SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
----------------
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
-------------------------------
Date of Report: October 15, 1998
U.S. Industries, Inc.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 33-47101 22-3568449
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
incorporation) Identification Number)
101 Wood Avenue South, Iselin, NJ 08830
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (732) 767-0700
0301748.03
<PAGE>
Items 1-4. Not Applicable.
Item 5. Other Events.
On October 15, 1998, the Board of Directors of U.S. Industries, Inc. (the
"Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Preferred Stock Purchase
Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of the Company held by stockholders of record on October 29,
1998. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of preferred stock of the Company, designated
as Series A Junior Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") at a price of $65 per
one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share (the "Exercise Price"). The description and
terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
As discussed below, initially the Rights will not be exercisable,
certificates will not be sent to stockholders and the Rights will automatically
trade with the Common Stock.
Unless earlier redeemed, the Rights will expire (the "Final Expiration
Time") (i) at the close of business on October 15, 2008 or (ii) if the Rights
Distribution Date (as defined below) shall have occurred before October 15,
2008, at the close of business on the 90th day following the Rights Distribution
Date, provided that the Board of Directors of the Company does not extend or
otherwise modify the Rights. There can be no assurance, however, as to whether
or not such Board of Directors will so extend, modify or redeem the Rights.
The Rights, unless earlier redeemed by the Company's Board of Directors or
extended or modified as described above, become exercisable by each record
holder thereof, other than the Acquiring Person (as defined below), upon the
close of business on the day (the "Rights Distribution Date") which is the
earlier of (i) the tenth day following the first date (the "Stock Acquisition
Date") on which there is a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons, with certain exceptions set forth below, has
acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of
the Company (an "Acquiring Person") or such earlier or later date (not beyond
the thirtieth day after the Stock Acquisition Date) as the Board of Directors
may determine and (ii) the tenth business day (or such later date as may be
determined by the Company's Board of Directors prior to such time as any person
or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) after
the date of the commencement or announcement of a person's or group's intention
to commence a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in
the ownership of 15% or more of the Company's outstanding voting stock (even if
no shares are actually purchased pursuant to such offer); prior thereto, the
Rights will not be exercisable, will not be represented by a separate
certificate, and will not be transferable apart from the Common Stock. An
Acquiring Person does not include (A) Harris Associates L.P. and its associates
and affiliates ("Harris"), (B) the Company, (C) any subsidiary of the Company,
(D) any employee benefit plan or employee stock plan of the Company or of any
subsidiary of the Company, or any trust or other entity organized, appointed,
established or holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan or (E) any person or group whose ownership of 15% or more of the shares of
voting stock of the Company then outstanding results solely from (i) any action
or transaction or transactions approved by the Company's Board of Directors
before such person or group became an Acquiring Person or (ii) a reduction in
the number of issued and outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company
pursuant to a transaction or transactions approved by the Company's Board of
Directors (provided that any person or group that does not become an Acquiring
Person by reason of clause (i) or (ii) above shall become an Acquiring Person
upon acquisition of an additional 1% of the Company's voting stock unless such
acquisition of additional voting stock will not result in such person or group
becoming an Acquiring Person by reason of such clause (i) or (ii), and provided
further that Harris shall become an Acquiring Person if Harris acquires
Beneficial Ownership of an additional 1% or more of the voting stock of the
Company (unless the acquisition of such additional voting stock would not result
in Harris becoming an Acquiring Person by reason of clause (i) or (ii) above) or
commences, or announces an intention to commence, a tender or exchange offer
upon the successful consummation of which Harris would be the beneficial owner
of 15% or more of the voting stock of the Company (irrespective of whether any
shares are actually purchased pursuant to any such offer)). For purposes of the
foregoing, outstanding voting stock of the Company includes voting stock that
trades on a "when issued" basis on a national securities exchange (such as the
NYSE), on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System or otherwise.
The Rights Agreement provides that when a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to a
Qualifying Tender Offer (as defined below)), such Acquiring Person's Rights will
thereupon become null and void.
The Rights Agreement provides that until the Rights Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Until the Rights
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), Common
Stock certificates will contain a legend incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference. Until the Rights Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any of the Common Stock
certificates will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following
the Rights Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights
("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock
as of the close of business on the Rights Distribution Date and such separate
certificates alone will evidence the Rights from and after the Rights
Distribution Date.
The Series A Preferred Stock is nonredeemable and, unless otherwise
provided in connection with the creation of a subsequent series of preferred
stock, subordinate to any other series of the Company's preferred stock. The
Series A Preferred Stock may not be issued except upon exercise of Rights. Each
share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive when, as and if
declared, a quarterly dividend in an amount equal to the greater of $0.10 per
share or 100 times the cash dividends declared on the Common Stock. In addition,
Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to 100 times any non-cash dividends (other
than dividends payable in equity securities) declared on the Common Stock, in
like kind. In the event of the liquidation of the Company, the holders of Series
A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a payment in an amount equal to
the greater of $65 per one one-hundredth share or 100 times the payment made per
share of Common Stock. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will have 100
votes, voting together with the Common Stock. In the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which Common Stock is changed, exchanged
or converted, each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive
100 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. The rights of Series A
Preferred Stock as to dividends, liquidation and voting are protected by
anti-dilution provisions. If the dividends accrued on the Preferred Stock for
four or more quarterly dividend periods, whether consecutive or not, shall not
have been declared and paid or irrevocably set aside for payment, the holders of
record of Preferred Stock of the Company of all series (including the Series A
Preferred Stock) will have the right to elect two members to the Company's Board
of Directors.
The number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Rights is subject to certain adjustments from time to time in the event of a
stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or issuance of capital stock in
a reclassification of, the Common Stock. The Exercise Price for the Rights is
subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, including certain distributions
of cash or other property to holders of Common Stock.
Unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that, at any time on
or after the Rights Distribution Date, the Company were to be acquired in a
merger or other business combination (in which any shares of Common Stock are
changed or converted into or exchanged for other securities or assets) or more
than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) were to be sold or transferred in one or a series of related
transactions, the Rights Agreement provides that proper provision will be made
so that each holder of record of a Right, other than the Acquiring Person, will
from and after such date have the right to receive, upon payment of the Exercise
Price, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company having a
market value at the time of such transaction equal to two times the Exercise
Price. In addition, unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that a
person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's
voting stock (other than pursuant to a tender or exchange offer (a "Qualifying
Tender Offer") for all outstanding shares of Common Stock that is approved by
the Board of Directors, after taking into account the long-term value of the
Company and all other factors they consider relevant), the Rights Agreement
provides that proper provision will be made so that each holder of record of a
Right, other than the Acquiring Person, will thereafter have the right to
receive, upon payment of the Exercise Price, that number of shares of the Series
A Preferred Stock having a market value at the time of the transaction equal to
two times the Exercise Price (such market value to be determined with reference
to the market value of the Common Stock as provided in the Rights Agreement).
Fractions of shares of Series A Preferred Stock (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share) may, at the election of
the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts. The Company may also issue
cash in lieu of fractional shares which are not integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share.
At any time on or prior to the close of business on the tenth day after the
time that a person has become an Acquiring Person (or such later date as may be
determined by a majority of the Board of Directors), the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.0l per Right, subject to
adjustment (the "Redemption Price"). Immediately upon the effective time of the
action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing redemption of the
Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of
the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
For as long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may amend the
Rights in any manner, including an amendment to extend the time period in which
the Rights may be redeemed. At any time when the Rights are not then redeemable,
the Company may amend the Rights in any manner that does not materially
adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights as such.
In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at
any time after the tenth day following a Stock Acquisition Date and prior to the
time that an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of
the outstanding shares of the voting stock of the Company, elect to exchange all
(but not less than all) of the then outstanding Rights (other than Rights owned
by the Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate thereof, which Rights
become void) 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 of the Distribution
Date (the "Exchange Ratio"). Immediately upon such action by the Board of
Directors (the "Exchange Time"), the right to exercise the Rights will terminate
and each Right will thereafter represent only the right to receive a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder, as such, will have no rights as a
stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or
to receive dividends. Holders of Common Stock may, depending upon the
circumstances, recognize taxable income should the Rights become exercisable or
upon the occurrence of certain events thereafter.
As of October 15, 1998 there were 105,139,616 shares of Common
Stock issued (of which 98,560,760 shares were outstanding and 6,578,856 shares
were held in treasury) and 2,461,127 shares reserved for issuance pursuant to
employee benefit plans. As long as the Rights are attached to the Common Stock,
the Company will issue one Right with each new share of Common Stock so that all
such shares will have Rights attached. The Company's Board of Directors has
reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Rights 2,000,000 shares of Series A
Preferred Stock.
The Rights Agreement (which includes as Exhibit B the forms of
Right Certificates and Election to Purchase and as Exhibit C the form of
Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Preferred Stock) is attached
hereto as an exhibit and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing
description of the Rights is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Rights Agreement and such exhibits thereto.
Item 6. Not Applicable.
Item 7. Exhibits.
(4) Rights Agreement, which includes as Exhibit B the forms of Right
Certificate and Election to Purchase and as Exhibit C the form
of Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Preferred
Stock.
(20) Form of Letter to Stockholders.
(99) Press release, dated October 15, 1998, issued by the Company.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
By /s/ Steven C. Barre
-------------------
Name: Steven C. Barre
Title: Assistant Secretary
Date: October 15, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
(4) Rights Agreement, dated as of
October 15, 1998 (the
"Rights Agreement"), between
U.S. Industries, Inc. and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Rights Agent, including as Exhibit B
the forms of Right Certificate
and of Election to Exercise.
(20) Form of Letter to Stockholders
(99) Press release, dated October 15, 1998, issued by
the Company
================================================================================
U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
and
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
as Rights Agent
-----------
Rights Agreement
Dated as of October 15, 1998
================================================================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1. Certain Definitions.......................................................2
2. Appointment of Rights Agent...............................................11
3. Issuance of Right Certificates............................................11
4. Form of Right Certificates................................................14
5. Countersignature and Registration.........................................15
6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates...............16
7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights.............17
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates........................22
9. Reservation and Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock.................22
10. Preferred Stock Record Date...............................................24
11. Adjustment of Exercise Price or Number of Shares.........................25
12. Certification of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares.............32
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.... 33
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares..................................39
15. Rights of Action.........................................................40
16. Agreement of Right Holders...............................................41
17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder........................42
18. Concerning the Rights Agent..............................................43
19. Merger or Consolidation of, or Change in Name of, the Rights Agent.......44
20. Duties of the Rights Agent...............................................45
21. Change of Rights Agent...................................................48
22. Issuance of New Right Certificates.......................................50
23. Redemption or Exchange...................................................50
24. Notice of Proposed Actions...............................................53
25. Notices..................................................................54
26. Supplements and Amendments...............................................55
27. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors of the Company, etc..56
28. Successors...............................................................57
29. Benefits of this Rights Agreement........................................57
30. Delaware Contract........................................................58
31. Counterparts.............................................................58
32. Descriptive Headings.....................................................58
33. Severability.............................................................58
Exhibit A -- Summary of Rights
Exhibit B -- Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit C -- Form of Certificate of Designations of
Series A Junior Preferred Stock
<PAGE>
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Agreement, dated as of October 15, 1998, by and between U.S. INDUSTRIES,
INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on October 15, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized the issuance of, and declared a dividend payable in, one right (a
"Right") for each share of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the
Company outstanding as of the close of business on October 29, 1998 (the "Record
Date"), each such Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of
a share of Series A Junior Preferred Stock of the Company ("Preferred Stock")
having the rights and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of
Designations attached hereto as Exhibit C authorized by the Board of Directors
of the Company on October 15, 1998, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company further authorized the
issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment) with respect to each share of
Common Stock which may be issued between the Record Date and the Expiration Date
(as such term is hereinafter defined);
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 shall have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates (as such
term is hereinafter defined) and Associates (as such term is hereinafter
defined) of such Person, is the Beneficial Owner (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the Voting Stock (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of the Company then outstanding; provided that, an
Acquiring Person shall not include (i) an Exempt Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) or (ii) any Person, together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, who or which would be an Acquiring Person solely
by reason of (A) being the Beneficial Owner of shares of Voting Stock of
the Company, the Beneficial Ownership of which was acquired by such Person
pursuant to any action or transaction or series of related actions or
transactions approved by the Board of Directors before such Person
otherwise became an Acquiring Person or (B) a reduction in the number of
issued and outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company pursuant to a
transaction or a series of related transactions approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company; provided further, that in the event such Person
described in this clause (ii) does not become an Acquiring Person by reason
of subclause (A) or (B) of this clause (ii), such Person nonetheless shall
become an Acquiring Person in the event such Person thereafter acquires
Beneficial Ownership of an additional l% of the Voting Stock of the
Company, unless the acquisition of such additional Voting Stock would not
result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person by reason of subclause
(A) or (B) of this clause (ii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board
of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who
would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" as defined pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a) has become such inadvertently,
and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of
shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring
Person" as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph
(a), then such Person shall not be deemed an "Acquiring Person" for any
purposes of this Rights Agreement.
(b) "Affiliate" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule
12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date of this
Rights Agreement.
(c) "Associate" of a Person (as such term is hereinafter defined)
shall mean (i) with respect to a corporation, any officer or director
thereof or of any Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) thereof,
or any Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 10% or
more of any class of equity security thereof, (ii) with respect to an
association, any officer or director thereof or of a Subsidiary thereof,
(iii) with respect to a partnership, any general partner thereof or any
limited partner thereof who is, directly or indirectly, the Beneficial
Owner of a 10% ownership interest therein, (iv) with respect to a business
trust, any officer or trustee thereof or of any Subsidiary thereof, (v)
with respect to any other trust or an estate, any trustee, executor or
similar fiduciary or any Person who has a 10% or greater interest as a
beneficiary in the income from or principal of such trust or estate, (vi)
with respect to a natural person, any relative or spouse of such person, or
any relative of such spouse, who has the same home as such person, and
(vii) any Affiliate of such Person.
(d) A person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"Beneficially Own," any securities (and correlative terms shall have
correlative meanings):
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulations 13D and 13G
thereunder (or any comparable or successor law or regulation), in each
case as in effect on the date hereof; or
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the
fulfillment of a condition or both) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, other rights (other than these Rights),
warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person
shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "Beneficially
Own," 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)
the right to vote, alone or in concert with others, 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 securities if the agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely
from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or
consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and (2) is not
at the time reportable by such Person on a Schedule 13D report under
the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report), other than
by reference to a proxy or consent solicitation being conducted by
such Person; or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except as described in clause (B) of
subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (d)) or disposing of any
securities of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of
determining Beneficial Ownership of securities under this Rights
Agreement, officers and directors of the Company solely by reason of
their status as such shall not constitute a group (notwithstanding
that they may be Associates of one another or may be deemed to
constitute a group for purposes of Section 13(d) the Exchange Act) and
shall not be deemed to own shares owned by another officer or director
of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph (d) to the contrary, a
Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"Beneficially Own," any security beneficially owned by another Person
solely by reason of an agreement, arrangement or understanding with
such other Person for the purposes of: (x) soliciting the Company's
stockholders for the election of director nominees or any other
stockholder resolution, the formation of and membership on any
committee for the purpose of promoting or opposing any stockholder
resolution or for electing a slate of nominees to the Company's Board
of Directors, service on such a slate of nominees, or agreement to a
slate of director nominees, provided that such other Person retains
the right at any time to withdraw as a nominee or member of any such
committee, and to withhold or revoke any vote or proxy for or against
any such stockholder resolution or for such slate of nominees; (y)
entering into revocable voting agreements or the granting or
solicitation of revocable proxies with respect to any of the matters
described in the foregoing clause (x); or (z) the sharing of expenses
and the indemnification against expenses and liabilities by any such
other Person with respect to expenses incurred or conduct occurring
during the time such other Person is a nominee or a member of any such
committee described in the foregoing clause (x). Further,
notwithstanding anything in this paragraph (d) to the contrary, a
Person engaged in the business of underwriting securities shall not be
deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "Beneficially Own," any
securities acquired in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting
until the expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New
York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company shall
collectively mean the Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company.
"Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the
Company which shall be organized in corporate form shall mean the capital
stock or other equity security with the greatest per share voting power of
such Person. "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other
than the Company which shall not be organized in corporate form shall mean
units of beneficial interest which shall represent the right to participate
in profits, losses, deductions and credits of such Person and which shall
be entitled to exercise the greatest voting power per unit of such Person.
(h) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(b) hereof.
(i) "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(b)
hereof.
(j) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(d) hereof.
(k) "Exempt Person" shall mean (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of
the Company, (iii) Harris or (iv) any employee benefit plan or employee
stock plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any trust or
other entity organized, appointed, established or holding Common Stock for
or pursuant to the terms of any such plan; provided, however, that Harris
shall cease to be an Exempt Person and shall become an Acquiring Person in
the event Harris (A) acquires Beneficial Ownership of an additional 1% or
more of the Voting Stock of the Company, unless the acquisition of such
additional Voting Stock would not result in Harris becoming an Acquiring
Person by reason of subclause (A) or (B) of clause (ii) of Section 1(a)
hereof or (B) commences, or announces an intention to commence, a tender or
exchange offer upon the successful consummation of which Harris would be
the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding Voting Stock of
the Company (irrespective of whether any shares are actually purchased
pursuant to any such offer).
(l) "Exercise Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Sections 4 and 7(b) hereof.
(m) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
hereof.
(n) "Fair Market Value" of any property shall mean the fair market
value of such property as determined in accordance with Section 11(b)
hereof.
(o) "Harris" shall mean Harris
Associates L.P. together with its Affiliates and Associates.
(p) "NASDAQ" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(b) hereof.
(q) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other
entity.
(r) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(b) hereof.
(s) "Qualifying Tender Offer" shall mean a tender or exchange offer
for all outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company approved by a
majority of the Board of Directors, after taking into account the potential
long-term value of the Company and all other factors that they consider
relevant.
(t) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
(u) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(d) hereof.
(v) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date on which there
shall be a public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring
Person that an Acquiring Person has become such (which, for purposes of
this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant
to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) or such earlier date as a majority of
the Board of Directors shall become aware of the existence of an Acquiring
Person.
(w) "Subsidiary" of a Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which securities or other ownership interests having voting power
sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons
performing similar functions are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person or by any corporation or other entity that is
otherwise controlled by such Person.
(x) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
(y) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b)
hereof.
(z) "Transfer Tax" shall mean any tax or charge, including any
documentary stamp tax, imposed or collected by any governmental or
regulatory authority in respect of any transfer of any security, instrument
or right, including Rights, shares of Common Stock and shares of Preferred
Stock.
(aa) "Voting Stock" shall mean (i) the Common Stock of the Company and
(ii) any other shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors or entitled to vote together with
the Common Stock in respect of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets, liquidation, dissolution or
winding up. For purposes of this Agreement, Voting Stock shall include
securities of the type referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above that trade
on a "when issued" basis on a national securities exchange or on the
NASDAQ. For purposes of this Agreement, a stated percentage of the Voting
Stock shall mean a number of shares of the Voting Stock as shall equal in
voting power that stated percentage of the total voting power of the then
outstanding shares of Voting Stock in the election of a majority of the
Board of Directors or in respect of any merger, consolidation, sale of all
or substantially all of the Company's assets, liquidation, dissolution or
winding up.
Any determination required to be made by the Board of Directors of the Company
for purposes of applying the definitions contained in this Section 1 shall be
made by the Board of Directors in its good faith judgment, which determination
shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issuance of Right Certificates.
(a) On the Record Date (or as soon as practicable thereafter), the Company
or the Rights Agent shall send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially
the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Summary of Rights"), by first class
mail, postage prepaid, 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.
(b) Until the close of business on the day which is the earlier of (i) the
tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date or such earlier or later date (not
beyond the thirtieth day after the Stock Acquisition Date) as the Board of
Directors may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the
Distribution Date that otherwise would have occurred or (ii) the tenth business
day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors
prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of
the commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or the first
public announcement of the intent of any Person (other than an Exempt Person) to
commence, a tender or exchange offer upon the successful consummation of which
such Person, together with its Affiliates and Associates, would be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock
of the Company (irrespective of whether any shares are actually purchased
pursuant to any such offer) (the earlier of such dates being herein referred to
as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights shall be evidenced by the
certificates for Common Stock registered in the name of the holders of Common
Stock (together with, in the case of certificates for Common Stock outstanding
as of the Record Date, the Summary of Rights) and not by separate Right
certificates and the record holders of such certificates for Common Stock shall
be the record holders of the Rights represented thereby and (y) each Right shall
be transferable only simultaneously and together with the transfer of a share of
Common Stock (subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided). Until the
Distribution Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for
transfer of any certificate for Common Stock shall constitute the surrender for
transfer of the Right or Rights associated with the Common Stock evidenced
thereby, whether or not accompanied by a copy of the Summary of Rights.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock that
become outstanding after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date and the Expiration Date and, in certain circumstances provided
in Section 3(e) hereof and Section 22 hereof, may be issued in respect of shares
of Common Stock that become outstanding after the Distribution Date.
Certificates for Common Stock (including, without limitation, certificates
issued upon original issuance, disposition from the Company's treasury or
transfer or exchange of Common Stock) after the Record Date but prior to the
earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (or, in certain
circumstances as provided in Section 3(e) hereof and Section 22 hereof, after
the Distribution Date) shall have impressed, printed, written or stamped thereon
or otherwise affixed thereto the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
the same number of Rights (subject to adjustment) as the number of
shares of Common Stock represented by this certificate, such Rights
being on the terms provided under the Rights Agreement between U.S.
Industries, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan Bank (the "Rights Agent"),
dated as of October 15, 1998, as it may be amended from time to time
(the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are incorporated herein
by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive
offices of U.S. Industries, Inc. Under certain circumstances, as set
forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights shall be evidenced by
separate certificates and shall no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. U.S. Industries, Inc. shall mail to the registered holder
of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge
within five days after receipt of a written request therefor. Under
certain circumstances as provided in Section 7(e) of the Rights
Agreement, Rights issued to or Beneficially Owned by Acquiring Persons
or their Affiliates or Associates (as such terms are defined in the
Rights Agreement) or any subsequent holder of such Rights shall be
null and void and may not be transferred to any Person.
(d) As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will
prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will
send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested, send), by
first class mail, postage prepaid, to each record holder of the Common Stock as
of the close of business on the Distribution Date, as shown by the records of
the Company, at the address of such holder shown on such records, a certificate
in the form provided by Section 4 hereof (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one
Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each share of Common Stock
so held. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced
solely by Right Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Right
Certificate as permitted hereby, separately and apart from any transfer of one
or more shares of Common Stock.
(e) In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of
Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date,
the Company (i) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold
(x) pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or
arrangement or (y) upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities
issued by the Company prior to the Distribution Date and (ii) may, in any other
case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights
in connection with such issuance or sale; provided that no such Right
Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, (i) 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
Right Certificate would be issued or (ii) appropriate adjustment shall otherwise
have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
forms of election to purchase shares, certificate and assignment to be printed
on the reverse thereof), when, as and if issued, shall be substantially in the
form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification or
designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as may
be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Common
Stock or the Rights may from time to time be listed or as the Company may deem
appropriate to conform to usage or otherwise and as are not inconsistent with
the provisions of this Rights Agreement. Subject to the provisions of Section 22
hereof, Right Certificates evidencing Rights whenever issued, (i) shall be dated
as of the date of issuance of the Rights they represent and (ii) subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided herein, on their face shall entitle the
holders thereof to purchase such number of shares (including fractional shares
which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share) of Preferred Stock
as shall be set forth therein at the price payable upon exercise of a Right
provided by Section 7(b) hereof as the same may from time to time be adjusted as
provided herein (the "Exercise Price").
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) Each Right Certificate
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board,
President or any Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and
have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be
attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. Each Right Certificate shall be
countersigned by the Rights Agent either manually or by facsimile signature and
shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer
of the Company who shall have signed any Right Certificate shall cease to be
such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and
issuance and delivery of the certificate by the Company, such Right Certificate,
nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered
with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Right
Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company. Any Right
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, on the
date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of
the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of the
execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to
be kept, at its principal office or one or more offices designated as the
appropriate place for surrender of Right Certificates upon exercise or transfer,
and in such other locations as may be required by law, books for registration
and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show
the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the
number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the
date of each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(e), 7(f) and 14 hereof, at any
time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to
the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Right Certificate, may be (i)
transferred or (ii) split up, combined or exchanged for one or more other Right
Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of
shares of Preferred Stock as the Right Certificate or Rights Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer any Right Certificate shall surrender the Right Certificate
at the office of the Rights Agent designated for the surrender of Right
Certificates with the form of certificate and assignment on the reverse side
thereof duly endorsed (or enclosed with such Right Certificate a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Rights
Agent), duly executed by the registered holder thereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, and with such signature duly guaranteed. Any registered
holder desiring to split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate shall
make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender
the Right Certificate to be split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the
Rights Agent designated therefor. Thereupon, the Rights Agent shall countersign
and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any Transfer Tax that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of any Right
Certificates.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(e), 7(f) and 14 hereof, upon
receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory
to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate,
and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably
satisfactory to them and, if requested by the Company, reimbursement to the
Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, or
upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate if
mutilated, the Company shall issue and deliver a new Right Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the
Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) The Rights shall not be exercisable until, and shall become exercisable
on, the Distribution Date (unless otherwise provided herein, including, without
limitation, the restrictions on exercisability set forth in Sections 7(e) and
23(a) hereof). Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights may be exercised,
in whole or in part, at any time commencing with the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed (with signatures duly
guaranteed), to the Rights Agent at the principal office of the Rights Agent in
New York, New York, together with payment of the Exercise Price for each Right
exercised, subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided, at or prior to the
Close of Business on the earlier of: (i) October 15, 2008 (or if the
Distribution Date shall have occurred before October 15, 2008, at the close of
business on the 90th day following the Distribution Date) and (ii) the date on
which the rights are redeemed or exchanged as provided in Section 23 hereof (the
"Expiration Date").
(b) The Exercise Price shall initially be $65.00 for each one one-hundredth
(1/100) of a share of Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of a
Right. The Exercise Price and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other
securities to be acquired upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof. The
Exercise Price shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America,
in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, upon receipt of a Right
Certificate representing exercisable Rights with the form of election to
purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment by certified check, cashier's
check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company or the Rights Agent of
the Exercise Price for the shares to be purchased and an amount equal to any
applicable Transfer Tax required to be paid by the holder of the Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, the Rights Agent shall
thereupon promptly (i) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred
Stock of the Company one or more certificates representing the number of shares
of Preferred Stock to be so purchased, and the Company hereby authorizes and
directs such transfer agent to comply with all such requests, (ii) as provided
in Section 14(b), at the election of the Company, cause depositary receipts to
be issued in lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock, (iii) if the election
provided for in the immediately preceding clause (ii) has not been made,
requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of the
issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14(b) hereof, (iv)
after receipt of such Preferred Stock certificates and, if applicable,
depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as
may be designated by such holder and (v) when appropriate, after receipt,
promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Right Certificate; provided, however, that in the case of a purchase of
securities, other than Preferred Stock, pursuant to Section 13 hereof, the
Rights Agent shall promptly take the appropriate actions corresponding in such
case to that referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (v) of this
Section 7(c). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(c), the
Company may suspend the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock upon exercise of a
Right for a reasonable period, not in excess of 90 days, during which the
Company seeks to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), and any applicable securities law of any other jurisdiction, the shares
of Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to the Rights; provided, however, that
nothing contained in this Section 7(c) shall relieve the Company of its
obligations under Section 9(c) hereof.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise
less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing
Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the
Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or his assign,
subject to the provisions of Section 14(b) hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Rights Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the time (the "invalidation time") when any Person first becomes
an Acquiring Person, other than pursuant to a Qualifying Tender Offer, any
Rights that are beneficially owned by (x) such Acquiring Person (or any
Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person), (y) a transferee of such
Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee
after the invalidation time or (z) a transferee of such Acquiring Person (or any
such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently
with the invalidation time pursuant to either (I) a transfer from the Acquiring
Person to holders of its equity securities or to any Person with whom it has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (II) a transfer which the Board of Directors has determined is part of
a plan, arrangement or understanding which has the purpose or effect of avoiding
the provisions of this Section 7(e), and subsequent transferees of such Persons
referred to in clause (y) and (z) above, shall be void without any further
action and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no rights whatsoever
with respect to such Rights under any provision of this Rights Agreement. The
Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this
Section 7(e) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of
Right Certificates or any other Person as a result of its failure to make any
determination with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates
or transferees hereunder. No Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to
Section 3 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the provisions of this Section
7(e) or any Associate or Affiliate thereof; no Right Certificate shall be issued
at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights
would be void pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7(e) or any Associate
or Affiliate thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or
Affiliate; and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer
to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 7(e) shall be cancelled. The Company shall use all reasonable
efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) are complied with,
but shall have no liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other Person
as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an
Acquiring Person or its Affiliates and Associates or any transferee of any of
them 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 following the form of election to purchase
set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such
exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All Right
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall cancel
and retire, any Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise
than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled
Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the
Company, destroy such cancelled Right Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and
kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock or
out of authorized and issued shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury,
such number of shares of Preferred Stock as will from time to time be sufficient
to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such
time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares of Preferred Stock issued or
reserved for issuance in accordance with this Rights Agreement to be listed,
upon official notice of issuance, upon the principal national securities
exchange, if any, upon which the Common Stock is listed or, if the principal
market for the Common Stock is not on any national securities exchange, to be
eligible for quotation in the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation System or any successor thereto or other comparable
quotation system ("NASDAQ").
(c) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as
may be necessary to insure that all shares of Preferred Stock delivered upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such
shares (subject to payment of the Exercise Price in respect thereof), be duly
and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
(d) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the occurrence of the event described in Section
11(a)(ii), or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as
the case may be, a registration statement under the Act, with respect to the
shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration
statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the
Rights are no longer exercisable for Preferred Stock, or (B) the Expiration
Date. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed
ninety days, the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock upon exercise of a Right
in order to prepare and file a registration statement under the Act and permit
it to become effective. 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.
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 and until a registration statement
under the Act (if required) shall have been declared effective.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable
any and all federal and state Transfer Taxes which may be payable in respect of
the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any shares of Preferred
Stock issued or delivered upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay any Transfer Tax which may be payable in respect of
any transfer or delivery of a Right Certificate to a Person other than, or the
issuance or delivery of certificates for Preferred Stock upon exercise of Rights
in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate,
and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver a Right Certificate or
certificate for Preferred Stock to a Person other than such registered holder
until any such Transfer Tax shall have been paid (any such Transfer Tax being
payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or
until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such
Transfer Tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for shares of Preferred Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights
shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the
Preferred Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated as
of, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price (and any applicable Transfer
Taxes) was made; provided, however, that, if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock 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 as of, the next succeeding
Business Day on which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company are
open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Right Certificate, as such, shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder
of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price or Number of Shares. The Exercise
Price and the number of shares of Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon
exercise of a Right 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
Rights Agreement (A) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide or split the outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a greater number of shares or (C) combine or consolidate the
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares or effect a
reverse split of the outstanding shares of Common Stock 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), then and in each such event
the number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right
after the record date for such event (if one shall have been established or, if
not, after the date of such event) shall be the number of shares of Preferred
Stock issuable immediately prior to such event multiplied by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of Rights outstanding immediately prior to such
event and the denominator of which is the number of Rights outstanding
immediately after such event and the Exercise Price after such event shall be
the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such event multiplied by such
fraction. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this
Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in
this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any
adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) In the event that any Person (other than an Exempt Person), alone or
together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall become an Acquiring Person,
except pursuant to a Qualifying Tender Offer, then, subject to the last sentence
of Section 23(a) and except as otherwise provided in this Section 11, each
holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter
have the right to receive upon exercise of such Right in accordance with the
terms of this Rights Agreement and payment of the Exercise Price, the greater of
(1) the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which
such Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of the
event described in this Section 11(a)(ii) or (2) such number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock, based on the per share Fair Market
Value of the Preferred Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof) on
the date of such first occurrence, having a value equal to twice the Exercise
Price; provided, however, that if the transaction that would otherwise give rise
to the foregoing adjustment is also subject to the provisions of Section 13
hereof, then only the provisions of Section 13 hereof shall apply and no
adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii).
(iii) In the event that the Company does not have available sufficient
authorized but unissued Preferred Stock to permit the adjustments required
pursuant to the foregoing subparagraph (i) or the exercise in full of the Rights
in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Company shall take all
such actions as may be necessary to authorize and reserve for issuance such
number of additional shares of Preferred Stock as may from time to time be
required to be issued upon the exercise in full of all Rights from time to time
outstanding and, if necessary, shall use its best efforts to obtain stockholder
approval thereof. In lieu of issuing shares of Preferred Stock in accordance
with the foregoing subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the Company may, if the Board of
Directors determines that such action is necessary or appropriate and not
contrary to the interests of holders of Rights, elect to issue or pay, upon the
exercise of the Rights, cash, property, shares of Preferred or Common Stock,
debt or other equity securities or any combination thereof, having an aggregate
Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares of Preferred
Stock which otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii),
which Fair Market Value shall be determined by an investment banking firm
selected by the Board of Directors. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the
Fair Market Value of the Preferred Stock shall be as determined pursuant to
Section 11(b). Subject to Section 23 hereof, any such election by the Board of
Directors of the Company must be made and publicly announced within thirty (30)
days after the date on which the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) occurs.
(b) For the purpose of this Rights Agreement, the "Fair Market Value" of
any share of Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any other stock or any Right or
other security or any other property on any date shall be determined as provided
in this Section 11(b). In the case of a publicly-traded stock or other security,
the Fair Market Value on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such stock or per unit of such other security for
the 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined)
immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the
Fair Market Value per share of any share of Common Stock is determined during a
period which includes any date that is within 30 Trading Days after (i) the
ex-dividend date for a dividend or distribution on such stock payable in shares
of Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of Common Stock, or (ii)
the effective date of any subdivision, split, combination, consolidation,
reverse stock split or reclassification of such stock, then, and in each such
case, the Fair Market Value shall be appropriately adjusted by the Board of
Directors of the Company to take into account ex-dividend or post-effective date
trading. The closing price for any day shall be the last sale price, regular
way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way (in either case, as reported in the
applicable transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange), or, if the securities are
not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in
the applicable transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which such security is listed or
admitted to trading; or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted price (or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices) in the over-the-counter market, as reported
by the NASDAQ or such other system then in use; or, if no bids for such security
are quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such
security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. The term "Trading
Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on
which such security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction
of business or, if such security is not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day. If a security is not publicly held
or not so listed or traded, "Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair value per
share of stock or per other unit of such other security, as determined by an
independent investment banking firm experienced in the valuation of securities
selected in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, or, if no such
investment banking firm is, in the good faith judgment of the Board of
Directors, available to make such determination, in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of making the
adjustment provided for by Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Fair Market Value of a
share of Preferred Stock shall not be less than 100% of the product of the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock multiplied by the higher of the then
Dividend Multiple or Vote Multiple applicable to the Preferred Stock (as defined
in the Certificate of Designations relating to the Preferred Stock) and shall
not exceed 105% of the product of the then Fair Market Value of a share of
Common Stock multiplied by the higher of the then Dividend Multiple or Vote
Multiple applicable to the Preferred Stock. In the case of property other than
securities, the "Fair Market Value" thereof shall be determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company based upon such appraisals or valuation
reports of such independent experts as the Board of Directors of the Company
shall in good faith determine to be appropriate in accordance with good business
practices and the interests of the holders of Rights. Any such determination of
Fair Market Value shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent
and shall be binding upon the Rights Agent.
(c) All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest
cent or to the nearest one one-hundredth of a share, as the case may be.
(d) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the
number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights,
the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express
the Exercise Price and the number of shares to be issued upon exercise of the
Rights as in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder but, nevertheless,
shall represent the Rights as so adjusted.
(e) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the
purchase price per whole share of Preferred Stock upon exercise of the Rights
below the then par value, if any, of the shares of Preferred Stock, the Company
shall use its best efforts to take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of such Preferred Stock at
such adjusted purchase price per share.
(f) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event of any reclassification of stock of the Company or any recapitalization,
reorganization or partial liquidation of the Company or similar transaction, the
Company shall be entitled to make such further adjustments in the number of
shares of Preferred Stock which may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights, and
such adjustments in the Exercise Price therefor, in addition to those
adjustments expressly required by the other paragraphs of this Section 11, as
the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine to be necessary or
appropriate in order for the holders of the Rights in such event to be treated
equitably and in accordance with the purpose and intent of this Rights Agreement
or in order that any such event shall not, but for such adjustment, in the
opinion of counsel to the Company, result in the stockholders of the Company
being subject to any United States federal income tax liability by reason
thereof.
(g) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date make
any distribution on the shares of Common Stock of the Company, whether by way of
a dividend or a reclassification of stock, a recapitalization, reorganization or
partial liquidation of the Company or otherwise, in cash or any debt security,
debt instrument, real or personal property or any other property (other than any
shares of Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company and other than any
right or warrant to acquire any such shares, including any debt security
convertible into or exchangeable for any such share, at less than the Fair
Market Value of such shares) and the amount of such cash dividend or the Fair
Market Value of such debt security, debt instrument or property exceeds 150% of
the aggregate amount of the cash dividends declared or paid on the Common Stock
of the Company in the 15-month period immediately preceding such distribution,
then and in each such event, unless such distribution is part of or is made in
connection with a transaction to which Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13 hereof
applies, the Exercise Price shall be reduced by an amount equal to the cash or
the Fair Market Value of such distribution, as the case may be, per share of
Common Stock of the Company. For purposes hereof, the Fair Market Value of any
property distributed to the holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company
shall be the Fair Market Value of such property as determined by an independent
investment banking firm experienced in the valuation of securities or the other
property so distributed, as the case may be, selected in good faith by the Board
of Directors of the Company, or, if no such investment banking firm is in the
good faith judgment of the Board of Directors available to make such
determination, in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be final and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent and
the holders of Rights.
Section 12. Certification of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11, 13 or 23(c), the
Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts giving rise to such adjustment, (b) promptly
file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Stock
a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder
of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such certification or
give such notice shall not affect the validity of or the force or effect of the
requirement for such adjustment. Any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section
11, 13 or 23(c) of this Rights Agreement shall be effective as of the date of
the event giving rise to such adjustment. 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 adjustment unless and
until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power.
(a) Except for any transaction approved by the Board of Directors, in the
event that, at any time on or after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, (x)
the Company shall, directly or indirectly, consolidate with, or merge with and
into, any other Person or Persons (other than an Exempt Person) and the Company
shall not be the surviving or continuing corporation of such consolidation or
merger, or (y) any Person or Persons (other than an Exempt Person) shall,
directly or indirectly, 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 (other than an
Exempt Person) or of the Company or cash or any other property, or (z) the
Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, sell
or otherwise transfer to any other Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such
Person, in one or more transactions, or the Company or one or more of its
Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer to any Persons in one 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), then, on the first occurrence of any such event, proper provision shall
be made so that (i) each holder of record of a Right, except as provided in
Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof and payment of the Exercise Price in accordance with the terms
of this Rights Agreement, such number of shares of validly issued, fully paid,
non-assessable and freely tradable Common Stock of the Principal Party (as
defined herein), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal
or other adverse claims, as shall, based on the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock of the Principal Party on the date of the Consummation of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, equal twice the Exercise Price; (ii)
such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue
of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties
of the Company pursuant to this Rights Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" for
all purposes of this Rights Agreement shall thereafter be deemed to refer to
such Principal Party; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares
of its Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 hereof
applicable to the reservation of Preferred Stock) in connection with such
consummation as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its
shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights;
provided, however, that, upon the subsequent occurrence of any merger,
consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets, recapitalization,
reclassification of shares, reorganization or other extraordinary transaction in
respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall thereupon be
entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Exercise Price,
such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property which such holder would
have been entitled to receive had it, at the time of such transaction, owned the
shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right, and such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be necessary to permit the
subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms hereof for such
cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property and (v) the provisions of
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the occurrence of any
event described in clause (x), (y) or (z) above of this Section 13(a).
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (x) or (y) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the
issuer of the securities into which shares of Common Stock of the
Company are changed or otherwise exchanged or converted in such merger
or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the
issuer of the Common Stock of which has the greatest market value or
(B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that is the other
party to the merger or consolidation and that survives such merger or
consolidation, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person
the Common Stock of which has the greatest market value or (y) if the
Person that is the other party to the merger or consolidation does not
survive the merger or consolidation, the Person that does survive the
merger or consolidation (including the Company if it survives); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (z) of the first
sentence in 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, or, if each Person that is a
party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of
the assets or earning power so transferred or if the Person receiving
the greatest portion of the assets or earning power cannot be
determined, whichever of such Persons is the issuer of Common Stock
having the greatest market value of shares outstanding; provided,
however, that in any such case, if the Common Stock of such Person is
not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding
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, the term
"Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person, or if such Person
is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the
Common Stocks of all of which are and have been so registered, the
term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest market value of shares
outstanding.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any consolidation, merger or sale or
transfer of assets or earning power referred to in Section 13(a) 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
exercise in full of all Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless
prior thereto the Company and the Principal Party involved therein shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent an agreement confirming that the
Principal Party shall, upon consummation of such consolidation, merger or sale
or transfer of assets or earning power, assume this Rights Agreement in
accordance with Section 13(a) hereof and that all rights of first refusal or
preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of shares of Common Stock of the
Principal Party upon exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived and that
such transaction shall not result in a default by the Principal Party under this
Rights Agreement, and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the
date of any consolidation, merger or sale or transfer of assets or earning power
referred to in Section 13(a) hereof, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act with
respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after
such filing and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement
to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the date of expiration of the Rights, and
similarly comply with applicable state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the
Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a
national securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements for
quotation on NASDAQ; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements
for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the requirements
for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act.
In the event that any of the transactions described in Section 13(a) hereof
shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a transaction described in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Rights which have not theretofore been
exercised shall, subject to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof,
thereafter be exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
(d) In case the Principal Party which is to be a party to a transaction
referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or other instrument
governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i)
causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of
Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then Fair Market Value per
share (determined pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof) or securities exercisable
for, or convertible into, Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than such
then Fair Market Value (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to this Section
13) or (ii) providing for any special tax or similar payment in connection with
the issuance to any holder of a Right of Common Stock of such Principal Party
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 13, then, in such event, the Company
shall not consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and
such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing that the provision in question of such
Principal Party shall have been cancelled, waived or amended, or that the
authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable provision will
have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of
the proposed transaction.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights (i.e., Rights to
acquire less than one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock), unless such
fractional Rights result from a transaction referred to in Section 11(a)(i)
hereof. If the Company shall determine not to issue such fractional Rights,
then, in lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the holders of
record of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights
would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
Fair Market Value of a whole Right.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional shares (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share). In lieu of issuing
fractions of shares of Preferred Stock, the Company may, at its election, issue
depositary receipts evidencing fractions of shares pursuant to an appropriate
agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it, provided that
such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall
have all of the rights, privileges and preferences to which they would be
entitled as owners of the Preferred Stock. With respect to fractional shares
that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share, if the Company
does not issue such fractional shares or depositary receipts in lieu thereof,
there shall be paid to the holders of record of Right Certificates at the time
such Right Certificates are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal
to the same fraction of the Fair Market Value of a share of Preferred Stock.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of a Right expressly waives his
right to receive any fractional Right or any fractional shares of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of
a share) upon exercise of a Right.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Rights Agreement, except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent in
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the holders of record of the
Common Stock); and any holder of record of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided
in such Right Certificate and in this Rights 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 Rights Agreement and will be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Rights
Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Each 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 shall be evidenced by
the certificates for Common Stock registered in the name of the holders of
Common Stock (together, as applicable, with the Summary of Rights), which
certificates for Common Stock shall also constitute certificates for
Rights, and not by separate Right Certificates, and each Right shall be
transferable only simultaneously and together with the transfer of shares
of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered
at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in
whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the
associated Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations
of ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common
Stock certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights
Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights
Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any
holder of a Right or a beneficial interest in 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; and
(e) Rights beneficially owned by certain persons will under certain
circumstances set forth in this Agreement become null and void pursuant to
Section 7(e) hereof; and
(f) this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time
pursuant to Section 26 hereof.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder,
as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Preferred Stock or any other
securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Right
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof (except as provided in Section 7(f) hereof), or to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action (except as provided in Section 7(f)
hereof), or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
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 other
disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Rights
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or failed
to be done by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Rights Agreement, including the cost and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability relating to the Rights or this Rights
Agreement.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected against, 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 Rights Agreement in reliance upon any
Right Certificate or certificate for Preferred Stock or for other securities of
the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney,
endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate,
statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be
signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper
person or persons. In addition, anything in this Rights Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for
special, indirect or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever (including but
not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the
likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation of, or Change in Name of, the Rights
Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Rights
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed
to the agency created by this Rights Agreement any of the Rights Certificates
shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent
may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such
Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights
Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such
Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates
and in this Rights Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; in case at that time any of the
Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed
name; in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Rights Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Rights Agreement upon the following terms
and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right
Certificates by their acceptance thereof shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Rights Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President
or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent. Any 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 Rights Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Rights Agreement or in the
Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to
have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of this Rights 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 Right Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any
covenant or condition contained in this Rights Agreement or in any Right
Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the
provisions of Section 11 or 13 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or
amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that
would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Right Certificates after receipt of a certificate describing 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 Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Rights Agreement or any Right
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Preferred Stock will, when issued, be
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of the Rights Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the
Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President or the Secretary or
the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
instructions of any such officer.
(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 the Rights Agent under
this Rights Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from
acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through
its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employment thereof.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Rights
Agreement upon 30 days notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock by registered or
certified mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent (with or without cause) upon 30 days notice in writing, mailed to the
Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock by registered or certified
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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 21, in no event shall
the resignation or removal of a Rights Agent be effective until a successor
Rights Agent shall have been appointed and have accepted such appointment. If
the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after
such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the incumbent Rights Agent or the holder of
record of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction
for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether
appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state
thereof, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or
examination in the conduct of its corporate trust or stock transfer business by
federal or state authorities and which has at the time of its appointment as
Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000 or (b) an
Affiliate controlled by a corporation described in clause (a) of this sentence.
After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same
powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named
as Rights Agent without further act or deed, but the predecessor Rights Agent
shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the
time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock
and Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered
holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in
this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality
or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions, in the event of resignation, removal or incapacity of the Rights
Agent, the Company shall have the authority to act as the Rights Agent until a
successor Rights Agent shall have assumed the duties of the Rights Agent
hereunder.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Rights Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change in the Exercise Price per share and the number or kind or class of
shares of stock or other securities or property purchasable under the Right
Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Rights Agreement.
Section 23. Redemption or Exchange.
(a) The Company may, at its option, but only by the vote of a majority of
the Board of Directors, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding
Rights, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the tenth day following
the Stock Acquisition Date (subject to extension by the Company as provided in
Section 26 hereof) at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, subject to
adjustments as provided in subsection (c) below (the "Redemption Price").
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) prior to the expiration
of the Company's right of redemption hereunder.
(b) Without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate effective at the time of the action of the
Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price.
Within ten days after the effective time of the action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such
redemption to the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice
to all such holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry
books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry
books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in
the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder
receives the notice. Each notice of redemption will state the method by which
the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. At the option of the Board of
Directors, the Redemption Price may be paid in cash to each Rights holder or by
the issuance of shares (and, at the Company's election pursuant to Section 14(b)
hereof, cash or depositary receipts in lieu of fractions of shares other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share)
of Preferred Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to such cash payment.
(c) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this
Rights Agreement (A) pay any dividend on Common Stock in shares of Common Stock,
(B) subdivide or split the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater
number of shares, (C) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares or effect a reverse split of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock 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), then, and in each such event, the
Redemption Price shall be adjusted so that the Redemption Price after such event
shall equal the Redemption Price immediately prior to such event multiplied by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event;
provided, however, that in each case such adjustment to the Redemption Price
shall be made only if the amount of the Redemption Price shall be reduced or
increased by $0.01 per Right.
(d) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time
after the tenth day following a Stock Acquisition Date and prior to the time
that an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the
outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, elect to exchange all (but not less
than all) of the then outstanding Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e)) for shares of
Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right,
appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of holders of Rights
generally in the event that an event of a type analogous to any of the events
described in Section 11 shall have occurred with respect to the Common Stock
(such exchange ratio, as adjusted from time to time, being hereinafter referred
to as the "Exchange Ratio").
(e) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to exchange the Rights, without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will
thereafter represent only the right to receive a number of shares of Common
Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of
Directors electing to exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice thereof
(specifying the steps to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange
for Rights) to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights
by mailing such notice in accordance with Section 25.
Section 24. Notice of Proposed Actions.
(a) In case the Company, after the Distribution Date, shall propose (i) to
effect any of the transactions referred to in Section 11(a)(i) or 11(g) or (ii)
to offer to the holders of record of its Common Stock options, warrants, or
other rights to subscribe for or to purchase shares of Common Stock (including
any security convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock) or shares of
stock of any class or any other securities, options, warrants, convertible or
exchangeable securities or other rights, or (iii) to effect any reclassification
of its Preferred Stock or Common Stock or any recapitalization or reorganization
of the Company, or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger with or into, or
to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its
Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions,
of more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person or Persons, or (v) to
effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each
such case, the Company shall give to each holder of record of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 25, notice of such proposed action,
which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such transaction
referred to in Section 11(a)(i) or such dividend or distribution, or the date on
which such reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer of assets, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is
to take place and the record date for determining participation therein by the
holders of record of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be
fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by
clause (i) or (ii) above at least ten days prior to the record date for
determining holders of record of the Preferred Stock for purposes of such
action, and in the case of any such other action, at least ten days prior to the
date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein
by the holders of record of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, whichever shall be
the earlier. The failure to give notice required by this Section 24 or any
defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of the action taken by
the Company or the vote upon any such action.
(b) In case any of the transactions referred to in Section 11(a)(i), 11(g)
or 13 of this Rights Agreement are proposed, then, in any such case, the Company
shall give to each holder of Rights, in accordance with Section 25 hereof,
notice of the proposal of such transaction at least ten days prior to
consummating such transaction, which notice shall specify the proposed event and
the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(i), 11(g)
or 13 hereof, as the case may be, and, upon consummating such transaction, shall
similarly give notice thereof to each holder of Rights.
Section 25. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Rights Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of record of any Right
Certificate or Right 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:
U.S. Industries, Inc. 101
Wood Avenue South
Iselin, NJ 08830
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Rights Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of record
of any Right Certificate or Right 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:
The Chase Manhattan Bank
450 West 33 St.
New York, NY 10001-2697
Re: U.S. Industries, Inc.
Notices or demands authorized by this Rights Agreement to be given or made by
the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of record of any Right Certificate
or Right shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown
on the registry books of the Company.
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments. For as long as the Rights are then
redeemable, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, 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 the Rights. At any time when
the Rights are not then redeemable, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall
if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Rights Agreement without the
approval of any holders of Right Certificates (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to
correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provisions herein or (iii) to change or supplement
the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or
desirable, provided that no such supplement or amendment pursuant to this clause
(iii) shall materially adversely affect the interest of the holders of Right
Certificates. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of
the Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in
compliance with the terms of this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute
such supplement or amendment.
Section 27. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors of the
Company, etc. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive
power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and
powers specifically granted to the Board, or 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, without limitation, a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement and
whether any proposed amendment materially adversely affects the interests of the
holders of Rights Certificates). For all purposes of this Agreement, any
calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities
outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the
particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other
securities 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 as in effect on the date of this
Agreement. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be
final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of
the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to any liability
to the holders of the Rights.
Section 28. Successors. All of the covenants and provisions of this Rights
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Rights Agreement. Nothing in this Rights
Agreement shall be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the
Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, the holders of Common Stock in their
capacity as holders of the Rights) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under this Rights Agreement; but this Rights Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of record of
the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the holders of
Common Stock in their capacity as holders of the Rights).
Section 30. Delaware Contract. This Rights Agreement and each Right
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to
contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state; provided,
however, that the provisions of Sections 15, 16, 18 and 20 expressly relating to
the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by the
laws of the State of New York without reference to New York's choice of law
rules.
Section 31. Counterparts. This Rights Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 32. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Rights Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
Section 33. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Rights 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 Rights Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Rights Agreement to
be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
By /s/ James O'Leary
-----------------
Name: James O'Leary
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Attest: /s/ Steven C. Barre
-------------------
Assistant Secretary
The Chase Manhattan Bank
By /s/ Eric Leason
----------------
Name: Eric Leason
Title: Vice President
Attest: /s/ Dedoatt Lakeram
-------------------
Vice President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS PROVIDED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT (AS REFERRED TO BELOW), RIGHTS
ISSUED TO OR BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING
PERSONS OR THEIR AFFILIATES OR ASSOCIATES (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY
SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS SHALL BE NULL
AND VOID AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON.
U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SERIES A JUNIOR PREFERRED STOCK
On October 15, 1998, the Board of Directors of U.S. Industries, Inc. (the
"Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Preferred Stock Purchase
Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of the Company held by stockholders of record on October 29,
1998. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of preferred stock of the Company, designated
as Series A Junior Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") at a price of $65 per
one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share (the "Exercise Price"). The description and
terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
As discussed below, initially the Rights will not be exercisable,
certificates will not be sent to stockholders and the Rights will automatically
trade with the Common Stock.
Unless earlier redeemed, the Rights will expire (the "Final Expiration
Time") (i) at the close of business on October 15, 2008 or (ii) if the Rights
Distribution Date (as defined below) shall have occurred before October 15,
2008, at the close of business on the 90th day following the Rights Distribution
Date, provided that the Board of Directors of the Company does not extend or
otherwise modify the Rights. There can be no assurance, however, as to whether
or not such Board of Directors will so extend, modify or redeem the Rights.
The Rights, unless earlier redeemed by the Company's Board of Directors or
extended or modified as described above, become exercisable by each record
holder thereof, other than the Acquiring Person (as defined below), upon the
close of business on the day (the "Rights Distribution Date") which is the
earlier of (i) the tenth day following the first date (the "Stock Acquisition
Date") on which there is a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons, with certain exceptions set forth below, has
acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of
the Company (an "Acquiring Person") or such earlier or later date (not beyond
the thirtieth day after the Stock Acquisition Date) as the Board of Directors
may determine and (ii) the tenth business day (or such later date as may be
determined by the Company's Board of Directors prior to such time as any person
or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) after
the date of the commencement or announcement of a person's or group's intention
to commence a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in
the ownership of 15% or more of the Company's outstanding voting stock (even if
no shares are actually purchased pursuant to such offer); prior thereto, the
Rights will not be exercisable, will not be represented by a separate
certificate, and will not be transferable apart from the Common Stock. An
Acquiring Person does not include (A) Harris Associates L.P. and its associates
and affiliates ("Harris"), (B) the Company, (C) any subsidiary of the Company,
(D) any employee benefit plan or employee stock plan of the Company or of any
subsidiary of the Company, or any trust or other entity organized, appointed,
established or holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan or (E) any person or group whose ownership of 15% or more of the shares of
voting stock of the Company then outstanding results solely from (i) any action
or transaction or transactions approved by the Company's Board of Directors
before such person or group became an Acquiring Person or (ii) a reduction in
the number of issued and outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company
pursuant to a transaction or transactions approved by the Company's Board of
Directors (provided that any person or group that does not become an Acquiring
Person by reason of clause (i) or (ii) above shall become an Acquiring Person
upon acquisition of an additional 1% of the Company's voting stock unless such
acquisition of additional voting stock will not result in such person or group
becoming an Acquiring Person by reason of such clause (i) or (ii), and provided
further that Harris shall become an Acquiring Person if Harris acquires
Beneficial Ownership of an additional 1% or more of the voting stock of the
Company (unless the acquisition of such additional voting stock would not result
in Harris becoming an Acquiring Person by reason of clause (i) or (ii) above) or
commences, or announces an intention to commence, a tender or exchange offer
upon the successful consummation of which Harris would be the beneficial owner
of 15% or more of the voting stock of the Company (irrespective of whether any
shares are actually purchased pursuant to any such offer)). For purposes of the
foregoing, outstanding voting stock of the Company includes voting stock that
trades on a "when issued" basis on a national securities exchange (such as the
NYSE), on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System or otherwise.
The Rights Agreement provides that when a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to a
Qualifying Tender Offer (as defined below)), such Acquiring Person's Rights will
thereupon become null and void.
The Rights Agreement provides that until the Rights Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Until the Rights
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), Common
Stock certificates will contain a legend incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference. Until the Rights Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any of the Common Stock
certificates will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following
the Rights Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights
("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock
as of the close of business on the Rights Distribution Date and such separate
certificates alone will evidence the Rights from and after the Rights
Distribution Date.
The Series A Preferred Stock is nonredeemable and, unless otherwise
provided in connection with the creation of a subsequent series of preferred
stock, subordinate to any other series of the Company's preferred stock. The
Series A Preferred Stock may not be issued except upon exercise of Rights. Each
share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive when, as and if
declared, a quarterly dividend in an amount equal to the greater of $0.10 per
share or 100 times the cash dividends declared on the Common Stock. In addition,
Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to 100 times any non-cash dividends (other
than dividends payable in equity securities) declared on the Common Stock, in
like kind. In the event of the liquidation of the Company, the holders of Series
A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a payment in an amount equal to
the greater of $65 per one one-hundredth share or 100 times the payment made per
share of Common Stock. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will have 100
votes, voting together with the Common Stock. In the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which Common Stock is changed, exchanged
or converted, each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive
100 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. The rights of Series A
Preferred Stock as to dividends, liquidation and voting are protected by
anti-dilution provisions. If the dividends accrued on the Preferred Stock for
four or more quarterly dividend periods, whether consecutive or not, shall not
have been declared and paid or irrevocably set aside for payment, the holders of
record of Preferred Stock of the Company of all series (including the Series A
Preferred Stock) will have the right to elect two members to the Company's Board
of Directors.
The number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Rights is subject to certain adjustments from time to time in the event of a
stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or issuance of capital stock in
a reclassification of, the Common Stock. The Exercise Price for the Rights is
subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, including certain distributions
of cash or other property to holders of Common Stock.
Unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that, at any time on
or after the Rights Distribution Date, the Company were to be acquired in a
merger or other business combination (in which any shares of Common Stock are
changed or converted into or exchanged for other securities or assets) or more
than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) were to be sold or transferred in one or a series of related
transactions, the Rights Agreement provides that proper provision will be made
so that each holder of record of a Right, other than the Acquiring Person, will
from and after such date have the right to receive, upon payment of the Exercise
Price, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company having a
market value at the time of such transaction equal to two times the Exercise
Price. In addition, unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that a
person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's
voting stock (other than pursuant to a tender or exchange offer (a "Qualifying
Tender Offer") for all outstanding shares of Common Stock that is approved by
the Board of Directors, after taking into account the long-term value of the
Company and all other factors they consider relevant), the Rights Agreement
provides that proper provision will be made so that each holder of record of a
Right, other than the Acquiring Person, will thereafter have the right to
receive, upon payment of the Exercise Price, that number of shares of the Series
A Preferred Stock having a market value at the time of the transaction equal to
two times the Exercise Price (such market value to be determined with reference
to the market value of the Common Stock as provided in the Rights Agreement).
Fractions of shares of Series A Preferred Stock (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share) may, at the election of
the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts. The Company may also issue
cash in lieu of fractional shares which are not integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share.
At any time on or prior to the close of business on the tenth day after the
time that a person has become an Acquiring Person (or such later date as may be
determined by a majority of the Board of Directors), the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.0l per Right, subject to
adjustment (the "Redemption Price"). Immediately upon the effective time of the
action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing redemption of the
Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of
the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
For as long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may amend the
Rights in any manner, including an amendment to extend the time period in which
the Rights may be redeemed. At any time when the Rights are not then redeemable,
the Company may amend the Rights in any manner that does not materially
adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights as such.
In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at
any time after the tenth day following a Stock Acquisition Date and prior to the
time that an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of
the outstanding shares of the voting stock of the Company, elect to exchange all
(but not less than all) of the then outstanding Rights (other than Rights owned
by the Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate thereof, which Rights
become void) 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 of the Distribution
Date (the "Exchange Ratio"). Immediately upon such action by the Board of
Directors (the "Exchange Time"), the right to exercise the Rights will terminate
and each Right will thereafter represent only the right to receive a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder, as such, will have no rights as a
stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or
to receive dividends. Holders of Common Stock may, depending upon the
circumstances, recognize taxable income should the Rights become exercisable or
upon the occurrence of certain events thereafter.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Company's Form 8-K dated October 15,
1998. 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 in this summary description herein by reference.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Right Certificate]
Certificate No. W- _______________Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER (I) OCTOBER 15, 2008, OR (II) IF THE
DISTRIBUTION DATE (AS DEFINED BELOW) SHALL HAVE OCCURRED BEFORE
THE DATE SPECIFIED IN CLAUSE (I), THE DATE WHICH IS NINETY (90)
DAYS AFTER THE DISTRIBUTION DATE, OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED. THE
RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY
AND UNDER CERTAIN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, AT $0.0l PER RIGHT
(SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT), ON THE TERMS SET FORTH OR REFERRED TO IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS PROVIDED IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT (AS REFERRED TO BELOW), RIGHTS ISSUED TO OR
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS OR THEIR AFFILIATES OR
ASSOCIATES (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR
ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS SHALL BE NULL AND VOID AND
MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON.
Right Certificate
U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
This certifies that ____________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement dated as of October 15, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement") between U.S.
Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Rights Agent (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 (i) October 15,
2008 (or if the Distribution Date shall have occurred before October 15, 2008,
the date which is ninety (90) days after the Distribution Date) at the office of
the Rights Agent designated in the Rights Agreement for such purpose, or its
successor as Rights Agent, in New York City, one one-hundredth (1/100) of a
fully paid nonassessable share of Series A Junior Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock") of the Company at a purchase price of $65, as the same may
from time to time be adjusted in accordance with the Rights Agreement (the
"Exercise Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate
with the Form of Election to Purchase attached hereto duly executed.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number of
shares of Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment
upon the happening of certain events and, upon the happening of certain events,
securities other than shares of Preferred Stock, or other property, may be
acquired upon exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
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 of the Rights Agent,
the Company and the holders of record of Right Certificates. Copies of the
Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive office of the Company.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated in the Rights Agreement
for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder of
record to purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock as the
Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered
shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender
hereof, another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole
Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option or under certain
other circumstances at a redemption price of $0.0l per Right.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share) are required to be
issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, and in lieu
thereof the Company may cause depositary receipts to be issued and/or a cash
payment may be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Preferred Stock or
of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein
be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a
stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to stockholders at meeting thereof, or to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action or to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights
Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until
the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
<PAGE>
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Dated as of ______________________, __.
ATTEST: U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
______________________ By___________________________
Secretary Title:
Countersigned:
[ ]
By_________________________
Authorized Signature
<PAGE>
[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificates.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ______________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto _____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
________________________________________________________________________________
Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and
interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint [ ]
Attorney to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: _____________, _____
___________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Right Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned or
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Associate or an Affiliate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [ ]
did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any
Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).
Dated: _____________, ____ ______________________________
Signature
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if registered holder
desires to exercise the Right Certificate.)
TO U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ______________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for
such share(s) be issued in the following:
name:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
Dated: _________________, _____
<PAGE>
_________________________________________
Signature
(Signature must conform in all respects
to name of holder as specified on the
fact of this Right Certificate)
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PREFERRED STOCK
OF
U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law
I, [name], [office] of U.S. Industries, Inc., a corporation organized and
existing under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "Company"), in
accordance with the provisions of Section 151 of such law, DO HEREBY CERTIFY
that pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the Board of Directors on October
15, 1998 adopted the following resolution which creates a series of 2,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Junior Preferred Stock, as
follows:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 151(g) of the Delaware General
Corporation Law and the authority vested in the Board of Directors of the
Company in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLE IV of the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, a series of Preferred
Stock of the Company be, and hereby is, created, and the powers, designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the
shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, be, and hereby are, as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series A Junior Preferred Stock" (the "Series A Preferred Stock")
and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 2,000,000.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the provisions for adjustment hereinafter set forth, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive,
when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available for the purpose, (i) cash dividends in an amount per share (rounded to
the nearest cent) equal to 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash
dividends declared or paid on the Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of
the Company (the "Common Stock") and (ii) a preferential cash dividend (the
"Preferential Dividends"), if any, in preference to the holders of Common Stock,
on the first day of February, May, August and November of each year (each a
"Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock, payable in an amount (except in the case of the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment if the date of the first issuance of Series A
Preferred Stock is a date other than a Quarterly Dividend Payment date, in which
case such payment shall be a prorated amount of such amount) equal to $0.10 per
share of Series A Preferred Stock less the per share amount of all cash
dividends declared on the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (i) of
this sentence since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first
issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the
event the Company shall, at any time after the issuance of any share or fraction
of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, make any distribution on the shares of
Common Stock of the Company, whether by way of a dividend or a reclassification
of stock, a recapitalization, reorganization or partial liquidation of the
Company or otherwise, which is payable in cash or any debt security, debt
instrument, real or personal property or any other property (other than cash
dividends subject to the immediately preceding sentence, a distribution of
shares of Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company or a distribution
of rights or warrants to acquire any such share, including any debt security
convertible into or exchangeable for any such share, at a price less than the
Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) of such share), then, and in each
such event, the Company shall simultaneously pay on each then outstanding share
of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company a distribution, in like kind, of 100
times such distribution paid on a share of Common Stock (subject to the
provisions for adjustment hereinafter set forth). The dividends and
distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock to which holders thereof are
entitled pursuant to clause (i) of the first sentence of this paragraph and
pursuant to the second sentence of this paragraph are hereinafter referred to as
"Dividends" and the multiple of such cash and non-cash dividends on the Common
Stock applicable to the determination of the Dividends, which shall be 100
initially but shall be adjusted from time to time as hereinafter provided, is
hereinafter referred to as the "Dividend Multiple." In the event the Company
shall at any time after October 15, 1998 (i) declare or pay any dividend or make
any distribution on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) effect
a subdivision or split or a combination, consolidation or reverse split of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares of
Common Stock, or (iii) 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), then in each such case the Dividend Multiple
thereafter applicable to the determination of the amount of Dividends which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive shall
be the Dividend Multiple applicable immediately prior to such event multiplied
by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.
(B) The Company shall declare each Dividend at the same time it declares
any cash or non-cash dividend or distribution on the Common Stock in respect of
which a Dividend is required to be paid. No cash or non-cash dividend or
distribution on the Common Stock in respect of which a Dividend is required to
be paid shall be paid or set aside for payment on the Common Stock unless a
Dividend in respect of such dividend or distribution on the Common Stock shall
be simultaneously paid, or set aside for payment, on the Series A Preferred
Stock.
(C) Preferential Dividends shall begin to accrue on outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding
the date of issuance of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Accrued but
unpaid Preferential Dividends shall cumulate but shall not bear interest.
Preferential Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an
amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and
payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis
among all such shares at the time outstanding.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provisions for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes
on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of the Common Stock. The
number of votes which a holder of Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to cast,
as the same may be adjusted from time to time as hereinafter provided, is
hereinafter referred to as the "Vote Multiple." In the event the Company shall
at any time after October 15, 1998, (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) effect a subdivision or split or a
combination, consolidation or reverse split of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, or (iii) 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), then in
each such case the Vote Multiple thereafter applicable to the determination of
the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be entitled after such event shall be the Vote Multiple immediately
prior to such event multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-laws, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and
the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all
matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Company.
(C) In the event that the Preferred Dividends accrued on the Series A
Preferred Stock for four or more quarterly dividend periods, whether consecutive
or not, shall not have been declared and paid or irrevocably set aside for
payment, the holders of record of Preferred Stock of the Company of all series
(including the Series A Preferred Stock), other than any series in respect of
which such right is expressly withheld by the Certificate of Incorporation or
the authorizing resolutions included in any Certificate of Designations
therefor, shall have the right, at the next meeting of stockholders called for
the election of directors, to elect two members to the Board of Directors, which
directors shall be in addition to the number required by the By-laws prior to
such event, to serve until the next Annual Meeting and until their successors
are elected and qualified or their earlier resignation, removal or incapacity or
until such earlier time as all accrued and unpaid Preferential Dividends upon
the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been paid (or
irrevocably set aside for payment) in full. The holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall continue to have the right to elect directors as provided
by the immediately preceding sentence until all accrued and unpaid Preferential
Dividends upon the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have
been paid (or set aside for payment) in full. Such directors may be removed and
replaced by such stockholders, and vacancies in such directorships may be filled
only by such stockholders (or by the remaining director elected by such
stockholders, if there be one) in the manner permitted by law; provided,
however, that any such action by stockholders shall be taken at a meeting of
stockholders and shall not be taken by written consent thereto.
(D) Except as otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation or
By-laws or set forth herein, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no
other special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to
the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth
herein) for the taking of any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever Preferential Dividends or Dividends are in arrears or the
Company shall be in default of payment thereof, thereafter and until all accrued
and unpaid Preferential Dividends and Dividends, whether or not declared, on
shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid or set
irrevocably aside for payment in full, and in addition to any and all other
rights which any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock may have in such
circumstances, the Company shall not
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or
redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration, any shares of
stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on
any shares of stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Series A
Preferred Stock, unless dividends are paid ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or
in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all
such shares are then entitled if the full dividends accrued thereon were to
be paid;
(iii) except as permitted by subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph 4(A),
redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any
stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that
the Company may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of
any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Company
ranking junior (both as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with
the Series A Preferred Stock (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up), except in accordance with a purchase offer made
to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors,
after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other
relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall
determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among
the respective series or classes.
(B) The Company shall not permit any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) of
the Company to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Company unless the Company could, under paragraph (A) of this
Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such
manner. A "Subsidiary" of the Company shall mean any corporation or other entity
of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power
sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation or
other entity or other persons performing similar functions are beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by any corporation or other
entity that is otherwise controlled by the Company.
(C) The Company shall not issue any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
except upon exercise of Rights issued pursuant to that certain Rights Agreement
dated as of October 15, 1998 between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank,
as Rights Agent, a copy of which is on file with the Secretary of the Company at
its principal executive office and shall be made available to stockholders of
record without charge upon written request therefor addressed to said Secretary.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, nothing contained in the provisions
hereof shall prohibit or restrict the Company from issuing for any purpose any
series of Preferred Stock with rights and privileges similar to, different from,
or greater than, those of the Series A Preferred Stock.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be
retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares
upon their retirement and cancellation shall become authorized but unissued
shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series, and such shares may
be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by
resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, no
distribution shall be made (i) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock unless the holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have received, subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided, (A)
$65 per one one-hundredth (1/100) share plus an amount equal to accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date
of such payment or, (B) if greater than the amount specified in clause (i)(A) of
this sentence, an amount equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be
distributed per share to holders of Common Stock, as the same may be adjusted as
hereinafter provided and (ii) to the holders of stock ranking on a parity upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up with the Series A Preferred Stock, unless
simultaneously therewith distributions are made ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all other shares of such parity stock in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock are
entitled under clause (i)(A) of this sentence and to which the holders of such
parity shares are entitled, in each case upon such liquidation, dissolution or
winding up. The amount to which holders of Series A Preferred Stock may be
entitled upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company pursuant to
clause (i)(B) of the foregoing sentence is hereinafter referred to as the
"Participating Liquidation Amount" and the multiple of the amount to be
distributed to holders of shares of Common Stock upon the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company applicable pursuant to said clause to
the determination of the Participating Liquidation Amount, as said multiple may
be adjusted from time to time as hereinafter provided, is hereinafter referred
to as the "Liquidation Multiple." In the event the Company shall at any time
after October 15, 1998 (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable
in shares of Common Stock, (ii) effect a subdivision or split or a combination,
consolidation or reverse split of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, or (iii) 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 continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such case, the
Liquidation Multiple thereafter applicable to the determination of the
Participating Liquidation Amount to which holders of Series A Preferred Stock
shall be entitled after such event shall be the Liquidation Multiple applicable
immediately prior to such event multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which
is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event
and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Certain Reclassification and Other Events.
(A) In the event that holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company
receive after October 15, 1998 in respect of their shares of Common Stock any
share of capital stock of the Company (other than any share of Common Stock of
the Company), whether by way of reclassification, recapitalization,
reorganization, dividend or other distribution or otherwise (a "Transaction"),
then, and in each such event, the dividend rights, voting rights and rights upon
the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company of the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted so that after such event the holders
of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled, in respect of each share of
Series A Preferred Stock held, in addition to such rights in respect thereof to
which such holder was entitled immediately prior to such adjustment, to (i) such
additional dividends as equal the Dividend Multiple in effect immediately prior
to such Transaction multiplied by the additional dividends which the holder of a
share of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive by virtue of the receipt in
the Transaction of such capital stock, (ii) such additional voting rights as
equal the Vote Multiple in effect immediately prior to such Transaction
multiplied by the additional voting rights which the holder of a share of Common
Stock shall be entitled to receive by virtue of the receipt in the Transaction
of such capital stock and (iii) such additional distributions upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company as equal the Liquidation Multiple in
effect immediately prior to such Transaction multiplied by the additional amount
which the holder of a share of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company by virtue of the receipt
in the Transaction of such capital stock, as the case may be, all as provided by
the terms of such capital stock.
(B) In the event that holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company
receive after October 15, 1998 in respect of their shares of Common Stock any
right or warrant to purchase Common Stock (including as such a right, for all
purposes of this paragraph, any security convertible into or exchangeable for
Common Stock) at a purchase price per share less than the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock on the date of issuance of such right or warrant, then and
in each such event the dividend rights, voting rights and rights upon the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company of the shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall each be adjusted so that after such event the Dividend
Multiple, the Vote Multiple and the Liquidation Multiple shall each be the
product of the Dividend Multiple, the Vote Multiple and the Liquidation
Multiple, as the case may be, in effect immediately prior to such event
multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately before such issuance of rights or warrants
plus the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which could be acquired upon
exercise in full of all such rights or warrants and the denominator of which
shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before
such issuance of rights or warrants plus the number of shares of Common Stock
which could be purchased, at the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the
time of such issuance, by the maximum aggregate consideration payable upon
exercise in full of all such rights or warrants.
(C) In the event that holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company
receive after October 15, 1998 in respect of their shares of Common Stock any
right or warrant to purchase capital stock of the Company (other than shares of
Common Stock), including as such a right, for all purposes of this paragraph,
any security convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock of the Company
(other than Common Stock), at a purchase price per share less than the Fair
Market Value of such shares of capital stock on the date of issuance of such
right or warrant, then and in each such event the dividend rights, voting rights
and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company of the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall each be adjusted so that after such
event each holder of a share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled, in
respect of each share of Series A Preferred Stock held, in addition to such
rights in respect thereof to which such holder was entitled immediately prior to
such event, to receive (i) such additional dividends as equal the Dividend
Multiple in effect immediately prior to such event multiplied, first, by the
additional dividends to which the holder of a share of Common Stock shall be
entitled upon exercise of such right or warrant by virtue of the capital stock
which could be acquired upon such exercise and multiplied again by the Discount
Fraction (as hereinafter defined) and (ii) such additional voting rights as
equal the Vote Multiple in effect immediately prior to such event multiplied,
first, by the additional voting rights to which the holder of a share of Common
Stock shall be entitled upon exercise of such right or warrant by virtue of the
capital stock which could be acquired upon such exercise and multiplied again by
the Discount Fraction and (iii) such additional distributions upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company as equal the Liquidation Multiple in
effect immediately prior to such event multiplied, first, by the additional
amount which the holder of a share of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company upon exercise of such
right or warrant by virtue of the capital stock which could be acquired upon
such exercise and multiplied again by the Discount Fraction. For purposes of
this paragraph, the "Discount Fraction" shall be a fraction the numerator of
which shall be the difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of the
capital stock subject to a right or warrant distributed to holders of shares of
Common Stock of the Company as contemplated by this paragraph immediately after
the distribution thereof and the purchase price per share for such share of
capital stock pursuant to such right or warrant and the denominator of which
shall be the Fair Market Value of a share of such capital stock immediately
after the distribution of such right or warrant.
(D) For purposes of this Certificate of Designations, the "Fair Market
Value" of a share of capital stock of the Company (including a share of Common
Stock) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing price
per share thereof over the 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is
hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that, in
the event that such Fair Market Value of any such share of capital stock is
determined during a period which includes any date that is within 30 Trading
Days after (i) the ex-dividend date for a dividend or distribution on stock
payable in shares of such stock or securities convertible into shares of such
stock, or (ii) the effective date of any subdivision, split, combination,
consolidation, reverse stock split or reclassification of such stock, then, and
in each such case, the Fair Market Value shall be appropriately adjusted by the
Board of Directors of the Company to take into account ex-dividend or
post-effective date trading. The closing price for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case, no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way (in either case, as
reported in the applicable transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange), or, if
the shares are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange,
as reported in the applicable transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the
shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price
or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by the 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 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 shares selected by the Board of Directors of
the Company. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal
national securities exchange on which the shares are listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the shares are not listed
or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, on which the New
York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange as may be
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company is open. If the shares are not
publicly held or not so listed or traded on any day within the period of 30
Trading Days applicable to the determination of Fair Market Value thereof as
aforesaid, "Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair market value thereof per
share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company. In
either case referred to in the foregoing sentence, the determination of Fair
Market Value shall be described in a statement filed with the Secretary of the
Company.
Section 8. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Company shall enter into
any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares
of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities,
cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each outstanding share of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged for or
changed into the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or other
property (payable in like kind), as the case may be, for which or into which
each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged multiplied by the highest of
the Vote Multiple, the Dividend Multiple or the Liquidation Multiple in effect
immediately prior to such event.
Section 9. Effective Time of Adjustments.
(A) Adjustments to the Series A Preferred Stock required by the provisions
hereof shall be effective as of the time at which the event requiring such
adjustments occurs.
(B) The Company shall give prompt written notice to each holder of a share
of Series A Preferred Stock of the effect of any adjustment to the voting
rights, dividend rights or rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company of such shares required by the provisions hereof. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to give such notice shall not
affect the validity of or the force or effect of or the requirement for such
adjustment.
Section 10. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not
be redeemable at the option of the Company or any holder thereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence of this Section, the Company may acquire
shares of Series A Preferred Stock in any other manner permitted by law, the
provisions hereof and the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
Section 11. Ranking. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company or a Certificate of Designations relating to a
subsequent series of preferred stock of the Company, the Series A Preferred
Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Company's preferred stock as
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets on liquidation,
dissolution or winding up and senior to the Common Stock.
Section 12. Amendment. The provisions hereof and the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company shall not be amended in any manner which would
adversely affect the rights, privileges or powers of the Series A Preferred
Stock without, in addition to any other vote of stockholders required by law,
the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed and subscribed this Certificate of
Designations and do affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury
this ______ day of ___________,1998.
_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
ATTEST:
____________________________
FORM OF LETTER TO STOCKHOLDERS
[Letterhead of U.S. Industries, Inc.]
October __, 1998
Dear Stockholder:
On October 15, 1998, the Board of Directors adopted a Stockholder Rights
Plan. This letter briefly describes the Rights Plan and the Board's reasons for
adopting it.
The Rights Plan was not adopted in response to any specific effort to
acquire control of the Company. Rather, it was adopted to protect stockholders
against an unsolicited attempt to acquire control of the Company by means of an
accumulation of shares in the open market, a partial or two-tier tender offer,
an offer for the Company at less than a full and fair price, a "market sweep" or
other prevalent takeover tactics which the Board believes are not in your best
interests.
The Rights Plan is not intended to and will not prevent a takeover of the
Company at a full and fair price, including a tender or exchange offer for all
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company approved by a majority of the
Board of Directors. However, the Rights Plan may cause substantial dilution to a
person or group that acquires 15% or more of the Company's voting stock unless
the rights are first redeemed by the Board of Directors.
The Rights Plan does not in any way weaken the Company's financial strength
or interfere with its business plans. The issuance of the Rights has no diluting
effect, will not affect reported earnings per share, is not taxable to the
Company or you and will not change the way in which the Company's shares are
traded.
The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business
combination that is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders,
since the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at $0.01 per Right in cash.
A summary of the terms of the Rights Plan is attached. The summary is not
complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Rights Agreement relating
thereto, a copy of which can be obtained free of charge from U.S. Industries,
Inc., 101 Wood Avenue South, Iselin, NJ 08830, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
<PAGE>
In adopting the Rights Plan, the Board has expressed its confidence in the
Company's future and the Board's determination that you, the stockholders, be
given every opportunity to participate fully in that future.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
<PAGE>
[Reverse of Letter to Stockholders]
U.S INDUSTRIES, INC.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS PLAN
Distribution and On October 15, 1998, the Board of Directors declared a
Transfer of dividend of one Right on each outstanding share of Common
Rights; Rights Stock of the Company held by stockholders of record on
Certificates: October 29, 1998. Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be evidenced by and trade with the Common Stock and
will not be exercisable. After the Distribution Date, the
Company will mail Rights Certificates to stockholders and
the Rights will become transferable apart from the Common
Stock.
Distribution Date: Unless earlier redeemed, the Rights become exercisable by
each record holder thereof, other than an Acquiring Person
(as defined below) on the earlier of (i) the first date (the
"Stock Acquisition Date") on which there is a public
announcement that a person or group has become an Acquiring
Person (or such earlier or later date (not beyond the 30th
day after the Stock Acquisition Date) as the Board of
Directors may determine) and (ii) the tenth business day (or
such later date as may be determined by the Board of
Directors prior to such time as a person or group becomes an
Acquiring Person) after a person or group commences, or
announces the intention to commence, a tender or exchange
offer the consummation of which would result in the
ownership of 15% or more of the Company's outstanding voting
stock.
Acquiring Person: An "Acquiring Person" is any person or group that is the
beneficial owner of 15% or more of the voting stock of the
Company; provided, however, that an Acquiring Person does
not include (i) Harris Associates L.P. and its associates
and affiliates ("Harris"), (ii) the Company, any subsidiary
of the Company or any employee benefit plan or employee
stock plan of the Company, or (iii) any person or group
whose ownership of 15% or more of the voting stock of the
Company results solely from (a) transactions approved by the
Board of Directors before such person or group became an
Acquiring Person or (b) a reduction in the number of issued
and outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company
pursuant to transactions approved by the Board of Directors.
Harris will become an Acquiring Person if Harris (A) acquires
an additional 1% or more of the voting stock of the Company
or (B) commences, or announces an intention to commence, a
tender or exchange offer upon the successful completion of
which Harris would be the owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding voting stock of the Company.
Preferred Stock: Each one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock has
economic and voting terms equivalent to one share of Common
Stock.
Exercise of After the Distribution Date, each Right entitles the
Rights; Exercise registered holder to purchase from the Company one
Price: one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of preferred stock of the
Company, designated as Series A Junior Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock") at a price (the "Exercise Price") of $65
per one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of Preferred Stock.
Invalidation If any person or group becomes an Acquiring
Person, other than pursuant of Rights: to a tender or
exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock of
the Company approved by a majority of the Board of
Directors, Rights held by such person or group (or its
transferees) shall automatically become null and void.
"Flip-in" Trigger: If any person becomes an Acquiring Person, then, each Right
will automatically become a right to buy, for the Exercise
Price, the greater of (1) the number of one one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock for which the Right was
exercisable prior to the person or group becoming an
Acquiring Person or (2) the number of one one-hundredths of
a share of Preferred Stock, based on the fair market value
of the Preferred Stock (determined in accordance with the
Rights Agreement) on the first date that a person or group
becomes an Acquiring Person, having a value equal to twice
the Exercise Price.
Exchange Option: The Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time after
the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date and prior
to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes the owner of
more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock, exchange all
of the then outstanding Rights for shares of Common Stock at
an exchange rate of one share of Common Stock per Right.
"Flip-over" If, at any time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring
Trigger: Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination or sells or otherwise transfers to any
persons assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of
the assets or earning power of the Company, then each holder
of a Right will have the right to receive, upon payment of
the Exercise Price, that number of shares of Common Stock
having a value equal to twice the Exercise Price.
Redemption: The Rights may be redeemed by the Board of Directors, at any
time before the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition
Date, at a Redemption Price of $0.01 per Right.
Power to Amend: For as long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company
may amend the Rights in any manner, including an amendment
to extend the time period in which the Rights may be
redeemed. At any time when the Rights are not then
redeemable, the Company may amend the Rights in any manner
that does not materially adversely affect the interests of
holders of the Rights as such.
Expiration: Unless earlier redeemed, the Rights will expire at the close
of business on October 15, 2008 (or if the Distribution Date
Occurs before October 15, 2008, at the close of business on
the 90th day following the Distribution Date).
Contact: Diana Burton FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Industries
(732) 767-2255
U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC. ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
Iselin, NJ, October 15, 1998 -- The Board of Directors of U.S. Industries,
Inc. (NYSE-USI) ("U.S. Industries" or the "Company") today adopted a Stockholder
Rights Plan and declared a dividend of one Right on each outstanding share of
U.S. Industries, Inc. Common Stock held by stockholders of record on October 29,
1998.
David H. Clarke, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Industries,
stated that "This is the second time in the history of our Company that the USI
Board has adopted a Rights Plan. In both instances the plan has been designed to
protect our shareholders during a time when the Company's share price has been
under pressure due to external factors. With the current weakness in U.S.
securities markets it is appropriate for the USI Board to protect its
shareholders from coercive takeover tactics that could result in the acquisition
of control of the Company at less than fair value. The Rights Plan is not
intended to and will not prevent a takeover of U.S. Industries. The purpose and
effect of the Rights Plan is to deter only those types of activities that are
not in the best interests of all of U.S. Industries' stockholders. As in the
past the Board will review the appropriateness of the Rights Plan from time to
time."
The Rights Plan was not adopted in response to any specific effort to
acquire control of U.S. Industries. Rather, it was adopted to deter abusive
takeover tactics that can be used to deprive stockholders of the full value of
their investment.
Initially, the Rights will trade with the common stock of the Company and
will not be exercisable. The Rights will separate from the common stock and
become exercisable upon the occurrence of events typical for shareholder rights
plans. In general, such separation will occur when any person or group of
affiliated persons acquires or makes an offer to acquire 15% or more of the
Company's Common Stock. Thereafter, separate Right certificates will be
distributed and each Right will entitle its holder to purchase one one-hundredth
of a share of the Company's Series A Junior Preferred Stock (the "Preferred
Stock") for an exercise price of $65.00 (the "Exercise Price"). Each one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock has economic and voting terms
equivalent to those of one share of the Company's Common Stock.
In the event that any person or group (other than certain exempt persons),
actually acquire 15% or more of the Company's common stock without the Board's
approval, then each holder of a Right shall thereafter have the right to receive
upon exercise of such Right and payment of the Exercise Price, shares of
Preferred Stock having a value equal to at least twice the Exercise Price. Also,
if U.S. Industries is involved in a merger or sells more than 50% of its assets
or earning power, each right will entitle its holder to purchase shares of
common stock of the acquiring company having a market value of twice the
Exercise Price.
The Rights may be redeemed by the Board of Directors for $0.01 per Right.
The Rights Plan does not in any way weaken U.S. Industries' financial
strength or interfere with its business plans. The issuance of the Rights has no
diluting effect, will not affect reported earnings per share, is not taxable to
U.S. Industries or its stockholders and will not change the way in which U.S.
Industries' shares are traded.
A letter to stockholders regarding the Rights Plan and a Summary of certain
terms of the Rights Plan will be mailed to stockholders. Detailed information
and a copy of the Rights Plan will be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
U.S. Industries is an industrial management company with four business
units: USI Bath and Plumbing Products, Lighting Corporation of America, USI
Hardware and Tools, and USI Diversified. U.S. Industries has annualized sales of
approximately $3.5 billion.
