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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
AUGUST 6, 1999
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland 000-22091 33-0724736
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification Number)
14 North Adger's Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(843) 723-4653
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
not applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
ADOPTION OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
On August 6, 1999, the Board of Directors of Golf Trust of
America, Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for
each outstanding share of Company Common Stock to stockholders of record at the
close of business on September 6, 1999 (the "Record Date"). Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share
of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $75.00, subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Shareholder Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in the
Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days following
a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
(an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire,
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(the "Stock Acquisition Date"), other than as a result of repurchases of stock
by the Company or certain inadvertent actions by institutional or certain other
stockholders or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as the Board shall
determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that
would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person. Until the
Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock
certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock
certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date
will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and
(iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement,
the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a
Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number
of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be
issued.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on September 6, 2009, unless
earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights.
On the Distribution Date, proper provision will be made by the
Company in order to provide each holder (other than the Company) of partnership
units in Golf Trust of America, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or any
downREIT partnership the Company may form with such number of Rights,
represented by Right Certificates, as would have been issued to such holder had
such holder exchanged such holder's partnership units for Common Shares pursuant
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to the terms and conditions of the applicable partnership agreement prior to the
Distribution Date. Except for such unitholders and except as otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock issued prior
to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, except
pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the
independent directors determine to be at a price which is fair and not
inadequate and to otherwise be in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms
(a "`Qualified Offer"), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash,
property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times
the exercise price of the Right. The Exercise Price is the Purchase Price times
the number of shares of Common Stock associated with each Right. Notwithstanding
any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the event set forth in this
paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the
Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or an
affiliate or associate thereof will be null and void. However, Rights are not
exercisable following the occurrence of the event set forth above until such
time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $75 per Right, each Right
not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following an
event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase
$150 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $75.
Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $25 at such time, the
holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 6 shares of Common
Stock for $75.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than
with an entity which acquired the shares pursuant to a Qualified Offer), (ii)
the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in
which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Common Stock of the
Company is changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or
cash flow is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which
have previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right
to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company (or in certain
circumstances, its parent) having a value equal to two times the exercise price
of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second preceding
paragraph are referred to as the "`Triggering Events."
At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more
of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board 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 share of Common Stock or one one-hundredth of
a share of Preferred Stock (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).
At any time until ten business days following the Stock
Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $0.01 per Right (payable
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in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board
of Directors); provided, however, that no director may vote for such
redemption unless such director either (a) is a Continuing Director or (b)
has been a member of the Board of Directors for at least 180 days. A
"Continuing Director" is any member of the Board of Directors of the Company
(while such person is a member of the Board) who (i) is not an Acquiring
Person, or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person, or a
representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such affiliate or associate,
and (ii) either (A) was a member of the Board of Directors prior to the time
any person became an Acquiring Person, or (B) became a member of the Board of
Directors subsequent to the time any person became an Acquiring Person, if
such member's nomination for election, or re-election, to the Board was
recommended, or approved, by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in
office.. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the
holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.01 redemption price.
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. While the distribution of the Rights
will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the
Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the
Company or for common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the
redemption of the Rights as set forth above.
Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended
by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After
the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time
period under the Rights Agreement. The foregoing notwithstanding, no amendment
may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge
from the Rights Agent. 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 incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(c) EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are part of this current report on Form
8-K and are numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Description
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<S> <C>
3.1 Articles Supplementary relating to the Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, as filed with the State
Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland
on August 27, 1999.
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4.1 Rights Agreement between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services LLC, dated August 24, 1998, as Rights Agent.
4.2 Form of Rights Certificate (included as Exhibit B to the Rights
Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.1).
4.3 Form of Common Stock certificate (including the legend specified
in the Rights Agreement) for all shares issued on or after
September 6, 1998.
99.1 Press Release issued by the Company on August 12, 1999
announcing the adoption of the shareholder rights plan.
99.2 Letter from the Company to its Stockholders, dated August 24,
1999 announcing the adoption of the shareholder rights plan.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: August 30, 1999 By: /s/ W. Bradley Blair II
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W. Bradley Blair, II
President and Chief Executive
Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Pursuant to Item 601(a)(2) of Regulation S-K, this exhibit
index immediately precedes the exhibits.
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<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Description
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3.1 Articles Supplementary relating to the Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, as filed with the State
Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland
on August 27, 1999.
4.1 Rights Agreement between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services LLC, dated August 24, 1998, as Rights Agent.
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4.2 Form of Rights Certificate (included as Exhibit B to the Rights
Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.1).
4.3 Form of Common Stock certificate (including the legend specified
in the Rights Agreement) for all shares issued on or after
September 6, 1998.
99.1 Press Release issued by the Company on August 12, 1999
announcing the adoption of the shareholder rights plan.
99.2 Letter from the Company to its Stockholders, dated August 24,
1999 announcing the adoption of the shareholder rights plan.
</TABLE>
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Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
Establishing a Series of Preferred Stock Designated
SERIES B JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
Golf Trust of America, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and
Taxation of Maryland (the "SDAT") that:
FIRST: Pursuant to authority expressly vested in the Board of
Directors of the Corporation by Article V of the Articles of Incorporation of
the Corporation, filed with the SDAT on November 8, 1996, as amended and
restated by the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Corporation, filed
with the SDAT on January 31, 1997, as amended by the Articles of Amendment of
the Corporation, filed with the SDAT on June 9, 1998 (the "Charter"), the Board
of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of Directors"), by resolution duly
adopted at a meeting duly called held on August 6, 1999, classified and
designated 1,000,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's Preferred Stock (as
such term is used in the Charter) as shares of Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, with the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting
powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions,
qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as set forth below.
SERIES B JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
Section 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. A class of Preferred Stock
designated the "Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock," par value $0.01
per share, is hereby established. The number of authorized shares of such
Series B Preferred Stock shall be One Million (1,000,000). The Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall constitute a separate class of capital stock
of the Corporation.
Section 2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized and declared by
the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly
dividends payable in cash on the 15th day of January, April, July and October in
each year, or the next following business day, if such day is not a business day
(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 B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to
the greater of (a) $1 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter
set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount
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of all cash dividends, and 100 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 or a subdivision of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise),
declared on the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation
(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 B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time after September 6, 1999 (the "Rights Record Date") (i) authorize and
declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the
amount to which holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of ,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 authorize and declare a dividend or
distribution on the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in
Paragraph (A) above immediately after it authorizes and declares a dividend or
distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of
Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall
have been authorized and declared on the Common Stock during the period between
any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, a dividend of $1 per share on the Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares
of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, 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 B Junior Participating 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 B Junior Participating
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 B Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution authorized and declared thereon, which record date
shall be no more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
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Section 3. VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of shares of Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle
the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
holders of the Common Stock of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) authorize and declare any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number of votes per share
to which holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating 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.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, the holders of shares
of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote
of holders of the Common Stock of the Corporation.
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to
six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such contingency
shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a "default period")
which shall extend until such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends
for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly
dividend period on all shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock then outstanding shall have been authorized and declared and paid
or set apart for payment. During each default period, all holders of
Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to six (6)
quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series,
shall have the right to elect two (2) directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of
the holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be
exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to
subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of
stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders,
provided that neither such voting right nor the right of the holders
of any other series of Preferred Stock, if any, to increase, in
certain cases, the authorized number of directors shall such voting
right shall not be exercised unless the holders of ten percent (10%)
in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in
person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common
Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Preferred Stock
of such voting right. At any meeting at which the holders of
Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an
existing default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class,
to elect directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in
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the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two (2) directors or,
if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two (2)
directors. If the number which may be so elected at any special
meeting does not amount to the required number, the holders of the
Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the
number of directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by
them of the required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock
shall have exercised their right to elect directors in any default
period and during the continuance of such period, the number of
directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the
holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the
rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or PARI PASSU with
the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall,
during an existing default period, have previously exercised their
right to elect directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any
stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten
percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding, irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a
special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall
thereupon be called by the President, a Vice-President or the
Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such meeting and of any
annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to
vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each holder
of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to him
at his last address as the same appears on the books of the
Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than
20 days and not later than 60 days after such order or request or in
default of the calling of such meeting within 60 days after such order
or request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any
stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten
percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph
(C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period
within 60 days immediately preceding the date or the first day of the
period, as the case may be, fixed by the Bylaws of the Corporation for
the next annual meeting of the stockholders.
(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common
Stock, and other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable,
shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of directors
until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right
to elect two (2) directors voting as a class, after the exercise of
which right (x) the directors so elected by the holders of Preferred
Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been
elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period,
whichever happens first, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors
may (except as provided in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be
filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors theretofore
elected by the holders of the class of stock which elected the
director whose office shall have become vacant. References in this
Paragraph (C) to directors elected by the holders of a particular
class of stock shall include directors elected by such directors to
fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
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(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default
period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to
elect directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by
the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the
number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the
charter or Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the
provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being
subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law
or in the charter or Bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors
effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding
sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.
(D) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series B Junior
Participating 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 B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as
provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not authorized or declared, on
shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have
been paid in full, the Corporation shall not
(i) authorize or declare or pay dividends on, make
any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire
for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) authorize or declare or pay dividends on 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 B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except
dividends paid ratably on the Series B Junior Participating 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;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the
Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of
the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any
shares of stock ranking on
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a parity with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by
publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders
of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after
consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other
relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes,
shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable
treatment among the respective series or classes.
(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 B Junior
Participating 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 to be created by resolution or resolutions of
the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance
set forth herein.
Section 6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution
or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders
of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock
unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to $100 per share of Series
B Participating Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not authorized or declared, to
the date of such payment (the "Series B Liquidation Preference"). Following the
payment of the full amount of the Series B Liquidation Preference, no additional
distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment")
equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series B Liquidation
Preference by (ii) 100 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in
subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends
and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in
clause (ii), the "Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the full amount
of the Series B Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of
all outstanding shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and
Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and
proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of
the Adjustment Number to l with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common
Stock, on a per share basis, respectively. The merger or consolidation of the
Corporation, regardless of whether the Corporation is the
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surviving entity in such merger or consolidation, shall not be deemed to be
the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series B Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if any,
which rank on a parity with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably in the same proportion
as the respective amounts that would be payable on such Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock and any such other parity stock if all amounts
payable thereon were paid in full. In the event, however, that there are not
sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment,
then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common
Stock.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
Rights Record Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment 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.
Section 7. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. If 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 any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 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 after the Rights
Record Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series B Junior Participating 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 B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
7
<PAGE>
Section 9. RANKING.
(a) The Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any
such series shall provide otherwise.
(b) The liquidation preference of the outstanding shares of
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock will not be added to the
liabilities of the Corporation for the purpose of determining whether under the
Maryland General Corporation Law a distribution may be made to stockholders of
the Corporation whose preferential rights upon dissolution of the Corporation
are junior to those of holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
Section 10. AMENDMENT. At any time when any shares of
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the
charter nor these Articles Supplementary shall be amended in any manner which
would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of
the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely
without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority or more of the
outstanding shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting
separately as a class; provided that none of (i) the creation or issuance of
(A) additional shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock or
(B) shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock ranking junior to or on
parity with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as to the payment
of dividends and the distribution of assets, (ii) a merger or consolidation in
which the Corporation is the surviving entity and the Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock remains outstanding with no material adverse
change in its powers, preferences and special rights, or (iii) a merger or
consolidation in which the Corporation is not the surviving entity and the
holders of the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock receive in exchange
therefor a substantially identical security of the surviving entity, shall be
considered to materially adversely alter or change the powers, preferences or
special powers of the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
Section 11. FRACTIONAL SHARES. Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the
holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting
rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the
benefit of all other rights of holders of Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock.
Section 12. CERTIFICATE LEGENDS. The Board of Directors may
authorize the issue of some or all of the shares (including fractional shares)
of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock without certificates. If
issued in certificated form, each share (including each fractional share) of
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall bear substantially the
following legends in addition to any legends required to comply with federal and
state securities laws:
8
<PAGE>
CLASSES OF STOCK
THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE CAPITAL STOCK OF MORE THAN
ONE CLASS, CONSISTING OF COMMON STOCK AND ONE OR MORE CLASSES OF
PREFERRED STOCK. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS AUTHORIZED TO
DETERMINE THE PREFERENCES, LIMITATIONS AND RELATIVE RIGHTS OF ANY
CLASS OF PREFERRED STOCK BEFORE THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF SUCH
CLASS OF PREFERRED STOCK. THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT
CHARGE, TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFORE, A
COPY OF THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER AND A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE
DESIGNATIONS, RELATIVE RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, CONVERSION OR OTHER
RIGHTS, VOTING POWERS, RESTRICTIONS, LIMITATIONS AS TO THE
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF REDEMPTION OF THE STOCK OF EACH CLASS WHICH THE
CORPORATION HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE AND, IF THE CORPORATION IS
AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE ANY PREFERRED OR SPECIAL CLASS IN SERIES, (i)
THE DIFFERENCES IN THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES BETWEEN THE
SHARES OF EACH SERIES TO THE EXTENT SET, AND (ii) THE AUTHORITY OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SET SUCH RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF
SUBSEQUENT SERIES. REQUESTS FOR SUCH WRITTEN STATEMENT MAY BE
DIRECTED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL
OFFICE.
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE
CORPORATION'S MAINTENANCE OF ITS STATUS AS A REAL ESTATE
INVESTMENT TRUST UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS
AMENDED (THE 'CODE'). EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO
THE CHARTER OF THE CORPORATION, NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OWN OR
CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN (1) COMMON SHARES OF THE CORPORATION IN EXCESS
OF 9.8% OF THE LESSER OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OR VALUE OF THE
OUTSTANDING COMMON SHARES OF THE CORPORATION, (2) PREFERRED SHARES
OF THE CORPORATION IN EXCESS OF 9.8% OF THE LESSER OF THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF VALUE OF THE OUTSTANDING PREFERRED SHARES OF THE
CORPORATION, (3) EQUITY SHARES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE TRUST
BEING "CLOSELY HELD" UNDER SECTION 856(h) OF THE CODE, (4) EQUITY
SHARES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EQUITY
9
<PAGE>
SHARES BEING BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY FEWER THAN 100 PERSONS (DETERMINED
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY RULES OF ATTRIBUTION) OR (5) EQUITY SHARES
THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CORPORATION OR GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, L.P., A
DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, TO CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN 10% OR MORE OF THE
OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN A TENANT OF THE REAL PROPERTY OF THE
CORPORATION OR GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, L.P., WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SECTION 856(d)(2)(B) OF THE CODE, WITH FURTHER RESTRICTIONS AND
EXCEPTIONS SET FORTH IN THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER. ANY PERSON WHO
ATTEMPTS OR PROPOSES TO BENEFICIALLY OWN OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES
OF EQUITY SHARES IN EXCESS OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MUST IMMEDIATELY
NOTIFY THE CORPORATION IN WRITING. IF AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO VIOLATE
OR THERE IS A VIOLATION OF THESE RESTRICTIONS (I) ANY PURPORTED
TRANSFER WILL BE VOID AB INITIO AND WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED BY THE
CORPORATION, (II) THE EQUITY SHARES IN VIOLATION OF THESE
RESTRICTIONS, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF A TRANSFER OR NON-TRANSFER EVENT,
WILL BE TRANSFERRED AUTOMATICALLY AND BY OPERATION OF LAW TO A SHARE
TRUST AND SHALL BE DESIGNATED SHARES-IN-TRUST. ALL TERMS USED IN THIS
LEGEND AND DEFINED IN THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER HAVE THE MEANINGS
DEFINED IN THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM
TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH, INCLUDING THE RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP
AND TRANSFER, WILL BE SENT WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH STOCKHOLDER WHO SO
REQUESTS.
SECOND: The Shares have been classified and designated by the
Board of Directors under authority contained in the Charter.
THIRD: These Articles Supplementary have been approved by the
Board of Directors in the manner and by the vote required by law.
FOURTH: The undersigned President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Corporation acknowledges these Articles Supplementary to be the corporate
act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified
under oath, the undersigned President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and
belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this
statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
[Signature page follows.]
10
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles
Supplementary to be executed under seal in its name and on its behalf by its
President and attested to by its Secretary on this 24th day of August, 1999.
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
By: /s/ W. Bradley Blair, II
-----------------------------
W. Bradley Blair, II
President and Chief Executive
Officer
Attest:
By: /s/ David D. Joseph
---------------------------
David D. Joseph
Secretary
CERTIFICATE OF THE PRESIDENT OF GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
THE UNDERSIGNED, President of Golf Trust of America, Inc., who
executed on behalf of the Corporation the Articles Supplementary of which this
Certificate is made a part, hereby acknowledges in the name and on behalf of
said Corporation the foregoing Articles Supplementary to be the corporate act of
said Corporation and hereby certifies that the matters and facts set forth
herein with respect to the authorization and approval thereof are true in all
material respects under the penalties of perjury.
/s/ W. Bradley Blair, II
-----------------------------------------
W. Bradley Blair, II
President of Golf Trust of America, Inc.
(SEAL)
11
<PAGE>
Exhibit 4.1
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
by and between
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
as Rights Agent
Dated as of August 24, 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SECTION PAGE
<S> <C>
Section 1. Certain Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights. . . . 12
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. . . . . . . . . 14
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares . . . . . 24
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets; Cash
Flow or Earning Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Section 15. Rights of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder . . . . . . . . . 29
Section 18. Concerning The Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. . . . . . 30
i
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
<CAPTION>
SECTION PAGE
<S> <C>
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Section 23. Redemption and Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Section 24. Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Section 26. Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Section 28. Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Section 29. Determinations and Actions By The Board of Directors, Etc. . . . . . 38
Section 30. Benefits of This Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Section 31. Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Section 32. Governing Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Section 34. Descriptive Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Exhibit A Form of Articles Supplementary
Exhibit B Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C Summary of Rights
</TABLE>
ii
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of August 24, 1999
(the "Agreement"), is entered into by and between GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC., a
Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES,
L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on August 6, 1999 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company (a) authorized and declared a
dividend distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of
Common Stock, (as defined in Section 1(g) hereof) outstanding at the Close of
Business on September 6, 1999 (the "Record Date"), (b) authorized the issuance
of one Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the
provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the
Company issued between the Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered
from the Company's treasury) and the Distribution Date (hereinafter defined),
and (c) directed that, upon the occurrence of a Distribution Date, if any,
proper provision shall be made such that each Unitholder (as hereinafter
defined) shall receive such number of Rights as would have been issued to such
Unitholder upon receipt of shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the
Distribution Date if such Unitholder had then exchanged its OP Units (as
hereinafter defined) for Common Stock pursuant to the terms and conditions of
the Operating Partnership Agreement (as hereinafter defined), each Right
initially representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Preferred
Stock") having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form of
Articles Supplementary attached hereto as EXHIBIT A, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the "Rights").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement,
the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be, at any
time after the Record Date, the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding (calculated pursuant to the methodology set forth
in Section 29), but shall NOT include:
(i) the Company;
(ii) any Subsidiary of the Company;
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<PAGE>
(iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company, or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed
or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan;
(iv) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifteen
percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding as a
result of a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
due to the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company unless and
until such Person, after becoming aware that such Person has become the
Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the then outstanding
shares of Common Stock, acquires beneficial ownership of additional
shares of Common Stock representing one percent (1%) or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding; or
(v) any such Person who has reported or is required to report
such ownership (but less than twenty percent (20%), on Schedule 13G under
the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the
date of the Agreement (the "Exchange Act") (or any comparable or
successor report) or on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report) which Schedule 13D does not state any
intention to or reserve the right to control or influence the management
or policies of the Company or engage in any of the actions specified in
Item 4 of such schedule (other than the disposition of the Common Stock)
and, within ten (10) Business Days of being requested by the Company to
advise it regarding the same, certifies to the Company that such Person
acquired shares of Common Stock in excess of fourteen and nine-tenths
percent (14.9%) inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the
Rights and who, together with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter
does not acquire additional shares of Common Stock while the Beneficial
Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Person requested to so
certify fails to do so within ten (10) Business Days, then such Person
shall become an Acquiring Person immediately after such ten
(10)-Business-Day period; or
(vi) any Limited Partner, but only to the extent that such
Limited Partner's Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock results
from such Limited Partner having exchanged, or having the right to
exchange, OP Units for Common Stock, and if, but only if, such Limited
Partner, together with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter does not
acquire additional shares of Common Stock (except upon the exchange of
further OP Units) while such Limited Partner is the Beneficial Owner of
fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding.
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act.
2
<PAGE>
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "Beneficially Own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time)
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not
in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a
Person shall NOT be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "Beneficially
Own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made
by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until
such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange,
(B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the
occurrence of a Triggering Event (hereinafter defined), or (C) securities
issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a
Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date
(hereinafter defined) or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof
(the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) of this Agreement in
connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of
or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of
the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), including
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 under this subparagraph (ii) as a
result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises
solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or
consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act, and (B) is not reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D
under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such
Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for
the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable
proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this
paragraph (d)) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing in this paragraph (d) shall cause a
Person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "Beneficially Own," any securities acquired
through such Person's participation in good faith in a firm commitment
underwriting until the expiration of forty (40) days after the date of
such acquisition, and then only if such securities continue to be owned
by such Person at such expiration of forty
3
<PAGE>
(40) days, and PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that any stockholder
of the Company, with Affiliate(s), Associate(s) or other Person(s)
who may be deemed representatives of it serving as director(s) of the
Company, shall not be deemed to Beneficially Own securities held by
other Persons as a result of (A) Persons affiliated or otherwise
associated with such stockholder serving as directors or taking any
action in connection therewith, (B) discussing the status of its
shares with the Company or other stockholders of the Company
similarly situated or (C) voting or acting in a manner similar to
other stockholders similarly situated, absent a specific finding by
the Board of Directors of an express agreement among such
stockholders to act in concert with one another as stockholders so as
to cause, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, each
such stockholder to be the Beneficial Owner of the shares held by the
other stockholder(s).
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or
Ridgefield Park, New Jersey are authorized or obligated by law or executive
order to close.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
New York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock" shall mean when used with reference to the
Company, the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, except
that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the
Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting
power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having power to control
or direct the management, of such Person.
(h) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement.
(i) "Continuing Director" shall mean any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company (while such Person is a member of such Board) who (i)
is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person,
or a representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or
Associate, and (ii) either (A) was a member of the Board of Directors prior to
the time any Person became an Acquiring Person, or (B) became a member of the
Board of Directors subsequent to the time any Person became an Acquiring Person,
if such member's nomination for election, or re-election, to the Board was
recommended, or approved, by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in
office.
(j) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) of this Agreement.
(k) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement.
4
<PAGE>
(l) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) of this Agreement.
(m) "Equivalent Preferred Stock" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(b) of this Agreement.
(n) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.
(o) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 24 of this Agreement.
(p) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) of this Agreement.
(q) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) of this Agreement.
(r) "Limited Partner" means a limited partner of the Operating
Partnership, now or in the future, regardless of whether such Person remains a
limited partner in the Operating Partnership, and any legatee or devisee who
becomes a limited partner of the Operating Partnership as a result of the death
of such Person.
(s) "OP Units" shall mean units of limited partnership interest
in the Operating Partnership.
(t) "Operating Partnership" shall mean Golf Trust of America,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto, and each other
limited partnership (including those commonly called "downREIT partnerships"),
if any, in which the Company or an Affiliate of the Company acts as general
partner from time to time.
(u) "Operating Partnership Agreement" shall mean the
partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, including, in the case of
Golf Trust of America, L.P., the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Golf Trust of America, L.P., dated as of February 12, 1997, as
amended.
(v) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or other entity.
(w) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and,
to the extent that there are not a sufficient number of shares of Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of
the Rights, any other series of preferred stock of the Company designated for
such purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
5
<PAGE>
(x) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b) of this Agreement.
(y) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) of this Agreement.
(z) "Qualified Offer" shall mean a tender offer or an exchange
offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms
determined by at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who
are not officers of the Company and who are not representatives, nominees,
Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person, after receiving advice from one
or more investment banking firms, to be (i) at a price which is fair and not
inadequate (taking into account all factors which such members of the Board deem
relevant, including, without limitation, prices which could reasonably be
achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to
realize maximum value) and (ii) otherwise in the best interests of the Company
and its stockholders.
(aa) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(bb) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the WHEREAS
clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(cc) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the
parties clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(dd) "Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) of this Agreement.
(ee) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in the WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(ff) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) of this Agreement.
(gg) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) of this Agreement.
(hh) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement.
(ii) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) under
the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person
has become such other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer.
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(jj) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect at least
a majority of the directors of such corporation is Beneficially Owned, directly
or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(kk) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement.
(ll) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) of this Agreement.
(mm) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) of this Agreement.
(nn) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event
or any Section 13 Event.
(oo) "Unitholder" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(d).
Section 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, 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.
Section 3. ISSUANCE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth
Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Close of Business on
the tenth Business Day (or such later date as the Board shall determine) after
the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person is first published or
sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person
would become an Acquiring Person, in either instance other than pursuant to a
Qualified Offer (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the
"Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for the
Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which
certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for
Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of
Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). The Company must promptly
notify the Rights Agent and request the transfer agent to provide a shareholders
list. As soon as practicable after the Rights Agent receives such notice and
list, the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail,
to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company, one or more right certificates, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT B
hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of
Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided in this Agreement. In
the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per
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share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) of this
Agreement, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates,
the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding
adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) of this Agreement) so
that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights
are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As
of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced
solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) The Company will make available, as promptly as practicable
following the Record Date, a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the
form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights") to any holder of
Rights who may so request from time to time prior to the Expiration Date. With
respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date
or issued subsequent to the Record Date, unless and until the Distribution Date
shall occur, the registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the
registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such term is defined in Section
7(a) of this Agreement), the transfer of any certificates representing shares of
Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common
Stock which are issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's
treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such shares of Common
Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear
substantially the following legend if such certificates are issued after the
Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration
Date:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in the Shareholder Rights Agreement
between Golf Trust of America, Inc. and the ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C. thereunder (the "Rights Agreement"),
the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and
a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of Golf Trust
of America, 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.
Golf Trust of America, Inc. or ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C. will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the
Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without
charge, promptly after receipt of a written request therefor.
Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement,
Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an
Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such
terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held
by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may
become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the
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Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such
certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock shall also be the
registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any of such
certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with
the Common Stock represented by such certificates.
(d) On the Distribution Date, proper provision shall be made by
the Company in order to provide holders (except the Company or its wholly-owned
subsidiaries) ("Unitholders") of OP Units with such number of Rights,
represented by Rights Certificates, as such Unitholders would have received if
each such Unitholder had tendered all of its OP Units for redemption and the
Company had elected to purchase such OP Units in exchange for shares of Common
Stock, all as provided in and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
Partnership Agreement (but assuming that all such OP Units were then
redeemable), immediately prior to the Distribution Date, and such Unitholders
shall thereafter have all of the rights, privileges, benefits and obligations
with respect to such Rights as are provided for herein with respect to holders
of Common Stock.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
in the event that prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
redemption, expiration or termination of the Rights, any shares of Common Stock
of the Company are retired and cancelled in connection with the Shares-In-Trust
mechanism described in the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, then the associated Rights shall be deemed to be
similarly retired and cancelled.
Section 4. FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be
substantially in the form set forth in 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 which do not affect the
duties or responsibilities of the Rights Agent and as are not inconsistent with
the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
and Section 22 of this Agreement, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed,
shall be dated as of the Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such
exercise price per one one-hundredth of a share, the "Purchase Price"), but the
amount and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and
the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a),
Section 11(i) or Section 22 of this Agreement that represents Rights
Beneficially Owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of
an Acquiring Person; (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such; or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
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transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such
and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not
for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests
in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has
any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the
transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the
Company has determined is part of an agreement, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) of this
Agreement, and PROVIDED THAT the Company shall have notified the Rights Agent
that this Section 4(b) applies, any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to
Section 6 or Section 11 of this Agreement upon transfer, exchange,
replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this
sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly,
this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may
become null and void in the circumstances specified in
Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.
Section 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the
Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Rights 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 Rights Certificates had not ceased
to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Shareholder
Rights Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date and receipt by the Rights
Agent of the notice and list of record holders of Rights referred to in Section
3(a), the Rights Agent will keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or offices
designated pursuant to Section 26 hereof as the appropriate place for surrender
of Rights Certificates upon exercise or transfer, books for registration and
transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the
names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights
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Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the
Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT-UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF
RIGHTS CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and
Section 14 of this Agreement, at any time after the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration
Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights Certificates
representing Rights that may have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 of this
Agreement) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another
Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase
a like number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or, following
a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the
case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitles
such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase. Any
registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights
Certificate or Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the
Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office or offices of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the
Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the
transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder
shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company or
the Rights Agent shall request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section 14 of this Agreement and Section 24 of this
Agreement, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up,
combination or exchange of Rights Certificates. The Rights Agent shall not have
to process any transaction until it receives evidence that all taxes and charges
have been paid.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of
evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction,
of indemnity or security satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
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Section 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE
OF RIGHTS.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) of this Agreement, at any time
after the Distribution Date the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein
including, without limitation, the restrictions on exercisability set forth in
Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a) of this Agreement) in whole
or in part upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election
to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to
the Rights Agent at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect
to the total number of one one-hundredths of a share (or other securities, cash
or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are
then exercisable, at or prior to the earlier of (i) 5:00 P.M., New York City
time, on September 6, 2009, or such later date as may be established by the
Board of Directors prior to the expiration of the Rights (such date, as it may
be extended by the Board, the ("Final Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at
which the Rights are redeemed or exchanged as provided in Section 23 and
Section 24 of this Agreement (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred
to as the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $75.00,
and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11
and Section 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c)
below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate
duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised,
of the Purchase Price per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or
other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be
purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable tax or
governmental charge, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) of this
Agreement, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the
shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the
transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company
hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number
of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with
a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts
representing such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as
are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Preferred
Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with
the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the depositary agent to comply
with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any,
to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 of this
Agreement, (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 Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated
by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The
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payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to
Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement) shall be made in cash or by certified
bank check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company. In the event
that the Company is obligated to issue other securities (including Common
Stock) of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to
Section 11(a) of this Agreement, the Company will make all arrangements
necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are
available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when necessary to
comply with this Agreement. The Company reserves the right to require prior
to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of Rights, a
number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock
would be issued.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names
as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 6 and
Section 14 of this Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
Beneficially Owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Company have determined is part of and agreement, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this
Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any further action and no
holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such
Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company
shall notify the Rights Agent that this Section 7(e) applies and shall use all
reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and
Section 4(b) of this Agreement are complied with, but neither the Company nor
the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of Rights Certificates
or any other Person as a result of the Company's failure to make any
determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates
or transferees hereunder.
(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) properly completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner)
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or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent shall
reasonably request.
Section 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer,
split-up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of
its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled
form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no
Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver
to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall
so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the
written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and
in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL STOCK.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its
authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities or out of
its authorized and issued shares held in its treasury), the number of shares of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common
Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in this Agreement including
Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement, will be sufficient to permit the exercise
in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities)
issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any
stock exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after
such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such
issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon
such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon
as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the
Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with
Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement, a registration statement under the Act,
with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration
statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the
Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and (B) the date of the
expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such action as may be
appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
The Company by issuing a public announcement may temporarily suspend,
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for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth
in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability
of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and
permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall
issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has
been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as
the suspension has been rescinded. In addition, if the Company shall
determine that a registration statement is required following the
Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability of
the Rights until such time as a registration statement has been declared
effective. The Company shall notify the Rights Agent whenever it makes a
public announcement pursuant to this Section 9(c), and give the Rights Agent
a copy of the announcement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement
to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if
the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been
obtained, the exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law,
or a registration statement shall not have been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common
Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the
time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the
Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all taxes and governmental charges which may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and of
any certificates for a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) 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
Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a
number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than
that of the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of
one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered
holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any
such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that
no such tax is due.
Section 10. PREFERRED STOCK RECORD DATE. Each Person in whose
name any certificate for a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued
upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the
holder of record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the
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Purchase Price (and all applicable taxes and governmental charges) was made;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date
upon which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as
the case may be) transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall
be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares (fractional or
otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding
Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are open.
Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights
Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company with respect to 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 in this Agreement.
Section 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER AND KIND OF
SHARES OR NUMBER OF RIGHTS. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of 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 Stock
payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding
Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a
smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in
a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) of this
Agreement, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date
for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of
Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such
date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right
exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of
the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of
shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if
such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a
time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open,
such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to
receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment
under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) of this Agreement,
the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition
to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) of this Agreement.
(ii) In the event that any Person shall, at any time
after the Record Date, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event
causing the Person to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction set
forth in Section 13(a) of this Agreement or is an acquisition of
shares of Common Stock pursuant to a
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Qualified Offer, then, promptly following the occurrence of such
event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right
(except as provided below and in Section 7(e) of this Agreement) shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the
then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company
as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current
Purchase Price by the then number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing
that product (which, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter
be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all
purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) of this Agreement) per share of
Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number of
shares, the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common
Stock which are authorized by the Company's Articles of Amendment and
Restatement, as amended and/or restated through such date, but which
are not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than
upon exercise of the Rights, are not sufficient to permit the exercise
in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph
(ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall (A) determine the value
of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the
"Current Value"), and (B) with respect to each Right (subject to
Section 7(e) of this Agreement), make adequate provision to substitute
for the Adjustment Shares, upon the exercise of a Right and payment of
the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the
Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity securities of the
Company (including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of
preferred stock, such as the Preferred Stock, which the Board has
deemed to have essentially the same value or economic rights as shares
of Common Stock (such shares of preferred stock being referred to as
"Common Stock Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5)
other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an
aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any
reduction in the Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been
determined by the Board based upon the advice of a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to
deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days
following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right of redemption
pursuant to Section 23(a) of this Agreement 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 and without requiring payment of the
Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available) and
then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate
value equal to the Spread. For purposes of the preceding sentence,
the term "Spread" shall mean the excess of (i) the Current Value over
(ii) the Purchase Price. If the Board determines in good
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<PAGE>
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
shareholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares
(such thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended, is herein called
the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that action is to be taken
pursuant to the first and/or third sentences of this Section
11(a)(iii), the Company (1) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) of
this Agreement, that such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights, and (2) may suspend the exercisability of the
Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to
seek such shareholder approval for such authorization of additional
shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be
made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value
thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue
a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights
has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at
such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. The Company shall
notify the Rights Agent of such suspension and its termination and
shall provide the Rights Agent with a copy of each public
announcement. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of
each Adjustment Share shall be the current market price per share of
the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the per
share or per unit value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed
to equal the current market price per share of the Common Stock on
such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or shares
having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred
Stock ("Equivalent Preferred Stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred
Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share,
if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock)
less than the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) of
this Agreement) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase
Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred
Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of
Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such
record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or
Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into
which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible).
In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration, part
or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such
consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company, whose
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<PAGE>
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent
and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company
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 or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in
effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing corporation), cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out
of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a
dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock
other than Preferred Stock) or evidences of indebtedness, or of subscription
rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) of this
Agreement), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Market
Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) of this Agreement) per share of
Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of
the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Preferred Stock, and
the denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock. Such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and
in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other
than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement,
the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be
deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such
Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days immediately
prior to and not including such date, and for purposes of computations
made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) of this Agreement, the Current Market
Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for
the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following and not
including such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event that the
Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock is determined during a
period following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of
(A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of
such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common
Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Stock, and the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification shall not have occurred prior to the
commencement of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or
19
<PAGE>
ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth above, then, and in each
such case, the Current Market Price shall be properly adjusted to take
into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day
shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if
the shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common
Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common
Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation System ("Nasdaq") or such other system then in use, or, if
on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Common
Stock selected by the Board. If on any such date no market maker is
making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on
such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used. The
term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is
not publicly held or not so listed or traded, Current Market Price per
share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith
by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the Current
Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the same
manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause (i) of this
Section 11(d) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the Current
Market Price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the
manner provided above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or
listed or traded in a manner described in clause (i) of this
Section 11(d), the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock
shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 100 (as such number
may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock
dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock
occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the Current
Market Price per share of the Common Stock. If neither the Common Stock
nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, Current
Market Price per share of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value
per share as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall
be conclusive for all purposes. For all purposes of this Agreement, the
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<PAGE>
Current Market Price of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock
shall be equal to the Current Market Price of one share of Preferred
Stock divided by 100.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (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 ten-thousandth of
a share of Common Stock or other share or one-millionth of a share of Preferred
Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this
Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later
than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which
mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) of this Agreement, the holder of any Right
thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital
stock other than Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly
equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock
contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and
the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 of this Agreement with respect to
the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to
any adjustment made to the Purchase Price under this Agreement shall evidence
the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock 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-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
ONE-MILLIONTH) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths
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 lieu of any
adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after
the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of
one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
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<PAGE>
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment.
Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights
shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
one-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price
in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company
shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of
Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the
time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the
date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if
the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days
later than the date of the public announcement. The Company shall
immediately notify the Rights Agent of such election and shall provide the
Rights Agent with a copy of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates
have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to
this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to
be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record
date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 of this Agreement,
the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of
such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be
distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the
Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued,
executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear,
at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be
registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on
the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one
one-hundredth of a share and the number of one one-hundredth of a share which
were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of the number
of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and nonassessable such number of one one-hundredths of
a share of Preferred Stock 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 (with notice to the Rights Agent) to
defer until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right
exercised after such record date the number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise over and
22
<PAGE>
above the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock 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 (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon
the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of
Directors of the Company shall determine to be advisable in order that any
(i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly
for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the Current Market Price,
(iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities which
by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred
Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants
referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Preferred Stock, shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with
Section 11(o) of this Agreement), (ii) merge with or into any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with
Section 11(o) of this Agreement), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any
Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related
transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than 50% of
the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with
Section 11(o) of this Agreement), if (x) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other
instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale, the shareholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of
Section 13(a) of this Agreement shall have received a distribution of Rights
previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26
of this Agreement, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the
time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will
diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
in the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on
the outstanding shares of Common
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Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number of Rights associated with
each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered
thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately
adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each share
of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by
multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock
immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator which shall be
the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to
the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the
occurrence of such event.
Section 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF
SHARES. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13
of this Agreement, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting
forth such adjustment and a brief, reasonably detailed statement of the facts,
computations and methodology accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file
with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Stock and
the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate and (c) if a Distribution Date has
occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate
(or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a Certificate
representing shares of Common Stock) in accordance with Section 27 of this
Agreement. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such
certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.
Section 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS;
CASH FLOW OR EARNING POWER.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with
and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o) of this Agreement) and the Company
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or
merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction
which complies with Section 11(o) of this Agreement) shall consolidate with, or
merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with
such consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any
other Person or cash or any other property or (z) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets, cash
flow or earning power aggregating more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets,
cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) of
this Agreement), then, and in each such case (except as may be contemplated by
Section 13(d) of this Agreement), proper provision shall be made so that:
(i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) of this
Agreement, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
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<PAGE>
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully
paid, non-assessable and freely tradable shares of Common Stock of the
Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject to any
liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as
shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current
Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has
occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the
number of such one one-hundredths of a share for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first
occurrence), and (2) dividing that product (which, following the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase
Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by fifty
percent (50%) of the Current Market Price (determined pursuant to Section
11(d)(i) of this Agreement) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal
Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such
Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue
of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company
pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be
deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that
the provisions of Section 11 of this Agreement shall apply only to such
Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv)
such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to,
the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in
connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary
to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as
nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the
provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) of this Agreement shall be of no effect
following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x)
or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the
issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company
are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are
so issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger or
consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause
(z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets, cash flow or earning power
transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and such Person is
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person, the Common Stock of which is
and has been so registered, then "Principal Party" shall refer to such other
Person, and (2) in case such Person is a
25
<PAGE>
Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common
Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so registered, then
"Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of
the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or
reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal
Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of
any consolidation, merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this
Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become effective
as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective
(with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act)
until the Expiration Date; and
(ii) take such all such other action as may be necessary
to enable the Principal Party to issue the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights, including but not limited to the registration or
qualification of such securities under all requisite securities laws of
jurisdictions of the various states and the listing of such securities on
such exchanges and trading markets as may be necessary or appropriate;
and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates
which comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on
Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Section 13
Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event,
the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become
exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in
subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is
consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock
pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of
Common Stock which is a Qualified Offer (or a wholly owned subsidiary of any
such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per share of Common Stock offered in
such transaction is not less than the price per share of Common Stock paid to
all holders of shares of Common Stock whose shares were purchased pursuant to
such
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tender offer or exchange offer and (iii) the form of consideration being
offered to the remaining holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such
transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such
tender offer or exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction
contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
Section 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p) of
this Agreement, or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional
Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to the
registered holders of the Rights 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 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 of the Rights 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
shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of
one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or
to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a
share of Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that
are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock,
the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value
of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-hundredth of
the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(ii) of this Agreement) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date of such exercise.
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(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company
shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise
of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay
to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are
exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of one (1) share of Common Stock. For purposes of this
Section 14(c), the current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be
the closing price of one share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(i) of this Agreement) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the
date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect of
this Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the
foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance
of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. AGREEMENT OF RIGHTS HOLDERS. Every holder of a Right
by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the
appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) of this Agreement,
the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name a
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common
Stock certificate) is
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registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby
(notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights
Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone other
than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) of this Agreement, shall be required to be affected by any
notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree, judgment or ruling whether interlocutory or
final issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental,
regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule,
regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental
authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the Company must use its best efforts to have any such order,
decree, judgment or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. RIGHTS CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER.
No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the
Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in Section 25 of this Agreement), or to receive dividends or
subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such
Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
Section 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery,
amendment, administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the
Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, damage,
judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement cost or expense, incurred
without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the
Rights Agent, for any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in
connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including
without limitation the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability in the premises. The indemnity provided herein shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and the termination and the expiration of the
Rights. The costs and expenses incurred in
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enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the Company.
Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent
be liable for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss
or damage 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. Any liability of the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement will
be limited to the amount of fees paid by the Company to the Rights Agent.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be authorized and protected and
shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common
Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or
transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction,
consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons. The Rights Agent shall be fully
protected in relying on any such paper or document and on any information or
instructions therein contained. The Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have a
duty to act on any notice of public announcement by the Company unless and until
the Company has actually provided the Rights Agent with such notice or with a
copy of such public announcement, as applicable.
Section 19. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS
AGENT.
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the
shareholder services or stock transfer powers or performance of the shareholder
services 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;
but only if such Person would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights
Agent under the provisions of Section 21 of this Agreement. In case at the time
such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this
Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a
predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned;
and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the
successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such
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Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in
the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes
the duties and obligations, and only the duties and obligations, expressly
imposed by this Agreement (and no implied duties or obligations) upon the
following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of
Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Company) and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall
be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to, and
the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of, any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and
the determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established by the
Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting 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 the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice
President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and
the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken,
suffered or omitted in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement
in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable under this Agreement only
for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any liability
responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required
under the provisions of Section 11, Section 13 or Section 24 of this Agreement
or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment
(except with respect to the exercise of
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Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such
adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any
shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common
Stock or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by
the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any
Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company,
and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties, and such instruction shall be full authorization and protection to the
Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with instructions of any such officer. The Rights Agent may
conclusively rely on the most recent instructions given by any such officer.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, affiliate, director,
officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the
Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in
any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not
Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights
Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person
or legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights
or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by
or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable
or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys
or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct; absent gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct
in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability
in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if it believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to
the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form
of assignment or form
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of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not been completed or
indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights
Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested
exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
Section 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or
certified mail, and, if such resignation occurs after the Distribution Date, to
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The
Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty
(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 Stock and
Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and, if such removal occurs
after the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by
first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall
otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal, then any
registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights
Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a
Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or one
of the United States, in good standing, having an office in the State of New
York, which 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 $10,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a
legal business entity described in clause (a) 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 Stock and the
Preferred Stock and, if such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date,
mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be. In case at the time such successor Rights
Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights
Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
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Section 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding
any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by the 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 Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company
(a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to
the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted
or awarded as of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any
other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights
in connection with such issuance or sale; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall
be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of
material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such
Rights Certificate would be issued and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be
issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. REDEMPTION AND TERMINATION.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth
Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition
Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the Close of Business on the
tenth Business Day following the Record Date) or (ii) the Close of Business on
the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then
outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, as such amount may
be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being
hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no
director may vote for such redemption unless such director either (a) is a
Continuing Director or (b) has been a member of the Board of Directors for at
least 180 days. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event until such time as the Company's right of redemption
hereunder has expired. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price
in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the Current Market Price, as defined
in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or
any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, without any further action
and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the
only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the
Redemption Price for each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board
of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give
notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of
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the then outstanding Rights by (in the case of notice to holders) mailing
such notice to all such holders at each holder's last address as it appears
upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution
Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any
notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given,
whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of
redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price
will be made.
Section 24. EXCHANGE.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part
of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights
that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e)
hereof) for Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per
Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company 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 Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for
or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of
this Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right
to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the
holders of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock
equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the
Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice and notice to the
Rights Agent 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 Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial
exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange
shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights
which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) of this
Agreement) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company,
at its option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock, as
such term is defined in paragraph (b) of Section 11 of this Agreement) for
Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-hundredth
of a share of Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock) for each share of
Common Stock, as appropriately
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adjusted to reflect stock splits, stock dividends and other similar
transactions after the date hereof.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of
Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any
exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Board
of Directors of the Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary to
authorize additional shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the
Rights.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock,
there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with
regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this
subsection (e), the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall
be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) of this Agreement) 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, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred
Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or
merger into or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in
a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) of this Agreement), 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 transaction or a series of related
transactions, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets, cash flow or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries
in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) of this
Agreement), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and
to each holder of a Rights 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, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date
on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of
participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any
such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any
action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to
the record date for
36
<PAGE>
determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such
action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days
prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock
whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) of
this Agreement shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as
soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to
the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 of this Agreement, a
notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the
consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) of this
Agreement, and (ii) all references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred Stock
shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate,
other securities.
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 Rights
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 by the Company with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Golf Trust of America, Inc.
14 North Adger's Wharf
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
Attention: Scott D. Peters
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company) as follows:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
85 Challenger Road
Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07660-2108
Attention: General Counsel
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate
(or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates
representing shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent
by first-class mail, postage pre-paid, addressed to such holder at the address
of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. Prior to the
Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock.
From and after the Distribution Date,
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<PAGE>
the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement
or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights
Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen
any time period hereunder (PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that after the time that any
Person has become an Acquiring Person, no director may vote for such a
shortening or lengthening unless such director either (a) is a Continuing
Director or (b) has been a member of the Board of Directors for at least 180
days) or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner
which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other
than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this Agreement may not be supplemented or
amended, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, so as to lengthen (A) a
time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the
Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such
lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the
rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights; and PROVIDED,
FURTHER, that the Company may not require the Rights Agent to change or
increase its duties or obligations under this Agreement without the Rights
Agent's consent. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate
officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment
is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, and if requested by the
Rights Agent an opinion of counsel, the Rights Agent shall execute such
supplement or amendment unless the Rights Agent shall have determined in good
faith that such supplement or amendment would increase its duties or
obligations or limit its rights or benefits under this Agreement. Prior to
the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed
coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may not be
amended at a time when the Rights are not redeemable.
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. DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
ETC. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for
purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of
Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in
accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company
shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to
exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the
Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret
the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement).
All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including,
for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing)
which are done or made by the Board in good
38
<PAGE>
faith shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights
Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other Persons and (y) not subject
the Board, or any of the directors on the Board to any liability to the
holders of the Rights.
Section 30. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this
Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
Section 31. SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or
restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its
good faith judgment (with notice to the Rights Agent) that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23
hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business
on the tenth Business Day following the date of such determination by the
Board of Directors. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision
requiring the approval of certain members of the Board of Directors of the
Company is held to by any court of competent jurisdiction or other authority
to be invalid, void or unenforceable, such determination shall then be made
by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with applicable law
and the Company's Articles of Amendment and Restatement and Bylaws.
Section 32. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement, each Right and
each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract
made under the laws of the State of Maryland and for all purposes shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State
applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State;
except that the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within such State.
Section 33. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all
purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. Descriptive headings of the
several sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and
shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the
provisions hereof.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC., a
Maryland corporation
By: /s/ W. Bradley Blair, II
-----------------------------------
W. Bradley Blair, II
President and Chief Executive
Officer
Attest:
By: /s/ David D. Joseph
-----------------------------------
David D. Joseph
Secretary
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES, L.L.C, a New Jersey limited
liability company
By: /s/ Nathan L. Hill
-----------------------------------
Name: Nathan L. Hill
Title: Assistant Vice President
Attest:
By: /s/ Minnie Parker
-----------------------------------
Name: Minnie Parker
Title: Assistant Vice President
40
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
Establishing a Series of Preferred Stock Designated
SERIES B JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
Golf Trust of America, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and
Taxation of Maryland (the "SDAT") that:
FIRST: Pursuant to authority expressly vested in the Board of
Directors of the Corporation by Article V of the Articles of Incorporation of
the Corporation, filed with the SDAT on November 8, 1996, as amended and
restated by the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Corporation,
filed with the SDAT on January 31, 1997, as amended by the Articles of
Amendment of the Corporation, filed with the SDAT on June 9, 1998 (the
"Charter"), the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of
Directors"), by resolution duly adopted at a meeting duly called held on
August 6, 1999, classified and designated 1,000,000 shares (the "Shares") of
the Company's Preferred Stock (as such term is used in the Charter) as shares
of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, with the preferences,
conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of
redemption as set forth below.
SERIES B JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
Section 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. A class of Preferred Stock
designated the "Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock," par value
$0.01 per share, is hereby established. The number of authorized shares of
such Series B Preferred Stock shall be One Million (1,000,000). The Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall constitute a separate class of
capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized and declared
by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose,
quarterly dividends payable in cash on the 15th day of January, April, July
and October in each year, or the next following business day, if such day is
not a business day (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 B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the
nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1 or (b) subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share
amount
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of all cash dividends, and 100 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 or a subdivision of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise),
declared on the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation
(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 B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time after September 6, 1999 (the "Rights Record Date") (i) authorize and
declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the
amount to which holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of ,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 authorize and declare a dividend or
distribution on the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided
in Paragraph (A) above immediately after it authorizes and declares a
dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable
in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or
distribution shall have been authorized and declared on the Common Stock
during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1 per share on the
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable
on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such
shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, 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 B Junior Participating 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 B Junior Participating 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 B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution authorized and declared thereon, which record date shall be no
more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
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<PAGE>
Section 3. VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of shares of Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle the
holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders
of the Common Stock of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall
at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) authorize and declare any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide
the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock
into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number of votes
per share to which holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating
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.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, the holders of shares of
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a
vote of holders of the Common Stock of the Corporation.
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to
six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such contingency
shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a "default period")
which shall extend until such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends
for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly
dividend period on all shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock then outstanding shall have been authorized and declared and paid
or set apart for payment. During each default period, all holders of
Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to six (6)
quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series,
shall have the right to elect two (2) directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of the
holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be exercised
initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of
this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of stockholders, and
thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders, provided that neither such
voting right nor the right of the holders of any other series of
Preferred Stock, if any, to increase, in certain cases, the authorized
number of directors shall such voting right shall not be exercised unless
the holders of ten percent (10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a
quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by
the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at
which the holders of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right
initially during an existing default period, they shall have the right,
voting as a class, to elect directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in
A-3
<PAGE>
the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two (2) directors or, if
such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two (2) directors.
If the number which may be so elected at any special meeting does not
amount to the required number, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall
have the right to make such increase in the number of directors as shall
be necessary to permit the election by them of the required number.
After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right
to elect directors in any default period and during the continuance of
such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased
except by vote of the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or
pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or PARI
PASSU with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during
an existing default period, have previously exercised their right to
elect directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or
stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of
the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective
of series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders
of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the
President, a Vice-President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice
of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred
Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be
given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of
such notice to him at his last address as the same appears on the books
of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier
than 20 days and not later than 60 days after such order or request or in
default of the calling of such meeting within 60 days after such order or
request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder
or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%)
of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph (C)(iii), no such
special meeting shall be called during the period within 60 days
immediately preceding the date or the first day of the period, as the
case may be, fixed by the Bylaws of the Corporation for the next annual
meeting of the stockholders.
(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common Stock,
and other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable, shall
continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of directors until the
holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect
two (2) directors voting as a class, after the exercise of which right
(x) the directors so elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall
continue in office until their successors shall have been elected by such
holders or until the expiration of the default period, whichever happens
first, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as
provided in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a
majority of the remaining directors theretofore elected by the holders of
the class of stock which elected the director whose office shall have
become vacant. References in this Paragraph (C) to directors elected by
the holders of a particular class of stock shall include directors
elected by such directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of
the foregoing sentence.
A-4
<PAGE>
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period,
(x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect
directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by the
holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number
of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the charter
or Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of
Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however,
to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the charter or
Bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the
provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled
by a majority of the remaining directors.
(D) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series B Junior
Participating 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 B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as
provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not authorized or declared, on
shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall
have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not
(i) authorize or declare or pay dividends on, make any
other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends
or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) authorize or declare or pay dividends on 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 B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid
ratably on the Series B Junior Participating 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;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series
B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may
at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such
parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation
or winding up) to the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of
stock ranking on
A-5
<PAGE>
a parity with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except
in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication
(as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares
upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the
respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and
preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in
good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the
respective series or classes.
(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 B Junior
Participating 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 to be created by resolution or
resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and
restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
Section 6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders
of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to
$100 per share of Series B Participating Preferred Stock, plus an amount
equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or
not authorized or declared, to the date of such payment (the "Series B
Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full amount of the
Series B Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to
the holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock
unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have
received an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to the quotient
obtained by dividing (i) the Series B Liquidation Preference by (ii) 100 (as
appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such
events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to
the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii), the "Adjustment Number").
Following the payment of the full amount of the Series B Liquidation
Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively,
holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and holders of
shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of
the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number
to l with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share
basis, respectively. The merger or consolidation of the Corporation,
regardless of whether the Corporation is the
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<PAGE>
surviving entity in such merger or consolidation, shall not be deemed to be
the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series B Liquidation Preference
and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if
any, which rank on a parity with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably in the same
proportion as the respective amounts that would be payable on such Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and any such other parity stock if all
amounts payable thereon were paid in full. In the event, however, that there
are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common
Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the
holders of Common Stock.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
Rights Record Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares
of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such
event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment 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.
Section 7. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. If 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 any other property, then in any such case
the shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same
time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the
provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 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 after the Rights Record Date (i) declare any dividend on Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding
Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the
preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series
B Junior Participating 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 B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
A-7
<PAGE>
Section 9. RANKING.
(a) The Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall rank
junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any
such series shall provide otherwise.
(b) The liquidation preference of the outstanding shares of Series
B Junior Participating Preferred Stock will not be added to the liabilities
of the Corporation for the purpose of determining whether under the Maryland
General Corporation Law a distribution may be made to stockholders of the
Corporation whose preferential rights upon dissolution of the Corporation are
junior to those of holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
Section 10. AMENDMENT. At any time when any shares of Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the charter nor
these Articles Supplementary shall be amended in any manner which would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely
without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority or more of the
outstanding shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting
separately as a class; provided that none of (i) the creation or issuance of
(A) additional shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock or (B)
shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock ranking junior to or on
parity with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, (ii) a merger or
consolidation in which the Corporation is the surviving entity and the Series
B Junior Participating Preferred Stock remains outstanding with no material
adverse change in its powers, preferences and special rights, or (iii) a
merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is not the surviving entity
and the holders of the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock receive
in exchange therefor a substantially identical security of the surviving
entity, shall be considered to materially adversely alter or change the
powers, preferences or special powers of the Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock.
Section 11. FRACTIONAL SHARES. Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the
holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting
rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the
benefit of all other rights of holders of Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock.
Section 12. CERTIFICATE LEGENDS. The Board of Directors may
authorize the issue of some or all of the shares (including fractional
shares) of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock without
certificates. If issued in certificated form, each share (including each
fractional share) of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall bear
substantially the following legends in addition to any legends required to
comply with federal and state securities laws:
A-8
<PAGE>
CLASSES OF STOCK
THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE CAPITAL STOCK OF MORE THAN
ONE CLASS, CONSISTING OF COMMON STOCK AND ONE OR MORE CLASSES OF
PREFERRED STOCK. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS AUTHORIZED TO
DETERMINE THE PREFERENCES, LIMITATIONS AND RELATIVE RIGHTS OF ANY
CLASS OF PREFERRED STOCK BEFORE THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF SUCH
CLASS OF PREFERRED STOCK. THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT
CHARGE, TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFORE, A
COPY OF THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER AND A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE
DESIGNATIONS, RELATIVE RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, CONVERSION OR OTHER
RIGHTS, VOTING POWERS, RESTRICTIONS, LIMITATIONS AS TO THE
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF REDEMPTION OF THE STOCK OF EACH CLASS WHICH THE
CORPORATION HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE AND, IF THE CORPORATION IS
AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE ANY PREFERRED OR SPECIAL CLASS IN SERIES, (i)
THE DIFFERENCES IN THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES BETWEEN THE
SHARES OF EACH SERIES TO THE EXTENT SET, AND (ii) THE AUTHORITY OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SET SUCH RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF
SUBSEQUENT SERIES. REQUESTS FOR SUCH WRITTEN STATEMENT MAY BE
DIRECTED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL
OFFICE.
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE
CORPORATION'S MAINTENANCE OF ITS STATUS AS A REAL ESTATE
INVESTMENT TRUST UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS
AMENDED (THE 'CODE'). EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO
THE CHARTER OF THE CORPORATION, NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OWN OR
CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN (1) COMMON SHARES OF THE CORPORATION IN EXCESS
OF 9.8% OF THE LESSER OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OR VALUE OF THE
OUTSTANDING COMMON SHARES OF THE CORPORATION, (2) PREFERRED SHARES
OF THE CORPORATION IN EXCESS OF 9.8% OF THE LESSER OF THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF VALUE OF THE OUTSTANDING PREFERRED SHARES OF THE
CORPORATION, (3) EQUITY SHARES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE TRUST
BEING "CLOSELY HELD" UNDER SECTION 856(h) OF THE CODE, (4) EQUITY
SHARES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EQUITY
A-9
<PAGE>
SHARES BEING BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY FEWER THAN 100 PERSONS (DETERMINED
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY RULES OF ATTRIBUTION) OR (5) EQUITY SHARES THAT
WOULD CAUSE THE CORPORATION OR GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, L.P., A DELAWARE
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, TO CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN 10% OR MORE OF THE OWNERSHIP
INTERESTS IN A TENANT OF THE REAL PROPERTY OF THE CORPORATION OR GOLF
TRUST OF AMERICA, L.P., WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 856(d)(2)(B) OF
THE CODE, WITH FURTHER RESTRICTIONS AND EXCEPTIONS SET FORTH IN THE
CORPORATION'S CHARTER. ANY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTS OR PROPOSES TO
BENEFICIALLY OWN OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF EQUITY SHARES IN EXCESS
OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MUST IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE CORPORATION IN
WRITING. IF AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO VIOLATE OR THERE IS A VIOLATION OF
THESE RESTRICTIONS (I) ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER WILL BE VOID AB INITIO AND
WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CORPORATION, (II) THE EQUITY SHARES IN
VIOLATION OF THESE RESTRICTIONS, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF A TRANSFER OR
NON-TRANSFER EVENT, WILL BE TRANSFERRED AUTOMATICALLY AND BY OPERATION
OF LAW TO A SHARE TRUST AND SHALL BE DESIGNATED SHARES-IN-TRUST. ALL
TERMS USED IN THIS LEGEND AND DEFINED IN THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER HAVE
THE MEANINGS DEFINED IN THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER, AS THE SAME MAY BE
AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH, INCLUDING THE RESTRICTIONS
ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER, WILL BE SENT WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH
STOCKHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS.
SECOND: The Shares have been classified and designated by the
Board of Directors under authority contained in the Charter.
THIRD: These Articles Supplementary have been approved by the
Board of Directors in the manner and by the vote required by law.
FOURTH: The undersigned President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Corporation acknowledges these Articles Supplementary to be the corporate
act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified
under oath, the undersigned President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and
belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this
statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
[Signature page follows.]
A-10
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles
Supplementary to be executed under seal in its name and on its behalf by its
President and attested to by its Secretary on this [__] day of [_____], 1999.
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
W. Bradley Blair, II
President and Chief Executive
Officer
Attest:
By:
----------------------------------
David D. Joseph
Secretary
CERTIFICATE OF THE PRESIDENT OF GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
THE UNDERSIGNED, President of Golf Trust of America, Inc., who
executed on behalf of the Corporation the Articles Supplementary of which this
Certificate is made a part, hereby acknowledges in the name and on behalf of
said Corporation the foregoing Articles Supplementary to be the corporate act of
said Corporation and hereby certifies that the matters and facts set forth
herein with respect to the authorization and approval thereof are true in all
material respects under the penalties of perjury.
---------------------------------------
W. Bradley Blair, II
President of Golf Trust of
America, Inc.
(SEAL)
A-11
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R-____________ ____________________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER SEPTEMBER 6, 2009, UNLESS EXTENDED PRIOR THERETO BY THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE
SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER RIGHT ON THE
TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
[THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR
ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED
HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e)
OF SUCH AGREEMENT.](1)
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, 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 Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of
August 24, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Golf Trust of America, Inc., a
Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C, a New Jersey limited liability company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase
from the Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on
September 6, 2009 (unless such date is extended prior thereto by the Board of
Directors) at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid,
non-assessable share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock'.) of the Company, at a purchase price of $75.00 per one
one-hundredth of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender
of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related
Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate (and the number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise
thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price
- ---------------------------
(1) The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
B-1
<PAGE>
per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of September
6, 1999, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. The
Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering
Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) that a number of
Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be
issued.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or
Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such transfer, became an
Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, such
Rights shall become null and void without any further action and no holder
hereof shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether
under any provision of the Rights Agreement or otherwise, from and after the
occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the
number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities, which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events,
including Triggering Events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, covenants
and restrictions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, covenants and
restrictions 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 Rights Certificates,
which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the
exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the
Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the
above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent and are also available upon written
request to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights
Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights
Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights
entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of one one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase.
If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be
entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a
redemption price of $0.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the
Close of Business on (i) the tenth
B-2
<PAGE>
Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such time period may be
extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii) the Final Expiration
Date. In addition, under certain circumstances following the Stock
Acquisition Date, the Rights may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for
shares of the Common Stock, or shares of preferred stock of the Company
having essentially the same value or economic rights as such shares.
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
authorizing any such exchange, and without any further action or any notice,
the Rights (other than Rights which are not subject to such exchange) will
terminate and the Rights will only enable holders to receive the shares
issuable upon such exchange.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock), but in
lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
The Company, at its election, may require that a number of Rights be exercised
so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred
Stock 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 consent to or withhold consent from 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 Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
B-3
<PAGE>
WITNESS the manual or facsimile signature of the proper officers of
the Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of ________________ ___, _______.
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
[name]
President and Chief Executive
Officer
Attest:
By:
--------------------------------
[name]
Secretary
[SEAL]
Countersigned:
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C
By:
---------------------------------
Authorized Signature
B-4
<PAGE>
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer
the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and
transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
- ---------------------------
_________________________________________________
- ---------------------------
_____________________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF
ASSIGNEE)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________
Attorney to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company with full power of substitution.
Dated:
------------------------ ---------------------------------------
(SIGNATURE)
---------------------------------------
(PRINT NAME)
Signature Guaranteed:
---------------------------------------
(SIGNATURE)
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate / / is / / is not being sold,
assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it / / did / / did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated:
------------------------ ---------------------------------------
(SIGNATURE)
---------------------------------------
(PRINT NAME)
Signature Guaranteed:
---------------------------------------
(SIGNATURE)
NOTICE: The signature(s) on the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name(s) as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-5
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if the holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the
Rights Certificate.)
To: GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
____________________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to
purchase the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights
(or such other securities of the Company or of any other person which may be
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for
such shares be issued in the name of and delivered to:
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY
OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER
- --------------------------------------
________________________________________
- --------------------------------------
_______________________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY
OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER
- --------------------------------------
________________________________________
- --------------------------------------
_______________________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE)
Dated:
------------------------ ---------------------------------------
(SIGNATURE)
---------------------------------------
(PRINT NAME)
Signature Guaranteed:
---------------------------------------
(SIGNATURE)
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate / / are
/ / are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);; and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it / / did / / did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated:
------------------------ ---------------------------------------
(SIGNATURE)
---------------------------------------
(PRINT NAME)
Signature Guaranteed:
---------------------------------------
(SIGNATURE)
NOTICE: The signature(s) on the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name(s) as written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-6
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS
On August 6, 1999, the Board of Directors of Golf Trust of America,
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
outstanding share of Company Common Stock to stockholders of record at the
Close of Business on September 6, 1999 (the "Record Date"). Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth
of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01
per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $75.00, subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a
Shareholder Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in
the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days following
a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
(an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire,
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(the "Stock Acquisition Date"), other than as a result of repurchases of stock
by the Company or certain inadvertent actions by institutional or certain other
stockholders or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as the Board shall
determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that
would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person. Until the
Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock
certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock
certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date
will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and
(iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement,
the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a
Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number
of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be
issued.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on September 6, 2009, unless
earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
Close of Business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights.
On the Distribution Date, proper provision will be made by the
Company in order to provide each holder (other than the Company) of partnership
units in Golf
C-1
<PAGE>
Trust of America, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or any downREIT
partnership the Company may form with such number of Rights, represented by
Right Certificates, as would have been issued to such holder had such holder
exchanged such holder's partnership units for Common Shares pursuant to the
terms and conditions of the applicable partnership agreement prior to the
Distribution Date. Except for such unitholders and except as otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock issued
prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, except
pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the
independent directors determine to be at a price which is fair and not
inadequate and to otherwise be in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms
(a "'Qualified Offer"), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash,
property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times
the exercise price of the Right. The Exercise Price is the Purchase Price times
the number of shares of Common Stock associated with each Right.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the event set
forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring
Person or an affiliate or associate thereof will be null and void. However,
Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the event set forth above
until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set
forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $75 per Right, each Right not
owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following an event
set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $150
worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $75.
Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $25 at such time, the
holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 6 shares of Common
Stock for $75.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than
with an entity which acquired the shares pursuant to a Qualified Offer),
(ii) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction
in which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Common Stock of the
Company is changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or
cash flow is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which
have previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right
to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company (or in certain
circumstances, its parent) having a value equal to two times the exercise price
of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second
preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more of the
outstanding Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights
owned by such
C-2
<PAGE>
person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange
ratio of one share of Common Stock or one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock (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).
At any time until ten business days following the Stock
Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $0.01 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other
consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors); provided, however,
that no director may vote for such redemption unless such director either (a) is
a Continuing Director or (b) has been a member of the Board of Directors for at
least 180 days. A "Continuing Director" is any member of the Board of Directors
of the Company (while such person is a member of the Board) who (i) is not an
Acquiring Person, or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person, or a
representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such affiliate or associate, and
(ii) either (A) was a member of the Board of Directors prior to the time any
person became an Acquiring Person, or (B) became a member of the Board of
Directors subsequent to the time any person became an Acquiring Person, if such
member's nomination for election, or re-election, to the Board was recommended,
or approved, by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office..
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the
Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights
will be to receive the $0.01 redemption price.
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. While the distribution of the Rights
will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the
Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the
Company or for common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the
redemption of the Rights as set forth above.
Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time
period under the Rights Agreement. The foregoing notwithstanding, no amendment
may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from
the Rights Agent. 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 incorporated herein by reference.
C-3
<PAGE>
Exhibit 4.3
[face of certificate]
COMMON STOCK COMMON STOCK
NUMBER SHARES
GTA ___________ __________
[logo]
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND
THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERRABLE IN THE CITIES OF
RIDGEFILD PARK, NJ, SAN FRANCISCO, CA AND NEW YORK, NY
SEE REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CUSIP: 38168B 10 3
THIS CERTIFIES THAT ________________________________________________________ IS
THE OWNER OF ____________________ FULLY PAID AND NON ASSESSABLE SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK OF THE PAR VALUE OF $0.01 EACH OF
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person
or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly
endorsed. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by
the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC. has caused this certificate
to be executed by the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers and
has caused a facsimile of its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed.
Dated:
/s/ David J. Dick [SEAL] /s/ W. Bradley Blair, II
- --------------------------------- -------------------------------------
Executive Vice President Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and President
COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, LLC.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
---------------------------------
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
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[Reverse of Certificate]
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.
THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE CAPITAL STOCK OF MORE THAN ONE
CLASS, CONSISTING OF COMMON STOCK AND ONE OR MORE CLASSES OF PREFERRED STOCK.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE THE PREFERENCES, LIMITATIONS
AND RELATIVE RIGHTS OF ANY CLASS OF PREFERRED STOCK BEFORE THE ISSUANCE OF
SHARES OF SUCH CLASS OR PREFERRED STOCK. THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT
CHARGE, TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFORE, A COPY OF THE
CORPORATION'S CHARTER AND A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE DESIGNATIONS, RELATIVE
RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, CONVERSION OR OTHER RIGHTS, VOTING POWERS, RESTRICTIONS,
LIMITATIONS AS TO THE DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS, QUALIFICATION AND TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF REDEMPTION OF THE STOCK OF EACH CLASS WHICH THE CORPORATION
HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE AND, IF THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE ANY
PREFERRED OR SPECIAL CLASS IN SERIES, (i) THE DIFFERENCES IN THE RELATIVE RIGHTS
AND PREFERENCES BETWEEN THE SHARES OF EACH SERIES TO THE EXTENT SET, AND (ii)
THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SET SUCH RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF
SUBSEQUENT SERIES. REQUESTS FOR SUCH WRITTEN STATEMENT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE
SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE.
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS
ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE CORPORATION'S MAINTENANCE OF
ITS STATUS AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF
1986, AS AMENDED (THE 'CODE'). EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THE
CHARTER OF THE CORPORATION, NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OWN OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN
(1) COMMON SHARES OF THE CORPORATION IN EXCESS OF 9.8% OF THE LESSER OF THE
TOTAL NUMBER OR VALUE OF THE OUTSTANDING COMMON SHARES OF THE CORPORATION, (2)
PREFERRED SHARES OF THE CORPORATION IN EXCESS OF 9.8% OF THE LESSER OF THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF VALUE OF THE OUTSTANDING PREFERRED SHARES OF THE CORPORATION, (3)
EQUITY SHARES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE TRUST BEING "CLOSELY HELD" UNDER SECTION
856(h) OF THE CODE, (4) EQUITY SHARES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EQUITY SHARES
BEING BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY FEWER THAN 100 PERSONS (DETERMINED WITHOUT REFERENCE
TO ANY RULES OF ATTRIBUTION) OR (5) EQUITY SHARES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE
CORPORATION OR GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, L.P., A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, TO
CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN 10% OR MORE OF THE OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN A TENANT OF THE
REAL PROPERTY OF THE CORPORATION OR GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, L.P., WITHIN THE
MEANING OF SECTION 856(d)(2)(B) OF THE CODE, WITH FURTHER
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RESTRICTIONS AND EXCEPTIONS SET FORTH IN THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER. ANY
PERSON WHO ATTEMPTS OR PROPOSES TO BENEFICIALLY OWN OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN
SHARES OF EQUITY SHARES IN EXCESS OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MUST IMMEDIATELY
NOTIFY THE CORPORATION IN WRITING. IF AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO VIOLATE OR THERE
IS A VIOLATION OF THESE RESTRICTIONS (I) ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER WILL BE VOID
AB INITIO AND WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CORPORATION, (II) THE EQUITY
SHARES IN VIOLATION OF THESE RESTRICTIONS, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF A TRANSFER
OR NON-TRANSFER EVENT, WILL BE TRANSFERRED AUTOMATICALLY AND BY OPERATION OF
LAW TO A SHARE TRUST AND SHALL BE DESIGNATED SHARES-IN-TRUST. ALL TERMS USED
IN THIS LEGEND AND DEFINED IN THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER HAVE THE MEANINGS
DEFINED IN THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO
TIME, A COPY OF WHICH, INCLUDING THE RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER,
WILL BE SENT WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH STOCKHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS.
THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES THE HOLDER HEREOF TO CERTAIN
RIGHTS AS SET FORTH IN THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOLF TRUST OF
AMERICA, INC. AND THE CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C. THEREUNDER (THE
"RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY
REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF GOLF TRUST
OF AMERICA, 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. GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC. OR
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C. WILL MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS
CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, AS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MAILING,
WITHOUT CHARGE, PROMPTLY AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO, OR
HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE
OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT),
WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT
HOLDER, MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
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The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this
certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT ______Custodian _______
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties (Cust) (Minor)
JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of under Uniform Gifts to Minors
survivorship and not as tenants Act _____________________
in common (State)
UNIF TRF MIN ACT ______Custodian (until age __)
(Cust)
_______under Uniform Transfers
(Minor)
to Minors Act _____________
(State)
</TABLE>
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
______________________________________
______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ Shares
of the common stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint
______________________________________________________________________ Attorney
to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with
full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated_____________________
X____________________________
X____________________________
NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE(S) OF THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST
CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON
THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY
PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR
ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.
Signature(s) Guaranteed
By________________________________________________
THE 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.
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Exhibit 99.1
Press Release
GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED A SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
CHARLESTON, S.C.--Aug. 12, 1999--Golf Trust of America, Inc. announced today
that its Board of Directors adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan on August 6,
1999. The Plan is designed to enable all Golf Trust shareholders to receive
fair and equal treatment in the event that an unsolicited attempt is made to
acquire control of Golf Trust. The key provision of the Plan is the
distribution, to each of Golf Trust's outstanding common shares, of one stock
purchase right that will trade together with the shares and will become
exercisable only upon certain triggering events.
W. Bradley Blair, II, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Golf
Trust, explained, "The Plan is being put in place to guard against coercive
tender offers and other abusive takeover tactics that do not offer all of our
shareholders full and fair value of their stock. The Plan should give our
Board of Directors the time and negotiating leverage it needs to strike the
best deal with a potential acquirer. The Plan is not meant to discourage an
acquisition of Golf Trust that would be in our shareholder's best interest."
The Plan was not adopted in response to any specific acquisition proposals
and the Board is not aware of any proposals to acquire a position in or
control over Golf Trust.
Under the Plan, Golf Trust will distribute, to its shareholders, Rights to
purchase one one-hundredth of a share of a newly created series of Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock for $75.00. One Right will be
distributed to each share of common stock outstanding on September 6, 1999 or
later. The distribution will not be taxable to shareholders. The Rights will
trade together with the common shares and will not be exercisable until the
tenth day after a public announcement that one person or group has acquired
15% of Golf Trust's common stock or until the tenth day after any person or
group begins a tender offer that would result in ownership of 15% of Golf
Trust's common stock, subject to certain exceptions. At such time, proper
provision shall be made so that each limited partner of Golf Trust's
operating partnership shall receive the number of Rights that it would have
received if it had converted its limited partnership units into shares of
common stock. Prior to such time, the Rights may be redeemed by the Board for
$0.01 each. Under certain circumstances, if someone acquires 15% or more of
Golf Trust's common stock, the Rights permit shareholders other than the
acquirer to purchase common stock having a market value of twice the exercise
price of the rights, in lieu of the preferred stock. In addition, in the
event of certain business combinations, the Rights permit their holders to
purchase commons stock of the acquirer at a 50% discount. The Rights expire
on September 6, 2009.
Golf Trust of America, Inc., with headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina,
is a self-administered REIT formed to capitalize on the consolidation
opportunities in the ownership of golf courses in the United States. The
Company's business strategy is to acquire high quality golf courses and lease
them to qualified third party lessees, including affiliates of the sellers.
The Company currently has interest in 47 courses throughout the United States
including the following states: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan,
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Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas,
Virginia and West Virginia.
To receive Golf Trust of America's latest news and other corporate
developments via fax, please call 843-723-4653.
Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.
Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from
those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a
number of factors including general economic conditions, competition for golf
course acquisitions, the availability of equity and debt financing, interest
rates and other risk factors as outlined in the Company's SEC reports,
including the prospectus dated November 4, 1997 and the annual report on Form
10-K/A dated March 31, 1999.
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Exhibit 99.2
[GTA Letterhead]
August 24, 1999
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:
Your Board of Directors has adopted a Shareholder Rights
Plan and declared a distribution of rights under the Plan to shareholders of
record on September 6, 1999.
The Plan is designed to deal with the problem of unilateral
actions by hostile acquirers which are calculated to deprive a corporation's
board and its shareholders of their ability to determine the destiny of their
corporation. The Plan was not adopted in response to any specific effort to
acquire control of Golf Trust of America, Inc. (the "Company"), and we are
not aware of any such effort.
After careful consideration your Board concluded that the
Plan is a reasonable and appropriate response to the risks posed to
shareholder interests by coercive or inadequate takeover attempts, including
creeping accumulations in the open market, partial and two-tier tender offers
and other tactics that do not treat all shareholders equally. The Board
believes such tactics, which have become commonplace in the takeover
environment, are not in the best interests of shareholders and that the Plan
will enable the Board to act more effectively in protecting shareholder
values.
The Plan does not prevent the Board from considering or
accepting an offer to acquire the Company if the Board believes the offer to
be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
A summary description of the rights is enclosed, and we
urge you to read it carefully. No action is necessary on your part.
Similar plans have been adopted by more than 1000 major
companies. The Board believes that the adoption of the Plan is a sound and
reasonable means of preserving the long-term value of the Company for all of
its stockholders. We want to thank all stockholders for their continued
support.
If you have any questions, please call our shareholder
relations department at (843) 723-4653.
Sincerely,
/s/ W. Bradley Blair, II
W. Bradley Blair, II
President and Chief Executive Officer
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SUMMARY OF RIGHTS
On August 6, 1999, the Board of Directors of Golf Trust of
America, Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right
for each outstanding share of Company Common Stock to stockholders of record
at the Close of Business on September 6, 1999 (the "Record Date"). Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth
of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01
per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $75.00, subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a
Shareholder Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in
the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the
right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), other than as a result
of repurchases of stock by the Company or certain inadvertent actions by
institutional or certain other stockholders or (ii) 10 business days (or such
later date as the Board shall determine) following the commencement of a
tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group
becoming an Acquiring Person. Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights
will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will be transferred
with and only with such Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock
certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for
transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding will also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such certificate. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the
Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering
Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of
Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be
issued.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date
and will expire at 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on September 6, 2009,
unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of
the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate
Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.
On the Distribution Date, proper provision will be made by
the Company in order to provide each holder (other than the Company) of
partnership units in Golf Trust of America, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, or any downREIT partnership the Company may form with such
number of Rights, represented by Right Certificates, as would have been
issued to such holder had such holder exchanged such holder's partnership
units for Common Shares pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
applicable partnership agreement prior to the Distribution Date. Except for
such unitholders and except as otherwise determined by the Board of
Directors,
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only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will be
issued with Rights.
In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
except pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which
the independent directors determine to be at a price which is fair and not
inadequate and to otherwise be in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking
firms (a "`Qualified Offer"), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances,
cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to
two times the exercise price of the Right. The Exercise Price is the Purchase
Price times the number of shares of Common Stock associated with each Right.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the event
set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by
any Acquiring Person or an affiliate or associate thereof will be null and
void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the
event set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable
by the Company as set forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $75 per Right, each
Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties)
following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its
holder to purchase $150 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as
noted above) for $75. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of
$25 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to
purchase 6 shares of Common Stock for $75.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock
Acquisition Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business
combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation
(other than with an entity which acquired the shares pursuant to a Qualified
Offer), (ii) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Common
Stock of the Company is changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the
Company's assets or cash flow is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right
(except Rights which have previously been voided as set forth above) shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the
acquiring company (or in certain circumstances, its parent) having a value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in
this paragraph and in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the
"Triggering Events."
At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or
more of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board 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 share of Common Stock or one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (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).
At any time until ten business days following the Stock
Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $0.01 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other
consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors); provided,
however, that no director may vote for such redemption unless such director
either (a)
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is a Continuing Director or (b) has been a member of the Board of Directors
for at least 180 days. A "Continuing Director" is any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company (while such person is a member of the Board) who (i)
is not an Acquiring Person, or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring
Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such affiliate
or associate, and (ii) either (A) was a member of the Board of Directors
prior to the time any person became an Acquiring Person, or (B) became a
member of the Board of Directors subsequent to the time any person became an
Acquiring Person, if such member's nomination for election, or re-election,
to the Board was recommended, or approved, by a majority of the Continuing
Directors then in office.. Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.01
redemption price.
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. While the distribution
of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company,
stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income
in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other
consideration) of the Company or for common stock of the acquiring company or
in the event of the redemption of the Rights as set forth above.
Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be
amended by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution
Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may
be amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which
do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or
lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement. The foregoing
notwithstanding, no amendment may be made at such time as the Rights are not
redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge
from the Rights Agent. 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 incorporated herein by reference.
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