deeds,
conveyances, mortgages, guarantees, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and
other papers and instruments in writing
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which have been authorized by the Board of Directors or which, in the judgment
of the Chief Executive Officer, should be executed on behalf of the Corporation;
to sign certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation; and, subject to the
direction of the Board of Directors, to have general charge of the property of
the Corporation and to supervise and control all officers, agents and employees
of the Corporation.
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation unless the
Board of Directors shall designate another officer to be the Chief Executive
Officer. If there is no President, and the Board of Directors has not designated
any other officer to be the Chief Executive Officer, then the Chairman of the
Board shall be the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.3: Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall
have the power to preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall
have such other powers and duties as provided in these bylaws and as the Board
of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.4: President. The President shall be the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors shall have designated
another officer as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to
the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors,
and subject to the supervisory powers of the Chief Executive Officer (if the
Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the President), and subject to
such supervisory powers and authority as may be given by the Board of Directors
to the Chairman of the Board, and/or to any other officer, the President shall
have the responsibility for the general management the control of the business
and affairs of the Corporation and the general supervision and direction of all
of the officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (other than the Chief
Executive Officer, if the Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the
President) and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly
incident to the office of President or that are delegated to the President by
the Board of Directors.
Section 4.5: Vice President. Each Vice President shall have all such
powers and duties as are commonly incident to the office of Vice President, or
that are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer. A Vice President may be designated by the Board to perform
the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Executive Officer in the event
of the Chief Executive Officer's absence or disability.
Section 4.6: Chief Financial Officer. Subject to the direction of the
Board of Directors and the President, the Chief Financial Officer shall perform
all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief
financial officer.
Section 4.7: Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of all monies
and securities of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall make such disbursements
of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to
time an account of all such transactions. The Treasurer shall also perform such
other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the office
of Treasurer, or as the Board of Directors or the President may from time to
time prescribe.
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Section 4.8: Secretary. The Secretary shall issue or cause to be issued
all authorized notices for, and shall keep, or cause to be kept, minutes of all
meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall
have charge of the corporate minute books and similar records and shall perform
such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the
office of Secretary, or as the Board of Directors or the President may from time
to time prescribe.
Section 4.9: Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from
time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers
or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
Section 4.10: Removal. Any officer of the Corporation shall serve at
the pleasure of the Board of Directors and may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the Board of Directors. Such removal shall be without
prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the
Corporation.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.1: Certificates. Every holder of stock shall be entitled to
have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman
or Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice
President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares
owned by such stockholder in the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on
the certificate may be a facsimile.
Section 5.2: Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of
New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the
place of any certificate previously issued by it, alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner's legal representative, to agree
to indemnify the Corporation and/or to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to
indemnify it, against any claim that may be made against it on account of the
alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of
such new certificate.
Section 5.3: Other Regulations. The issue, transfer, conversion and
registration of stock certificates shall be governed by such other regulations
as the Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.1: Indemnification of Officers and Directors. Each person who
was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is
involved in any action, suit or
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proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a
"proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she (or a person of whom he or
she is the legal representative), is or was a director or officer of the
Corporation or a Reincorporated Predecessor (as defined below) or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation or a Reincorporated Predecessor (as
defined below) as a director or officer of another corporation, or of a
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with
respect to employee benefit plans, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation
Law, against all expenses, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees,
judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid or to be
paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection
therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased
to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs,
executors and administrators; provided, however, that the Corporation shall
indemnify any such person seeking indemnity in connection with a proceeding (or
part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof)
was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. As used herein, the
term "Reincorporated Predecessor" means a corporation that is merged with and
into the Corporation in a statutory merger where (a) the Corporation is the
surviving corporation of such merger; (b) the primary purpose of such merger is
to change the corporate domicile of the Reincorporated Predecessor to Delaware.
Section 6.2: Advance of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay all
expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by such a director or officer in
defending any such proceeding as they are incurred in advance of its final
disposition; provided, however, that if the Delaware General Corporation Law
then so requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by such a director or
officer in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding shall be made
only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such
director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined
ultimately that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under
this Article VI or otherwise; and provided, further, that the Corporation shall
not be required to advance any expenses to a person against whom the Corporation
directly brings a claim, in a proceeding, alleging that such person has breached
his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation, committed an act or omission not
in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, or derived an improper personal benefit from a transaction.
Section 6.3: Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any
person in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right that such
person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors, or otherwise. Additionally, nothing in this Article VI
shall limit the ability of the Corporation, in its discretion, to indemnify or
advance expenses to persons whom the Corporation is not obligated to indemnify
or advance expenses pursuant to this Article VI.
Section 6.4: Indemnification Contracts. The Board of Directors is
authorized to cause the Corporation to enter into indemnification contracts with
any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
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enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing indemnification rights
to such person. Such rights may be greater than those provided in this Article
VI.
Section 6.5: Effect of Amendment. Any amendment, repeal or modification
of any provision of this Article VI shall be prospective only, and shall not
adversely affect any right or protection conferred on a person pursuant to this
Article VI and existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VII
NOTICES
Section 7.1: Notice. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein
or required by law, all notices required to be given pursuant to these Bylaws
shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand
delivery (including use of a delivery service), by depositing such notice in the
mail, postage prepaid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram, telex,
overnight express courier, mailgram or facsimile. Any such notice shall be
addressed to the person to whom notice is to be given at such person's address
as it appears on the records of the Corporation. The notice shall be deemed
given (i) in the case of hand delivery, when received by the person to whom
notice is to be given or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such
person, (ii) in the case of delivery by mail, upon deposit in the mail, (iii) in
the case of delivery by overnight express courier, on the first business day
after such notice is dispatched, and (iv) in the case of delivery via telegram,
telex, mailgram, or facsimile, when dispatched.
Section 7.2: Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given
under any provision of these bylaws, a written waiver of notice, signed by the
person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein,
shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a
meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to
the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any
regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a
committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
ARTICLE VIII
INTERESTED DIRECTORS
Section 8.1: Interested Directors; Quorum. No contract or transaction
between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between
the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other
organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or
officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for
this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board or committee thereof that authorizes
the contract or transaction, or solely
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because his, her or their votes are counted for such purpose, if: (i) the
material facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest and as to the
contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or
the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract
or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested
directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (ii)
the material facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest and as to
the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders
entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically
approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or
transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized,
approved or ratified by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or the
stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the
presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee
which authorizes the contract or transaction.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1: Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 9.2: Seal. The Board of Directors may provide for a corporate
seal, which shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall
otherwise be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
Section 9.3: Form of Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation
in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of
account and minute books, may be kept on, or be in the form of, magnetic tape,
diskettes, photographs, microphotographs or any other information storage
device, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible
form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any records so
kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect the same.
Section 9.4: Reliance Upon Books and Records. A member of the Board of
Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors
shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in
good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation's
officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other
person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other
person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 9.5: Certificate of Incorporation Governs. In the event of any
conflict between the provisions of the Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation
shall govern.
14
<PAGE> 20
Section 9.6: Severability. If any provision of these Bylaws shall be
held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the provisions of
the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, then such provision shall
nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible consistent with such
holding and the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including without
limitation, all portions of any section of these Bylaws containing any such
provision held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the
Certificate of Incorporation, that are not themselves invalid, illegal,
unenforceable or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation) shall remain
in full force and effect.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT
Section 10.1: Amendments. Stockholders of the Corporation holding a
majority of the Corporation's outstanding voting stock shall have the power to
adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws. To the extent provided in the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall
also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation, except
insofar as Bylaws adopted by the stockholders shall otherwise provide.
15
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 3.03
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF
SERIES E-3 PREFERRED STOCK
OF
EXCITE, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law
Excite, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the "Company") does hereby
certify that, pursuant to the authority contained in Article VI of its
Certificate of Incorporation, and in accordance with the provisions of Section
151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Company's Board of Directors
has duly adopted the following resolution creating a series of Preferred Stock
designated as Series E-3 Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that the Company hereby designates and creates a series of
the authorized Preferred Stock designated as Series E-3 Preferred stock
as follows:
Of the 4,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued by
this corporation, 350,000 shares are hereby designated as "Series E-3
Preferred Stock." The rights, preference, privileges and restrictions
granted to and imposed upon the Series E-3 Preferred Stock are as set
forth below:
1. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this resolution, the following
definitions shall apply:
1.1 "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
1.2 "Company" shall mean this corporation.
1.3 "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, $0.001 par
value, of the Company.
1.4 "Common Stock Dividend" shall mean a stock dividend
declared and paid on the Common Stock that is payable in shares of Common Stock.
1.5 "Original Issue Date" shall mean the date on which the
first share of Series E-3 Preferred Stock was issued by the Company.
1.6 "Original Issue Price" shall mean $8.00 per share of
Series E-3 Preferred Stock.
1.7 "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which at least
fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock is at the time owned
directly or indirectly by the Company or by one or more of such subsidiary
corporations.
<PAGE> 2
2. DIVIDEND RIGHTS.
2.1 Series E-3 Preferred Stock. In each calendar year, the
holders of the then outstanding Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
receive, when, as and if declared by the Board, out of any funds and assets of
the Company legally available therefor, noncumulative dividends in the amount
determined by the Board on a pro rata basis with the Common Stock according to
the number of shares of Common Stock held by such holders, where each holder of
shares of Series E-3 Preferred Stock is to be treated for this purpose as
holding the greatest whole number of shares of Common Stock then issuable upon
conversion of all shares of Series E-3 Preferred Stock held by such holder
pursuant to Section 5. Dividends on the Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall not be
mandatory or cumulative, and no rights or interest shall accrue to the holders
of the Series E-3 Preferred Stock by reason of the fact that the Company shall
fail to declare or pay dividends on the Series E-3 Preferred Stock in any amount
in any calendar year or any fiscal year of the Company, whether or not the
earnings of the Company in any calendar year or fiscal year were sufficient to
pay such dividends in whole or in part.
2.2 Non-Cash Dividends. Whenever a dividend provided for in
this Section 2 shall be payable in property other than cash, the value of such
dividend or distribution shall be deemed to be the fair market value of such
property as determined in good faith by the Board.
3. LIQUIDATION RIGHTS. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the funds and
assets of the Company that may be legally distributed to the Company's
stockholders (the "Available Funds and Assets") shall be distributed to
stockholders in the following manner:
3.1 Series E-3 Preferred Stock. Prior to any consolidation or
merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or corporations or
other entity, corporate reorganization, sale, conveyance or disposition of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company, liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the Company shall
give the holders of the Series E-3 Preferred Stock at least ten (10) days notice
thereof and afford such holders the opportunity to convert such shares of Series
E-3 Preferred Stock into shares of the Company's Common Stock pursuant to
Section 5.1 hereof. Upon the liquidation, dissolution of winding up of the
Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each share of Series
E-3 Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid, out of the
Available Funds and Assets, and prior and in preference to any payment or
distribution (or any setting apart of any payment or distribution) of any
Available Funds and Assets on any shares of Common Stock, an amount per share
equal to the Original Issue Price for the Series E-3 Preferred Stock plus all
declared but unpaid dividends on the Series E-3 Preferred Stock. If upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the Available Funds and
Assets shall be insufficient to permit the payment to holders of the Series E-3
Preferred Stock of their full preferential amount described in this subsection,
then all of the remaining Available Funds and Assets shall be distributed among
the holders of the then outstanding Series E-3 Preferred Stock pro rata,
according to the number of outstanding shares of Series E-3 Preferred Stock held
by each holder thereof.
3.2 Remaining Assets. If there are any Available Funds and
Assets remaining after the payment or distribution (or the setting aside for
payment or distribution) to the holders
2
<PAGE> 3
of the Series E-3 Preferred Stock of their full preferential amounts described
above in this Section 3, then all such remaining Available Funds and Assets
shall be distributed among the holders of the then outstanding Common Stock pro
rata according to the number of shares of Common Stock held by each holder
thereof.
3.3 Merger or Sale of Assets. A consolidation or merger of the
Company with or into any other corporation or corporations or other entity, a
corporate reorganization, or a sale, conveyance or disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company shall not be deemed a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company within the meaning of this
Section 3.
3.4 Non-Cash Consideration. If any assets of the Company
distributed to stockholders in connection with any liquidation, dissolution, or
winding up of the Company are other than cash, then the value of such assets
shall be their fair market value as determined by the Board, except that any
securities to be distributed to stockholders in a liquidation, dissolution, or
winding up of the Company shall be valued as follows:
(a) The method of valuation of securities not
subject to investment letter or other similar restrictions on free marketability
shall be as follows:
(i) if the securities are then traded on a
national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market System (or a similar
national quotation system), then the value shall be deemed to be the average of
the closing prices of the securities on such exchange or system over the 30-day
period ending three (3) days prior to the distribution; and
(ii) if actively traded over-the-counter,
then the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing bid prices over
the 30-day period ending three (3) days prior to the closing of such merger,
consolidation or sale; and
(iii) if there is no active public market,
then the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined in good
faith by the Board.
(b) The method of valuation of securities subject to
investment letter or other restrictions on free marketability shall be to make
an appropriate discount from the market value determined as above in
subparagraphs (a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of this subsection to reflect the
approximate fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board.
4. VOTING RIGHTS.
In every vote of the stockholders of the Company, each holder
of shares of Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to the number of votes
equal to the number of whole shares of Common Stock into which such shares of
Series E-3 Preferred Stock could be converted pursuant to the provisions of
Section 5 below at the record date for the determination of the stockholders
entitled to vote or, if no such record date is established, the date such vote
is taken or any written consent of stockholders is solicited. Except as required
by law, the holders of Series E-3 Preferred Stock and holders of Common Stock
shall vote together and not as separate classes.
3
<PAGE> 4
5. CONVERSION RIGHTS. The outstanding shares of Series E-3 Preferred
Stock shall be convertible into Common Stock as follows:
5.1 Optional Conversion.
(a) At the option of the holder thereof, each share
of Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at any time or from time to
time.
(b) Each holder of Series E-3 Preferred Stock who
elects to convert the same into shares of Common Stock shall surrender the
certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the
Company or any transfer agent for the Series E-3 Preferred Stock or Common
Stock, and shall give written notice to the Company at such office that such
holder elects to convert the same and shall state therein the number of shares
of Series E-3 Preferred Stock being converted. Thereupon the Company shall
promptly issue and deliver at such office to such holder a certificate or
certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder is
entitled upon such conversion. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made
immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the
certificate or certificates representing the shares of Series E-3 Preferred
Stock to be converted, and the person entitled to receive the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the
record holder of such shares of Common Stock on such date.
5.2 Conversion Price. Each share of Series E-3 Preferred Stock
shall be convertible in accordance with subsection 5.1 above into the number of
shares of Common Stock which results from dividing the Original Issue Price for
the Series E-3 Preferred Stock by the conversion price for the Series E-3
Preferred Stock that is in effect at the time of conversion (the "Conversion
Price"). The initial Conversion Price for the Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall
be the Original Issue Price for the Series E-3 Preferred Stock. The Conversion
Price of the Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall be subject to adjustment from time
to time as provided below.
5.3 Adjustment Upon Common Stock Event. Upon the happening of
a Common Stock Event (as hereinafter defined), the Conversion Price of the
Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall, simultaneously with the happening of such
Common Stock Event, be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price for the
Series E-3 Preferred Stock in effect immediately prior to such Common Stock
Event by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to such Common Stock
Event, and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common
Stock issued and outstanding immediately after such Common Stock Event, and the
product so obtained shall thereafter be the Conversion Price for the Series E-3
Preferred Stock. The Conversion Price for the Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall
be readjusted in the same manner upon the happening of each subsequent Common
Stock Event. As used herein, the term "Common Stock Event" shall mean (i) the
issue by the Company of additional shares of Common Stock as a dividend or other
distribution on outstanding Common Stock, (ii) a subdivision of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, or (iii)
a combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares of Common Stock.
5.4 Adjustments for Other Dividends and Distributions. If at
any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date the Company pays a
dividend or makes another
4
<PAGE> 5
distribution to the holders of the Common Stock payable in securities of the
Company other than shares of Common Stock, then in each such event provision
shall be made so that the holders of the Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall
receive upon conversion thereof, in addition to the number of shares of Common
Stock receivable upon conversion thereof, the amount of securities of the
Company which they would have received had their Series E-3 Preferred Stock been
converted into Common Stock on the date of such event (or such record date, as
applicable) and had they thereafter, during the period from the date of such
event (or such record date, as applicable) to and including the conversion date,
retained such securities receivable by them as aforesaid during such period,
subject to all other adjustments called for during such period under this
Section 5 with respect to the rights of the holders of the Series E-3 Preferred
Stock or with respect to such other securities by their terms.
5.5 Adjustment for Reclassification, Exchange and
Substitution. If at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date
the Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series E-3 Preferred Stock
is changed into the same or a different number of shares of any class or classes
of stock, whether by recapitalization, reclassification or otherwise (other than
by a Common Stock Event or a stock dividend, reorganization, merger,
consolidation or sale of assets provided for elsewhere in this Section 5), then
in any such event each holder of Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall have the right
thereafter to convert such stock into the kind and amount of stock and other
securities and property receivable upon such recapitalization, reclassification
or other change by holders of the number of shares of Common Stock into which
such shares of Series E-3 Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately
prior to such recapitalization, reclassification or change, all subject to
further adjustment as provided herein or with respect to such other securities
or property by the terms thereof.
5.6 Certificate of Adjustment. In each case of an adjustment
or readjustment of the Conversion Price for the Series E-3 Preferred Stock, the
Company, at its expense, shall cause its Chief Financial Officer to compute such
adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the provisions hereof and prepare
a certificate showing such adjustment or readjustment, and shall mail such
certificate, by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each registered holder of
the Series E-3 Preferred Stock at the holder's address as shown in the Company's
books.
5.7 Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock
shall be issued upon any conversion of Series E-3 Preferred Stock. In lieu of
any fractional share to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the
Company shall pay the holder cash equal to the product of such fraction
multiplied by the Common Stock's fair market value as determined in good faith
by the Board as of the date of conversion.
5.8 Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion. The Company
shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of
the shares of the Series E-3 Preferred Stock, such number of its shares of
Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion
of all outstanding shares of the Series E-3 Preferred Stock; and if at any time
the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be
sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of the Series
E-3 Preferred Stock, the Company will take such corporate action as may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its
5
<PAGE> 6
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall
be sufficient for such purpose.
5.9 Notices. Any notice required by the provisions of this
Section 5 to be given to the holders of shares of the Series E-3 Preferred Stock
shall be deemed given upon the earlier of actual receipt or deposit in the
United States mail, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, addressed to each holder of record at the address of such
holder appearing on the books of the Company.
5.10 No Impairment. The Company shall not avoid or seek to
avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or
performed hereunder by the Company, but shall at all times in good faith assist
in carrying out all such action as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate in
order to protect the conversion rights of the holders of the Series E-3
Preferred Stock against impairment.
6. MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 No Reissuance of Series E-3 Preferred Stock. No share or
shares of Series E-3 Preferred Stock acquired by the Company by reason of
purchase, conversion or otherwise shall be reissued, and all such shares shall
be canceled, retired and eliminated from the shares which the Company shall be
authorized to issue.
6.2 Consent to Certain Transactions. Each holder of shares of
Series E-3 Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of its acceptance of a stock
certificate evidencing Series E-3 Preferred Stock, be deemed to have consented,
so long as the Company is deemed a "foreign corporation" as defined under
Section 2115 of the California Corporations Code, for purposes of Sections 502,
503 and 506 of the California Corporations Code, to all repurchases by the
Company of shares of Common Stock held by employees, officers, directors,
consultants, independent contractors, advisors, or other persons performing
services for the Company or a subsidiary that are subject to restricted stock
purchase agreements or stock option exercise agreements under which the Company
has the option to repurchase such shares."
6
<PAGE> 7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said corporation has caused this Certificate of
Designation to be signed and attested by its duly authorized officers this 26th
day of August, 1998.
EXCITE, INC.
/s/ Robert C. Hood
-----------------------------------------
Robert C. Hood, Vice President, Chief
Accounting Officer, Chief
Executive Officer
7
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.03
EXCITE, INC.
AND
BANKBOSTON, N.A.,
RIGHTS AGENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF OCTOBER 15, 1998
<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C>
Section 1. Certain Definitions 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent 4
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates 4
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates 6
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration 6
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right
Certificates 6
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights 7
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates 8
Section 9. Status and Availability of Preferred Shares 8
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date 9
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or
Number of Rights 9
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price
or Number of Shares 16
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets
or Earning Power 16
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares 17
Section 15. Rights of Action 18
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders 18
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder 18
Section 18. Compensation and Indemnity of the Rights Agent 19
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent 19
Section 20. Rights and Duties of Rights Agent 19
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent 21
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates 22
Section 23. Redemption 23
Section 24. Exchange 23
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events 25
Section 26. Notices 25
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments 26
Section 28. Successors 26
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement 26
Section 30. Severability 27
Section 31. Governing Law 27
Section 32. Counterparts 27
Section 33. Descriptive Headings 27
Section 34. Entire Agreement 27
Signatures 28
Exhibit A - Form of Certificate of Designations of Series F Junior
Participating Preferred Stock
Exhibit B - Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 4
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Agreement, dated as of October 15, 1998, between Excite, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and BankBoston, N.A. (the "Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share
(as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the Close of Business (as
hereinafter defined) on October 30, 1998 (the "Record Date"), each Right
representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (as
hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set
forth, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with
respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding (i) between the
Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and
the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined) or (ii)
following the Distribution Date and prior to the Redemption Date or Final
Expiration Date, pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee
plan or arrangement or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of other
securities of the Company, which options or securities were outstanding prior to
the Distribution Date.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereto 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 and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% (the "Designated Percentage") or more of the Common
Shares of the Company then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company,
(ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or (iv) any entity holding Common
Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding the
foregoing,
(A) No Person shall become an Acquiring Person if the
Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who
would otherwise be an Acquiring Person has become such inadvertently, and such
Person as promptly as practicable takes such actions as may be necessary so that
such Person would no longer be considered an Acquiring Person.
(B) No Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as
the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing
the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares
beneficially owned by such Person and such Person's Affiliates and Associates to
the Designated Percentage or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person, together with such Person's
Affiliates and Associates, shall become the Beneficial Owner of the Designated
Percentage or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding by
reason of share purchases by the Company and such Person, together with its
Affiliates and Associates, shall, after public announcement of such share
purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial
<PAGE> 5
Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company, then such Person shall be
deemed to be an "Acquiring Person."
(C) The Designated Percentage shall be 20% for any
person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
was the Beneficial Owner of 5% or more of the Common Shares of the Company
outstanding as of September 24, 1998.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the following
meanings:
(i) An "Affiliate" of, or a Person "affiliated" with,
a specified Person, is a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
the Person specified. For this purpose, "control" (including the terms
"controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control with") means the
possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise;
(ii) The term "Associate" used to indicate a
relationship with any Person shall mean (A) any corporation or organization
(other than the Company or a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company) of which
such Person is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the
Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of any class of equity securities, (B) any trust
or other estate in which such Person has a substantial beneficial interest or as
to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, and
(C) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who
has the same home as such Person or who is a director or officer of the Company
or any of its parents or Subsidiaries.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
(i) which such Person owns, directly or indirectly;
(ii) which such Person has (A) the right to acquire
(whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than
customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members
with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), written or
otherwise, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights
(other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer
made by or on behalf of such Person until such tendered securities are accepted
for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security if the
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely
from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public
proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is
not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
2
<PAGE> 6
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities), written or otherwise, for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section
1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of
Beneficial Ownership to the contrary, (A) the phrase "then outstanding," when
used with reference to a Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the
Company, shall mean the number of such securities then issued and outstanding
together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and
outstanding which such Person would be deemed to own beneficially hereunder, and
(B) a Person who is a director or officer of the Company or who is an Affiliate
or Associate of a director or officer of the Company (each, an "Exempted
Person") shall not be deemed to "beneficially own" Common Shares held by another
Exempted Person solely by reason of any agreement, arrangement or understanding,
written or otherwise, entered into in opposition to a transaction that, at the
time such agreement, arrangement or understanding was entered into, has not been
approved or recommended by the Board of Directors to the stockholders of the
Company.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a
Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
p.m., Massachusetts Time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is
not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., Massachusetts Time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company
shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the
Company. "Common Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than the
Company shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest
voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of
another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such
first-mentioned Person.
(g) "Designated Percentage" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 1(a) hereof.
(h) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
(i) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(j) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7(a) hereof.
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(k) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited partnership, business trust, unincorporated association or
other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.
(l) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(b) hereof.
(m) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series F Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company having
the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate of Designations attached
to this Agreement as Exhibit A.
(n) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(o) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the earlier of the
date of (i) the public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that
an Acquiring Person has become such or (ii) the public disclosure of facts by
the Company or an Acquiring Person indicating that an Acquiring Person has
become such.
(p) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any Person of which
a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity
interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
(q) A "Successor" shall mean the estate or legal
representative of a deceased individual, the beneficiary of a deceased
individual's estate, a trust created by a deceased individual as grantor, or the
beneficiary of a trust created by a deceased individual as grantor.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also
be the holders of the Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights Agent. The
Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and in no event shall be liable
for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Shares
Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors of the Company prior to such time
as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the first public announcement
of the intention of any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan) to commence a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which
would result in any such Person becoming an Acquiring Person (including any such
date which is after the date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the
Rights; the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution
Date"); (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions
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<PAGE> 8
of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for Common Shares registered in the
names of the holders thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be
Right Certificates) and not by separate Right Certificates, and (y) the right to
receive Right Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the
transfer of Common Shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date,
the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the
Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested,
send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of
Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate,
in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"),
evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held. As of the Distribution Date,
the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter,
the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"),
by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as
of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown
on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for Common Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will
be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the holders thereof
together with a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto. Until the
Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration
Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Shares
outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights
attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Shares represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last
sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest
of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall
have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the
following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain rights (the "Rights") as set forth in a Rights
Agreement between Excite, Inc. and BankBoston, N.A., dated as of
October 15, 1998, as such may subsequently be amended (the
"Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the
principal executive offices of Excite, Inc.. 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. Excite, Inc. will mail to the
holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement
without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. As
described in Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement, Rights
beneficially owned by any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person
(as defined in the Rights Agreement) and certain other Persons
shall become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also
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<PAGE> 9
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any
Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any
Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed cancelled and retired
so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with
the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be printed
on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B hereto and
may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries
or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights
may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the other
provisions of this Agreement, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share as
shall be set forth therein at the Purchase Price, but the number of such one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject to
adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Right Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its
Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents, or its
Treasurer, either manually or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed thereto
the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by
facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be manually countersigned by
the Rights Agent (unless applicable exchange rules and law permit facsimile
signature, in which case the Rights Agent signature may be by facsimile) and
shall not be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of
the Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to
be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and
issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may
be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company
with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Right
Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Right
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the
actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of
the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to
be kept, at its principal office, books for registration and transfer of the
Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of
Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of
each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates. Subject
to the provisions of Section 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
earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right
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<PAGE> 10
Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right Certificates representing
Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof or that have
been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates,
entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered
then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to
transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right
Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent,
and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office of the
Rights Agent. Thereupon the Company shall execute and the Rights Agent shall
countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or
Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require
payment of a sum by the holders of Rights sufficient for any tax or governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up,
combination or exchange of Right Certificates.
Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right
Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new
Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the
registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in
whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the
Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side
thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the principal office of the Rights
Agent, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth
of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the
earliest of (i) the Close of Business on October 15, 2008 (the "Final Expiration
Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23
hereof (the "Redemption Date"), or (iii) the time at which such Rights are
exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.
(b) The purchase price for each one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share pursuant to the exercise of a Right (the "Purchase Price") shall
initially be $175.00, shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of
the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and certificate duly
executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be
purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid
by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof by
certified check, cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the
Company, the Rights
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<PAGE> 11
Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of
the Preferred Shares certificates for the number of one-one thousandths of a
Preferred Share to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes
its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from any
depositary agent for the Preferred Shares depositary receipts representing such
number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in
which case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts
shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the
Company hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii)
when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in
lieu of issuance of fractional Preferred Shares in accordance with Section 14
hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause
the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt, deliver such cash to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right
Certificate or to such holder's duly authorized assigns, subject to the
provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available, out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares
or any Preferred Shares held in its treasury, the number of Preferred Shares
that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights
in accordance with this Section 7.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of
any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate following the form of
election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate
surrendered for such exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver
all cancelled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written
request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Right Certificates, and in such
case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
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<PAGE> 12
Section 9. Status and Availability of Preferred Shares. The Company
covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to
ensure that all Preferred Shares delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the
time of delivery of the certificates for such Preferred Shares (subject to
payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and
fully paid and non-assessable shares.
The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and
payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of
any Preferred Shares upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of
any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred
Shares in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right
Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver
any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares upon the exercise
of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being
payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or
until it has been established to the Company's reasonable satisfaction that no
such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred
Shares represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date
upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and
payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made.
Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right
Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares
for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the
right to vote, 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 of Shares or Number of
Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares covered by 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 Shares payable in
Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine
the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or
(D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(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 capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted
so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to
receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such
Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date, 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
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<PAGE> 13
Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the
Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.
(ii) Subject to the last paragraph of this
subparagraph (ii) and to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event that any
Person shall become an Acquiring Person, unless the event causing the Designated
Percentage threshold to be crossed and the Person to thereby become an Acquiring
Person is a transaction set forth in Section 13 hereof, each holder of a Right
shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal
to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares,
such number of Common Shares of the Company as shall equal the result obtained
by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable and
dividing that product by (y) 50% of the then current per share market price of
the Company's Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the
date such Person became an Acquiring Person.
From and after the occurrence of any Person becoming
an Acquiring Person, any Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned
by such Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring
Person) shall be void and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no
right to exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. No Right
Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to
the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof; no Right
Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to an
Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence
or any Associate or Affiliate thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring
Person, Associate or Affiliate; and any Right Certificate delivered to the
Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void
pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof shall
be canceled. This paragraph shall apply not only to an initial Acquiring Person,
and its Affiliates and Associates, but also to subsequent Acquiring Persons, and
their Affiliates and Associates.
(iii) In the event that the number of Common Shares
which are authorized by the Company's certificate of incorporation and not
outstanding or subscribed for, or reserved or otherwise committed for issuance
for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights, is not sufficient to permit
the holder of each Right to purchase the number of Common Shares to which such
holder would be entitled upon the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of this Section 11, the
Company shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Common Shares
issuable upon the exercise of a Right (calculated as provided in the last
sentence of this subparagraph (iii)) pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof (the
"Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess, the "Spread"), and
(B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for such
Common Shares, upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a
reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Shares or other equity securities of
the Company (including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of
preferred stock which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined to
have the same value as shares of common stock (such equity securities, "common
stock equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or
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<PAGE> 14
(6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the
Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company in good faith; provided, however, if the Company shall
not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above
within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of an
event triggering the rights to purchase Common Shares described in Section
11(a)(ii) 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)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to
deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right without requiring payment of
the Purchase Price, shares of common stock (to the extent available) and then,
if necessary, cash, which shares and cash have an aggregate value equal to the
Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith
that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of common stock could be
authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day
period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more
than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that
the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such
additional shares (such period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution
Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be
taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii),
the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(f) hereof, that such action
shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the
exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in
order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and
to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company
shall make a public announcement, and shall deliver to the Rights Agent a
statement, stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended. At such time as the suspension is no longer in effect, the Company
shall make another public announcement, and deliver to the Rights Agent a
statement, so stating. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the
Common Shares shall be the current per share market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) of the Common Shares on the Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any "common stock equivalent" shall be
deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares 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 Shares
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having
the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent
preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or
equivalent preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share or equivalent
preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the
then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in
Section 11(d)) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the
number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total
number of Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so
to be offered) would purchase at such current market price and the denominator
of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred
shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or
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<PAGE> 15
into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially
convertible); 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 exercise of one Right. In
case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which
shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be
deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the
event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making
of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Shares) or subscription rights 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 then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such
record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences
of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to one Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be such
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares; 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
to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be
the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose
of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such Security for the 30 consecutive Trading
Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date;
provided, however, that in the event that the current per share market price of
the Security is determined during a period following the announcement by the
issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Security
payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares,
or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security and
prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination
or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per share market
price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per
share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to
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trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market,
as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. ("Nasdaq") or such other system
then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the Board
of Directors of the Company. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which
the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Security
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a
Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
the "current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined
in accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred
Shares are not publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market
price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)
(appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof), multiplied by one hundred. If
neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so
listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per
share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent.
(e) 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 one-millionth
of a Preferred Share or one one-thousandth of any other share or security as the
case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than three years
from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled
to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Preferred
Shares, the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right
shall thereafter be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on
terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the
Preferred Shares contained in Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive, and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with respect to the Preferred Shares
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
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Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject
to further adjustment as provided herein.
(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
one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one
ten-millionth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number
of one one-thousandths of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this
adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights in substitution
for any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after
such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of
one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights
(calculated to the nearest one 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 Right
Certificates have been distributed, shall be at least 10 days later than the
date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been distributed,
upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing,
subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall
be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company,
shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and
replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right
Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
after such adjustment. Right Certificates to be so distributed shall be issued,
executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be
registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the
record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial Right
Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below one one-thousandth of the then par value of
the Preferred Shares issuable
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<PAGE> 18
upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which
may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may
validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable Preferred Shares at such
adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of
the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Shares and 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 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 it in its sole discretion shall determine
to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the
Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or
securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for
Preferred Shares, (iii) dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred
Shares or (iv) issuance of any rights, options or warrants referred to
hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) In the event that at any time after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (ii) effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise other than by payment of dividends in Common
Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case
(i) the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable after
such event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying
the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share so purchasable
immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before such event and the
denominator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately
after such event, and (ii) each Common Share outstanding immediately after such
event shall have issued with respect to it that number of Rights which each
Common Share outstanding immediately prior to such event had issued with respect
to it. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be made
successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision,
combination or consolidation is effected.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 and 27,
take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if the purpose of such action
is to, or if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that
such action will, diminish substantially or eliminate the benefits intended to
be afforded by the Rights.
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Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or the
Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power. In the event that any Person shall become an Acquiring Person,
and, directly or indirectly, (a) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge
with and into, an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person, (b) an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person, shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the Company
and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger
and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be
changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or
the Company) or cash or any other property, or (c) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50%
or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person, 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 null and
void) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at a
price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares,
such number of Common Shares of the Person in the transaction (including the
Company as successor thereto or as the surviving corporation) who is issuing the
consideration with the greatest fair market value to the Company and its
stockholders in connection with such transaction (the "Principal Issuer") as
shall equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a
Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then
current per share market price of the Common Shares of the Principal Issuer
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of
such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (ii) the Principal Issuer shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant
to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer
to the Principal Issuer; and (iv) the Principal Issuer shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its
Common Shares in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such
consummation as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to the
Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights. The
Company covenants and agrees that it shall not consummate any such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and the
Principal Issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement so providing. The Company shall not enter into any
transaction of the kind referred to in this Section 13 if at the time of such
transaction there are any rights, warrants, instruments or securities
outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the
consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially diminish the
benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. The provisions of this Section
13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations or sales or
other transfers.
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Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In
lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of
the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a),
the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the
Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such
fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any
day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes
place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way,
in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if
the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq
or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not
quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such
market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on
such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company
shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between
the Company and a depositary selected by it; provided, that such agreement shall
provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights,
privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of
the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of
fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fractions of the current market
value of one Preferred Share. For the purposes of this Section 14(b), the
current market value of a Preferred Share shall be the closing price of a
Preferred Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section
11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right
expressly waives any right to receive fractional Rights or fractional shares
upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
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Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares) may, without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), in such holder's own behalf and for
such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit,
action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect
of, such holder's right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right
Certificate in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and
will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations of
any Person subject to, this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right 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 the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books maintained by the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
the associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common Shares
certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all
purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares 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 Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
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 to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
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Section 18. Compensation and Indemnity of the Rights Agent. The Company
agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services
rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent,
its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the
administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance
of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent
(including employees, directors, officers and agents of the Rights Agent) for,
and to 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 (including employees, directors, officers and agents of the Rights
Agent), for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent (including employees,
directors, officers and agents of the Rights Agent) in connection with the
acceptance and administration of this Agreement.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
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 stock transfer or
corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment
as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case
at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by
this Agreement any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of
the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not
have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name
of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates
shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this
Agreement.
In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of
the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed
name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Rights and Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent
undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the
following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of
Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may
be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
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(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any
action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof
be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the General Counsel,
the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent;
and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any
action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith unless a
court of competent jurisdiction determines that the Rights Agent's gross
negligence or willful misconduct was the primary cause of any loss to the
Company or any holder of a Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, any holder of a Right as holder of a Common Share). The Rights Agent makes
no representation or warranty with respect to and is not responsible for the
validity, value or availability of the Rights, the Right Certificates or the
Preferred Shares.
(d) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with,
its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or
certificate for the Common Shares 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 be signed, executed and, where
necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or
otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in this Section 20.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be assumed to have knowledge of
and shall not be required to take note of or act upon any fact or circumstance
including, without limitation, the occurrence of facts or circumstances leading
to the Shares Acquisition Date or the Distribution Date, facts or circumstances
relating to whether any Person may be an Affiliate or an Associate of any other
Person, facts or circumstances relevant to an adjustment to the Purchase Price,
facts or circumstances relevant to events described in Section 13 (mergers,
etc.), Section 23 (redemption) and Section 24 (exchange) which may be relevant
to performance by the rights Agent under this Agreement unless the Company has
provided written notice thereof to the Rights Agent; and the Company agrees that
it will (i) promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing of the occurrence of the
Shares Acquisition Date (including the identity of the Acquiring Person and the
date on which the Shares Acquisition Date occurred), the Distribution Date, the
Redemption Date, and of any events described in Section 13 (merger), and (ii)
promptly provide the Rights Agent with such other information as the Rights
Agent may reasonably request in connection with the performance of its duties
under this Agreement.
(f) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special,
indirect or consequential damage or loss of any kind whatsoever (including but
not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the
likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action, provided
the Rights Agent has acted in good faith under this Agreement.
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<PAGE> 24
(g) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by
the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(h) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, any Vice President, the General Counsel, the Secretary or the
Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of
any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those
instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from
the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any
action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent with respect to its
duties or obligations under this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after
which such action shall be taken or omitted and the Rights Agent shall not be
liable for any action taken or omitted in accordance with a proposal included in
any such application on or after the date specified therein (which date shall
not be less than three Business Days after the date any such officer actually
receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in
writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking or omitting any such action,
the Rights Agent has received written instructions in response to such
application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(i) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(j) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself
or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such
act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in
the selection and continued employment thereof.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to
the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall
otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
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period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been
notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit such holder's Right Certificate for inspection by the
Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be (i) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States or of the State of California (or of any other state of the United
States so long as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking
institution in the State of California), in good standing, having an office in
the State of California, which is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50
million dollars or (ii) a subsidiary of a corporation described in clause (i) of
this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested
with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to
the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice
provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not
affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, following the
Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, in
connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares pursuant to the exercise
of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement or upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of other securities of the Company, in each case, which
options or securities are outstanding prior to the Distribution Date, the Board
of Directors shall 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 and this sentence shall be null and
void ab initio if, and to the extent that, such issuance or this sentence would
create a significant risk of or result in material adverse tax consequences to
the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or
would create a significant risk of or result in such options' or employee plans'
or arrangements' failing to qualify for otherwise available special tax
treatment 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.
22
<PAGE> 26
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, by a resolution
of the Board of Directors, at its option, at any time prior to such time as any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all but not less than all the then
outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter
referred to as the "Redemption Price"). After the period for redemption of the
Rights has expired, the Board of Directors may not extend the period for
redemption of the Rights or otherwise provide for their redemption. The
redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such
time, on such basis and subject to such conditions as the Board of Directors in
its sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of
this Section 23, 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. 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. Within 10 days after such action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a), the Company
shall mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding
Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. If the payment of the Redemption Price is not included in such notice,
each such notice shall state the method by which the payment of the Redemption
Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates
may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner
other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24
hereof, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to
the Distribution Date.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, authorize and direct
the exchange of all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights
(which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio (the
"Exchange Ratio") of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not
be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than
the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any such Subsidiary or any entity holding Common Shares for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of a majority of the
Common Shares then outstanding.
23
<PAGE> 27
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant Section 24(a) hereof
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 Common Shares 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 will state the method by which the exchange
of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any
partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial
exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than
Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company,
at its option, may substitute Preferred Shares (or common stock equivalents, as
such term is defined in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) for Common Shares
exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share (or common stock equivalents) for each Common Share, as
appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the
Preferred Shares pursuant to the terms thereof, so that the fraction of a
Preferred Share delivered in lieu of each Common Share shall have the same
voting rights as one Common Share.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common
Shares, Preferred Shares or common stock equivalents authorized by the Company's
certificate of incorporation and not outstanding or subscribed for, or reserved
or otherwise committed for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of
Rights, to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this
Section 24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize additional Common Shares, Preferred Shares or common stock equivalents
for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common
Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current per share market value of a whole Common Share.
For the purposes of this paragraph (e), the current per share market value of a
whole Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make
any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the
24
<PAGE> 28
holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to
purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any
other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its
Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision
of outstanding Preferred Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger
into or with, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more
of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more
transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay
any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares),
then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and each
holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of
such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of
such stock dividend, or 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 Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, if any such
date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 days prior to the record date
for determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and
in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the date of the
taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the
holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the
earlier.
(b) In case any event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall occur, then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to
each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event
and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
Excite, Inc.
555 Broadway
Redwood City, California 94063
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made
if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
25
<PAGE> 29
BankBoston, N.A.
c/o Boston Equiserve Limited Partnership
150 Royall Street
Canton, Massachusetts 02021
Attention: Client Administration
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate 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 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may, by a
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, from time to time, and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company directs, supplement or amend this Agreement
without the approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order to cure any
ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other
provisions or changes with respect to the Rights which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable, including, without limitation, to modify or amend the
definition of Acquiring Person set forth in Section 1(a) hereof, to change the
Purchase Price set forth in Section 7(b), or to extend or shorten the period for
redemption of the Rights; provided, however, that from and after such time as
any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall not be amended in
any manner which would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights
(other than an Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates), including,
without limitation, to extend the period for redemption of the Rights, or
otherwise provide for their redemption, or to provide for an earlier Final
Expiration Date. Any such supplement or amendment will be evidenced by a writing
signed by the Company and the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall not be
obligated to enter into any amendment or supplement to this Agreement which in
the opinion of the Rights Agent, may materially adversely affect the rights,
duties, liabilities to the Company or immunities to the Company of the Rights
Agent.
Section 28. 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 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to
the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, then such term, provision,
covenant or restriction shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and
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.
26
<PAGE> 30
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and
performed entirely within such State.
Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
Section 34. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
27
<PAGE> 31
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
Company:
EXCITE, INC.
By: /s/ Robert C. Hood
-----------------------------------
Name: Robert C. Hood
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief
Administrative Officer and Chief
Financial Officer
Rights Agent:
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
By: /s/ Geoffrey D. Anderson
-----------------------------------
Name: Geoffrey D. Anderson
Title: Director
28
<PAGE> 32
EXHIBIT A
FORM
of
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
of
SERIES F JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
EXCITE, INC.
(Pursuant to Section 151 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law)
------------
Excite, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Corporation"),
hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation as required by Section 151 of the General
Corporation Law at a meeting duly called and held on September 24, 1998:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of this Corporation (hereinafter called the "Board of
Directors" or the "Board") in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Corporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a
series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Preferred Stock"),
of the Corporation and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and
fixes the relative rights, preferences, and limitations thereof as follows:
Series F Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series F Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series F
Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series F Preferred
Stock shall be 250,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by
resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce
the number of shares of Series F Preferred Stock to a number less than the
number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation
convertible into Series F Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any
series of Preferred Stock (or any other stock) ranking prior and superior to the
Series F Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of
Series F Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared
by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose,
quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June, September
and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a
"Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series F Preferred Stock, in an amount (if any) per share (rounded to the
nearest cent), subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
<PAGE> 33
equal to 1000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and
1000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash
dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company or
a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of
Series F Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare
or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend
in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series F
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the
preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series F Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(C) Dividends due pursuant to paragraph (A) of this Section
shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series F
Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date
of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the
record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case
dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such
shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a
date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series
F Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall
begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the
shares of Series F Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of
such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated
pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time
outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination
of holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of
a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more
than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series F Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series F Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof
to 1000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of
Series F Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
2
<PAGE> 34
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other
Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar
stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock and the
holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation
having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by
law, holders of Series F Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and
their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to
vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate
action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series F Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2
are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series F Preferred Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series F Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series F
Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series F Preferred Stock
and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in
proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then
entitled; or
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series F Preferred Stock,
provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of
the Corporation ranking junior (as to dividends and upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) to the Series F Preferred Stock.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of
this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series F Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the
Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designations
creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise
required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, the holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock shall be entitled
to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any assets of the
Corporation to the holders of Common Stock, the amount of $10.00 per
3
<PAGE> 35
share for each share of Series F Preferred Stock then held by them. Thereafter,
the holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive
an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 1000 times the aggregate amount to be
distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal
to any accrued and unpaid dividends. In the event the Corporation shall at any
time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which
holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(B) If the assets of the Corporation legally available for
distribution to the holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation are insufficient to
pay the full preferential amount set forth in the first sentence of paragraph
(A) above, then the entire assets of the Corporation legally available for
distribution to the holders of Series F Preferred Stock shall be distributed
among such holders in proportion to the shares of Series F Preferred Stock then
held by them.
(C) The foregoing rights upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up provided to the holders of Series F Preferred Stock shall be subject
to the rights of the holders of any other series of Preferred Stock (or any
other stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series F Preferred Stock upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or other property, then in any such case each share of
Series F Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 1000 times the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may
be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on
the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the
exchange or change of shares of Series F Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series F Preferred Stock shall
not be redeemable.
4
<PAGE> 36
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is executed on
behalf of the Corporation by its President and attested by its Assistant
Secretary this 15th day of October, 1998.
EXCITE, INC.
By:_____________________________________
Vice President and Secretary
5
<PAGE> 37
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R- _____ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER OCTOBER 15, 2008 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR
EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.001 PER
RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
EXCITE, INC.
This certifies that ____________________ or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of October 15, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement"), between
Excite, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and BankBoston, N.A. (the
"Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution
Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 p.m.,
Massachusetts Time, on October 15, 2008 at the principal office of the Rights
Agent, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of
a fully paid non-assessable share of Series F Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company, at a
purchase price of $175.00 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the
"Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate
with the Certification and the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise
hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number
and Purchase Price as of _________, 1998, based on the Preferred Shares as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase
Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company and the above-mentioned offices of the Rights Agent.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date
evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of
Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this
Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of
$0.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in
<PAGE> 38
whole or in part for Preferred Shares or shares of the Company's Common Stock,
par value $0.001 per share.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election
of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Dated as of _______ __, 199_.
ATTEST:
EXCITE, INC.
By:________________________________ By:________________________________
Countersigned:
BANKBOSTON, N.A., Rights Agent
By:________________________________
Authorized Signature
2
<PAGE> 39
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ___________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto ___________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee) this Right Certificate, together
with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably
constitute and appoint __________________________________________________,
Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ________________________
___________________________________
Signature
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION
(BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH
MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO
S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15
--------------------------------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
___________________________________
Signature
<PAGE> 40
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate--continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate)
To _______________________:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _____________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares
issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for
such Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
_____________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
_____________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Dated: __________, 199_
___________________________________
Signature
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION
(BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH
MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO
S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15
2
<PAGE> 41
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate--continued
---------------------------------------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement).
___________________________________
Signature
---------------------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must
conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not
completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of
the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such
Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
3
<PAGE> 42
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On September 24, 1998, the Board of Directors of Excite, Inc. (the
"Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right")
for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the
"Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable to stockholders of
record on October 30, 1998 (the "Record Date"). In addition, one Right shall be
issued with each Common Share that becomes outstanding (i) between the Record
Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date (as defined below), the date the
Rights are redeemed and the date the Rights expire or (ii) following the
Distribution Date and prior to the date the Rights are redeemed and the date the
Rights expire, pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee
plan or arrangement or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of other
securities of the Corporation, which options or securities were outstanding
prior to the Distribution Date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series F Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Preferred
Shares"), of the Company, at a price of $175.00 per one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description
and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights
Agreement") between the Company and BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement or disclosure that a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons (an "Acquiring Person"), has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the outstanding Common Shares or (ii) 10 business days (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to the time
a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person), following the announcement of an
intention to make a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which
would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person (the earlier of
such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced,
with respect to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the
Record Date, by such Common Share certificates with a copy of this Summary of
Rights attached thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Person shall
become an Acquiring Person if the Board of Directors of the Company determines
in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person has
become such inadvertently, and such Person as promptly as practicable takes such
actions as may be necessary so that such Person would no longer be considered an
Acquiring Person and (ii) the Designated Percentage shall be 20% for any person
or group of affiliated or associated persons who or which held beneficial
ownership of 5% or more of Common Shares of the Company outstanding as of
September 24, 1998.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new
Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date, upon transfer or new
issuance of Common Shares, will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a
copy of this Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such
certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights will be mailed to holders of record of the
Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and such
separate certificates alone will evidence the Rights. If Common shares are
issued or sold after the Distribution Date (but prior to the redemption or
expiration of the Rights) in connection with the exercise of stock options or
upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities of the Company
outstanding prior to the
<PAGE> 43
Distribution Date, the Company shall issue the appropriate number of Rights in
connection with such issuance or sale.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on October 15, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the
expiration date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than
the then current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in
Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common
Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a quarterly dividend
payment of 1000 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of
liquidation, each Preferred Share will be entitled to a $10.00 preference, and
thereafter the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to an aggregate
payment of 1000 times the aggregate payment made per Common Share. Each
Preferred Share will have 1000 votes, voting together with the Common Shares.
Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive
1000 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by
customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a Preferred
Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of
one Common Share.
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, unless the
event causing the Designated Percentage threshold to be crossed and the Person
to thereby become an Acquiring Person is a merger, acquisition or other business
combination described in the next paragraph each holder of a Right, other than
Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be
void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of
Common Shares having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right
on the terms and conditions set forth in the Rights Agreement. If the Company
does not have authorized but unissued Common Shares sufficient to satisfy such
obligation to issue Common Shares, the Company is obligated to deliver upon
payment of the exercise price of a Right an amount of cash or other securities
equivalent in value to the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of a Right.
In the event that any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
the Company merges into or engages in certain other business combination
transactions with an Acquiring Person, or 50% or more of its consolidated assets
or earning power are sold to an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other
than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person, will thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the
Right, that number of shares of common stock of
ii
<PAGE> 44
the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market
value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to
the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other
than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person), in whole or in part, at an exchange
ratio of one Common Share, or one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or of a
share of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent
rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.
At any time prior to such time as a person or group becomes an
Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in
whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the "Redemption Price").
The redemption of the Rights 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. After the period for redemption of the Rights has expired, the Board
may not amend the Rights Agreement to extend the period for redemption of the
Rights. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the
Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by a resolution of the Board of
Directors without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that from and
after such time as any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, no such
amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other
than an Acquiring Person).
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
October __, 1998. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge
from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
iii
