SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
F O R M 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): JULY 12, 1999
SENTRY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-12727 96-11-3349733
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
350 WIRELESS BOULEVARD, HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK 11788
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (516-232-2100)
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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7/26/99, 9: 0 AM
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Item 5. OTHER EVENTS
On July 12, 1999, the Board of Directors of Sentry Technology
Corporation, a Delaware corporation, (the "Company") declared a dividend of one
Right for each outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.001
per share (the "Common Stock"), to stockholders of record at the close of
business on July 23, 1999. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase
from the Company a unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share of Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Preferred
Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $5.00 per unit of one one-hundredth of a share,
subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in
a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 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. A Distribution Date will occur and the Rights
will separate from the Common Stock upon the earliest of (i) 10 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 shares of Common Stock then
outstanding1 (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days following
the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a
person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of such outstanding shares of
Common Stock (unless such tender offer or exchange offer is an offer for all
outstanding shares of Common Stock which a majority of the unaffiliated
Directors who are not officers of the Company determine to be fair to and
otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders).
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1 Under the Rights Agreement, for purposes of calculating percentages of
Common Stock outstanding, shares of Common Stock outstanding shall include
all shares of Common Stock deemed to be beneficially owned by a person and
its affiliates and associates, even if not actually then outstanding.
<PAGE>
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 July 23,
1999 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.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on July 23, 2009, unless earlier redeemed 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. Except (i) with respect to certain
shares of Common Stock issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options
or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of certain securities of the Company, or (ii) 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 the beneficial owner of 15% or more
of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock (except pursuant to an offer for
all outstanding shares of Common Stock which a majority of the Directors who are
not officers of the Company and who are not affiliates or associates of such
person determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders) (such event, a "Flip-in Event"), each holder of a
Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon payment of the Purchase
Price, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other
securities of the Company) having a value (based on a formula set forth in the
Rights Agreement) equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the Flip-in
Event, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the
Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain
related parties) will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable
following the occurrence of the Flip-in Event until such time as the Rights are
no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
For example, at a Purchase Price of $5.00 per Right, each Right not
owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following a
Flip-in-Event would entitle its holder to purchase $10.00 worth of Common Stock
(or other consideration, as noted above) determined pursuant to a formula set
forth in the Rights Agreement, for $5.00. Assuming that the Common Stock had a
per share value of $1.00 at such time (as determined pursuant to such formula),
the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase ten shares of
Common Stock for $5.00.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or in which it
is the surviving corporation but its Common Stock is changed or exchanged (other
than a merger meeting certain conditions which follows an offer for all
outstanding shares of Common Stock which a majority of the unaffiliated
Directors who are not officers of the Company determine to be fair to and
otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders), or (ii)
50% or more of the Company's assets, earning power or cash flow is sold or
transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been
voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
payment of the Purchase Price, common stock of the acquiring company having a
value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth
in this paragraph and the Flip-in Event described in the second preceding
paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of units of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or other securities or property
issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to
time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a
subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) if
holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to
subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current
market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders
of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular
quarterly cash dividends out of the earnings or retained earnings of the
Company) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to
above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions of one
one-hundredth of a share, or integral multiples thereof) will be issued and, in
lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of
the Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per
Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate
by the Board of Directors). 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 $.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 as set forth above, or are redeemed as
provided in the second preceding paragraph.
Other than certain provisions relating to the principal economic terms
of the Rights, 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 (other than an Acquiring Person or an
affiliate or associate thereof), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under
the Rights Agreement; PROVIDED, however, that no amendment to adjust the time
period governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are not
redeemable.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. Exercise of the Rights
will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire
the Company on terms not approved by the Company's Board of Directors. The
existence of Rights, however, should not affect an offer at a fair price and
otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders as
determined by the Board of Directors. The Rights should not interfere with any
merger or other business combination approved by the Board of Directors since
the Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time until ten days following
the Stock Acquisition Date redeem all but not less than all of the then
outstanding Rights at the $.01 redemption price.
The Rights Agreement between the Company and the Rights Agent
specifying the terms of the Rights, which includes as Exhibit B the Form of
Rights Certificate, the press release announcing the declaration of the Rights
and a letter to the holders of the Company's Common Stock (together with a
summary of the Rights attached thereto) are attached hereto as exhibits and are
incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Rights does
not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
exhibits.
Item 7. EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION
4* Rights Agreement, dated as of July 23, 1999,
between Sentry Technology Corporation and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent
20* Letter to the holders of Sentry Technology Corporation, dated
July 27, 1999 (including Summary of Rights)
99* Press Release, dated July 13, 1999
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* Filed herewith by direct transmission pursuant to the EDGAR program.
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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 hereunto duly authorized.
Sentry Technology Corporation
By:/S/ PETER J. MUNDY
Peter J. Mundy
Vice President-Finance
Secretary and Chief Financial Officer
Dated: July 27, 1999
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION PAGE
4 Rights Agreement, dated as of July 23,
1999, between Sentry Technology
Corporation and American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, as Rights Agent
20 Letter to the holders of Sentry
Technology Corporation Common Stock,
dated July 27, 1999 (including Summary of
Rights)
99 Press Release, dated July 13, 1999
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SENTRY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
and
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
as Rights Agent
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Rights Agreement
Dated as of July 23, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
Section 1. Certain Definitions............................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent....................................5
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates...................................6
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates....................................7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration..............................8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Rights Certificates..........................................9
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.10
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates...........12
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.................12
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date..................................14
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights............................................14
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares....23
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power...............................................23
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.......................25
Section 15. Rights of Action..............................................27
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders...................................27
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder............28
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent...................................28
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.....29
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent........................................29
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent........................................31
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates...........................32
Section 23. Redemption and Termination....................................32
Section 24. Exchange......................................................33
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events......................................35
Section 26. Notices.......................................................35
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments....................................36
Section 28. Successors....................................................37
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.....37
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement....................................37
Section 31. Severability..................................................37
Section 32. Governing Law.................................................38
Section 33. Counterparts..................................................38
Section 34. Descriptive Headings..........................................38
Exhibit A -- Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights
Exhibit B -- Form of Rights Certificate
<PAGE>
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of July 23, 1999 (the "Agreement"), between
Sentry Technology Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared
a dividend distribution of one Right for each share of common stock, par value
$0.001 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding at the close
of business on July 23, 1999(the "Record Date"), and has 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 (as defined below), each
Right initially representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth (1/100th)
of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Series B
Preferred Stock") of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences set
forth in the form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights 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 the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but
shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company,
(iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company or (iv) any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by
the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" solely as the
result of an acquisition of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing
the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of
shares beneficially owned by a Person to 15% or more of the Common Stock of
the Company then outstanding as determined above; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
if a Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Stock
of the Company then outstanding (as determined above) solely by reason of
purchases of Common Stock by the Company and shall, after such purchases by
the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common
Stock by any means whatsoever, then such Person shall be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person." Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who would
otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such inadvertently, and such
Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of shares of
Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person,"
as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), then
such Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for any
purposes of this Agreement.
(b) "Act" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(c) hereof.
(c) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(d) "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.
(e) 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, or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any
time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, 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
or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the "Original
Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in connection with an
adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;
(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,
whether or not in writing; 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
also then 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 (f)) or disposing of any voting securities of the
Company;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing in this paragraph (f) shall cause a
person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any securities
acquired through such person's participation in good faith in a firm
commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty days after the
date of such acquisition.
(f) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(g) "Class A Preferred Stock" shall mean the Company's Class A
Preferred Stock, $.001 par value issued in February, 1997 in connection
with the Company's formation.
(h) "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.
(i) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $.001 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.
(j) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(k) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) hereof.
(l) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(m) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
(n) "Equivalent Preferred Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b) hereof.
(o) "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(d)
hereof.
(p) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24
hereof.
(q) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
hereof.
(r) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(s) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership
or other entity.
(t) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(b) hereof.
(u) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)
hereof.
(v) "Qualifying Offer" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii)(A) hereof.
(w) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the WHEREAS
clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(x) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
(y) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the WHEREAS clause at
the beginning of the Agreement.
(z) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the parties
clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(aa) "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
(bb) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall mean July 12, 1999.
(cc) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(dd) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ee) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clauses (x),
(y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(ff) "Series B Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.001 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.
(gg) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof.
(hh) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the
Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring
Person has become such.
(ii) "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.
(jj) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(kk) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) hereof.
(ll) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
Section 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also
be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.
Section 3. ISSUE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) Until the earliest of (i) the close of business on the tenth day
after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the Stock
Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on
the Record Date), (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 (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary
of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established
by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) 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 be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding (the earliest 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). As soon as practicable after the Distribution
Date, the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid
mail, to each record holder of 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 rights 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 herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights
per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof,
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) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole
numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will
be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as
of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock and 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 hereof), 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 or in certain circumstances provided in Section 22
hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing such shares
of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and
shall bear a legend reading substantially as follows:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Sentry
Technology Corporation (the "Company") and American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company (the "Rights Agent"), dated as of July 23, 1999, as
amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on
file at the principal office of the Company. Under certain
circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will
be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced
by this certificate. The Company or the Rights Agent 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 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.
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 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 hereof, the
Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record
Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such
number of one one-hundredths (1/100ths) of a share of Series B Preferred
Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such
exercise price per one one-hundredth (1/100th) 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) or Section
22 hereof 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 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 a plan, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section
7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or
Section 11 hereof 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 such 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
Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated 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 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 hereof, at any time after the close of business on the
Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the
Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights
Certificates representing Rights that have been exchanged pursuant to
Section 24 hereof) 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 (1/100ths) of a share of
Series B 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 entitled such holder (or
former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any 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 principal 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 shall reasonably request. Thereupon
the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section 14
and Section 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled
thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as
so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) 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 reasonably satisfactory to them, and
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable
expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and
cancellation of the 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.
Section 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF RIGHTS.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, 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) hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date
upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to
purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to
the Rights Agent at the principal 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
(1/100ths) 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 earliest of (i) the close of business on July 23, 2009 (the
"Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
provided in Section 23 hereof or (iii) the time at which such Rights are
exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii) and
(iii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share
of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be
$5.00, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Sections 11 and 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 (1/100th) of a share of Series
B 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 transfer tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section
20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer
agent of the shares of Series B 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 (1/100ths) of a share of Series B
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
Series B 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 (1/100ths) of a
share of Series B Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the shares of Series B 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 hereof,
(iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the
same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
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 payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant
to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) 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) hereof, 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 appropriate. 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 Series B 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 14 hereof.
(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 has determined
is part of a plan, 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 use all reasonable
efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b)
hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of
Rights Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any
determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of its respective
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) 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) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall
reasonably request.
Section 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. All Rights
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
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) hereof, 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 national securities 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) hereof, a registration statement under the Securities
Act of 1933 (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 may
temporarily suspend, 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 is no longer in
effect. In addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration
statement is required following the Distribution Date, the Company may
temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a
registration statement has been declared effective. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be
exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in such
jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise thereof shall not
be permitted under applicable law or a registration statement shall not
have been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-hundredths (1/100ths) of a
share of Series B 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 federal and state transfer taxes and 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
(1/100ths) of a share of Series B 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 (1/100ths) of a share of Series B 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 (1/100ths) of a share of
Series B 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 (1/100ths) of a share of Series B
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 Series B 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
Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Series B
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 Series
B 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 herein.
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 Series B Preferred
Stock payable in shares of Series B Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the
outstanding Series B Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding
Series B Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue
any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Series B
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) hereof, 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 Series B 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 Series B
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 Series B Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were
open, he or she would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled
to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment
under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the
adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition
to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event that:
(A) any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized,
appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan), alone or together with its Affiliates
and Associates, shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event
causing the Person to become an Acquiring Person is (1) a
transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof or (2) an
acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant to 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 (a) at a price which
is fair to stockholders (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 (b) otherwise in the best interests of
the Company and its stockholders (a "Qualifying Offer");
then, promptly following the occurrence of such event described in
Section 11(a)(ii)(A) hereof, proper provision shall be made so that
each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e)
hereof) 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
(1/100ths) of a share of Series B 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 (1/100ths) of a share of Series B
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) hereof) 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 Certificate of Incorporation but
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) hereof), 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 Series B 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) 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 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) hereof, 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. 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 (other than the Rights), options or warrants to all holders of
Series B Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a
period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record
date) Series B Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights,
privileges and preferences as the shares of Series B Preferred Stock
("Equivalent Preferred Stock")) or securities convertible into Series B
Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of
Series B Preferred Stock or per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or
having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Series
B Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock) less than the Current
Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of
Series B 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 Series B
Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares
of Series B Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total
number of shares of Series B 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
Series B Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number
of additional shares of Series B 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 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 Series B 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 Series B Preferred Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is
the continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, 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 Series B
Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than
Series B Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding
those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in
effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Series B
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
and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights) 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 Series B Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be
such Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
per share of Series B 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) hereof, 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 such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, 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 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
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 American Stock Exchange or, if the shares
of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the American
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, Inc. 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 Series B 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 Series B Preferred Stock cannot
be determined in the manner provided above or if the Series B
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 Series B 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 Series B Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed
or traded, Current Market Price per share of the Series B 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.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary not withstanding, 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 Series
B 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) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall
become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Series B
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 Series B
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 hereof
with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to
any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-hundredths
(1/100ths) of a share of Series B 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 (1/100ths) of a share of Series B Preferred Stock
(calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x)
the number of one one-hundredths (1/100ths) 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 (1/100ths) of a share of
Series B 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 (1/100ths) of a share
of Series B Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately
prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights
(calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase
Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the
Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its
election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the
adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be
made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is
adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been
issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date 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 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the
Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such
holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if
required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights
to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights
Certificates 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 (1/100ths) of a share of Series B
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-hundredths (1/100ths) of a share and the number
of one one-hundredths (1/100ths) 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 (1/100ths) of a share of Series B 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 (1/100ths) of a share of Series B 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 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 (1/100ths) of a share of
Series B Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the
Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of
one one-hundredths (1/100ths) of a share of Series B 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 Series B Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance
wholly for cash of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock at less than the
Current Market Price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of Series B 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 Series B 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) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than
a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell
or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related transactions,
assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning
power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other
Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in
one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof),
if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or
sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities
outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or
(y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation,
merger or sale, the shareholders of the Person who constitutes, or would
constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof
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 27 hereof,
take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will 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 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 of 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 and Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Series B Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and
(c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing
shares of Common Stock) in accordance with Section 26 hereof. 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 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) hereof), 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) hereof) shall consolidate
with, or merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in
connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the
outstanding shares of 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 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 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) hereof), then, and in each such
case (except as may be contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof), proper
provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as
provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in
accordance with 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 (1/100ths) of a share of Series B 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 (1/100ths) 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 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 (2) 50% of the Current
Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) 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 hereof
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) hereof 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 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, "Principal Party"
shall refer to such other Person; and (2) in case such Person is a
Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common
Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so registered, "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) will 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 Qualifying 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 Qualifying 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
Qualifying 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) hereof,
or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In
lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid 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 American Stock
Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the
American 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
Series B Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples
of one one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of Series B Preferred Stock) upon
exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Series B Preferred Stock (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of Series
B Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of Series B Preferred
Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth (1/100th) of a
share of Series B 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 (1/100th) of a share of Series B
Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market
value of one one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of Series B Preferred Stock
shall be one one-hundredth (1/100th) of the closing price of a share of
Series B Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii)
hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(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) hereof) 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 or her 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 or her own behalf and for
his or her 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 or her 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 principal 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) hereof, the Company and
the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the
Rights evidenced thereby (not withstanding 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) hereof, 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 or ruling issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative
agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order
promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or
otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
the Company must use its best efforts to have any such order, decree or
ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as 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
(1/100ths) of a share of Series B 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 Sections 24 and 25 hereof), 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
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,
or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on
the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights
Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim
of liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any
Rights Certificate or certificate for 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.
Section 19. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the corporate trust or shareholder services business of the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the
Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any
paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such corporation would be eligible for appointment
as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In
case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency
created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt
the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent
may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such
cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the
Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates
shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such
Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided
in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and
the determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established by the
Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or
matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a
certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or
any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent;
and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of
this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any 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
hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such
adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require
any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by 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 Chief Executive Officer, the President, any
Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer of
the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in
connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken
or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions
of any such officer.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or
other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or
lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it
were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude
the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for
any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or
by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of
any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from
any such act, default, neglect or misconduct; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, reasonable
care was exercised 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 there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of
such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form
of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has
either not been completed 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 of 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 Series B Preferred Stock, by registered
or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon
thirty (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 Series B Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the
Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail
to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice
of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (A) a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of the State of New York (or of
any other state of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized
to do business as a banking institution in the State of New York), in good
standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers
or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal
or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent
a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 or (B) a subsidiary of a
corporation 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 Series B Preferred Stock,
and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.
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 its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities
or property purchasable under the 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 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 day following the Record Date), or (ii) the Final Expiration Date,
redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a
redemption price of $0.01per 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"). 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, evidence of which shall have
been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the
Redemption Price for each Right so held. 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 the
then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each
holder's last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights
Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
transfer agent for the 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 void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof)
for shares of 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 shall not be
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than
the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for
or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates
and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifty per
cent (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 a holder 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 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) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its
option, may substitute shares of Series B Preferred Stock (or Equivalent
Preferred Stock, as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of Section 11
hereof) for shares of Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial
rate of one one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of Series B Preferred Stock
(or Equivalent Preferred Stock) for each share of Common Stock, as
appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the
Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms thereof, so that the
fraction of a share of Series B Preferred Stock delivered in lieu of each
share of Common Stock shall have the same voting rights as one share of
Common Stock.
(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
Company shall take all such action 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 Right 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) hereof) for the Trading
Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to
the holders of Series B Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution
to the holders of Series B 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 Series B Preferred Stock rights or warrants to
subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Series B Preferred
Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or
options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Series B Preferred
Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of
outstanding shares of Series B 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) hereof), 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 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of
its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with
Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give
to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in
accordance with Section 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 Series B Preferred Stock, if any
such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of
any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days
prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Series B
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 Series B Preferred Stock whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall
occur, (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 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which
shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of
Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the
preceding paragraph to Series B 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 with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
Sentry Technology Corporation
350 Wireless Boulevard
Hauppauge, New York 11788
Attention: Secretary
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 with the Company) as follows:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
40 Wall Street
46th Floor
New York, New York 10005
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 prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. Prior to the Distribution Date and
subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, 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 and
subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, the Company and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates in order
(i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
(iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or
supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person); PROVIDED this Agreement may not be
supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence,
(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 (other than an Acquiring
Person and its Affiliates and Associates). 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, the
Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. 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.
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 the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board 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 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 day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.
Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring 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 to act is held by any court of competent jurisdiction or other authority
to be invalid, void or unenforceable, such determination shall be made by the
Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with applicable law and the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation 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 Delaware 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.
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.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Rights Agreement to
be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
Attest: SENTRY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
By: /S/ Peter J. Mundy By: /S/ Thomas A. Nicolette
------------------ -----------------------
Name: Peter J. Mundy Name: Thomas A. Nicolette
Title: Vice President-Finance, Title: President and
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive Officer
Secretary & Treasurer
Attest: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER
& TRUST COMPANY
By: /S/ Susan Silber By: /S/ Herbert J. Lemmer
--------------------- ----------------------
Name: Susan Silber Name: Herbert J. Lemmer
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION,
PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS OF SERIES B JUNIOR
PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
SENTRY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
The undersigned officers of Sentry Technology Corporation, a corporation
organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the "Corporation"), in accordance with the provisions of Section 103
thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the said Corporation, the
said Board of Directors, at a meeting duly held on July 12, 1999, adopted the
following resolution creating a series of 400,000 shares of Preferred Stock
designated as Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors
of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Series B Preferred Stock of
the Corporation be and it hereby is created, and that the designation and amount
thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional
and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:
Section 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock" and the number of
shares constituting such series shall be 400,000.
Section 2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
(A) The holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board
of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly
dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September and
December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a
"Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a
share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per
share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $0.50 or
(b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100
times the aggregate per share amount 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
$0.001 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 July 13, 1999
(the "Rights Declaration 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 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 declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph (A)
above immediately after it 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
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 $0.50 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 declared thereon, which
record date shall be no more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the
payment thereof.
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
stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any
time after the Rights Declaration 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 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 or by law, 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 stockholders 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
declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default
period, all 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 such
voting right shall not be exercised unless the holders of ten percent
(10%) in number of shares of Series B 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 Series B Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at
which the holders of Series B 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 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
Series B 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 Series B 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 Series B 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 Series B Preferred
Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request, the calling of
special meeting of the holders of Series B 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 Series B Preferred Stock are
entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to
each holder of record of Series B Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of
such notice to him or her at his or her last address as the same
appears on the books of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called
for a time not earlier than 10 days and not later than 50 days after
such order or request or in default of the calling of such meeting
within 50 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 Series B Preferred Stock outstanding. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall
be called during the period within 50 days immediately preceding the
date fixed 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 Series B 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 Series B
Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall
have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of the
default period, 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.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the
right of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock as a class to elect
Directors shall cease, (y) the term of any Directors elected by the
holders of Series B Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and
(z) the number of Directors shall be such number as may be provided
for in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws 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 certificate of incorporation or
by-laws). 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 declared, on shares of Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in
full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) 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) 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 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
$5.00 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not 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 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and
Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(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 to the holders of such parity
shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. 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
Declaration 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. In case the Corporation shall enter
into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or 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
Declaration 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. However, the Company may purchase
Series B Preferred Stock in the open market or pursuant to an offer to a holder
or holders of Series B Preferred Stock.
Section 9. AMENDMENT. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of the Corporation shall not be further 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.
Section 10. 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this Certificate and do
affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury as of the 23rd day
of July, 1999.
SENTRY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Attest:
- -----------------------------
Secretary
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE]
Certificate No. R- ________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY 23, 2009 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 TERMS
ARE 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.]
Rights Certificate
SENTRY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
This certifies that ________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of July 23, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Sentry
Technology Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on July 23, 2009 at
the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its
successors as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth (1/100th) 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 $5.00 per one
one-hundredth (1/100th) 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 per share set forth above, are
the number and Purchase Price as of July 23, 1999 based on the Series B
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 Series B 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 and no
holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights 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 Series B 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, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the 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 (1/100ths) of a share of
Series B 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 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, 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 Series B 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 (1/100th) of a share of Series B
Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by
depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Series B
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 or withhold consent to any corporate action, or, to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this 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.
<PAGE>
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Dated as of ___________, ____
ATTEST: SENTRY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
__________________________ By: _________________________________
Secretary Title:
Countersigned:
[-----------------------]
By: ______________________
Authorized Signature
<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 _________________________________________________ hereby
sells, assigns and transfer unto ______________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
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
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
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);
(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
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
NOTICE
---------------------
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond to the
name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
---------------------
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise Rights represented by the
Rights Certificate.)
To: SENTRY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________ Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Series B
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 name and address)
- ------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
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 name and address)
- ------------------------------------------------
Dated: ________________, ____
------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
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);
(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 became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person.
Dated: ________________, ____
------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
NOTICE
---------------
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
EXHIBIT 20
SENTRY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
350 WIRELESS BOULEVARD
HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK 11788
July 27, 1999
Dear Stockholder:
The Board of Directors of Sentry Technology Corporation has announced the
adoption of a Shareholders Rights Plan. The Plan provides for a Dividend of
Rights to purchase shares of a new series of Preferred Stock (or, in certain
circumstances, Common Stock or other consideration), exercisable upon the
occurrence of certain events.
We believe that the Plan protects your interests in the event that the Company
is confronted with coercive or unfair takeover tactics. The Plan contains
provisions to protect you in the event of an unsolicited offer to acquire the
Company. Although we are not aware of any such potential offer, the Plan affords
protection from offers that do not treat all stockholders equally, acquisitions
in the open market of shares constituting control without offering fair value to
all stockholders and other coercive or unfair takeover tactics that could impair
the Board's ability to represent your interests fully.
The Plan will not affect an offer at a fair price and otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders as determined by its Board of
Directors. The Rights Plan will not interfere with a merger or other business
combination transaction that the Board of Directors approves as fair and as
constituting a recognition of full value to the stockholders.
The Rights would become exercisable to purchase Preferred Stock (or, in certain
circumstances, Common Stock or other consideration) only if (i) a person or
group (other than those who report ownership on Schedule 13G under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) acquired 15% or more of the Company's Common
Stock, or (ii) a person commenced a tender or exchange offer for 15% or more of
the Company's Common Stock. In the circumstance described in clause (i) above,
holders of Rights would be entitled to purchase, in lieu of Preferred Stock,
Common Stock of the Company at a 50% discount from market value. Moreover, in
the event that the Company were to enter into certain merger or asset sale
transactions, after the occurrence of the circumstance described in clause (i),
holders would be entitled to exercise the Rights for common stock of the
acquiring entity. The acquiring person described in clause (i) would not be
entitled to exercise Rights.
The issuance of Rights does not in any way weaken the financial strength of the
Company or interfere with its business plans. The issuance of the Rights has no
dilutive effect, will not affect reported earnings per share and will not change
the way in which you can currently trade shares of the Company's Common Stock.
A summary of the Plan is enclosed. The Plan is complex, and we urge you to read
this summary carefully. Its premise, however, is straightforward: to serve and
protect the interests of the Company's stockholders.
Sincerely,
/s/ Thomas A. Nicolette
--------------------------------
Thomas A. Nicolette
President and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK
On July 12, 1999, the Board of Directors of Sentry Technology
Corporation (the "Company") declared a dividend of one Right for each
outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the
"Common Stock"), to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 23,
1999. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a
unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share of Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a
Purchase Price of $5.00 per unit of one one-hundredth of a share, subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, 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. A Distribution Date will occur and the Rights
will separate from the Common Stock upon the earliest of (i) ten 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 shares of Common Stock then
outstanding* (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) ten business days following
the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a
person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of such outstanding shares of
Common Stock (unless such tender offer or exchange offer is an offer for all
outstanding shares of Common Stock which a majority of the unaffiliated
Directors who are not officers of the Company determine to be fair to and
otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders).
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 July 23,
1999 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.
- --------
* Under the Rights Agreement, for purposes of calculating percentages of
Common Stock outstanding, shares of Common Stock outstanding shall include
all shares of Common Stock deemed to be beneficially owned by a person and
its affiliates and associates, even if not actually then outstanding.
<PAGE>
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on July 23, 2009, unless earlier redeemed 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. Except (i) with respect to certain
shares of Common Stock issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options
or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of certain securities of the Company, or (ii) 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 the beneficial owner of 15% or more
of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock (except pursuant to an offer for
all outstanding shares of Common Stock which a majority of the Directors who are
not officers of the Company and who are not affiliates or associates of such
person determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders) (a "Flip-in Event"), each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price, Common
Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the
Company) having a value (based on a formula set forth in the Rights Agreement)
equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, following the occurrence of the Flip-in Event, all Rights that are,
or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) will
be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence
of the Flip-in Event until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by
the Company as set forth below.
For example, at a Purchase Price of $5.00 per Right, each Right not
owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following a Flip-in
Event would entitle its holder to purchase $10.00 worth of Common Stock (or
other consideration, as noted above) determined pursuant to a formula set forth
in the Rights Agreement, for $5.00. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per
share value of $1.00 at such time (as determined pursuant to such formula), the
holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase ten shares of Common
Stock for $5.00.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or in which it
is the surviving corporation but its Common Stock is changed or exchanged (other
than a merger meeting certain conditions which follows an offer for all
outstanding shares of Common Stock which a majority of the unaffiliated
Directors who are not officers of the Company determine to be fair to and
otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders), or (ii)
50% or more of the Company's assets, earning power or cash flow is sold or
transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been
voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
payment of the Purchase Price, common stock of the acquiring company having a
value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth
in this paragraph and the Flip-in Event described in the second preceding
paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of units of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or other securities or property
issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to
time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a
subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) if
holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to
subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current
market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders
of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular
quarterly cash dividends out of the earnings or retained earnings of the
Company) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to
above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions of one
one-hundredth of a share, or integral multiples thereof) will be issued and, in
lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of
the Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per
Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate
by the Board of Directors). Immedi ately 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 $.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 as set forth above, or are redeemed as
provided in the second preceding paragraph.
Other than certain provisions relating to the principal economic terms
of the Rights, 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 (other than an Acquiring Person or an
affiliate or associate thereof), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under
the Rights Agreement; PROVIDED, however, that no amendment to adjust the time
period governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are not
redeemable.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. Exercise of the Rights
will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire
the Company on terms not approved by the Company's Board of Directors. The
existence of Rights, however, should not affect an offer at a fair price and
otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders as
determined by the Board of Directors. The Rights should not interfere with any
merger or other business combination approved by the Board of Directors since
the Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time until ten days following
the Stock Acquisition Date redeem all but not less than all of the then
outstanding Rights at the $.01 redemption price.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of the
Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary
description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein
by reference.
SENTRY NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Thomas A. Nicolette
President & CEO
(516) 232-2100
SENTRY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION ADOPTS SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS PLAN
July 13, 1999, Hauppauge, New York - Sentry Technology Corporation
(AMEX-SKV) announced today that its Board of Directors adopted a Shareholders
Rights Plan. The Rights Plan is not intended to prevent the acquisition of
Sentry, but it is designed to deter coercive takeover tactics and to prevent a
potential acquirer from gaining control of the Company without offering a fair
price to all of the Company's stockholders. The plan was not adopted in response
to any offer to acquire control of the Company and the Board is not aware of any
such effort. A right to purchase shares of a new series of preferred stock will
be distributed as a dividend at the rate of one Right for each share of common
stock, par value $0.001, of the Company held by stockholders of record as of the
close of business on July 23, 1999. The Rights will expire on July 23, 2009,
unless earlier redeemed by the Company.
Each Right will entitle stockholders to buy one one-hundredth (1/100) of a
share of the Company's new Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an
initial exercise price of $5.00. The Rights will be exercisable only if a
person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company's
outstanding common stock or commences a tender or exchange offer for 15% or more
of the common stock.
Sentry will generally be entitled to redeem the Rights at $.01 per right
at any time until ten days (subject to extension) following a public
announcement that a 15% position has been acquired.
Details of the Shareholders Rights Plan are outlined in a letter which will
be mailed to all shareholders.
Sentry Technology Corporation was formed on February 12, 1997 through the
merger of Knogo North America Inc. and Video Sentry Corporation. Through its
subsidiaries, Sentry designs, manufactures, sells, installs and services a
complete line of electronic article surveillance (EAS) and closed circuit
television (CCTV) surveillance systems, including its patented traveling Sentry
Vision(R). The Company's products are used by retailers to deter shoplifting and
employee theft, and by commercial, manufacturing and governmental customers to
protect people and assets.
Sentry Technology Corporation's web site is located at
www.sentrytechnology.com.
