SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota 41-0957999
(State of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer/Identification No.)
213 South Main Street
Hector, Minnesota 55342
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------------
(Address of principal (Zip Code)
executive offices)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), check the following box: |_|
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), check then following box: |X|
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Preferred
Stock Purchase Rights
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Item 1. Description of Securities to be Registered.
On October 26, 1999, the Board of Directors of Communications Systems,
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend of one Right for each outstanding share
of the Company's Common Stock, $.05 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), to
the stockholders of record at the close of business on November 10, 1999 (the
"Record Date"). Except as set forth below, each Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value (the "Preferred
Stock"), at a price of $65 per one one-hundredth of a share (the "Purchase
Price"). The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement dated as of October 26, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached implicitly to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Right
certificates will be distributed. The Rights are not exercisable until the
Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on October 26, 2009 unless earlier
redeemed by the Company as described below. A Distribution Date for the Rights
will occur upon the earlier of ten days following (i) a public announcement
that, without the prior consent of the Board of Directors, a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or
obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of voting securities having
16.5% or more of the voting power of the Company (the "Stock Acquisition Date"),
or (ii) the commencement of (or a public announcement of an intention to make) a
tender offer or exchange offer which would result in any person or group and
related persons having beneficial ownership of voting securities having 16.5% or
more of the voting power of the Company.
Until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and
only with Common Stock certificates. From as soon as practicable after the
Record Date and until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration
of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon
transfer or new issuance of the Common Stock will contain a notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of
any certificates for Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date will also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the
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 Distribution Date, and the separate Rights Certificates
alone will evidence the Rights.
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In the event that any person becomes the beneficial owner of 16.5% or
more of the voting power of the Company in a transaction which has not
previously been approved by a majority of the independent directors, ten (10)
days thereafter (the "Flip-In Event") each holder of a Right will thereafter
have the right to receive, in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock, upon exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price of the Right, Common Stock (or, in
certain circumstances, a combination of cash, other property, Common Stock or
other securities) which has a value of two times the Purchase Price of the Right
(such right being called the "Flip-In Right"). Upon the occurrence of the
Flip-In Event, any Rights that are or were at any time owned by an Acquiring
Person shall become null and void insofar as they relate to the Flip-In Right.
In addition, in the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or
other business combination transaction where the Company is not the surviving
corporation or in the event that 50% or more of its assets or earning power is
sold, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current Purchase Price of the Right, common stock of the acquiring entity which
has a value of two times the Purchase Price of the Right (the "Flip-Over
Right"). The Flip-Over Right is in addition to the Flip-In Rights and will
survive any exercise of a Flip-In Right.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the
Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible
securities at less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii)
upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons of beneficial ownership of 16.5% or more of the voting power
of the Company and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or
more of the voting power of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company
may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which
have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of
Common Stock, or one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share
of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights,
preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
the Purchase Price. No fractions of shares will be issued and, in lieu thereof,
an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred
Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
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At any time prior to the earlier to occur of (i) the tenth day after
the Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii) the expiration of the Rights, the Company
may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right
(the "Redemption Price"), which redemption shall be effective at such time as
the Board of Directors shall establish. Additionally, the Company may, following
the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date, redeem the then outstanding
Rights in whole, but not in part, at the Redemption Price provided that either
(a) the Acquiring Person reduces his beneficial ownership to less than 16.5% of
the voting power of the Company in a manner which is satisfactory to the Company
and there are no other Acquiring Persons, or (b) such redemption is incidental
to a merger or other business combination transaction or series of transactions
involving the Company but not involving an Acquiring Person or any person who
was an Acquiring Person. The redemption of Rights described in the preceding
sentence shall be effective only after ten (10) business days prior notice. Upon
the effective date of the redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the
Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.
The Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will be
nonredeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will have a preferential quarterly
dividend in an amount equal to 100 times the dividend declared on each share of
Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of Preferred Stock will
receive a preferred liquidation payment of $100 per whole share of Preferred
Stock. Each whole share of 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 are exchange, each share of Preferred Stock
will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount and type of consideration
received per share of Common Stock. The rights of the Preferred Stock as to
dividends and liquidations, and in the event of mergers and consolidations, are
protected by customary anti-dilution provisions. Fractional shares of Preferred
Stock in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock
will be issued unless the Company elects to distribute depositary receipts in
lieu of such fractional shares. In lieu of fractional shares other than
fractions that are multiples of one one-hundredth of a share, an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
Until a Right is exercised, it will not entitle the holder to any
rights as a stockholder of the Company (other than those as an existing
stockholder), including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive
dividends.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company (i) prior to the Distribution Date in any manner, and (ii) on or after
the Distribution Date to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision of the Rights Agreement which may be defective or inconsistent with
any other provisions, or in any manner not adversely affecting the interests of
the holders of the Rights.
As of October 26, 1999, there were approximately 8,558,772 shares of
Common Stock issued and outstanding, and 1,204,238 shares reserved for issuance
pursuant to the exercise of outstanding stock options. Each outstanding share of
Common Stock on November 10, 1999 will receive one Right. As long as the Rights
are attached to the Common Stock, the Company will issue one Right for each
share of Common Stock issued between the Record Date and the Distribution Date
so that all such shares will have attached Rights. There are 150,000 shares of
Preferred Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Rights.
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The Rights Agreement is designed to protect shareholders in the event
of an unsolicited attempt to acquire the Company for an inadequate price and to
protect against abusive practices that do not treat all shareholders equally,
including partial and two-tier tender offers, coercive offers, and creeping
stock accumulation programs. Such practices can pressure shareholders into
tendering their investments prior to realizing the full value or total potential
of such investments. The Rights Agreement is intended to make the cost of such
abusive practices prohibitive and create an incentive for a potential acquiror
to negotiate in good faith with the Board. The Rights Agreement is not intended
to, and will not, prevent all unsolicited offers to acquire the Company. If an
unsolicited offer is made, and the Board determines that it is fair and in the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders, then, pursuant to the terms
of the Rights Agreement, the Board has the authority to redeem the Rights and
permit the offer to proceed. Essentially, the Rights Agreement will provide the
Board with sufficient opportunity to evaluate the fairness of any unsolicited
offer and the credibility of the bidder, and will therefore enable the Board to
represent the interests of all shareholders more effectively. Of course, in
deciding whether to redeem the Rights in connection with any unsolicited offer,
the Board will be bound by its fiduciary obligations to act in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The form of Rights Agreement between the Company and the Rights Agent
specifying the terms of the Rights, which includes as Exhibit B the form of
Rights Certificate, is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and is incorporated herein
by reference. The foregoing description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Exhibit.
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Item 2. Exhibits.
Exhibit 1:
Form of Rights Agreement dated as of October 26, 1999 between
Communications Systems, Inc. and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National
Association, which includes as Exhibit B thereto the form of Rights
Certificate. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, Rights Certificates will
not be mailed until after the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the
Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii) the tenth day after the date of the
commencement of, or first public announcement of the intent to
commence, a tender or exchange offer by any person or group of
affiliated or associated persons if, upon consummation thereof, such
person or group would be the beneficial owner of 16.5% or more of the
voting power of the Company.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
Dated: November 5, 1999 By /s/ Paul N. Hanson
---------------------------------------
Paul N. Hanson, Chief Financial Officer,
Vice President of Finance and Treasurer
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COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
and
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.
Rights Agent
----------------
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of October 26, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1. Certain Definitions.....................................................1
2. Appointment of Rights Agent.............................................5
3. Issue of Rights Certificates............................................5
4. Form of Rights Certificates.............................................7
5. Countersignature and Registration.......................................8
6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates................9
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights..........10
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates....................12
9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock..........................13
10. Preferred Stock Record Date...........................................14
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Stock or Number
of Rights...........................................................14
12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Stock.............23
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets, Cash Flow
or Earning Power....................................................23
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Stock................................26
15. Rights of Action......................................................28
16. Agreement of Rights Holders...........................................28
17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder....................29
18. Concerning the Rights Agent...........................................29
19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.............30
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20. Duties of Rights Agent................................................30
21. Change of Rights Agent................................................32
22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates...................................33
23. Redemption and Termination............................................33
24. Exchange..............................................................35
25. Notice of Certain Events..............................................36
26. Notices...............................................................37
27. Supplements and Amendments............................................37
28. Successors............................................................38
29. Benefits of this Agreement............................................38
30. Administration of Agreement...........................................38
31. Severability..........................................................38
32. Governing Law.........................................................39
33. Counterparts..........................................................39
34. Descriptive Headings..................................................39
Exhibit A: Certificate of Designation, Preferences
and Rights of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock
Exhibit B: Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C: Summary of Shareholders' Rights Plan
<PAGE>
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of October 26, 1999 (the "Agreement"),
between Communications Systems, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"),
and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., a Minnesota corporation (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on October 26, 1999, the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right (as
hereinafter defined) for each outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock,
$.05 par value per share (the "Common Stock") outstanding at the close of
business on November 10, 1999 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing the
right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences set
forth in the form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the "Rights") and
further authorized the issuance of one Right with respect to each share of
Common Stock that would become outstanding after the close of business on the
Record Date in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as 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, without the prior approval of a
majority of the Board of Directors, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as
such term is hereinafter defined) of voting securities having sixteen
and one-half percent (16.5%) or more of the then voting power of the
Company, but shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary
of the Company, or any entity organized, appointed or established by
the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan; provided,
however, that if a Person is the Beneficial Owner at the close of
business on the date of this Agreement of sixteen and one-half percent
(16.5%) or more of the voting power of the Company, such Person shall
not be deemed an Acquiring Person unless and until such Person acquires
any additional Common Stock in any manner other than pursuant to a
stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or similar transaction
that does not affect the percentage of outstanding Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an
acquisition of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the
number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of
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shares beneficially owned by such Person to sixteen and one-half
percent (16.5%) or more of the then voting power of the Company then
outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of sixteen and one-half percent (16.5%) or more of the
then voting power of the Company then outstanding by reason of shares
purchased by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the
Company, become the Beneficial Owner of additional Common Stock of the
Company representing 1% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person." Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a majority of the members of
the Company's Board of Directors then in office determines in good
faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person", as
defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has
become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as
practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such
Person would no longer be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to
the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall
not be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this
Agreement.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right or obligation to
acquire (whether such right or obligation is exercisable or
effective immediately or only after the passage of time)
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights at any
time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, but
thereafter including the Rights acquired from and after the
Distribution Date (as defined in Section 3(a) below) other
than pursuant to Section 3(a) below), 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 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
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security under this clause (B) if the agreement, arrangement
or understanding to vote such security: (1) arises solely from
a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or
consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with,
the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act, and
(2) is not also then reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D
under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor
report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof) with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing and other than
customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling
group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of
securities), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting
(except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in clause
(B) of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (c)) or disposing
of any voting securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Person shall not be
deemed to be the "Beneficial Owner" of or to "beneficially
own" any securities that are issued, or proposed to be issued,
to such Person pursuant to any stock option plan or other
employee compensation plan or arrangement of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or any securities for which such
Person serves as a trustee pursuant to an employee stock
ownership or similar plan of the Company. Furthermore,
directors and officers of the Company shall not be deemed to
beneficially own each others Common Stock solely due to their
status as a director or officer of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of
Beneficial Ownership to the contrary, the phrase "then
outstanding," when used with reference to a Person's
Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean
the number of such securities then issued and outstanding
together with the number of such securities not then actually
issued and outstanding which such Person would be deemed to
own beneficially hereunder.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the States of
Minnesota or New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive
order to close.
(e) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., Minneapolis, Minnesota time, on such date; provided, however,
that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
Minneapolis, Minnesota time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
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(f) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, $.05 par value
per share, of the Company (as such term is defined in the introductory
paragraphs above) or any other shares of capital stock of the Company
into which the Common Stock shall be reclassified or changed, except
that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than
the Company shall mean the shares of capital stock of such Person (if
such Person is a corporation) of any class or series, or units of
equity interests in such Person (if such Person is not a corporation)
of any class or series, the terms of which do not limit (as a fixed
amount and not merely in proportional terms) the amount of dividends or
income payable or distributable on such class or series or the amount
of assets distributable on such class or series upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such Person and
do not provide that such class or series is subject to redemption at
the option of such Person, or any shares of capital stock or units of
equity interests into which the foregoing shall be reclassified or
changed; provided, however, that if at any time there shall be more
than one such class or series of capital stock or equity interests of
such Person, "Common Stock" of such Person shall include all such
classes and series substantially in the proportion of the total number
of shares or other units of each class or series outstanding at such
time.
(g) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
(h) "Expiration Date" and "Final Expiration Date" shall have
the meanings set forth in Section 7 hereof.
(i) "Flip-In Event" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(j) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or other entity and shall
include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(k) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Company.
(l) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an
Acquiring Person has become such.
(m) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any other
Person, any corporation of which a majority of any class of equity
security is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such other
Person.
(n) "Triggering Event" shall mean the Flip-In Event or any
event described in Section 13(a) hereof.
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(o) "Voting power of the Company" shall mean the collective
voting power of the Common Stock of the Company.
In addition, for purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have
the meanings indicated in the specified sections of this Agreement: "Act" shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 9(c) hereof; "Adjustment Shares" shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof; "Board" shall have the
meaning set forth in the preamble; "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; "Company" shall have the meaning
set forth in the preamble; "current market price" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(d) hereof; "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; "Equivalent Preferred Stock" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof; "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning
set forth in section 1(b) hereof; "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 24(a) hereof; "Flip-In Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; "Nasdaq" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof; "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b) hereof; "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof; "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble; "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a)(i) hereof; "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble;
"Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble; "Rights
Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof; "Spread"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; "Substitution
Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof; "Summary
of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof; and "Trading
Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
Any determination required by the definitions contained in this Section
1 shall be made by the Board in their good faith judgment, which determination
shall be final and binding on the Rights Agent.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also
be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable. In the event the Company appoints one or more Co-Rights Agents, the
respective duties of the Rights Agent and any Co-Rights Agent shall be as the
Company shall determine.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the
tenth (10th) day after the Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii) the close of
business on the tenth (10th) day (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the majority of the members of the Company's
Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an
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Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement of, or first
public announcement of the intent of any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan), to commence, a tender or exchange offer
which would result in such person becoming an Acquiring Person
(including any such date which is after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the issuance of the Rights) (the earliest of (i) and (ii)
being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights
will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this
Section 3) by the certificates for Common Stock registered in the names
of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock
shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate
certificates, and (y) the Rights (and the right to receive certificates
therefor) will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of
the underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the
Company). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the
Rights Agent will send by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each
record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records
of the Company, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the
form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one
Right for each share of Common Stock so held. As of and after the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights
Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of the Shareholders' Rights Plan,
in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of
Rights"), by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder
of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date, at
the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company. With
respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the
Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced
by such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered holders of
the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated
Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration
Date (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof), the surrender for
transfer of any of the certificates for the Common Stock outstanding on
the Record Date shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.
(c) Certificates for the Common Stock issued after the Record
Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date, shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights,
and shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between
Communications Systems, Inc. and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.
dated as of October 26, 1999, (the "Rights Agreement"), the
terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and
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a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of
Communications Systems, Inc. Under certain circumstances, as
set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be
evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be
evidenced by this certificate. Communications Systems, Inc.
will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the
Rights Agreement without charge promptly after receipt of a
written request therefor. Under certain circumstances, Rights
issued to, or held by, an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement) and any subsequent holder of such Rights may become
null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend,
until the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration
Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and the
registered holders of Common Stock shall also be the registered holders
of the associated Rights, and the surrender for transfer of any of such
certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates. In
the event the Company purchases or acquires any Common Stock after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated
with such Common Stock shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the
Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with
the Common Stock which is no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
exercise and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall
each be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B and may
have such marks of identification or designation and such legends,
summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or
with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of
Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever
distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date and on their face
shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of shares of
Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, as the case may be) as shall be set
forth therein at the price per share set forth therein (the "Purchase
Price"), but the number of such shares and the Purchase Price shall be
subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person,
(ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes
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such, except a transferee purchasing from or through a nationally
recognized broker-dealer where such transferee and such transferee's
Associates and Affiliates do not collectively acquire, and will not
have acquired during the preceding 20 calendar days, in combination
with the proposed transfer, an amount of Common Stock equal to more
than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and
(iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the
Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to
either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the
Acquiring Person to or on behalf of holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has
any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the
transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the majority of the members
of the Company's Board of Directors otherwise conclude in good faith is
part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary
purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights
Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon
transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights
Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent
feasible and reasonably identifiable as such) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly,
this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may
become null and void in the circumstances specified in Section
7(e) of such Agreement.
The provisions of Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement shall be
operative whether or not the foregoing legend is contained on any such Rights
Certificate.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief
Financial Officer, its Treasurer or any Vice President either manually
or by facsimile signature, which shall be attested by the Secretary or
any Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Rights Certificates shall be manually countersigned by
the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so
countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed
any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be
countersigned by the Rights Agent, and issued and delivered by the
Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed
such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the
Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the
Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such
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Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign
such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this
Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will
keep or cause to be kept, at its offices in South St. Paul, Minnesota
or New York, New York, books for registration and transfer of the
Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names
and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the
number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights
Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, at any
time after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or
prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any Rights
Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights Certificates
representing rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section
7(e) hereof or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof)
may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights
Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to
purchase a like number of shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights
Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to
purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine
or exchange any Rights Certificate shall make such request in writing
delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged at the office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company
shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the
transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate or Certificates
until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of
such Rights Certificate or Certificates and shall have provided such
additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former
Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section 14 and Section 24, countersign and
deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up,
combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of
evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft,
destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of
loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably
satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company and the Rights
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<PAGE>
Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender
to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights
Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and
delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so
lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) The registered holder of any Rights Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided
herein including without limitation, the restrictions on exercisability
set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a) hereof)
in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to
exercise on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or, if applicable, such
other number of shares or other securities) as to which the Rights are
exercised, at or prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on
October 26, 2009 (the "Final Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at
which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (such
earlier time being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date"). Any
Person who prior to the Distribution Date becomes a record holder of
shares of Common Stock may exercise all of the rights of a registered
holder of a Rights Certificate with respect to the Rights associated
with such shares of Common Stock in accordance with and subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of Section 7(e)
hereof, as of the date such Person becomes a record holder of shares of
Common Stock.
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a share
of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially
be sixty-five Dollars ($65), and shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in Section 11 hereof and shall be payable in
lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with
paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to exercise duly
executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares
to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax, the
Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any
transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if
the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates
for the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with
all such requests, or (B) if the Company, in its sole discretion, shall
have elected to deposit the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder into a depositary, requisition from
the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of
one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased
(in which case certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock
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<PAGE>
represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent
with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the depositary
agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition
from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of
fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after
receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to
be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt
thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the
Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section
11(a)(iii) hereof) shall be made in cash or by certified check,
cashier's check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the
Company, except that if so provided by the Board, the payment of the
Purchase Price following the Flip-In Event and until the first
occurrence of an event described in Section 13 may be made wholly or in
part by delivery of a certificate or certificates (with appropriate
stock powers executed in blank attached thereto) evidencing a number of
shares of Common Stock of the Company equal to the then Purchase Price
divided by the closing price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately
preceding the date of such exercise. In the event that the Company is
obligated to issue other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or
distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the
Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities, cash, and/or property are available for distribution by the
Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. In addition, in the case of an
exercise of the Rights by a holder pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii), the
Rights Agent shall return such Rights Certificate to the registered
holder thereof after imprinting, stamping or otherwise indicating
thereon that the rights represented by such Rights Certificate no
longer include the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights
Agreement and if less than all the Rights represented by such Rights
Certificate were so exercised, the Rights Agent shall indicate on the
Rights Certificate the number of Rights represented thereby which
continue to include the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii).
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate
shall exercise (except pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)) less than all the
Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing Rights
equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the
Rights Agent and delivered to the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the
provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (a) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (b) except as provided below or in
Section 4(b), a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or any such
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<PAGE>
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such, and (c) except as provided below, a transferee of
an Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming
such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (i) a transfer
(whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to or on
behalf of holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to
any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (ii) a
transfer which the majority of the members of the Company's Board of
Directors otherwise conclude in good faith is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect
avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any
further action, and any holder of such Rights shall thereupon have no
right to exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. A
majority of the members of the Company's Board of Directors may in
appropriate circumstances waive application of this Section 7(e) and
the requirements of Section 4(b) to any transfer by an Acquiring Person
in connection with a transfer or series of transfers which cause an
Acquiring Person to become the Beneficial Owner of voting securities
having less than sixteen and one-half percent (16.5%) of the voting
power of the Company. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) hereof are complied
with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights for the
inability to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring
Person or any of their respective Affiliates, Associates or transferees
hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated
to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder of any
Rights Certificate upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set
forth in this Section 7 unless the certificate contained in the
appropriate form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side
of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise shall have been
completed and signed by the registered holder thereof and the Company
shall have been provided with such additional evidence of the identity
of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of such Rights
Certificate or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall
reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
canceled Rights Certificates to the Company.
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Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares
of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering
Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) or any authorized and
issued shares of Preferred Stock (and following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) held in its
treasury, the number of shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities)
that, except as provided in Section 11(a)(iii) and subject to Section
7(e) hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) issuable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on
any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best
efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become
exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such
exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, a registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), with respect to
the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights
on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii)
cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a
prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the
date of the expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such
action as may be appropriate under the Blue Sky laws of the various
states. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not
to exceed ninety (90) days, the exercisability of the Rights in order
to prepare and file any required registration statement. Upon any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that
the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended.
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,
the exercise thereof shall have been permitted under applicable law and
a registration statement shall have been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all
such action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred
Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common
Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall,
at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to
payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares or securities.
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(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of
the Rights Certificates and of any certificates for shares of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any
transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a person other than, or
the issuance or delivery of the shares of Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name
other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificates
evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any
certificates for shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or
other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the
registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall
have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights
Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established
to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, as the case may be)
is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have
become the holder of record of the shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock,
as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated,
the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer
taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, as the case
may be) transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to
have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the
exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate
shall not be entitled to any rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect
to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without
limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to
exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice
of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Stock or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred
Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the
outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding
Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue
any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the
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Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company
is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and in Section 7(e)
hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record
date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number
and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the
case may be, issuable on such date, shall be proportionately
adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such
time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the
Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind
of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may
be, which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior
to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer
books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned
upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of
such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification;
provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to
be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the
Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. If an event
occurs which would require an adjustment under both Section
11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), 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) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the
event any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized,
appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan), alone or together with its Affiliates
and Associates, shall, at any time after the date of this
Agreement, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event
causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is an
acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender
offer or an exchange offer for all outstanding shares of
Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at least a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not
officers of the Company and who are not representatives,
nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person,
after receiving advice from one or more investment banking
firms, to be (a) at a price which is fair to shareholders and
not inadequate (taking into account all factors which such
members of the Board deem relevant, including, without
limitation, prices which could reasonably be achieved if the
Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed
to realize maximum value) and (b) otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders, then, promptly
following ten (10) days after the date of the occurrence of
such event (the "Flip-In Event"), proper provision shall be
made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below
and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase
Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu
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of a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as
shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of
a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Flip-In Event,
and (y) dividing that product (which, following such first
occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase
Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement)
by 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of
such first occurrence (such number of shares, the "Adjustment
Shares").
(iii) In the event that (x) the number of shares of
Common Stock which are authorized by the Company's articles of
incorporation, but which are not outstanding or reserved for
issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights,
are not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the
Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of
this Section 11(a), or (y) if the majority of the members of
the Company's Board of Directors determine that such action is
necessary or appropriate and not contrary to the interests of
holders of Rights (excluding those owned by the Acquiring
Person), the Company shall: (A) determine the excess of (1)
the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise
of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price
(such excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each
Right, make adequate provision to substitute for the
Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the applicable Purchase
Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3)
Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of
preferred stock which the Board of Directors of the Company
has deemed to have the same value as shares of Common Stock
(such shares of preferred stock "Common Stock Equivalents")),
(4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6)
any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value
equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has
been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based
upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking
firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company;
provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate
provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within
thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first
occurrence of a Flip-In Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a)
expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as
the "Flip-In Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be
obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a
Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price,
shares of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if
necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate
value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the
Company shall determine in good faith that it is likely that
sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be
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authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights,
the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to
the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after
the Flip-In Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek
shareholder approval for the authorization of such additional
shares (such thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended,
the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company
determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the
first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the
Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof,
that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding
Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights
until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to
seek such shareholder approval for such authorization of
additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of
distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to
determine the value thereof. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been
temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at
such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For
purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common
Stock shall be the current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the Common
Stock on the Flip-In Trigger Date and the value of any Common
Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the
Common Stock on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred
Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period
expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date)
Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and
preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock ("equivalent preferred
stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent
preferred stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of
equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion price per share, if
a security convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred
stock) less than the current market price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date,
the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall
be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record
date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the aggregate
offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or
equivalent preferred stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such current market price and the
denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares
of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so
to be offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no
event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right
be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of
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the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. In case such
subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which
shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration
shall be as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall
be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Shares of
Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall
not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is
fixed; and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued,
the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of
the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a
dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable
in stock other than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price to
be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred
Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in
good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash,
assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Preferred
Stock and the denominator of which shall be such current market price
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred
Stock; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to
be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par
value of the shares of capital stock of the Company to be issued upon
exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be
the Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record date
had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other
than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof,
the current market price per share of Common Stock on any date
shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices
per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive
Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately
prior to such date, and for purposes of computations made
pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current market
price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed
to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of
such Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days
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immediately following such date; provided, however, that in
the event that the current market price per share of the
Common Stock is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a
dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in
shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into
shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights), or (B)
any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the requisite
thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set
forth above, after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or
distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case,
the "current market price" shall be properly adjusted to take
into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each
day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no
such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported
in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on
the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock
are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed
on the principal national securities exchange on which the
shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or,
if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted
sale price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid
and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. Automated Quotation System ("Nasdaq") or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of
Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock
selected by the Board. If on any such date no market maker is
making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such
shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board
shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on
which the principal national securities exchange on which the
shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is
open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of
Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common
Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded,
"current market price" per share shall mean the fair value per
share as determined in good faith by the majority of the
members of the Company's Board of Directors, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
the "current market price" per share of Preferred Stock shall
be determined in the same manner as set forth above for the
Common Stock in clause (i) of this Section 11(d) (other than
the last sentence thereof). If the current market price per
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<PAGE>
share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner
provided above, the "current market price" per share of
Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount
equal to 100 times the current market price per share of
Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted for stock splits,
stock dividends or similar transactions after the date hereof.
If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is
publicly held or so listed or traded, "current market price"
per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in
good faith by the majority of the members of the Company's
Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
conclusive for all purposes.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one
percent (1%) in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any
adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to
be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be
made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of
Common Stock or other share or one-millionth of a share of Preferred
Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this
Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made
no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the
transaction which mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration
Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a) or Section 13, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall
become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than
Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment
from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
practicable to the provisions contained in Section 11(a), (b), (c),
(e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7,
9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply
on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to
any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of shares
of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon
exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided
herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price
as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each
Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment
shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted
Purchase Price, that number of one one-hundredth of a share of
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<PAGE>
Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredth of a share covered
by the Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase
Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price
in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in
substitution for any adjustment in the number of shares of Preferred
Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights
outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the number of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the
nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to
adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the
adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to
be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price
is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the
public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each
adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights
Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional
Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such
adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be
distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement
for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new
Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner
provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the
adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the
holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified
in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates
theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase
Price per share and the number of shares which were expressed in the
initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then stated or par value, if any,
of the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights,
the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion
of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
21
<PAGE>
legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Preferred Stock,
Common Stock or other securities at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date
for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the
occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right
exercised after such record date the shares of Preferred Stock and
other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon
such exercise over and above the shares of Preferred Stock and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such
adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such
holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such
holder's right to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of
the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions
in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly
required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that in their sole
discretion the majority of the members of the Company's Board of
Directors shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i)
consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance
wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the
current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of
Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into
or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, (iv) stock dividends or
(v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section
11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock
shall not be taxable to such shareholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with, (ii) merge with
or into, or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or
transfer), in one or more transactions, assets, cash flow or earning
power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning
power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any
other Person if at the time of or immediately after such consolidation,
merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or
securities outstanding or agreement in effect which would substantially
diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by
the Rights.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Stock
Acquisition Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action the purpose
or effect of which is to diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after
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<PAGE>
the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date (i)
declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock,
(iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares, or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the outstanding Common Stock, the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock shall be proportionately
adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each
share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share
of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the
numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
(q) The exercise of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) shall only
result in the loss of rights under Section 11(a)(ii) to the extent so
exercised and shall not otherwise affect the rights represented by the
Rights under this Rights Agreement, including the rights represented by
Section 13.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Stock.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the
Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly
file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Stock
and the Common Stock a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary
thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 26
hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such
certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets, Cash
Flow or Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or
merge with and into, any other Person, and the Company shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger,
(y) any Person shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the
Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with
such consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z)
the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its
Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than
50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company), then, and in each such
23
<PAGE>
case, proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a
Right, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully
paid, non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the
Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), free and clear of liens,
rights of call or first refusal, encumbrances or other adverse claims,
as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the then number of one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately
prior to the first occurrence of an event described in clauses (x), (y)
and (z) of this Section 13 (or, if a transaction described in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof has occurred prior to the first occurrence of an event
described in clauses (x), (y) and (z) of this Section 13(a),
multiplying the number of such one one-hundredths of a share for which
a Right was exercisable prior to the first occurrence of an event
described in Section 11(a)(ii) by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that
product (which, following the first occurrence of an event described in
clauses (x), (y) and (z) of this Section 13(a) shall be referred to as
the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this
Agreement) by 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such
Principal Party on the date of consummation of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer; (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 Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter
be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically
intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply to such
Principal Party; and (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number
of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of
any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions
hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be
possible, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.
(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), the Person that
is the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common
Stock of the Company are converted in such merger or
consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person
that is the other party to such merger or consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (z)
of the first sentence in Section 13(a), the Person that is the
party receiving the greatest portion of the assets, cash flow
or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or
transactions;
24
<PAGE>
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of
such Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the
preceding twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of
another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered,
"Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) in case such
Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one
Person, the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons
is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market
value; and (3) in case such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by
a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned,
directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in (1)
and (2) above shall apply to each of the chains of ownership having an
interest in such joint venture as if such party were a "Subsidiary" of
both or all of such joint venturers and the Principal Parties in each
such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in
the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person
bear to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a
sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have
not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full
of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior
thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for
the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and
further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any
consolidation, merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of
this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under
the Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate
form, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration
statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after
such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all
times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the
Expiration Date;
(ii) take all other actions as may be necessary to
enable the Principal Party to issue the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights, including but not limited to the
registration or qualification of such securities under all
requisite securities laws of jurisdictions of the various
states and the listing of such securities on such exchanges
and trading markets as may be necessary or appropriate; and
(iii) will deliver to holders of the Rights
historical financial statements for the Principal Party and
each of its Affiliates which comply in all material respects
with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the
Exchange Act.
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<PAGE>
The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the kind referred
to in this Section 13 if at the time of such transaction there are any
rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any
agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of
such transaction, would eliminate or substantially diminish the
benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. The provisions of this
Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. The rights under this
Section 13 shall be in addition to the rights to exercise Rights and
adjustments under Section 11(a)(ii) and shall survive any exercise
thereof.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described
in subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction
is consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common
Stock pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding
shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms determined to be in
accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof (or a wholly
owned subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per
share of Common Stock offered in such transaction is not less than the
price per share of Common Stock paid to all holders of shares of Common
Stock whose shares were purchased pursuant to such tender offer or
exchange offer and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the
remaining holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such
transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to
such tender offer or exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such
transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder
shall expire.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Stock.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section
11(p) hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence
fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be
paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard
to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a
whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market
value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional
Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the
Rights for any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in
case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange
or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal
national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted
to trading, or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last quoted sale price or, if not
26
<PAGE>
so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system
then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date
no such market maker is making a market in the Rights the fair value of
the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall
be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon
exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock).
Fractions of shares of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock may, at the election of the
Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an
appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by
it; provided, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of
such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and
preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the
shares of Preferred Stock represented by such depositary receipts. In
lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, the
Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the
time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this
Section 14(b), the current market value of one one-hundredth of a share
of Preferred Stock shall be one one-hundredth of the closing sale price
of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to of Section
11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the
Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common
Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional
shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders
of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current
market value of one (1) share of Common Stock. For purposes of this
Section 14(c), the current market value of one (1) share of Common
Stock shall be the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this
Section 14.
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Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance
of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Holders of Rights shall be entitled to recover the reasonable costs and
expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by them in any action to enforce
the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of
transfer;
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced
thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificate or the associated Common Stock certificate made by
anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes
whatsoever, and neither the Company 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 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
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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
reasonable efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or
otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of Preferred
Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable
on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained
herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of
any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the
Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter
submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent
to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions
affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance
with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time
to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and
counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the
administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to
indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any
loss, liability, or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done
or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or
indirectly.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by
it in connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance
upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for
other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer,
power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction,
consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by
it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary,
verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons or otherwise
upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
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Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or
consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust
business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be
the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any
of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would
be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the
provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor
Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any
of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the
Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the
name of the predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent;
and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates
so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have
the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this
Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel selected
by it (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of
such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to
the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith
and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that
any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any
Acquiring Person and the determination of "current market price") be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any
action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect
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thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be
conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer,
the Treasurer or any Vice President, the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any
action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of
this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its
own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement
or in the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except
as to its countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such
statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by
the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except
its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any
breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this
Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for
any adjustment required under the provisions of Sections 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 actual notice of any such
adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of
any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to
this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of
Common Stock or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly
authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed,
acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments
and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for
the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of
this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties
hereunder from the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief
Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President, the Secretary
or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such
officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and
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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 Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein
shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for
the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder
either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights
Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, or omission,
default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for
any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, or omission,
default, neglect or misconduct; provided, however, reasonable care was
exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the
exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for
believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon
thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock
and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the
Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be
removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint
a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of the States of Minnesota or
New York (or of any other state of the United States so long as such corporation
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is authorized to do business as a banking institution in the States of Minnesota
or New York), in good standing, having a principal office in the States of
Minnesota or New York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 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 the
Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this
Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or
validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of
the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price per share and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a)
shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted or
awarded as of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any
other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights
in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall
be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of
material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such
Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be
issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) (i) By a decision by the majority of the members
of the Company's Board of Directors, the Board may, at its
option, at any time prior to the close of business on the
earlier of (i) the Flip-In Event, or (ii) the Final Expiration
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Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding
Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption
price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption
Price"). The redemption of the Rights by the Board may be made
effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions
as the Board in its sole discretion may establish.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first
occurrence of an event described in Section 11(a)(ii) until
such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has
expired. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption
Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the "current
market price", as defined in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of the
Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form of
consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
(ii) In addition, the majority of the members of the
Company's Board of Directors may redeem all but not less than
all of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price
following the occurrence of a Flip-In Event but prior to any
event described in Section 13(a) either (x) if each of the
following shall have occurred and remain in effect: (1) a
Person who is an Acquiring Person shall have transferred or
otherwise disposed of a number of shares of Common Stock in a
manner satisfactory to the majority of the members of the
Company's Board of Directors such that such Person is
thereafter a Beneficial Owner of voting securities having less
than sixteen and one-half percent (16.5%) of the voting power
of the Company, and (2) there is no other Person, immediately
following the occurrence of the event described in clause (1),
who is an Acquiring Person, or (y) in connection with any
transaction not involving an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
(b) In the case of a redemption permitted under Section
23(a)(i), immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall
have been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action
and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate
and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to
receive the Redemption Price. In the case of a redemption permitted
only under Section 23(a)(ii), evidence of which shall have been filed
with the Rights Agent, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate
and represent only the right to receive the Redemption Price only after
ten (10) business days following the giving of notice of such
redemption to the holders of such Rights. Within ten (10) days after
the action of the Board of Directors, ordering any such redemption of
the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the
Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing
such notice to the Rights Agent and 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
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manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder
receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the
method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time after the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, exchange all or part of the then
outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e)
hereof) for Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common
Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof
(such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other
than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding
Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of fifty (50%) or more of the voting power of the
Company.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the
exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 24 and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a
holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give
public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure
to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of
such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such
exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses
as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given,
whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of
exchange shall state the method by which the exchange of the Common
Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial
exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial
exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights
(other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company,
at its option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred
stock, as such term is defined in Section 11(b) hereof) for some or all
of the Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred
stock) for each share of Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to
reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the Preferred Stock
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pursuant to the terms thereof, so that the fraction of a share of
Preferred Stock delivered in lieu of each share of Common Stock shall
have the same voting rights as one share of Common Stock.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of
Common Stock or Preferred Stock issued but not outstanding or
authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as
contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall take
all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common
Stock or Preferred Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of
Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of
Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of Common
Stock. For the purposes of this paragraph (e), the current market value
of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share
of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of
Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the
date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. In case the Company shall
propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (a) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any
other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or
(b) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe
for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock
of any class or any other securities, rights or options, or (c) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving
only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (d) to effect
any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect any sale or other
transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or
other transfer), in one or more transactions, of more than 50% of the assets,
cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to, any other Person, or (e) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to
each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance
with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify
the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights
or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of 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 (a) or (b) above at least twenty (20) days prior
to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for
purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least
twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock
whichever shall be the earlier.
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In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) of this
Agreement shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as
practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the
extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of
the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all
references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred Stock shall be deemed
thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate, other securities.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
Communications Systems, Inc.
213 South Main Street
Hector, MN 55342
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.
161 N. Concord Exchange
South St. Paul, Minnesota 55075
Attention: Stock Transfer Department
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Board and the Rights Agent
shall from time to time, if the Board so directs, supplement or amend this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates in order
(i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
(iii) prior to the Distribution Date, to change or supplement any of the
provisions hereunder which the Board may deem necessary or desirable or (iv)
following the Distribution Date, to change or supplement any of the provisions
hereunder in any manner which the Board may deem necessary or desirable and
which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights
Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person). Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the Distribution
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Date, this Agreement shall not be supplemented or amended to lengthen any time
period relating to the Rights, including, without limitation, the time period
during which the Rights may be redeemed, unless such lengthening is for the
purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of and benefits to the
holders of the Rights (excluding in each case Rights held by an Acquiring Person
or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person whose Rights have or may
become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof). Upon the delivery of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section
27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment unless the
Rights Agent shall have determined in good faith that such supplement or
amendment would adversely affect its interests under this Agreement. Prior to
the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed
coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
Section 30. Administration of Agreement. The majority of the members of
the Company's Board of Directors 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 interpret the Agreement and to make all determinations deemed necessary
or advisable for the administration of this Agreement. All such acts,
interpretations and determinations done or made by the Board in good faith shall
be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent and the
holders of the Rights. Accordingly, the majority of the members of the Company's
Board of Directors shall not be liable to the holders of Rights Certificates or
any other party for any determination made, action taken, or action omitted to
be taken pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, if such determination, action
or omitted action was made or taken in good faith.
<PAGE>
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
38
<PAGE>
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the
tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors of
the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring that a
determination be made by less than the entire Board is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable,
such determination shall then be made by the entire Board.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Minnesota and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
39
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and attested as of the day and year first above written.
COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
Attest:
By_____________________ By_________________________________
Its Secretary Its Chief Executive Officer
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.
Attest:
By___________________ By______________________________
Its________________ Its_________________________
40
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS
OF SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
Communications Systems, Inc.
Pursuant to Section 302A.401 of the Minnesota
Business Corporation Law
We, Paul N. Hanson, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and Richard
A. Primuth, Secretary, of Communications Systems, Inc., a corporation organized
and existing under the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, in accordance with
the provisions of Section 302A.401 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by
the Articles of Incorporation of the said Corporation, the said Board of
Directors on October 26, 1999 adopted the following resolution creating a series
of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) shares of preferred stock designated as
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its Articles
of Incorporation, a series of preferred stock of the Corporation be, and it
hereby is, created, and that the designation and amount thereof and the voting
powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special
rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, are as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock," no par value, and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 150,000. Such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock to a number less than that of the shares then
outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding
rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued
by the Corporation.
<PAGE>
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares
of any series of preferred stock now or hereafter ranking prior and superior to
the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of Common Stock, $.05 par value
per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation and any other junior stock,
shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors
out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in
cash on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year (each
such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"),
commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance
of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, in an amount per whole share (rounded to the nearest cent), subject to
the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the
aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate
per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other
distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a
subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise), declared on the Common Stock 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 Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision (by stock split or
otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split or otherwise) or consolidation
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise)
into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such
case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted
by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event (and rounding the result to the
nearest whole number); and provided further that if at any time after November
10, 1999 the Corporation shall issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification or change of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (including
any such reclassification or change in connection with a merger in which the
Corporation is the surviving corporation), then in such event the amount to
which holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock are entitled
shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such reclassification or change.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(C) The holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall not be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions except as
provided herein.
2
<PAGE>
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:g
(A) Each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to one hundred (100) votes, subject to adjustment in
the manner set forth in Section 2(A), on all matters on which holders of the
Common Stock or stockholders generally are entitled to vote.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by applicable law, the holders
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of
shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein or by applicable law, holders of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and
their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to
vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate
action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in
Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends
and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions,
on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid
ratably on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and all
such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in
proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares
are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation
may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any
such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the
Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock; or
3
<PAGE>
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any
shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase
offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of
Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board
of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend
rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective
series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair
and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation
to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 4,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation
in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall, upon their cancellation, become
authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and may be reissued as part of
a new series of preferred stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of
the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance
set forth herein or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall have received $100 per share, plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared,
to the date of such payment (the "Liquidation Preference"). Following the
payment of the full amount of the Liquidation Preference, no additional
distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment")
equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Liquidation Preference by
(ii) 100 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph C below to
reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalization with
respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii) being herein referred
to as the "Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the full amount of the
Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding
shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively,
holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and holders of shares
of Common Stock shall proportionately share in the remaining assets in the ratio
of the Adjustment Number (per share of Preferred Stock) to 1 (per share of
Common Stock).
4
<PAGE>
(B) In the event there are not sufficient assets available to permit
payment in full of the Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of
all other series of preferred stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall
be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion to
their respective liquidation preferences. In the event there are not sufficient
assets available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment, then such
remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common Stock.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time (i) declare any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect
immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment
Number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of
stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case
may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to
the exchange or change of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator
of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after
such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's preferred stock which
may hereafter be authorized as to the payment of dividends and the distribution
of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.
5
<PAGE>
Section 10. Amendment. The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation
shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of
the holders of two-thirds (2/3) or more of the outstanding shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in
proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights,
receive dividends, participate in liquidating distributions and to have the
benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this Certificate and do
affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury this ____ day of
[_____], 1999.
Attest:
- ----------------------- ------------------------------
Richard A. Primuth Paul N. Hanson
Secretary Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
6
<PAGE>
Exhibit B
Form of Rights Certificate
Certificate No. R-
Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER OCTOBER 26, 2009, OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE
COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE
COMPANY, AT $.001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE
OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING
PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHT
CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID
IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]1
<PAGE>
Rights Certificate
Communications Systems, 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 26, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Communications Systems,
Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.
(the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the
Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to
5:00 P.M. (Minneapolis, Minnesota time) on October 26, 2009 at the office or
offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as
Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid, non-assessable share of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company,
at a purchase price of sixty-five Dollars ($65) per one one-hundredth of a share
(the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the Form of Election to Exercise duly executed. The number of
Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares which may
be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price per
share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of November 10,
1999, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date.
If the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially
owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such
Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a
transferee of any such Acquiring Person or Associate or Affiliate of such
Acquiring Person except as provided in Section 4(b) of the Rights Agreement, or
(iii) under certain circumstances, a transferee of persons who became an
Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate of such Acquiring Person following
such transfer, such Rights shall become null and void upon the occurrence of a
Flip-In Event described in Section 11(a)(ii) and as described in Section 7(e) of
the Rights Agreement and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to
such Rights from and after the occurrence of such event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject
to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under certain circumstances specified in such Rights Agreement.
1
<PAGE>
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent or
the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such
holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised (other than
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement) in part, the holder shall
be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. If this Rights
Certificate shall be exercised in whole or in part pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
of the Rights Agreement, the holder shall be entitled to receive this Rights
Certificate duly marked to indicate that such exercise has occurred as set forth
in the Rights Agreement.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption
price of $.001 per Right.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, which
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but
in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights
Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of 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 shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
2
<PAGE>
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company.
Dated: _________________
ATTEST: Communications Systems, Inc.
_______________________ By_____________________________ Secretary
Title:
Countersigned:
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.
By_____________________
Authorized Signature
3
<PAGE>
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto _____________________
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _____________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
The undersigned hereby certifies (after due inquiry and to the best of
its knowledge) by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate
[ ] is
or
[ ] is not
being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was
an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such
terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); and
(2) the undersigned
[ ] did
or
[ ] did not
<PAGE>
acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any person who is,
was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _________________
- -------------------------------
Signature
Signature Medallion Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment must correspond to the name
as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise Rights represented by the
Rights Certificate.)
To: Communications Systems, Inc.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ____________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of
Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other
securities of the Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued
in the name of:
(Please print name and address)
(Please insert social security
or other identifying number)
The Rights Certificate indicating the balance, if any, of such Rights
which may still be exercised pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights
Agreement shall be returned to the undersigned unless such person requests that
the Rights Certificate be registered in the name of and delivered to: (complete
only if Rights Certificate is to be registered in a name other than the
undersigned)
(Please print name and address)
(Please insert social security
or other identifying number)
The undersigned hereby certifies (after due inquiry and to the best of
its knowledge) by checking the appropriate boxes that:
<PAGE>
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
[ ] are
or
[ ] are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement); and
(2) the undersigned
[ ] did
or
[ ] did not
acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any person who is,
was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _________________
--------------------------------
Signature
Signature Medallion Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Exercise must correspond to
the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
On October 26, 1999 the Board of Directors of Communications Systems,
Inc. (the "Company") adopted a shareholder rights plan (the "Rights Plan") The
purpose of the Rights Plan is to deter certain coercive or abusive takeover
tactics and to encourage third parties interested in acquiring the Company to
negotiate with the Board and otherwise assist the Board in representing the
interests of all shareholders. The Rights Plan does not deter negotiated mergers
or business combinations that the Board determines to be in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders.
To implement the Rights Plan, the Board declared a dividend of one
preferred stock purchase right (the "Right") for each outstanding share of the
Company's Common Stock, $.05 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), payable
to its shareholders of record at the close of business on November 10, 1999 (the
"Record Date"). Except as set forth below, each Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value (the "Preferred
Stock"), at a price of $65 per one one-hundredth of a share (the "Purchase
Price"). The terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of
October 26, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and Norwest Bank
Minnesota, N.A., as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached implicitly to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Right
certificates will be distributed. Until the earlier to occur of ten days
following (i) a public announcement that, without the prior consent of the Board
of Directors, a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial
ownership of voting securities having 16.5% or more of the voting power of the
Company (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) the commencement of (or a public
announcement of an intention to make) a tender offer or exchange offer which
would result in any person or group and related persons having beneficial
ownership of voting securities having 16.5% or more of the voting power of the
Company (the earlier of such dates referred to in (i) and (ii) above being
called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to
any of the Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such
Common Stock certificates.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with Common Stock certificates. From as
soon as practicable after the Record Date and until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates
issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of the Common Stock
will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until
the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding as of
the Record Date will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with
the Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable
following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights
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<PAGE>
("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock
as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and the separate Rights
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on October 26, 2009, unless earlier redeemed by the Company as
described below.
In the event that any person becomes the beneficial owner of 16.5% or
more of the voting power of the Company in a transaction which has not
previously been approved by a majority of the independent directors, ten (10)
days thereafter (the "Flip-In Event") each holder of a Right will thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase
Price of the Right, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, a combination of
cash, other property, Common Stock or other securities) which has a value of two
times the Purchase Price of the Right (such right being called the "Flip-In
Right"). In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction where the Company is not the surviving corporation or in
the event that 50% or more of its assets, cash flow or earning power is sold,
proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter
have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current
Purchase Price of the Right, common stock of the acquiring entity which has a
value of two times the Purchase Price of the Right (such right being called the
"Flip-Over Right"). The holder of a Right will continue to have the Flip-Over
Right whether or not such holder exercises the Flip-In Right. Upon the
occurrence of the Flip-In Event, any Rights that are or were at any time owned
by an Acquiring Person shall become null and void insofar as they relate to the
Flip-In Right.
For example, at a Purchase Price of $65 per Right, if any person
becomes the beneficial owner of 16.5% or more of the voting power of the
Company, ten (10) days thereafter each Right other than a Right owned by such
16.5% beneficial owner would entitle its holder to purchase $130 worth of the
Company's Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $65.
Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $13 at such time, the
holder of each Right would effectively be entitled to purchase 10 shares of
Common Stock for $65.
Similarly, assuming, following the Stock Acquisition Date, the
occurrence of a business combination with another entity in which the Company's
Common Stock is converted or exchanged, or a sale of 50% or more of the
Company's assets, cash flow or earning power, each Right would entitle its
holder to purchase $130 worth of the acquiring entity's stock for $65.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the
Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible
securities at less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii)
upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of
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indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons of beneficial ownership of 16.5% or more of the voting power
of the Company and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or
more of the voting power of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company
may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which
have become null and void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one
share of Common Stock, or one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of
a share of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent
rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
the Purchase Price. No fractions of shares will be issued and, in lieu thereof,
an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred
Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the earlier to occur of (i) the tenth day after
the Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii) the expiration of the Rights, the Company
may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right
(the "Redemption Price"), which redemption shall be effective at such time as
the Board of Directors shall establish. Additionally, the majority of the
members of the Company's Board of Directors may, following the tenth day after
the Stock Acquisition Date, redeem the then outstanding Rights in whole, but not
in part, at the Redemption Price provided that either (a) the Acquiring Person
reduces his, her or its beneficial ownership to less than 16.5% of the voting
power of the Company in a manner which is satisfactory to the majority of the
members of the Company's Board of Directors and there are no other Acquiring
Persons, or (b) such redemption is incidental to a merger or other business
combination transaction or series of transactions involving the Company but not
involving an Acquiring Person or any person who was an Acquiring Person. The
redemption of Rights described in the preceding sentence shall be effective only
after ten (10) business days prior notice. Upon the effective date of the
redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
The Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will be
nonredeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will have a preferential quarterly
dividend in an amount equal to 100 times the dividend declared on each share of
Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of Preferred Stock will
receive a preferred liquidation payment of $100 per whole share of Preferred
Stock. Each whole share of 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 are exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock
will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount and type of consideration
received per share of Common Stock. The rights of the Preferred Stock as to
dividends and liquidations, and in the event of mergers and consolidations, are
protected by customary anti-dilution provisions. Fractional shares of Preferred
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Stock in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock
will be issued unless the Company elects to distribute depositary receipts in
lieu of such fractional shares. In lieu of fractional shares other than
fractions that are multiples of one one-hundredth of a share, an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
Until a Right is exercised, it will not entitle the holder to any
rights as a shareholder of the Company (other than those as an existing
shareholder), including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive
dividends.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company (i) prior to the Distribution Date in any manner, and (ii) on or after
the Distribution Date to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision of the Rights Agreement which may be defective or inconsistent with
any other provisions, or in any manner not adversely affecting the interests of
the holders of the Rights.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. A
copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This
summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement.
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