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FORM 8-A
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Virginia 54-0135270
(State of incorporation or
organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
245 Main Street, Bassett, Virginia 24055
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
to be so registered each class is to be registered
None None
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant
to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. [ ]
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant
to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. [X]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
N/A
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Rights to Purchase Common Stock, par value
$5.00 per share
(Title of Class)
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Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
On June 23, 1998, the Board of Directors of Bassett Furniture Industries,
Incorporated, a Virginia corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend of one
common stock purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common
stock, $5.00 par value (the "Common Stock"), of the Company. The distribution is
payable on July 6, 1998, to shareholders of record at the close of business on
that date.
Each Right will entitle the holder to purchase from the Company one
one-half of a share of the Company's Common Stock at an initial price of $60 per
one one-half of a share of Common Stock (the "Purchase Price"). The description
and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement dated as of June
23, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and First Union National
Bank, as rights agent (the "Rights Agent").
The Rights are not exercisable, and are not transferable apart from the
Common Stock, until the "Distribution Date" which is the earlier of (i) the
tenth day after a public announcement that a Person (which term as used in this
summary means an individual or any business entity, other than the Company and
certain related entities) or group of affiliated or associated Persons has
acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more
of the outstanding Common Stock, thereby becoming an "Acquiring Person," or (ii)
the tenth business day after the date of the commencement of, or first public
announcement of the intent of any Person to commence, a tender or exchange offer
the consummation of which would result in such Person becoming an Acquiring
Person.
After the Distribution Date, the Rights are exercisable and separately
transferable.
Before the Distribution Date, a holder of Common Stock will be the owner
of one Right for each share of Common Stock he holds, but the Rights will be
evidenced by one or more certificates (a "Rights Certificate" or the "Rights
Certificates") held by the Rights Agent. After the Distribution Date, separate
Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock at
the close of business on the Distribution Date.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to shareholders or to the Company, shareholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable. The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common
Stock or other securities or property issuable upon exercise of the Rights, as
well as the number of Rights outstanding, are subject to adjustment from time to
time upon the occurrence of certain dilutive events.
Any additional shares of Common Stock issued before the Distribution Date
will also have Rights issued in respect thereof and shares of Common Stock
issued after the Distribution
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Date will be issued with Rights if such shares are issued in respect of stock
options, employee benefit plans or convertible securities which were granted,
established or issued before the Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire at the close of business on June 23, 2008, unless
earlier exercised or redeemed by the Company.
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued when a Right is
exercised and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Common Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of
exercise.
Each holder of a Right will have the right to receive, upon exercise of a
Right, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other
securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the purchase price
for the Rights then in effect if a Person or group of affiliated or associated
Persons acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding Common
Stock (which event is popularly termed a flip-in event). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, following the occurrence of the event set forth in this paragraph,
all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and
void.
For example, if the Purchase Price is $60 per Right, each Right not owned
by an Acquiring Person (or certain related parties) following an event described
in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $120 worth of
Common Stock (or other securities or assets, as noted above) for $60. Assuming
that the Common Stock had a per share price of $30 at such time, the holder of
each valid Right would be entitled to purchase four shares of Common Stock for
$60.
Each holder of a Right will have the right to receive, upon exercise,
common stock (or equivalent securities) of the acquiring entity having a value
equal to two times the Purchase Price then in effect, if after it is announced
that a Person or group has become an Acquiring Person, (i) the Company is
acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction and is not the
surviving or continuing corporation, (ii) the Company is the surviving or
continuing corporation in a merger or other business combination and the Common
Stock is changed or exchanged for securities of another Person, (iii) the
Company is party to a statutory share exchange with any other Person after which
the Company becomes a Subsidiary of any other Person or (iv) 50% or more of the
assets or earning power of the Company is sold or transferred (each of which
events is popularly termed a flip-over event).
If the Company is not able to issue the Common Stock because of the
absence of any necessary regulatory approval, restrictions contained in the
Company's Articles of Incorporation or for any other reason, a person exercising
Rights will be entitled to receive a combination of cash or property or other
securities having a value equal to the value of the Common Stock which would
otherwise have been issued upon exercise of the Rights. For Rights exercised
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before any Triggering Event occurs, the Company may defer issuance of the Common
Stock for up to 90 days to obtain any necessary regulatory approval. If unable
to obtain such approval, the Company may substitute cash, assets or other
property for the Common Stock which would otherwise have been issued in
accordance with the Rights Agreement.
At any time until ten days after the announcement that a Person or group
has become an Acquiring Person, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but
not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right, payable in cash or securities. Upon
certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, the decision to redeem
will require the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing Directors. When the
Board of Directors (with, where required, the concurrence of a majority of
Continuing Directors) orders a redemption of the Rights, the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
redemption price. The Continuing Directors are (i) members of the Board who were
also directors on the earlier of the announcement that a Person or group has
become an Acquiring Person and the Distribution Date or (ii) directors elected
or nominated by a majority of the Continuing Directors in office on the date of
such election or nomination.
After a Person becomes an Acquiring Person and before the Acquiring Person
acquires 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Company,
with the concurrence of a majority of Continuing Directors, may require a holder
to exchange all or any portion of his Rights for one share of Common Stock per
Right.
Certain provisions relating to the principal economic terms of the Rights
may not be amended at any time. Other provisions of the Rights Agreement may be
amended by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date.
Thereafter these other provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board (under certain circumstances only with the concurrence of a majority of
the Continuing Directors) in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or
inconsistency, to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of
holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person), or to
shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement (including the
time period for redeeming the Rights); provided, however, that no amendment to
adjust the time period governing redemption may be made if the Rights are not
redeemable at the time of the amendment; and that the Board may not lengthen any
other time period except for the purpose of protecting or clarifying the rights
of the Rights holders (excluding any Acquiring Person or its Affiliates or
Associates).
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 to Exhibit 1 filed with this Registration
Statement.
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Item 2. Exhibits.
1. Rights Agreement dated as of June 23, 1998 between Bassett Furniture
Industries, Incorporated and First Union National Bank, as Rights
Agent, including Exhibits A and B thereto.
2. Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, filed with
the Commission as an Exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended February 28, 1994 (File No.
0-209).
3. Company's Bylaws, as amended, filed with the Commission as an
Exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended November 30, 1997 (File No. 0-209).
4. Form of Rights Certificate for rights attached to the Company's
Common Stock, filed as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement filed as
Exhibit 1 to this Registration Statement.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
By: /s/ DOUGLAS W. MILLER
-----------------------------
Douglas W. Miller,
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: July 6, 1998
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
*1. Rights Agreement dated as of June 23, 1998 between Bassett Furniture
Industries, Incorporated and First Union National Bank, as Rights
Agent, including Exhibits A and B thereto.
2. Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, filed with
the Commission as an Exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarterly year ended February 28, 1994 (File No.
0-209), are incorporated herein by reference.
3. Company's Bylaws, as amended, filed with the Commission as an
Exhibit to Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended November 30, 1997 (File No. 0-209), are incorporated herein by
reference.
4. Form of Rights Certificate for rights attached to the Company's
Common Stock, filed as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement filed as
Exhibit 1 to this Registration Statement, is incorporated herein by
reference.
* Filed herewith.
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EXHIBIT 1
---------------------------------------------
Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated
and
First Union National Bank
Rights Agent
----------------------------
Rights Agreement
Dated as of June 23, 1998
---------------------------------------------------
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Section 1. Certain Definitions....................................................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent............................................................4
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates...........................................................5
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates............................................................6
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration......................................................7
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates...............................8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights; Restriction
on Transfer of Rights..................................................................9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates...................................10
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Common Stock..........................................11
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date..............................................................12
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of
Rights................................................................................13
Section 12. Certificates of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares...........................20
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power..................20
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares...............................................22
Section 15. Rights of Action. ...................................................................23
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. ........................................................23
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder....................................24
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent...........................................................25
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.............................25
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. .............................................................26
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. .............................................................28
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates...................................................29
Section 23. Redemption and Termination............................................................29
Section 24. Exchange..............................................................................30
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events..............................................................31
Section 26. Notices...............................................................................32
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. .........................................................33
Section 28. Successors............................................................................33
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. ...........................33
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement............................................................34
Section 31. Severability..........................................................................34
Section 32. Governing Law.........................................................................34
Section 33. Counterparts. .......................................................................35
Section 34. Descriptive Headings..................................................................35
</TABLE>
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Rights Agreement, dated as of June 23, 1998 (the "Agreement"),
between BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED, a Virginia corporation (the
"Company"), and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK (the "Rights Agent"), provides as
follows:
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on June 23, 1998 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the
Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend
distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of common
stock, par value $5.00 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock")
outstanding at the close of business on July 6, 1998 (the "Record Date"), and
has authorized the issuance of one Right for each share of Common Stock issued
(i) between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the
Expiration Date (as such terms are defined in Section 1 hereof), or (ii) after
the Distribution Date but before the Expiration Date, if such share of Common
Stock became outstanding (A) upon the exercise of a stock option, (B) pursuant
to any employee plan or arrangement, or (C) upon the conversion or exchange of a
security, which option, plan, arrangement or security was granted, established
or issued, as the case may be, by the Company before the Distribution Date. Each
Right initially represents the right (a "Right") to purchase one one-half of a
share of the Common Stock, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth;
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 (as hereinafter
defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates (as
hereinafter defined) of such Person (as hereinafter defined), shall at any time
become the Beneficial Owner (as hereinafter defined) of 20% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not include the Company, any
Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) 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.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and as in
effect on the date of this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
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(i) that such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates owns, directly or indirectly;
(ii) that 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 to be
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) at any time
prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, securities issuable upon
exercise of the Rights, or (C) from and after the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, securities issuable upon exercise of Rights which
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.
(iii) that such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to
vote, 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 (iii) 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
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
(iv) that 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 (iii) of this paragraph (c)) or disposing of any voting
securities of the Company; provided, however, that notwithstanding any
provision of this Section l(c) to the contrary, any Person engaged in
business as an underwriter of securities who acquires any securities of
the Company through such Person's participation in good faith in a firm
commitment underwriting registered under the Securities Act of 1933
(the "Securities Act"), shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of,
or to "beneficially own," such securities until the expiration of forty
days after the date of acquisition; and provided, further, that in no
case shall an officer or director of the Company be deemed (x) the
beneficial owner of any securities beneficially
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owned by another officer or director of the Company solely by reason of
actions undertaken by such persons in their capacity as officers or
directors of the Company; or (y) the beneficial owner of securities
held of record by the trustee of any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of any
employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than
the officer or director, by reason of any influence that such officer
or director may have over the voting of the securities held in the
plan.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or in the
state in which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., 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.
(f) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value
$5.00 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.
(g) "Continuing Director" shall mean any member of the Board
of Directors of the Company, while a member of the Board, (i) who was a member
of the Board on the earlier of the Stock Acquisition Date and the Distribution
Date, or (ii) whose subsequent nomination for election or election to the Board
was recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing
Directors.
(h) "Distribution Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the
close of business on the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date (as
hereinafter defined) (or, if the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date
occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the Record Date), or
(ii) the close of business on the tenth business day after the date of the
commencement of, or first public announcement of the intent of any Person (other
than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan) to commence, a tender or exchange offer, if upon consummation
thereof, such Person would become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
(i) "Equivalent Shares" shall mean shares of any class or
series of capital stock of the Company that is entitled to participate in
dividends and other distributions, including distributions upon the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, on a proportional basis
with the Common Stock. In calculating the number of any class or series of
Equivalent Shares for
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purposes of Section 11 hereof, the number of shares, or fractions of a share, of
such class or series of capital stock that is entitled to the same dividend or
distribution as a whole share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be one share.
(j) "Exchange Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a).
(k) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the close
of business on the Final Expiration Date, or (ii) the time at which the Rights
are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof.
(l) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean June 23, 2008.
(m) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity.
(n) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean the event described
in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(o) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clause (w), (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(p) "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.
(q) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation or other entity of which an amount of voting securities sufficient
to elect a majority of the directors or Persons having similar authority of such
corporation or other entity is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(r) "Triggering Event" shall mean a 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 holders of 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 approach such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.
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Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the Distribution Date, (x) the Rights shall be
evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) 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 shall 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 shall send by
first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each such record holder of the
Common Stock (except for shares subject to the restriction on transfer provided
for in Section 7(e)) as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at
the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more
rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights
Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held,
subject to adjustment as provided herein. As of and after the Distribution Date,
the Rights shall be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Company shall send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage
prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records
of the Company. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as
of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced
by such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered holders of such
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 that are (i) issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date or (ii) issued following the
Distribution Date but prior to the Expiration Date if such shares of Common
Stock became outstanding (A) upon the exercise of a stock option, (B) pursuant
to any employee plan or arrangement or (C) upon the conversion or exchange of a
security which option, plan, arrangement or security was granted, established or
issued, as the case may be, by the Company before the Distribution Date.
Certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be
certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Bassett
Furniture Industries, Incorporated (the "Company"), and First Union
National Bank (the "Rights Agent") dated as of June 23, 1998 (the
"Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein
by reference and a copy of which is on file at the
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principal offices 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 Rights will expire at the close of business on June
23, 2008 unless exercised or redeemed prior thereto. The Company will
mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement,
as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly after
receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set
forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person
who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement),
whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any
subsequent holder, may become null and void.
With respect to 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 A hereto and may have such marks
of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or 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 (or in the case of Rights issued with respect to
Common Stock issued by the Company after the Record Date, as of the date of
issuance of such Common Stock), and on their face shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one one-halves of a share of Common Stock as
shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price
per one one-half of a share of Common Stock being hereinafter referred to as 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
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<PAGE> 10
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 the 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 be or become null and void in the
circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.
The provisions of Section 7(e) of this Agreement shall be operative whether or
not the foregoing legend is contained on any such Rights Certificates.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no Rights Certificate
shall be so issued that would represent Rights (i) which have already become
void under Section 7(e) hereof or (ii) which would become void under Section
7(e) hereof upon the completion of any purported transfer with respect to which
such Rights Certificate would otherwise be issued; and any Rights Certificate
delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer under the circumstances to which
clause (ii) of this sentence shall be applicable shall be canceled by the Rights
Agent.
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, any Executive Vice
President, any Senior Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Vice
President Strategic Planning, 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, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any
Assistant Treasurer of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature.
The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by an authorized signatory of the
Rights Agent but it shall not be necessary for the same signatory to countersign
all of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. The Rights Certificates shall
be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for the
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
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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
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 earlier of
the Expiration Date or the Exchange Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates
may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights
Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like
number of one one-halves of a share of Common Stock (or, following a Triggering
Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights
Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitle 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) and
Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.
The Company may require payment from the holder of the Rights 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
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<PAGE> 12
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; Restriction on Transfer 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, except as otherwise provided in Section 11(a)(iii), with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one
one-halves of a share of Common Stock (or other securities or property, as the
case may be) as to which surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to
the earlier of (i) the Expiration Date or (ii) the time at which Rights are
exchanged for shares of Common Stock as provided in Section 24 hereof (the
"Exchange Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-half of a share of
Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $60, and
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11
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-half of a share of Common Stock (or other
securities or property, 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) requisition from any
transfer agent of the shares of Common Stock (or make available, if the Rights
Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number
of one one-halves of a share of Common Stock to be purchased and the Company
hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests, (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, 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 (including to zero) pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof)
may 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 of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to
Section 11(a) hereof, the
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<PAGE> 13
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.
(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 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 become 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 making or failure to
make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of
any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall have (i) 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 canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of
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<PAGE> 14
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
canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of
the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Common 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 Common
Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock that, except as provided in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient from time to time to permit the exercise
in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) If the shares of Common Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, any other securities) issuable and deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights are 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, or as soon as is required by law following the
Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the
Securities 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 Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the
date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and
(B) the Final Expiration Date. 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 or to obtain any other
required regulatory approval in connection with the exercisability of the
Rights. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating, and notify the Rights Agent, that the exercisability of the Rights has
been temporarily suspended. The Company shall also issue a public announcement
at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. In the event any Right is
exercised prior to the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13
Event, the Company may defer for up to 90 days the issuance of Common Stock upon
such exercise in order to obtain any necessary regulatory approval; and if,
within such 90 days, the Company is unable to obtain any required regulatory
approval for the issuance of
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<PAGE> 15
Common Stock, or if the Company is otherwise unable to issue Common Stock under
the terms of its Certificate of Incorporation or for any other reason, then the
Company shall substitute for the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon
exercise of the Right (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3)
shares of Preferred Stock or other equity securities of the Company, except to
the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary regulatory approval
for such issuance, (4) debt securities of the Company, except to the extent that
the Company has not obtained any necessary regulatory approval for such
issuance, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an
aggregate value equal to the current market price (as defined in Section 11(d))
of the shares of Common Stock for which such Right is exercisable, where such
aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company
based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. Notwithstanding any provision
of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have
been obtained.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all
such action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Common Stock (or
other securities, as the case may be) 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 authorized, validly issued, 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
that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates and of any certificates for shares of Common Stock (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 that 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-halves of a share of Common
Stock 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-halves of a share of Common
Stock 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. Common Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for shares of Common Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights
shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such
shares of Common Stock 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 Common Stock transfer books of the Company are
closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such
shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day
on which the Common Stock
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<PAGE> 16
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 shareholder 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, and 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 Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (C) combine
the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any
shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common 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 capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted
so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to
receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number
and kind of shares of capital stock, that if such Right had been exercised
immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Common Stock transfer
books of the Company were open, he would have owned upon such exercise and been
entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under both
this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for
in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to,
any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
proper provision shall be made by the Company so that each holder of a Right
(except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall promptly thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof for the Purchase Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of the number of one
one-halves of a share of Common Stock for which such Right was theretofore
exercisable, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of one one-halves of a share of Common Stock for which a Right is
then exercisable and the denominator of which is 50% of the current market price
of shares of Common Stock on the date of the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event (such result being hereinafter referred to as the "Adjustment Shares").
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<PAGE> 17
(iii) To the extent that the number of shares of Common Stock
that are authorized by the Company's articles of incorporation but not
outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of
the Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), and
subject to any limitations contained in Section 13.1-653 of the Virginia Stock
Corporation Act, the Company shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of
the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current
Value"), over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess being hereinafter referred to
as the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to
substitute for such unavailable Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the
applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3)
other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, preferred
shares, or units of preferred shares, which the Board of Directors of the
Company has deemed to be substantially economically equivalent to the Common
Stock (such preferred shares, "Common Stock equivalents")), (4) debt securities
of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing,
having, together with the Adjustment Shares issued upon exercise of such Right,
an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has
been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice
of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made
adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within 30 days
following the later of (a) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or
(b) the date on which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section
23(a) expires (the later of (a) and (b) 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 preferred stock or Common Stock (to the extent such
securities are available) and then, if necessary, cash, which securities and/or
assets in the aggregate are equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of
the Company shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient
additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise
in full of the Rights, the 30 day period set forth above may be extended to the
extent necessary, but not more than 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 period, as it may be extended, the
"Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some
action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e)
hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and
(y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the
Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares
and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to
such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall 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 the Common Stock shall be the current
market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the
Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and any "Common Stock
equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock on such
date.
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<PAGE> 18
(b) If at any time after the date of this Agreement the
Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights (other than the
Rights), options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock or of any class or
series of Equivalent Shares entitling such holders (for a period expiring within
45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Common
Stock or Equivalent Shares (or securities convertible into Common Stock or
Equivalent Shares) at a price per share (or having a conversion price per share,
if a security convertible into Common Stock or Equivalent Shares) less than the
current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of such
Common Stock or Equivalent Shares on such record date, then, in each such case,
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 total number of shares of
Common Stock and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date plus
the number of shares of Common Stock or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be,
which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock
or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, 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
total number of shares of Common Stock and Equivalent Shares (if any)
outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of Common
Stock or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, to be offered for subscription
or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are
initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration, part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the
value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent. Common Stock and Equivalent Shares owned by or held
for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall not be
deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the
event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) If at any time after the date of this Agreement the
Company shall fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders
of Common Stock or of any class or series of Equivalent Shares (including any
such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of cash (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend of the Company in compliance with Section
13.1-653 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act), evidences of indebtedness,
assets, securities (other than Common Stock) or subscription rights, options or
warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), then, in each such
case, 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 in Section 11(d) hereof) of a share of Common Stock or an
Equivalent Share on such record date less the fair market value (as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of
the cash, evidences of indebtedness, assets or securities so to be distributed
or
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<PAGE> 19
of such subscription rights, options or warrants applicable to a share of Common
Stock or an Equivalent Share, as the case may be, and the denominator of which
shall be the current market price (as determined in Section 11(d) hereof) of a
share of Common Stock or an Equivalent Share on the record date. 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 that would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(d) 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 30
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) 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 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 prior to the expiration of the requisite 30 Trading Day or ten Trading Day
period, as set forth above, after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or
distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, then, and in each such case, the "current market price" shall
be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price
for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of
Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock
are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the
last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low
asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, 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 of Directors of the Company. 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 of
Directors of the Company 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
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<PAGE> 20
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 of Directors of the Company, 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 notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of
Common Stock or other share. 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 that
mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a) or 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Common Stock,
thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Right and, if required, 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 Common Stock otherwise
issuable upon exercise of the Rights contained in Section 11(a), (b), (c), (e),
(g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 12, 13
and 14 hereof with respect to the Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise
of the Rights 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-halves of a
share of Common 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-halves of a share of Common Stock (calculated to the nearest one
ten-thousandth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-halves 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.
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<PAGE> 21
(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-halves of a share of Common 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-halves of a share of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights
(calculated to the nearest one-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may
be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but,
if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten days later
than the date of 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-halves of a share of Common 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-half of a share
and the number of one one-halves of a share that 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-halves of a share of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action that 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-halves of a share of
Common Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment 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
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<PAGE> 22
the number of one one-halves of a share of Common Stock and other capital stock
or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above
the number of one one-halves of a share of Common Stock and other capital stock
or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise before giving
effect 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 its 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 Common Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash
of any shares of Common Stock at less than the current market price, (iii)
issuance wholly for cash of shares of Common Stock or securities that by their
terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, (iv)
stock dividend or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in
this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Common Stock
shall not be taxable to such shareholders.
(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 that complies with Section
11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary
of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (iii)
effect a statutory share exchange with any Person (other than a Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iv)
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 transaction or a series of related
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the
time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger, statutory share
exchange or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or
securities outstanding or agreements in effect that 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.
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<PAGE> 23
Section 12. Certificates of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Rights Certificate 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 and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such a certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (w) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with
and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not
be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (x)
any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that
complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with and
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, (y) the Company shall be a party to a
statutory share exchange with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof) after which
the Company is a Subsidiary of any other Person, 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, 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, nonassessable and freely tradeable 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-halves of a share of Common
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-halves of a share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the
first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such first occurrence), and (2) dividing that product
(which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred
to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right for all purposes of
20
<PAGE> 24
this Agreement) by 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on
the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; and (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 ensure 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
(w), (x), (y) or (z) 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, consolidation or statutory share exchange, and if no
securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to
such merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange; 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;
(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; and (3)
in case such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed
by two or more persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same
Person, the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the
chains of ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if such party
were a "Subsidiary" of both or all of such joint ventures and the Principal
Parties in each such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section
13 in the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear
to the total of such interests.
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(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, statutory share exchange, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party
shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock that
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, statutory share
exchange 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 Securities 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
Securities Act) until the Expiration Date; and
(ii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its
Affiliates that 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 statutory share exchanges 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 that have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights or to distribute Rights Certificates that 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 New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or
admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not
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<PAGE> 26
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 Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates
that 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 share of
Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of
one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Right 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 in respect of which Rights have been issued); and any registered
holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of such
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 such Common
Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to
enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights
Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right
by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
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<PAGE> 27
(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) any restriction on transfer imposed or deemed to be
imposed by this Agreement is valid and enforceable against the holder and any
transferee of the holder in accordance with Section 13.1-649 of the Virginia
Stock Corporation Act; and
(d) 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 (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificate 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, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof, nor
the Rights Agent shall be required to be affected by any notice to the contrary.
(e) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to
any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency
or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated
or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, 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 Shareholder. 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-halves of a share of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company
that 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 shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election
of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting
thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive
notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided
in Section 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.
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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, its directors,
officers, employees and agents for, and to hold each of them harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent or such Person, for anything
done or omitted by the Rights Agent or such other indemnified parties in
connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement or the
exercise or performance of its duties hereunder, 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 or the exercise or
performance of its duties hereunder 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, instruction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper
or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where
necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
(c) The indemnity provided in this Section 18 shall survive
the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any 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 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 counter-signature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such
Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
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(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 advice or opinion of such counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as
to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent 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
any person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be one of the Chairman of
the Board, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice
President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Vice President Strategic Planning
of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be
full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good
faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its
own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
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 any provision 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;
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<PAGE> 30
nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required hereunder 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 to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will, when so issued, be
duly authorized, validly 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
any person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the
Board, the President, any Senior Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant
Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply
to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and
it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay
in acting while awaiting instructions. At any time the Rights Agent may apply to
the Company for written instructions with respect to any matter arising in
connection with the Rights Agent's duties and obligations arising under this
Agreement. Such application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from
the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any
action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent with respect to its
duties or obligations under this Agreement and the date on and/or after which
such action shall be taken and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any
action taken or omitted in accordance with a proposal included in any such
application on or after the date specified therein (which date shall be not less
than one business day after the Company receives such application, without the
Company's consent) unless, prior to taking or initiating any such action, the
Rights Agent has received written instructions in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company.
(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
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<PAGE> 31
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,
that the Rights Agent was not grossly negligent 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.
(l) The Rights Agent undertakes only the express duties and
obligations imposed on it by this Agreement and no implied duties or obligations
shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 days notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to the transfer agent
of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail. The Company may remove the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days notice in writing,
mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to
the transfer agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to
the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the
Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail
to make such appointment within a period of 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 corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States or of the State of New York or of the
Commonwealth of Virginia (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 or the Commonwealth of Virginia), in good standing, having a
principal office in the State of New York or the Commonwealth of Virginia, which
is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust 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. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be
vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
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<PAGE> 32
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 the transfer agent of the Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing
to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice
provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not
affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, 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 Common Stock following the Distribution Date and
prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to Common
Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any
employee benefit plan or arrangement (so long as such options, plan or
arrangement were granted or established, as the case may be, prior to the
Distribution Date), or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities
issued by the Company before the Distribution Date, 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, appropriate
adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof and
(ii) in the case of issuances described in clause (b) of this sentence, 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.
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 (A) 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 (B) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not
less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per
Right, as such amount shall 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");
and the Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in cash or
securities or both having a current market price, as of a date determined by the
Board of
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<PAGE> 33
Directors, of $.01; provided, however, if the Board of Directors of the Company
authorizes redemption of the Rights on or after the earlier of the Stock
Acquisition Date and the Distribution Date, then there must be Continuing
Directors then in office and such authorization shall require the concurrence of
a majority of such Continuing Directors. Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the
first occurrence of a Triggering Event until such time as the Company's right of
redemption hereunder is not exercisable.
(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 shall 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 that
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not
the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption shall state the
method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) If there are Continuing Directors then in office, the
Board of Directors of the Company (with the concurrence of a majority of the
Continuing Directors) 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 Company shall not be
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding shares of 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 50% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the exchange of the Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of
this Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right
to exercise the Rights will 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 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
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<PAGE> 34
failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of
such exchange. Promptly after such action of the Board of Directors ordering the
exchange of the Rights pursuant to Section 24(a), the Company shall give notice
of exchange to the holders of such Rights by mailing such notice to all such
holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the
Rights Agent. Any notice that 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 shares of Common
Stock for Rights will be effected.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of
Common Stock authorized but unissued to permit the exchange in full of such
Rights 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.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates that 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 (d), 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 Section 11(d) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the Exchange Date.
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 Common Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Common Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend of the Company in
compliance with Section 13.1-653 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act), or (ii)
to offer to the holders of Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or
to purchase any additional shares of Common Stock or shares of stock of any
class or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Common Stock (other than a reclassification involving
only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Common 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 that complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), or to effect a statutory share exchange with any Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that 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
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<PAGE> 35
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, statutory share exchange, sale,
transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date
of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common 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 20 days prior to the record
date for determining holders of the shares of Common Stock for purposes of such
action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 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 Common Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case a Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur, then (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 Common Stock shall
be deemed thereafter to refer, if appropriate, not only to Common Stock, but
also to other securities, if appropriate.
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:
Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated
245 Main Street
Bassett, Virginia 24055
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
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:
First Union National Bank
1525 West W. T. Harris Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-1153, C3C
Attention: Shareholder Services Group
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
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<PAGE> 36
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 that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
(iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder (which lengthening or
shortening shall be effective only if there are Continuing Directors then in
office and shall require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing
Directors), or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any
manner that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that 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 or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring Person). Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate
officer of the Company that 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. Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment that changes the rights or
duties of the Rights Agent under this Agreement shall be effective without the
consent of the Rights Agent. No supplement or amendment shall be made that
changes the Redemption Price, the Final Expiration Date, the Purchase Price or
the number of one one-halves of a share of Common Stock for which a Right is
exercisable. 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 (with, where
specifically provided for herein, the concurrence of a majority of the
Continuing Directors) shall
33
<PAGE> 37
have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to
exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board, or 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 to 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)
that are done or made by the Board (with, where specifically provided for
herein, the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing Directors) in good
faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights
Agent, the holders of the Rights Certificates and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board or the Continuing Directors 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.
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 Commonwealth of Virginia and for all purposes shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of such Commonwealth applicable to
contracts made and to be performed entirely within such Commonwealth.
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.
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<PAGE> 38
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.
35
<PAGE> 39
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES,
INCORPORATED
By /s/ G. S. Elliott
--------------------
Name: G. S. Elliott
Title: Vice President/Strategic Planning
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
By /s/ Patrick J. Edwards
------------------------
Name: Patrick J. Edwards
Title: Vice President
36
<PAGE> 40
Exhibit A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- __________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE [BEFORE THE DISTRIBUTION DATE (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR](1) AFTER JUNE 23, 2008 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
IS GIVEN. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS
SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF 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 BE
OR BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT.](2)
Rights Certificate
This certifies that _______________ , or registered assigns,
is the registered holder 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 June 23, 1998 (as amended from time to time,
the "Rights Agreement"), between Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated, a
Virginia corporation (the "Company"), and First Union National Bank (the
"Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the
Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior
to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on June 23, 2008 (the "Final Expiration
Date") at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
- --------
(1) This portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only upon the
Rights Certificates delivered to the Rights Agent prior to the Distribution
Date.
(2) This portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
<PAGE> 41
designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agents, one one-half of
a fully paid nonassessable share of common stock, par value $5.00 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of the Company, at a purchase price of $___ per one one-half of
a share of Common Stock (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender
of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase set forth on
the reverse hereof and the Certificate contained therein both duly executed. The
Purchase Price shall be paid in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft
payable to the order of the Company. The number of Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate (and the number of one one-halves of a share of Common Stock
which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase
Price per one one-half of a share of Common Stock set forth above, are the
number of Rights, number of one one-halves of a share of Common Stock, and
Purchase Price as of _______ __, ____, based on the shares of Common Stock as
constituted at such date.
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, concurrently with or 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, the
number of one one-halves of a share of Common Stock and the kind of 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 any Triggering Event (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement).
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 principal
offices of the Company and are also available upon written request to the
Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights
Certificates, upon surrender at the 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-halves of a share of
Common 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
<PAGE> 42
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
(under certain circumstances, with the concurrence of a majority of the
Continuing Directors (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement)) at a
redemption price of $.01 per Right, payable, at the option of the Company, in
cash or securities, at any time prior to the earlier of the close of business on
(i) the tenth day (as such time period may be extended or shortened pursuant to
the Rights Agreement) following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), or (ii) the Final Expiration Date.
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, 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 the shares of
Common 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 shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or, to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in 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> 43
WITNESS the facsimile signatures of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal. Dated as of: ____________, [19][20]___.
ATTEST: BASSETT FURNITURE
INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
- ------------------------------ By:
Title: -------------------------
Title:
Countersigned:
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
By
----------------------------------
Authorized Signature
<PAGE> 44
[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 transfers 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-named Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated:___________ [19][20]__ --------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned or
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or will become as a result of the
transfer of Common Stock related to the Rights, directly or indirectly, an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
<PAGE> 45
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, he [ ] 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:_____________, [19][20]__ -----------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE> 46
Notices
The signatures 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.
<PAGE> 47
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate -- continued]
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if the registered holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.)
To: Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
______________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase
the Common 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)
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:_____________, [19][20]__ ------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must conform in
all respects to name of
the holder as specified on
the face of this Rights
Certificate in every
particular, without
alteration or enlargement
or any change whatsoever)
<PAGE> 48
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
Dated:____________ , [19][20]__ -----------------------------
Signature
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are
[ ] are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such
terms are defined in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, he [ ] 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: _____________, [19][20]__ ----------------------------
Signature
Notice
The signatures 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.
<PAGE> 49
EXHIBIT B
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
On June 23, 1998, the Board of Directors of Bassett Furniture
Industries, Incorporated, a Virginia corporation (the "Company"), declared a
dividend of one common stock purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding
share of common stock, $5.00 par value (the "Common Stock"), of the Company. The
distribution is payable on July 6, 1998, to shareholders of record at the close
of business on that date.
Each Right will entitle the holder to purchase from the
Company one one-half of a share of the Company's Common Stock at an initial
price of $60 per one one-half of a share of Common Stock (the "Purchase Price").
The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement
dated as of June 23, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and
First Union National Bank, as rights agent (the "Rights Agent").
The Rights are not exercisable, and are not transferable apart
from the Common Stock, until the "Distribution Date" which is the earlier of (i)
the tenth day after a public announcement that a Person (which term as used in
this summary means an individual or any business entity, other than the Company
and certain related entities) or group of affiliated or associated Persons has
acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more
of the outstanding Common Stock, thereby becoming an "Acquiring Person," or (ii)
the tenth business day after the date of the commencement of, or first public
announcement of the intent of any Person to commence, a tender or exchange offer
the consummation of which would result in such Person becoming an Acquiring
Person.
After the Distribution Date, the Rights are exercisable and
separately transferable.
Before the Distribution Date, a holder of Common Stock will be
the owner of one Right for each share of Common Stock he holds, but the Rights
will be evidenced by one or more certificates (a "Rights Certificate" or the
"Rights Certificates") held by the Rights Agent. After the Distribution Date,
separate Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common
Stock at the close of business on the Distribution Date.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights
will not be taxable to shareholders or to the Company, shareholders may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the
Rights become exercisable. The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares
of Common Stock or other securities or property issuable upon exercise of the
Rights, as well as the number of Rights outstanding, are subject to adjustment
from time to time upon the occurrence of certain dilutive events.
<PAGE> 50
Any additional shares of Common Stock issued before the
Distribution Date will also have Rights issued in respect thereof and shares of
Common Stock issued after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights if
such shares are issued in respect of stock options, employee benefit plans or
convertible securities which were granted, established or issued before the
Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire at the close of business on June 23,
2008, unless earlier exercised or redeemed by the Company.
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued when a
Right is exercised and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made
based on the market price of the Common Stock on the last trading date prior to
the date of exercise.
Each holder of a Right will have the right to receive, upon
exercise of a Right, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property
or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the
purchase price for the Rights then in effect if a Person or group of affiliated
or associated Persons acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock (which event is popularly termed a flip-in event).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the occurrence of the event set forth
in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring
Person will be null and void.
For example, if the Purchase Price is $60 per Right, each
Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or certain related parties) following an
event described in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase
$120 worth of Common Stock (or other securities or assets, as noted above) for
$60. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share price of $30 at such time,
the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase four shares of
Common Stock for $60.
Each holder of a Right will have the right to receive, upon
exercise, common stock (or equivalent securities) of the acquiring entity having
a value equal to two times the Purchase Price then in effect, if after it is
announced that a Person or group has become an Acquiring Person, (i) the Company
is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction and is not the
surviving or continuing corporation, (ii) the Company is the surviving or
continuing corporation in a merger or other business combination and the Common
Stock is changed or exchanged for securities of another Person, (iii) the
Company is party to a statutory share exchange with any other Person after which
the Company becomes a Subsidiary of any other Person or (iv) 50% or more of the
assets or earning power of the Company is sold or transferred (each of which
events is popularly termed a flip-over event).
If the Company is not able to issue the Common Stock because
of the absence of any necessary regulatory approval, restrictions contained in
the Company's Articles of Incorporation or for any other reason, a person
exercising Rights will be entitled to receive a combination of
-3-
<PAGE> 51
cash or property or other securities having a value equal to the value of the
Common Stock which would otherwise have been issued upon exercise of the Rights.
For Rights exercised before any Triggering Event occurs, the Company may defer
issuance of the Common Stock for up to 90 days to obtain any necessary
regulatory approval. If unable to obtain such approval, the Company may
substitute cash, assets or other property for the Common Stock which would
otherwise have been issued in accordance with the Rights Agreement.
At any time until ten days after the announcement that a
Person or group has become an Acquiring Person, the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right, payable in cash
or securities. Upon certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, the
decision to redeem will require the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing
Directors. When the Board of Directors (with, where required, the concurrence of
a majority of Continuing Directors) orders a redemption of the Rights, the
Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the redemption price. The Continuing Directors are (i) members of the
Board who were also directors on the earlier of the announcement that a Person
or group has become an Acquiring Person and the Distribution Date or (ii)
directors elected or nominated by a majority of the Continuing Directors in
office on the date of such election or nomination.
After a Person becomes an Acquiring Person and before the
Acquiring Person acquires 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
the Company, with the concurrence of a majority of Continuing Directors, may
require a holder to exchange all or any portion of his Rights for one share of
Common Stock per Right.
Certain provisions relating to the principal economic terms of
the Rights may not be amended at any time. Other provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the
Distribution Date. Thereafter these other provisions of the Rights Agreement may
be amended by the Board (under certain circumstances only with the concurrence
of a majority of the Continuing Directors) in order to cure any ambiguity,
defect or inconsistency, to make changes which do not adversely affect the
interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any Acquiring
Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement
(including the time period for redeeming the Rights); provided, however, that no
amendment to adjust the time period governing redemption may be made if the
Rights are not redeemable at the time of the amendment; and that the Board may
not lengthen any other time period except for the purpose of protecting or
clarifying the rights of the Rights holders (excluding any Acquiring Person or
its Affiliates or Associates).
A copy of the Rights Agreement is filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement of the Company
on Form 8-A. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Company upon written request therefor. This summary description of the Rights
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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